40 Days For Life Kick Off Tuesday!

40-days-for-life-flyerThis year’s 40 Days for Life campaign begins on Wednesday morning, but the Kick Off Rally to start the campaign off in prayer is this Tuesday night!  The Rally will start at the Women’s Help Center (click HERE for a map) at 6:45 pm.  Prior to the the Rally, there will be a Holy Hour at five o’clock and Holy Mass at six o’clock.  Both of those services will be at Prince of Peace Roman-Catholic Church.  (Click HERE for a map)  Prince of Peace has also offered up there parking for the Rally that evening.  Fr. Scott Looker has been asked to pray during the Rally that God’s blessing be upon the work of all the volunteers this year. Please join us this Tuesday night to hear more about 40 Days for Life and to get involved with this incredible powerful movement in Jacksonville and abroad.

Upcoming Pro-Life Opportunities

As Fr. Shiell discussed in his sermon on Sunday, The March For Life will be January 27th, 2017, in Washington, D.C., and we should all begin preparing to head to our nation’s capital now in order to be ready when the big day arrives.  But we do not have to wait until January to start choosing Life right here in Jacksonville today!  There are plenty of opportunities in the upcoming weeks to show your support for local Pro-Life ministries.  Below is information on some of these upcoming events.

jericho-marchJericho March on September 24th—Saturday morning beginning at nine o’clock, Christians from throughout Jacksonville will begin walking around the property surrounding Jacksonville’s Planned Parenthood.  They will march around the property a full seven time and pray for the facility to close and for abortion to come to an end in Jacksonville and throughout America.  For more information contact Rob Barnaby at (904) 504-1412.

 

kick-off-rally40 Days For Life Kick Off Rally Events on Tuesday, September 27th—An evening of special events begin the annual 40 Days for Life campaign.  Prince of Peace Roman-Catholic Church will observe and celebrate a Holy Hour and Mass from five o’clock until 6:30.  Following the Mass, there will be a Kick Off Rally at the Women’s Help Center (a Pro-Life center located in between two abortion clinics) from 6:45 to 7:30.  The Kick Off Rally will include an overview of the 40 Days For Life campaign, an invitation to join in, an opportunity to tour the Women’s Help Center, as well as light refreshments.  Church of the Messiah’s Fr. Scott Looker has been invited to lead one of the opening prayers at this year’s rally.

40dfl40 Days for Life Annual Campaign, September 28th—November 6th—Since 2004, Pro-Life activists in over 25 different countries have taken a peaceful and prayerful stand against a culture of death.

40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion. The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion.

This year, the 40 Days for Life campaign will be gathering in the public right-of-way outside A Woman’s Choice of Jacksonville from 7 am to 7 pm.  To get involved or stay up to date on upcoming events in the 40 Days For Life campaign, visits Jacksonville’s 40 Days For Life web-site.

New Bible Study Begins Wednesday Night

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This Wednesday night, September 14th, Church of the Messiah will begin is newest Bible study series.  The title of the study will be “The History of the Biblical Church.”  Fr. Looker will be leading the study and he wants to make it clear that that this Bible study will not be a “Church History 101” class but rather,

We are going to look at The Acts of the Apostles in combination with the various Letters of St. Paul to put pieces together and get a more complete picture of what was going on in the Church during Biblical times.  We are going to see things that are in the Bible.  You’ve just probably never noticed them before.

This Bible study is going to be a fascinating look at the ministry and missionary work of the very first Christians.

“The History of the Biblical Church” will be part of Church of the Messiah’s regular Wednesday night services which begin with a soup supper from 6:00-6:45.  The service itself is a Eucharistic service which begins at seven o’clock.  Childcare is provided throughout the service which ends by 8:30 so that those who need to prepare for work or school the next day can be home early enough to do so promptly.  We invite everyone to join us and learn more about what happened in the earliest days of Christianity.

 

Mid-Week Services Resume September 7th!

worship_musicAfter a Summer hiatus, Church of the Summer will restart mid-week services this Wednesday night, September 7th.  The night will get started at six o’clock with our soup supper dinner.  We will have a variety of soups and bread along with a kid friendly meal for the younger taste buds.  Supper is served from six o’clock to 6:45 and then the service begins at seven o’clock.   To kick off the mid-week services for the Fall, the first service will be a night of extended musical worship and intercession.   In addition to Church of the Messiah’s phenomenal Praise & Worship Team, on this Wednesday night we will also be joined by our old friend Mel Fannin on the saxophone.  This service, along with all our Wednesday night service, is a Eucharistic service.

Childcare is provided throughout the service time.  The service will end by 8:30 in order to allow for those who need to prepare for work or school the following morning to return home in a timely manner.  The service is open for all to attend, so please feel free to invite your friends.

Teachings from Clergy Convocation Now Available

Clergy Convocation Image

On July 6th-9th, the clergy of the Charismatic Episcopal Church in North American gathered at Church of the Intercessor in Malverne, NY, for an incredible time of fellowship, instruction, and worship.  Abp. Bates’ addresses to the clergy are between 35-50 minutes.  The bishops’ sermons are about twenty minutes each.  The Mayor’s opening remarks are about 7 minutes.  If you would like to have these teachings on CD, the can be purchased through Church of the Intercessor for $20.

First Address to Clergy – Abp. Craig Bates [Part 1] [Part 2]

Second Address to Clergy – Abp. Craig Bates [Part 1] [Part 2]

The Mayor of Malverne’s Opening Remarks – Patricia Ann Norris-McDonald

Sermon for Wednesday’s Eucharist – Bp. David Epps

Third Address to Clergy -Abp. Bates [Part 1] [Part 2]

Fourth Address to Clergy -Abp. Craig Bates [Part 1] [Part 2]

Sermon for Thursday’s Eucharist – Bp. David Simpson

Fifth Address to Clergy – Abp. Craig Bates [Part 1] [Part 2]

Sixth Address to Clergy – Abp. Bates [Part 1] [Part 2]

Sermon for Friday’s Eucharist – Bp. Doug Kessler

David Lawrence to Preach at Church of the Messiah

David & Kris LawrenceThis Sunday, August 7th, David Lawrence will be returning to preach at Church of the Messiah.  Over a decade ago, David and Kris Lawrence packed up everything they owned and moved their entire family (three daughters and two sons) to the Middle East.  Ever since then Church of the Messiah has been a ministry partner with David and we have been blessed to hear all that has been accomplished in the Arabian Peninsula and beyond in his years spent abroad.  This Sunday, at our 10 o’clock service, David will have an opportunity to share details with us face to face and give us all the updates we can handle.  Be sure to join us this Sunday because this is one service that you will not want to miss!

 

Church of the Messiah is Taking Donation for Annual School Supply Drive

School-Supplies-DonationsOn Saturday, August 6th, Church of the Messiah will hold its 2nd annual School Supply Give Away.  This is a tremendous outreach to the local community providing children from elementary through high school with supplies they would not otherwise have had this year.  Of course, we cannot do this without the support and generosity of people who are willing to give.  Between now and July 31st, please see the list of supplies below and grab anything and everything you see on sale.  Last year we gave away supplies to provide for one hundred students and this year we would love to do more!  If you would like to give but do not want to buy school supplies, you can give on Sundays or donate on-line (choose “Other” from the drop-down menu and add “School Supplies”).  Here are the list of needed supplies:

Elementary

  • Plastic school supply box
  • Pencils with erasers (fat or skinny)
  • Eraser pencil toppers (fat or skinny)
  • Composition notebooks (large ruled)
  • Primary scissors
  • Pencil sharpeners
  • Crayons

 

Middle School

  • Supply pouch (zipper)
  • #2 pencils and erasers
  • Pencil sharpeners
  • Notebook paper
  • Spiral notebook
  • Paper folders
  • Composition notebooks
  • Colored pencils
  • Red and black pens
  • Scissors (sharp)

 

High School

  • Supply Pouch
  • Mechanical Pencils
  • Red and black pens
  • Highlighters
  • Notebook paper (college ruled)
  • 3-ring binders (2 or 2 1/2 inch)
  • Dividers (6 or 8 subjects)
  • USB storage devices (thumb drives)

It is our desire to show this local community the love of God and that love comes in many different ways.  Sometimes it is clothing the naked and feeding the hungry; others it is giving pencils and papers to those who do not have it so that they are not embarrassed to go to school this year.  If they are too embarrassed to go to school, because they know they do not have the right supplies when they are called on, then they certainly will not do well in school.  We can stop that cycle for some before it ever gets started.

Church of the Messiah to Host Baby Shower for Emergency Pregnancy Services

001 invite (1) (1)This Sunday, June 26th, Church of the Messiah’s Women’s Ministry will be hosting a Baby Shower honoring Emergency Pregnancy Services, from 1:30 to 2:30, at Secret Garden Cafe.  Please RSVP to Lizz Looker by Friday, June 24th.  EPS is especially in need of diaper bags, size 4 and 5 diapers, baby wipes, baby wash, diaper cream, and baby clothes sizes newborn through 2T.  Please come out to support this wonderful ministry which has been giving women in Jacksonville a Pro-Life alternative to abortion for over 35 years!

Funeral Arrangements for Sherry Mills

votiveCandleAs most of you know, Brandon Cribbs’ grandmother Sherry Ricker Mills went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 9th.  Funeral services will be held this Saturday, May 21st, starting at 11 o’clock, at St. John the Divine Charismatic Episcopal Church in Palatka, Florida.  For a Map to the parish, click HERE.  The Rev’d Fr. Scott Looker will officiate the service with the Rev’d Deacon Robert Massey delivering the homily.  An obituary for for Mrs. Mills can be found by clicking HERE.  Please continue to keep Brandon and his mother Sheila in your prayers during their time of grief and loss.

Rest eternal grant to Sherry, O Lord:
And let light perpetual shine upon her.

May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,
Through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

 

Fr. Looker Calls All of Church of the Messiah to Prayer

Wednesday night, at the Ascension service, Fr. Scott Looker called every member of Church of the Messiah to pray daily for the next ten days between the Ascension and Pentecost.  Hear his words from the sermon (<2 min.) by clicking below.

More information will be available in written form on Thursday.  Thank you all for answering the call to prayer!