Foundation Day is June 26th

FD2016

Each year on the Sunday closest to the consecration of our first Bishop, Archbishop Randolph A. Adler, who was consecrated on 26 June, 1992, every Charismatic Episcopal Church in North America takes up an offering. While this offering was originally made to present Archbishop Adler with funds to help him in his ministry, instead he insisted that the best use of this money was to provide grants and loans to our churches so they could build and expand.

Saint Pauls

St. Paul’s Church, Nevada

Church of the Resurrection, KS

Church of the Resurrection, KS

This year Foundation Day falls on June 26th  and we ask each church to take up an offering to help us continue this ministry of building churches to expand the Kingdom of God.  The offering has traditionally been $10 per member of each household.

Recently the Foundation Day helped two churches either get into a new building or expand on their property.   Saint Paul’s Church in Nevada and Church of the Resurrection in Kansas. 

For more information about Foundation Day, including financial reports for past grants and loans Click Here.

Bishop David Simpson to Visit Church of the Messiah this Wednesday

Bishop David Simpson Preaching

This Wednesday night, May 25th, Bishop David Simpson will visit Church of the Messiah in order to preach, celebrate, and confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on four members of the parish.  Confirmation is the Sacrament where adults who were baptized as children make a mature profession of their faith, are strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and receive an apostolic blessing for increased ministry in the Church.  This is an especially festive occasion for those who have been preparing for many weeks for this night.

Bishop Simpson has been in ordained ministry for over 39 years, with 20 of those years in the Charismatic Episcopal Church  where he has served as the Rector of Church of the Resurrection in Miramar, Florida.  This Fall Bishop Simpson will celebrate his ninth anniversary as the Bishop of the Diocese of Florida.

While in Seminary, Bishop Simpson married his college sweetheart Toni.  They have three grown children and have, as of a few weeks ago, now six grand children!  Join us as we welcome our bishop.  He is sure to bring an inspired Word of God.  The service will begin at seven o’clock and will be preceded by our Wednesday night soup supper from 6:00-6:45.  Childcare is provided during the service.  We hope everyone will join us.  It is going to be an amazing night!  All are welcome!

 

Celebrate Pentecost with a Night of Praise and Worship

Coptic Pentecost IconThis Wednesday night, May 18th, starting at seven o’clock, Church of the Messiah will continue to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost with a night of extended praise and worship.  While we have spent the last six weeks in the series “Preparing for Pentecost”, we celebrated the feast on Sunday and it was an incredible celebration indeed.  Refusing to limit the celebration to just one day, Church of the Messiah is going continue the celebration by spending a night worshiping the Lord by lifting our voices and praising the Lord all evening long.  Fr. Scott Melanson has even arranged special guests to come alongside and assist and worship team.  The extended praise time will have all of the time normally dedicated to praise and worship plus all of the time usually reserved for teaching and preaching.  We will, of course, still include time for prayer and the Holy Eucharist.  This service is preceded by Church of the Messiah’s weekly soup supper from 6:00-6:45.  Childcare is provided during the service and the service will end by 8:30 in order to accommodate those who have to prepare for work or school the next morning.  Everyone is welcome and invited to join us as we worship the Lord and give thanks for the harvest and breakthrough in our members and in our community.

Church of the Messiah Called to Ten Days of Prayer

Coptic Pentecost IconWednesday night, at the service to commemorate the Ascension of Our Lord, Fr. Scott Looker called every member of Church of the Messiah to ten days of prayer.  The first chapter of Acts of the Apostles describes how Jesus ascended into Heaven and how, before He was exalted, He said to His disciples, “you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now,” and, “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” (Acts 1:5,8)  The disciples returned to Jerusalem and for ten days “continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14) until the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them and the Church was changed forever.  Mindful of these Scriptures, and reflecting on the teaching heard in the “Preparing for Pentecost” series throughout April, Fr. Looker called every member of Church of the Messiah “vigorously, earnestly, with intention” to  pray until the Day of Pentecost.  Each member is called to pray:

“For ten days, at some point in time every day, I want every member of Church of the Messiah to be praying that, corporately and individually, we have breakthrough and we have harvest, and that when Pentecost comes, we have more than we can ask or imagine.”

You can hear the entire call to ten days of prayer (< 2 minutes) by clicking the link below.  Pray expectantly for the next ten days and see what glory God will do when the Day of Pentecost arrives!

“Preparing for Pentecost” Begins this Wednesday Night

Preparing for Pentecost BannerThis Wednesday night, April 6th, Church of the Messiah will begin their new mid-week teaching series entitled “Preparing for Pentecost.”  As part of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, we believe in the power of Pentecost, but it has been a long time since we participated in a thorough study of the things of the Spirit.  This study help everyone to understand what the outpouring of the Holy Spirit means and how it empowers us today.

“Preparing for Pentecost” is part of Church of the Messiah’s mid-week services and is included in the context of praise & worship, prayer, and Holy Communion.  Prior to the service, from 6:00-6:45 there is a free soup supper for any who wish to attend the service.  Childcare is provided during the service and we are committed to ending the service by 8:30 so that those who have to prepare for work and school the next day may do so.

Join Church of the Messiah Wednesday nights in April and May as we begin “Preparing for Pentecost,” so that, when the great day comes, we are fully ready to receive the power from on high which Our Lord promised.

Funeral Arrangements for Kim Pittman

CathieShimpWe received word this morning that Kim Pittman, the sister of Cathie Shimp, has gone to be with the Lord.  She died peacefully in her sleep after a prolonged battle with cancer.  Services for Kim will be Friday, March 11th, at All Souls Anglican Church (click HERE for a map) beginning at 2 o’clock.  We will publicize more information as it becomes available.  Please continue to pray for Cathie and the entire Shimp and Pittman families in their time of loss.

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

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

 

It’s a Busy Week at Church of the Messiah

This WeekIt’s a very busy week at Church of the Messiah.  On Tuesday night, March 8th, we will host the Ultreya for Northeast Florida.  An Ultreya is a reunion event for anyone who has attended Tres Arroyos or another three-day retreat along the same lines (Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, etc…).  We will begin the evening at 6:30 with a potluck dinner, continue with grouping and conclude with Holy Eucharist.  For more information, please contact Greg Looker.

Wednesday night, March 9th, we continue with our Lenten series “Renewed.”  Fr. Looker is teaching on revitalizing your daily Christian walk by changing the way we look at our lives and walk with the Lord.  The soup supper runs from 6-6:45 before the service, which begins at seven o’clock.  The service ends by 8:30 to accommodate those who have work or school the next day and childcare is provided.  These services have been especially powerful lately.

Our Women’s Ministry’s Lenten Bible study continues every Thursday morning throughout Lent starting at 11 o’clock.  We are studying The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer.  Materials are free of charge for anyone interested in attending.  Contact Diane Looker, who hosts the study, for more information.

On Saturday, March 12th, we have two events!  First, at eight o’clock in the morning, we will have a Men’s Ministry breakfast and work day.  This will be done in order to help make the church look as glorious as possible for Holy Week and Easter over the next two weeks.  Come one; come all.  Many hands make light work!  Contact  John Cunningham for more information.

Later that same evening, we will host Fusion, our ministry to Young Adults as well.  The doors open with light appetizers at 6:30 and the service begins at 7 o’clock.  If you know someone between the ages of 18 and 35, be sure to invite them to our monthly young adults Fusion service.  Our special speaker this month will be Brandon Cribbs.  Contact Tim Bromley for more information.

After all that is said and done, don’t forget that we lose an hour of sleep as we “Spring Forward” with Daylight Savings Time Saturday night/Sunday morning this weekend as well.  Don’t worry though.  Next week is much more laid back.  It’s the calm before the storm until we get to Holy Week, March 20-27!

Lenten Mid-Week Services Continue Tonight!

Renewed BannerWednesday night, February 24th, Church of the Messiah will continue its Mid-Week services which began Ash Wednesday.  Throughout the season of Lent, Fr. Scott Looker will be hosting a series titled “Renewed” and taking its title from the words of St. Paul in Roman 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  The series focus on transforming how we see our spiritual life and renewing our walk with the Lord.  The service itself begins every Wednesday night at seven o’clock and is preceded by a soup supper from 6-6:45.  Everyone is welcome to attend and childcare is provided.  In order to ensure that everyone is able to attend, we are committed to ending by 8:30 in order to accommodate everyone who needs to have children home and prepare for work and school the next morning.

Celebrate the Baptism of Jesus This Sunday

holy-theophanyChurch of the Messiah will celebrate and commemorate the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the River Jordan this Sunday morning, January 10th, beginning at 10 o’clock.  On this day, we remember how God revealed Himself through the Baptism both by submitting to John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon Jesus, and the Divine Voice from Heaven.  We will take the opportunity to renew our own Baptismal vows, not because they have worn off, but rather because we need to be reminded of and reaffirm the call on our lives.  Please join us this Sunday as we celebrate this incredible event in the life of Christ, renew our own Baptismal vows, and pray for those who are about to receive the Sacrament of Baptism throughout the Church.

Celebrate Epiphany this Wednesday Night

Church of the Messiah will be celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany this Wednesday night, January 6th.  The Epiphany is the annual celebration which concludes the Twelve Days of Christmas and commemorates the Magi from East coming to adore the child Jesus.  This year, just as the Magi brought gifts for the child Jesus, we will be bringing diapers to support Emergency Pregnancy Services, our local pro-life crisis pregnancy center.  They are in need of diapers of all sizes, but especially sizes 4 and 5.  There will also be a special offertory to celebrate the feast.

There will be a soup-supper beginning at 6:15 and the service itself will begin at 7 o’clock.  There is no charge for the meal.  As school has resumed, we will conclude by 8:30 so that everyone can have plenty of time to prepare for school and work the next morning.  Childcare is provided during this service.  Please join us as we celebrate this incredible event in the life of Christ and the Church.