Farewell Pipe Organ

This month we packed up the 1940's era pipe organ from Messiah Lutheran Church in order to make way for the sanctuary expansion.  Though this organ has brought a lot of joy to Messiah Lutheran Church, it is not powerful enough for the expanded Sanctuary that we are constructing.  We hope that this wonderful instrument will find a new home soon.  Here is a video of the last few notes played for the Glory of the Lord by this instrument at Messiah Lutheran Church.

Here are some photos of the organ and its removal.

Sunday School Rally Day

From 2011

The 2011-2012 School Year was kicked off to a good start at Messiah Lutheran Church on Sunday.  Gary Garrison, the Sunday School Superintendent opened the Rally Day with a number of activities including songs prayer.  The Sunday School teachers were also installed into their new positions.   We ask that God give them each wisdom, patience, discipline and humor.  We ask that God makes them good examples for the children they will teach this year.

From 2011

Sunday School is conducted every Sunday from 9:45 to 10:45.  Please check the Messiah Website for the 2011-2012 school calendar.  Contact the Church office or Gary Garrison if you would like to register your child.  Click here for the registration form.

From 2011

Groundbreaking Service For Sanctuary Expansion

On Sunday, August 14th, Messiah Lutheran Church officially broke ground on our Sanctuary Expansion Project. This project will add 50% more seating and an expanded and raised Altar area. Construction is proceeding according to plan and is expected to take about six months to complete. During the construction period, we will meet in the Parish Hall for Worship Services.

Church Picnic

On Sunday, August 14 the congregation of Messiah Lutheran Church gathered in fellowship during the annual Church Picnic. This event was more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Lot's of tasty food and plenty of activities for the young (and young of heart). The fellowship committee really outdid themselves. Many thanks to everyone who organized, cooked and helped make this such a fun and successful event.

Blessing Of The Backpacks

From Blessing of the Backpacks August 7, 2011

The beginning of August means that it is time for the children to head back to school.  One of the traditions of Messiah Lutheran Church is that the children of the congregation bring their backpacks to Church with them to be blessed.  We ask our Gracious God to bless the students and their parents.  Help us to know you walk with us each day. Bless our journeys, our schools, our friends, and our families.  We ask that you make our teachers examples of your righteousness for the children they teach.  Keep them and all of us steadfast in your Word.  We ask Generous God, that you bless the books and school supplies, the lunches and snacks that these backpacks will hold.  Thank you for the tools and nourishment you give for learning.  Just as these backpacks will hold what is needed for school days, we look to You to securely hold each child forever.

Disaster Relief Team

From 2011

Last week, Messiah Lutheran Church was truly blessed to be able to host a disaster relief team from Grace Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. This group of talented tradesmen came to Northern Alabama on a mission trip to help rebuild following the devastating tornado damage that occurred in April. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their hard work in 100 degree heat and 100% humidity to bring some relief to those in need.

At the end of their visit, they left the following thank you note to the congregation.

Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for your hospitality.  The food and "Provisions" made our stay so much nicer.  Your Church building is beautiful and we hope to see pictures of the finished project.  We hope our small amount of help to your community aids your neighbors in returning to their normal lives.  You are blessed with a great group, both here in your Church, and surrounding you in your community.  The Harvest Youth Club is a wonderful group of people reaching out to those in need.  We are happy to have met you and invite you to our church at any time.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Grace Lutheran Church
Disaster Relief Team 2011
Grace Lutheran Church
Salisbury, NC 28144
David Miller
David Diggs
Ashley Miller
Trey
Patti Aldridge
Shannon Moore
Randy and Sheila Basinger
Cassie and Adam Cowick
Donnie and Kim Stout

If you would  learn more about Messiah Lutheran Church's disaster relief effort or if you have some time or talent to provide to this worthy cause, please contact Kay Spence.

Youth Coffeehouse

From 2011

Last Friday, members of Messiah’s youth groups participated in the Second Annual Youth Coffeehouse, which was sponsored by Lois Graff. The evening consisted largely of food, friends, and entertainment.

            We were each invited to prepare an optional music performance for the coffeehouse. Before the music started, we gathered in the Parish Hall to catch up with friends that we hadn’t seen in a while. Members of both youth groups were present, as well as graduates from the last few years. We filled our plates at the nacho bar and snacked the entire night while enjoying each other’s company.

            After some casual conversation amongst ourselves, we took a moment to introduce ourselves to everyone. Then the performances began. The performers delighted everyone with their talents in singing and on piano, guitar, bass guitar, recorder, and tenor saxophone. As the evening wore on, the solo or duet performances turned into humorous singalongs around the piano.

            The coffeehouse was a wonderful opportunity to welcome new faces to the youth groups and say goodbye to those who are leaving for college soon. The casual environment put the performing musicians at ease. Some of us were pleasantly surprised by the talents that our friends had. The coffeehouse was a nice break from our back-to-school stress and the perfect occasion for us to be ourselves with our friends.  Editor's Note: Thanks to Rebecca Mast for submitting this article.

Messiah Hosts Rebuilding Crew

From 2011

During the week of 1-8 August, Messiah Lutheran Church will be hosting a team of volunteers from Grace Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC.  This group of skilled carpenters and masons will be helping to rebuild tornado stricken areas (most likely the Harvest area).  

They will be arriving in Huntsville mid-afternoon on Monday, August 1 and will be staying in the Parish Hall.  Arrangements have been made for them to have shower access at Hogan YMCA on Hughes road.  They are bringing their own work equipment so we may have some trailers in the parking lot.  They will also be providing their own sleeping equipment and supplies and have been given access to Parish kitchen and the washer and dryer.  They may be cooking, and I have assured them that restaurants are very close for their convenience.

We are planning a congregation pot luck meal while they are here which will be conducted on Wednesday evening, August 3 at 6 PM. 

If you would like to help volunteer with the rebuilding effort or would like to help make our guest feel welcome, please contact Kay Spence for more information.

Family Movie Night

From 2011

Messiah Lutheran Church is a very busy place.  In fact it's sometimes hard to keep up with all of the exciting ministries that are continuously taking place.  Every once in  a while though, it is important to sit back, relax, and just enjoy a little fellowship.  And there probably isn't a better way to do that than by enjoying a fun family movie and a big tub of popcorn.  Especially if that movie is being projected on a state of the art projection system with surround sound.  Special thanks to Paul Zutter for turning family movie night into a theatrical extravaganza.   Messiah Lutheran Church periodically hosts a family movie night which is free of charge event. Just bring a snack to share.

From 2011

Renew: The Green VBS 2011

This Year's Vacation Bible School was titled, "Renew: The Green VBS" and was conducted July 11-15 at Messiah Lutheran Church.



Grounded in Jesus' Parable of the Sower, ReNew: The Green VBS brings together the Bible and environmental stewardship. From tiny towns to huge cities, kids grow in faith as they play, learn, sing, and work toward renewing their congregations and communities. By serving in the community and inviting the community into church, kids demonstrate that being green can be easy, faithful, and fun. Although current threats to our environment can seem scary, ReNew is about hope, opportunity, and service. Kids and congregations lead the way as stewards of the earth.

What happens when heads, hearts, and hands are in harmony? Kids grow in faith, have fun, and change the world.  And did the kids have fun and learn a lot? You Betcha!  Just look at the smiles on their faces and you can tell just how much fun it was.  


Many thanks to all of the staff and volunteers who put so much of themselves into making this year's VBS such a success.


Here is a short video about what Renew: The Green VBS is all about.

On Eagle's Wings Mission 2011

This year Christine Berry was our missionary to the Northwest Territories as part of the On Eagle's Wings Mission. Christine along with two ladies from Mechanicsville, PA went to the villiage of Deline.


View Larger Map

Deline is a Dene Village of the the Satchu Tribe on the Great Bear Lake. The native language is Northern Slavey and the villiage of Deline is pretty remote. Deline has a population of 550, and it is the only village on Great Bear Lake which straddles the Arctic Circle.

It took 3 airlines, 5 flights and 2 days for Christine to reach Deline.

Christine said of her trip, "I have a mosaic memory of the kids.  The Bible school theme was Splash-Show, People Love and Shared Happiness.  From Logan who cried the first day until the very end when I let him wear the white hat (aka the skit headgear).  The rest of the week he came and had a huge smile.  5 year old Tayla told me she knew "Our Father" and asked if I wanted to hear it - it is the Lord's Prayer.  Layla and Noaka led the snack prayer with "Our Father" in Northern Slavey, all the kids bowed their heads, the kids running around the arena rushed back to their seats, bowed their heads, and the prayer volume kept rising.  It gave me goose bumps.  The kids rushing to comfort a little 5 year old who was frequently teary.  She had just come to live with her grandparents because her mother is having problems."

Christine also went on to say how much Paul's letters helped her.  "I have a better lesson of those letters.  It was a lesson this year for me to not let fear of the unknown and pain prevent me from carrying on and trusting in God."

Messiah Lutheran Church has been supporting the On Eagle's Wings Mission for many years.  Throughout the year we conduct several fund raising events to help support the mission.  This year's fund raisers have included a Spaghetti Dinner and Talent show as well as a Auction.

On Eagle's Wings serves more than 30 remote communities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut from a base in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The people of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are Inuit, Metis and First Nations people who come from five different tribal backgrounds.  The area is served primarily by the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches in partnership with On Eagle's Wings

Thrivent Builds and The Moore Family

From 2011

On Sunday, July 17th, Messiah Lutheran Church was visited by Frank Childs from Thrivent and the Moore family.  The Moore family is the owner of the Habitat For Humanity Home that members of Messiah helped construct this year. We have been blessed as a congregation by the opportunity to get to know and work with this awesome family.  We are also thankful for the leadership and support provided by Thrivent.  We can't wait until next year's habitat build.

Here are some pictures from this year's build.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a Fortune 500 financial services organization that offers financial products and services including life insurance, annuities, mutual funds, disability income insurance, bank products and more to its nearly 3 million members. Thrivent Financial sponsors national outreach programs, notably its alliance with Habitat for Humanity. Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity seeks to increase Habitat's capacity to build more homes and promote donations, volunteerism, neighborhood development as well as worldwide homebuilding trips by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' members.

Habitat for Humanity International is founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat and its homeowner families have built or rehabilitated more than 400,000 houses. A nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing ministry, Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build together in partnership.

Sanctuary Expansion

You have probably noticed that construction of Messiah Lutheran Church's new Sanctuary has commenced.  It is pretty hard to miss the large construction equipment and somewhat disheveled appearance of the front of the Church. As construction proceeds we will provide periodic updates to make sure that  the congregation knows what is going on.

We will be also making maximum use of the Parish Hall during the construction period. This facility will be used not only for our Worship Services, but will also be used for all of the other events that we normally use it for including Wednesday Night Cafe, Musical Events, etc. This means that will all be getting good at taking down and setting up the chairs for services. As I was reminded by some of the older members of the congregation, this is not that big of a hardship. The founding members of Messiah Lutheran had to set up chairs in the union hall every week for services. I guess that we can manage for a few months until our shiny new Sanctuary is complete. Thanks in advance for all our your support during the next six months.

2011 Habitat For Humanity Build Is Complete

The 2011 Habitat For Humanity Build is Complete. On Thursday, June 23, 2011 we gathered together in celebration for the dedication of five habitat homes. Messiah Lutheran Church partnered with Thrivent Builds and eight other Lutheran Churches to help build a home for the Moore Family.  The photo gallery attached to this post is a little larger than usual.  It contains close to one thousand pictures that document the build of our house from beginning to end.  Though one thousand is a lot of pictures, it is only a small representation of the thousands of hours that went into building this home.  Many thanks to everyone who contributed or volunteered to help turn an empty patch of grass into a beautiful and safe home for a deserving family.  And special thanks to our house leader Dan Pate who has now helped us complete five habitat homes.

Sam, The Shams And The Shepherd King

Messiah Lutheran Church Music Camp presents Sam, The Shams And The Shepherd King.

Many thanks to all of the Cast, Crew, Performers and Volunteers who put this awesome Worship service together in just one week.