On December 6th from 2-4PM, The Elfs of Messiah Lutheran Church conducted their annual Elfin Magic Workshop. Elfin Magic is a fun afternoon where children, ages 2 and up, create beautiful crafts to give as Christmas gifts.
This year 42 children and a ton of elf helpers participated in the event.
Twelve different crafts were available this year including:
On November 15th, the Junior and Senior Youth of Messiah Lutheran Church and Incarnation Lutheran Church joined several hundred other participants in a Christmas Workshop that was hosted by Grace Lutheran Church.
After an opening ceremony and instructions, the participants of the workshop were divided into three groups and began busily working on their various projects.
Each of the three groups had the opportunity to wrap Christmas Presents for foster children, create Christmas ornaments for Meals on Wheels recipients and decorate cookies for those overseas.
Everyone involved had a good time. The spirit of God was present and the youth were able in a short period of time to create a mountain of gifts for those in need.
At the conclusion of the event, everyone gathered back in the gym for concluding ceremonies and pizza.
On November 28, 2009 the Benito Montoya School in Honduras will graduate five students from the 6th Grade. Why is this significant? In rural Honduras most students drop out of school long before they reach the 6th grade. Graduating from the 6th grade in rural Honduras is considered a significant accomplishment and often makes the difference between having a successful life or continuing a life of poverty. Messiah Lutheran Church is working hard to help break the cycle of poverty at the Benito Montoya School. Messiah Lutheran Church sponsors the school through the Lunches For Learning Program. This program provides the students with a lunch meal each day at school in order to encourage them to stay in school where they can receive an education. Messiah Lutheran Church recently conducted a Hand Made Market which raised $3000 for the Lunches for Learning Program.
To mark occasion of their graduation, Bene David Matule the principal of the school along with his five graduates wrote letters of appreciation to Messiah Lutheran Church to thank the Church for their support.
Lord! Give to us effectively to love and be good brothers, sharing what we are and have.
El Barrial, Nacaome Valle
July 3, 2009
Honduras, CA
Benito Montoya School
Pastor Peterson
Messiah Lutheran Church
Madison, Alabama
Through this we, students, parents and teachers extend a warm and cordial greeting. I hope that you are in good health and that our Lord put his hand on you, to continue your good work.
We thank you for having decided to support our school to supplement the diet of the students. Since you have done this, the students have improved in their physical and mental development and in their skills. As proof of this we invite you to the graduation of our sixth graders which will be held on November 28, 2009. We appreciate your help and hope that you will continue to provide support.
We say goodbye Lord! Our Father, by whom nothing is strange and with whose protection you look with pity on our poor brethren who lack food, clothing and health for the injustice and indifference and poor distribution of the goods of this earth because of the selfishness of men.
Sincerely
Bene David Matule
Principal
Alex Laines
Assistant Principal
Pablo Zavala
President PTA
Luis Antonio Gutierrez
School Government President
This year Messiah Lutheran Church is blessed to be the subject of an Eagle Scout Project. Steven Rury a member of Boy Scout Troop 8 has been working on his Eagle Project for some time. Lucky for us at Messiah Lutheran Church, he selected building a retaining wall around the base of our new sign and landscaping it, for his project. We would like to thank Steven and the scouts who helped him for a job well done!! The wall and plantings really help to beautify the area around the sign.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Those who attain this rank are called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men. The title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle".
Requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating Scout Spirit, service, and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages. Eagle Scouts are presented with a medal and a badge that visibly recognizes the accomplishments of the Scout. Additional recognition can be earned through Eagle Palms, awarded for completing additional tenure, leadership, and merit badge requirements.
Boy Scout Troop 8 Meets on Sundays from 2:00-3:30 PM at Messiah Lutheran Church. Boy Scout Troop 8 is located in the Madison - Monrovia area of North Alabama. If you would like to learn more about Troop 8 or the other scout troops sponsored by Messiah Lutheran Church, please visit our Community Ministries Page.
John 8:31-36 - Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "if you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, "You will be made free?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
All men are encouraged to get connected with the Messiah Men’s Ministry. The Messiah Men’s Ministry meets the 2nd Saturday of each month at 7am in Messiah’s Parish Hall. If your would like more information about Messiah Men’s Ministry or would like to be added to the Men’s Ministry email list, please contract Pastor Mark Borseth at mark@mlutheran.com or 230-5387.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” Proverbs 27:17
On Saturday, October 24th, Messiah Lutheran Church conducted their annual Chili Cookoff and Halloween Party.
The kids came in costume and paraded through the dining room. There were some great and creative costumes.
The Jr. Youth lead the younger kids in contests and games for prizes. Sonja led them in a bone hunt etc. They had a great time!!
All of the usual Halloween suspects were present including cowboys, space men, princesses and monsters.
Some of the adults even dressed up for the occasion.
Of course the main event of the evening was the chili eating and judging.
First prize was a tie between Anita de'Jong & William Strand
2nd place was William Strand
3rd was a tie between Paul Zutter and Anita de'Jong
The Hottest Chili Prize went to Sonja Peterson.
The Chili Cookoff and Halloween Party are hosted each year by the fellowship committee of Messiah Lutheran Church. If you would like to see some of the other great fellowship activities that are conducted at Messiah, please visit the Fellowship Page on the Messiah Website.
This month's gathering of the Older Wiser Lutheran's was conducted at Terranova's Italian Restaurant in Huntsville, AL. Approximately 20 members of the OWLs attended the gathering including a few who were there for the first time. The OWLs enjoyed some fellowship while savoring some tasty Italian dishes including appetizers, soups, salads, chicken, seafood, steaks, pizza, pasta, and of course dessert.
Terranova's, provided the group with a wonderful Italian ambiance in which to enjoy some fellowship. The restaurant is decorated with bona fide Italian antiques, artifacts, and memorabilia, all of which made for a delightful evening for the OWLS.
The OWLS are a loosely knit group of folks (over 50 years of age) who get together once a month for an activity. These activities vary from a potluck at the church, Sunday brunch at a restaurant, miniature golf, a visit to the Botanical Garden, to attending the "Living Christmas Tree" concert. Both men and women are welcome.
The Tweens of Messiah Lutheran Church conducted an outing to one of the local corn mazes. Everyone had a good time and no one was permanently lost in the maze. It was a great day to be outside with a blue sky and just enough chill to make it feel like fall.
The Tweens are one of the youth groups at Messiah Lutheran Church. They are made up of children in the 3d, 4th, and 5th grade. They usually conduct an activity each month. If you would like to learn more about the Tweens, please contact the Messiah Lutheran Church Office at (256) 721-0041.
On October 17th and 18th, Messiah Lutheran Church held a Handmade Market. Twenty Six Artisans and Craftsmen donated over 800 items to the Hand Made Market. 100% of the proceeds from the market will go to support Lunches For Learning. Lunches for Learning is a non-profit organization that raises funds to purchase food for elementary school children in poverty stricken areas of Honduras. The program which is only a few years old, has had tremendous success so far. Children who previously would have spent the day looking for food to eat are now in the classroom learning. One of the key benefits of the program is that it helps break the cycle of poverty in Honduras. The children come to school because that is where the food is, but they getting something even more important. An education.
Messiah Lutheran Church has undertaken the mission of sponsoring the Benito Montoya School in Honduras. Click here to view a slide show of the Benito Montoya School.
So far, the Handmade Market has raised over $3000 in support of the Lunches For Learning Mission. God is truly working through the volunteers and craftsmen who made this event possible. The remaining items from the Handmade Market will be available for sale between church services on Oct. 25 and Dec. 6. Please contact Jackie Myers or the church office at (256) 721-0041 if you would like to help support the Handmade Market and Lunches For Learning.
The first stop of the journey was the canoe outfitter where we made arrangements to rent the required equipment for our expedition.
After everyone had been properly outfitted with life vests and paddles, we loaded into vans for the trip up the river to the entry point.
We then paired everyone up in canoes. This was the first time that some members of our group had been canoeing. There was a little bit of a learning curve at the beginning of the trip, but by the end of our adventure, everyone had mastered the basics of paddling a canoe.
Our entire journey was about 7.5 miles and took about 3 hours. The weather was perfect. It was a great opportunity to reflect on our lives and witness the beauty of God's creation.
About half way through our journey, we took a break and ate the picnic lunches that we brought with us. It was a great chance for fellowship and a rare opportunity to break bread together as a group while enjoying the great outdoors.
Sadly the trip finally came to an end, but some members of the group could not resist a few more antics in the frigid water while waiting for our transportation. Everyone in the group said that they really enjoyed the trip and couldn't wait for the next event. If you would like to learn more about the Messiah Lutheran ChurchSenior Youth Group, please visit their page on the website, or speak with John Shriver.
On Saturday, October 3rd, Messiah Lutheran Church conducted a Blessing of the Animals Service. At Messiah Lutheran Church, along with many other churches, it has become the custom to bless pets on St. Francis day.
St. Francis enjoyed a legendary relationship with animals, and stories about his experiences with them abound. It is said that St. Francis loved animals so much that he regularly bought captured birds and freed them.
Perhaps the best story about St. Francis concerns a wolf that was terrorizing an Italian town. St. Francis convinced the townsfolk to feed the animal regularly in exchange for its friendship. Though there were no wolves at Messiah's Blessing of the Animals Service, there were 11 dogs and 2 cats. All of the animals were on their best behavior.
Do you give special thanks for the animals who share your home? Do you count them among the blessings of this life?
Gracious Lord, thank you for the gift of animals. Thank you for making these dear creatures which have become blessings in our lives. May we see in them your unfailing love, and may we share with them your boundless compassion. Amen.
