This week four members of Messiah Lutheran Church joined the ranks of the Stephen Ministers. Mary Mast, Jacquie Fry, Sarah Walker, and Barbara Azzam completed the 50 hours of required training and were commissioned to serve among us in this caring ministry.
Stephen Ministries' Core Purpose is summed up in the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians.
"To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13).
In Stephen Ministry congregations, lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) provide one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministry helps pastors and congregations provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it.
If you would like to learn more or would like to discuss the possibility of becoming a Stephen Minister, please contact Claire Strand.
This year's Habitat for Humanity build is off to a good start. Last week, several members of Messiah Lutheran Church along with members from other Huntsville area Lutheran Churches began to build a new home. The first step in the process was the assembly of the wall sections in the Habitat For Humanity Warehouse.
On March 26th the construction will continue with the wall raising which will be conducted at the building site at 6334 Banks St., NW, Huntsville, Alabama. Extra hands are always needed. You don't need to have any special skills. You just need a willingness to help. If you would like to learn more, please contact Gerard deJong or Virgil Burrer.
On February 13th, 2011, Messiah Lutheran Church conducted a forum during Sunday School hour in support of the Capital Campaign for our Sanctuary Expansion.
Much has happened at Messiah Lutheran Church since 1990. A quick look around at any worship service reminds us of God’s abundant blessings to us. In 1994, largely through the labors of members, the building was completed and provided a home for our ministries. In 2005, we completed our educational wing that provided five much-needed classrooms and a large youth room. In 2006 we dedicated our new parish hall, an audio room, and a much larger kitchen. Our continued growth has led to space issues. Of course, overcrowding on about two Sundays a month is a nice problem to have, but it is time to plan for our continued growth. As Bonhoe!er emphasized, “The church is only the church when it exists for others.” Our purpose with this appeal is to expand our worship area by about fifty percent.
Our goal for this capital program is $600,000. This project will provide a strong financial base for needed improvements for our facility so that we may better reach out to families. The short-term benefits would be to provide space for growth. The longterm benefit could be a fifty percent increase in our overall mission.
Information to help everyone determine their part will be provided in various ways. This will include Bible reading and reflection, prayer, and opportunities to learn more about different ways of giving. Everyone in the congregation will be encouraged to participate and grow in generosity as we help each other gain a vision of what our congregation can be and do. Three information sessions on the expanded facility will be held to answer questions. These will held be during Sunday School hour on Feb. 13, 20, and 27.
On Sunday, February 6th, 2011, the congregation of Messiah Lutheran Church gathered together to kick off the campaign to raise the funding for the proposed Sanctuary Expansion.
The congregation was joined by Dr. Eugene Grimm who visited the Church, preached the sermon and led a special adult forum to discuss the capital funds campaign. Pastor Grimm is a Stewardship Key Leader of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He is a specially trained pastor, not a professional fundraiser. For over forty years Pastor Grimm served Lutheran congregations in Ohio. He also served as a stewardship specialist for the ELCA in the three synods of Ohio for nearly twenty-one years, a position from which he retired in 2008. He will return on March 12-13 for the culmination of the capital appeal.
Our capital campaign will continue on Sunday, February 13th with a adult forum at 9:45am.
We will review the schedule of events for the campaign, the planned design of the expanded sanctuary, and discuss the plans for New Facility Fund giving during the Capital Fund Appeal.
We will hear from several MLC members on previous construction projects and the one we are considering.
We will also discuss the gift chart our Stewardship Key Leader, Pastor Eugene Grimm, has prepared for us.
Mama Mia That's A Spicy Meatball. On January 29th, the Older Wiser Lutherans (OWLS) of Messiah Lutheran Church in Madison, Alabama dined at Terranova's Restaurant in Huntsville Alabama as their monthly outing. The OWLS are a fun loving bunch and apparently the word is getting out. The OWLS set a new attendance record with 30 members attending this event. During this delightful evening event, the OWLS were immersed in an authentic Italian experience as they shared fellowship with one another. Terranova's provided an authentic Italian backdrop with ambiance unlike any other in the Tennessee Valley with bona fide Italian antiques, artifacts, and memorabilia, and Italian mood music which allowed all in attendance to savor their delicious dishes.
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. If you would like to learn more about the OWLS, please contact Jan Murphy or the Church Office.
Today was Messiah Lutheran Church's annual On Eagle's Wings Spaghetti Dinner and Talent Show. This event started with a delicious meal prepared by our very own team of volunteer gourmet chefs. Our chefs prepared a lovely Spaghetti Dinner with home made spaghetti sauce, garden salad, garlic bread and a tasty assortment of deserts. It was then time for an awesome display of talent by many of our congregation members. Their performances consisted of piano recitals, vocal renditions, comedy and feats of daring-do. Together this combination of delicious food and exciting entertainment made for a most enjoyable afternoon. The money raised during this event will be used to support the On Eagle's Wings Mission.
On Eagle’s Wings is on a spiritual journey with Christians living in small communities in isolated areas of northern Canada. It is a ministry journey of northern and southern Christians who come from many different cultural and denominational traditions. We are working together to touch the lives of God’s people in remote communities in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. In response to requests from northern people and churches On Eagle’s Wings trains, encourages and mentors northern people for ministry within their own cultural and denominational traditions.
The ministry of On Eagle’s Wings also includes counseling, worship and Bible study opportunities as well as Christian education programs for women, men, youth and families. Northern aboriginal Christians trained by On Eagle’s Wings are shaping the life of their communities and churches as they lead worship and Bible studies, start Sunday Schools and develop programs to support individuals and families. Northern and southern Christians and On Eagle’s Wings are working together to proclaim Jesus Christ, serve the Church and touch the lives of God’s northern people.
In November 2010, three missionaries from Messiah Lutheran Church embarked on a journey to Honduras to visit the school that we sponsor through the Lunches For Learning Program. It was a special occasion at Escuela Benito Montoya, because it marked the graduation of 11 students from the 6th grade. Through the efforts of Messiah Lutheran Church and the Lunches For Learning Program, these children will now have a much brighter future. On this page, you can watch a video of the graduation ceremony and listen to Claire, Bob and Sarah tell the congregation about their visit to our school in Honduras.
This is the text of the temple talk as presented by Claire Strand: On November 24th, the day before thanksgiving, Bob, Sarah and I were the guests of honor at the graduation ceremony at Benito Montoya school in the village of El Barrial in southern Honduras. The school lies near the end of a 6-mile road of boulders on the west side of the Nacaome River. It takes nearly an hour to get there. The bad rainy season made the road more treacherous than usual. There had been a fatality this year. A truck slid backwards into a deep ravine. We bowed our heads when we heard this sad story. That is why we must drive so slowly and carefully. My driver is Fernando, the L4L manager. I only met him last February and have only spent a few days with him, but I have much faith and trust in him. If you can ever meet him (and you might get the chance because he finally got his visa), you will sense this trustworthiness immediately. It is his gift.
When we got to the school, my heart leaped. I saw familiar faces and a lot of changes.
The school has been painted. This picture is the school now. This picture is the school back in February. The doors have been replaced. They were rotting off the hinges. The bat problem is fixed. Bats were coming in through the deteriorating windows each night and leaving horrendous messes. The frames and slats have all been replaced. The bats can no longer get inside. The broken concrete was replaced and the cracks were repaired. This mud hut will go back to being the kitchen soon. Some Messiah Lutheran members have secured outside funding to build a kindergarten. Once the river goes down more, they can begin dredging it for the sand for the concrete. Why does all this make my heart leap? 2 reasons. Reason number one: all of this work is done by the parents and people of the community. The school has become the center of the community. It is a place where they want to be. They all take pride and ownership in it. The school gives them all hope. Ron calls the remote and poor parts of Honduras fatalistic societies. He gives this analogy: if you had an American and a Honduran together in a sinking boat, the American would bail water and look up now and then to the horizon to see if help is arriving yet. The Honduran would bail water and not look up, never thinking to hope that help will arrive. The support that L4L gives to Benito Montoya and 21
other schools gives them a hope that all the village sees and feels. Reason Number 2: All these repairs were possible because of Messiah Lutheran Church. While the hard work of the taco luncheon and the handmade market raised enough money to feed 62 children for 10 months, other contributions from you financed these repairs. The people in El Barrial and at Benito Montoya school are not alone in their poverty; they can see you on the horizon. More importantly because of you they can see their Lord and saviour on the horizon, the ultimate messenger of hope.
Here are some pictures from graduation: The ceremony began with a prayer led by Pastor Bob. Principal Mutate joyfully and enthusiastically announces that he may have 70 pupils for 2011. In 2009 there were 40. 2010, 62. Now maybe 70. More kids in school. This is the goal of L4L.
This young lady is Isis. She says to take with us the love in their hearts as it is all they have to give us in return. The leader of the parents’ association asks us to come visit more often. The next trip is planned for November. Talk to me if you are interested. Pastor Scott wrote a letter about thinking and praying for their future. The graduates received their diplomas. All graduates were given a Spanish Bible with their names embossed on the front. The Bibles were in handmade cases with their initials monogrammed on the flap.
Even the parents got in the hug line.
Muchas Gracias from Benito Montoya and from Bob, Sarah, and me. It was a blessing for us to represent you.
While in Honduras we were able to visit a church service. One of their hymns was “you have come down to the lakeshore.” We will sing this hymn in a few minutes before the sermon. We hope as you are singing you will remember the friendships we are making in Christ’s name in Honduras.
After worship, we invite you to please join us in the FH for a 22-minute video and much more about the mission to Honduras.
One of the local community organizations that Messiah Lutheran Church sponsors as part of our outreach ministry is the HEALS program. HEALS stands for Health Establishments at Local Schools. HEALS provides free medical and dental care, mental health counseling and social services to low-income children at Martin Luther King Jr., Morris and University Place elementary schools.
To support their mission, the HEALS program is constructing a new pediatric clinic on the campus of Madison Cross Roads Elementary School. Fifty-four percent of the school's 1,100 students live below the poverty line. The new pediatric facility will share a ranch-style house on the campus with the nonprofit Huntsville Assistance Program, which provides food and other basic needs.
Messiah Lutheran Church is supporting HEALS with a monentary donation of one-half of the offerings collected during each of the Advent Worship Services this year.
During this Christmas Season, the congregation of Messiah Lutheran Church has been busy sharing gifts with a number of Huntsville area organizations. One of these organizations is the Milestone Christian Academy.
Milestone Christian Academy, is a Christian based non-profit organization that provides childcare for approximately 100 children. Milestone is unique, in that they offer a sliding fee scale based on income. For qualifying parents, who are employed or attending an educational institution, help is provided in the form donations and grants.
Members of the Messiah Lutheran Church Congregation have visited Milestone on many occasions. We are committed to helping Milestone in their mission to provide not only child care, but also a rich nuturing environment to help children grown cognitively, socially and physically.
This month, several members of the Messiah Congregation delivered gifts to the children of Milestone. They also gave a special gift to Milestone's administrative staff. This gift was a brand new copier which will save them countless trips to the local copy shop.
We wish all of the staff, parents and children of Milestone Christian Academy a very Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas from all of your friends at Messiah Lutheran Church. Today we celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Please take a moment as you enjoy this performance of Still, Still, Still by the Messiah Adult Choir to reflect on the awesome gift given to us by God.
Luke 2:8
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’
The Seraph Choir of Messiah Lutheran Church in Madison Alabama performs "O Come Little Children" as part of the contemporary worship service on December 19th, 2010. Messiah Lutheran Church offers many opportunities to make a joyful noise and we believe in giving our youth members an early start in developing their musical talents. The Seraph Choir is directed by Claire Strand.
On Wednesday, December 22nd, the Children of Messiah Lutheran Church's Sunday School presented a special program during the Advent Worship Service. They did an awesome job with bible readings, explanations of Christmas traditions and several musical performances. This video is their performance of Silent Night.
Pastor Amanda led an adult forum during the Sunday School hour and preached at both services.
Pastor Amanda and her husband Horatio have visited Messiah numerous times in the past and their visits are always welcomed just as we welcome home close family members. Messiah Lutheran Church along with other Churches in the ELCA proudly sponsor Pastor Amanda and ILAG as they work to spread God's word in Guatemala.
The Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (Augustinian Lutheran Church of Guatemala) was founded in 1991 by Padre Horacio Castillo and his family. The members come from the margins of the Guatemalan society, people of few resources and are predominantly indigenous.
Guatemala suffered through a 36 year internal war. This war ended in 1996 with the signing of the peace accords. Padre Horacio Castillo helped write and later was among those who signed the peace accords.
The first churches of the ILAG were formed in Guatemala City among the internally displaced, those who fled into the City during the war, who were (and still are) living in the ravines of the City. The ILAG also operates two elementary schools which serve children and families in these marginalized areas of the City.
As refuges began to return from Mexico, they contacted Padre Horacio as they had known him from his visits to some of the camps. Through these contacts the ILAG grew in the rural areas of the country among the resettled refuges.
The ILAG continues to grow each year by a few mission sites and churches as communities hear that the ILAG walks with people delivering the gospel freely to all people and visits the communities regularly.
The philosophy of the ILAG is to provide pastoral accompaniment and holistic development. The center of the ILAG is Christ and from this center we seek to provide for all aspects of the life of our members and their communities - the spiritual, physical, emotional and material.
The church has about 3,000 members in nearly 20 congregations spread throughout Guatemala. ILAG also operates two elementary schools in Guatemala City.
On Friday night, the elves of Messiah Lutheran Church were busy creating handcrafted Christmas gifts. Each year Messiah Lutheran Church sponsors an event called Elfin Magic. This event provides the kids with craft supplies and supervision so that they can create Christmas gifts of their selection. The kids selected from 5 crafts including: Tile Coasters, Christmas Ornaments, Pendants, Christmas Wreath with Candle and a Bucket of Goodies. The children also participated in an Outreach Project in which they constructed Fruit Baskets. Twenty-one Children participated in this year's event. Many thanks to all the parents, senior and junior youth and sponsors who helped make the event such a success.
The Youth of Messiah Lutheran Church participated again this year in a workshop for Operation Christmas Child. They wrapped presents for the Foster Children's Alliance, packed and wrapped shoebox packages for Samaritan's Purse, decorated cookies for military personnel and college students and made food tray savers for Meals on Wheels clients. The North Alabama Thrivent Chapter along with the Grace Lutheran Church youth hosted the event at Grace Lutheran Church in Huntsville, AL. Thanks to all of the youth members, parents, and sponsors who participated in this year's event. Their efforts will certainly help brighten Christmas for many members of our community and those in need around the World.
