At the conclusion of “The Devil’s Playbook” Bible study last night, Fr. Looker announced that Church of the Messiah’s next Bible study will be based on an exciting new book by Canon Mark Pearson.  Canon Pearson is a CEC priest from the Diocese of the Northeast who has preached at Church of the Messiah in the past.  Within the last few months Canon Mark Pearson released Fifty Days of Glory: from Easter Morning to the Eve of Pentecost, a thoroughly Biblical study of life of Christ after the Resurrection and before His Ascension.  We will be using his book as a basis for our studies on the Post-Resurrection life of Christ.  Our Bible study Fifty Days of Glory will run from April 23 through May 21.  Individuals wishing to order a copy of the book may purchase one through web-sites like Amazon.com, however, those interested in making a Church of the Messiah group purchase should contact Janice Paysinger at 721-4199.  Making a group does not purchase does not afford a cheaper purchase price, but it does allow 100% of the proceeds to go directly to Fr. Pearson (as opposed to 20-30% when purchasing from on-line vendors).  Bp. Simpson, who was one of the book’s early readers, wrote a glowing recommendation for the book and then purchased a copy for every priest, deacon, and seminarian in the Diocese of Florida.  This is an amazing book, and it will be an exciting and life-changing Bible study.  Make plans to join us starting April 23 for Fifty Days of Glory!

The April  Ultreya for North Florida will be this Tuesday night, April 8th, beginning at 6:30 in the evening with a covered-dish potluck meal.  Groupings will begin around 7:30 and we will conclude the evening with the Holy Eucharist.  The Ultreya will be hosted at Church of the Messiah (click HERE for a map and directions) and is open to anyone who has attended a Tres Arroyos weekend or similar 3-day weekend retreat (Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Lighthouse Via de Christo, etc…).  If you are interested in sharing a brief (5-10 minute) example from your own 4th Day walk, please e-mail Greg Looker. We look forward to seeing everyone there.

This month’s Ultreya for North Florida will be starting at a new time.  This Tuesday night, March 11, we will begin at 6:30 in the evening with a potluck meal.  Groupings will begin around 7:30 and we will conclude with the Holy Eucharist.  The Ultreya will be hosted at Church of the Messiah (click HERE for a map and directions) and is open to anyone who has attended a Tres Arroyos weekend or similar 3-day weekend retreat (Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Lighthouse Via de Christo, etc…).  We look forward to seeing everyone there.

Services this Wednesday night concluded the seven-week teaching series “According to the Scriptures:” the Biblical Basis for Our Worship with a discussion on why Church of the Messiah baptizes children and infants.  Immediately following that teaching, Fr. Looker announced the topic of the upcoming Bible Study that will run throughout the season of Lent.  The next Bible Study series will be called “A Peek Inside the Devil’s Playbook: A Lenten Bible Study Based on The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis.”

During the height of World War II, legendary Christian writer C. S. Lewis penned weekly correspondences from the elder demon Screwtape to his nephew, the novice tempter Wormwood.  These letters were collected and published in 1942 as The Screwtape Letters and have been regarded as a classic of Christian spirituality ever since.  The letters provide keen insight into how our enemy works to tempt and seduce us from our walk with the Lord and what we need to do in order to prevent such tricks from working.  Having a copy of the book is not essential for participation in the Bible Study, although it will obviously help.

“A Peek Inside the Devil’s Playbook: A Lenten Bible Study Based on The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis.” will be a part of Church of the Messiah’s regular Wednesday night services throughout Lent.  This Bible Study will begin March 12th and continue uninterrupted until April 9th.  Each Wednesday night service begins with a time of praise & worship, includes the time of Bible Study, and concludes with a time of intercessory prayer.  Childcare is provided and we always dismiss prior to 8:30 so that everyone can be home in order to get ready for work and school the following day.  For more information, contact Fr. Looker or call the parish office at 904-721-4199.

The February Ultreya is tonight at the Church of the Messiah. (Click HERE for a map)   Dinner will begin at 6pm and is pot-luck with the grouping beginning at 7pm.  We will conclude with the Holy Eucharist.  The Ultreya is open to anyone who has attended Tres Arroyos or any other three-day retreat along the lines of Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Awakenings, Lighthouse Via De Christo, etc…

Church of the Messiah’s first new Bible Study of 2014 continues this Wednesday at 7:00.  Fr. Looker will teach the second session “According to the Scriptures”: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship in our Wednesday night service this week.  After laying the Biblical foundation Convergence, Session 2 will focus on explaining the Biblical rationale why our church looks the way it does.  Why is the altar in the center of the church and not a pulpit or the choir?  Why do we have a crucifix instead of a cross?  What is with all those men in the dresses?  We will find answer to these questions and more in the Bible this Wednesday night beginning at 7 o’clock.

As always , our Wednesday night services begin at 7 o’clock with a time of praise and worship, followed by the time of Bible study, and concluding with a time of corporate prayer. Church of the Messiah’s Youth Group meets at the same time as this service and child-care is provided as well. The services dismiss prior to 8:30 so that everyone can be home in time to prepare for work and school on the next day.

We encourage everyone to begin planning to make this Bible Study a part of their schedule for the next seven weeks. It will change the way you talk about your church with your friends!

Tonight at seven o’clock, Church of the Messiah will start its first Bible Study series of the new year “According to the Scriptures”: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship. The series will run from next Wednesday, January 15th, through February 26th, and will explain why we worship the way we do according to what the Bible teaches. This is not going to be a newcomers’ class nor will it be a church history class. This Bible Study will look how we at Church of the Messiah worship the Lord and find in the Holy Scriptures why we do it that way rather than like anybody or everybody else. Since 2014 is a year dedicated to Evangelism, we all need to able explain what goes on in our Church worship services. This Bible study will enable you to answer the questions your friends have when you bring them with you to Church and give you the resources to explain–according to the Bible–why we do what we do! This Bible Study is vital to fulfilling our call in the new year.

Each service will begin at 7 o’clock with a time of praise and worship, followed by the time of Bible study, and concluding with a time of corporate prayer. Church of the Messiah’s Youth Group meets at the same time as this service and child-care is provided as well. The services dismiss prior to 8:30 so that everyone can be home in time to prepare for work and school on the next day.

We encourage everyone to begin planning to make this Bible Study a part of their schedule for the next seven weeks. It will change the way you talk about your church with your friends!

Tonight, Wednesday, January 8th, Church of the Messiah will observe the Feast of the Epiphany, the revelation of the Light of the Messiah to the Gentiles.  It is on this night that we commemorate the Three Wise Men travelling from afar, bearing gifts to worship the newborn king.  As the Magi brought gifts to honor the King of Kings, we will bring gifts to support our local crisis pregnancy center, Emergency Pregnancy Services.  This will be a special Eucharistic service that begins at seven o’clock.  Youth Group will join us for this service and child-care will be provided.

After a week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, Church of the Messiah’s Mid-Week Service Bible Study returns this Wednesday Night at 7 o’clock.  In the first two weeks we studies the causes of the Exile and surviving the Exile, but now, as we head into Part 2 of the study, Fr. Looker will be examining the prophets who helped rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem after the Exile.  This Wednesday night the focus will be on the Prophet Haggai.  If you missed any of the previous sessions, you can visit Church of the Messiah’s Sermon Archive and visit the “Wednesday Night Bible Study” section to download both the audio recording of the teaching and the entire PowerPoint Presentations for each night’s teaching!

The service begins at seven o’clock with praise and worship and includes intercessory prayer following our time of study.  Childcare is provided and Church of the Messiah’s Youth Group meets on Wednesday Nights at the same time.  The service dismisses prior to 8:30 so everyone can be home in time for work and school the next day.