Join Church of the Messiah for a Lenten Bible Study

Every Wednesday night throughout the season of Lent, Fr. Scott Looker will be leading an on-line Bible Study on the topic of discipleship.  Almost as exciting as the opportunity to develop a stronger relationship with The Lord is the new format we will be using for the study.  We will still be live streaming to Facebook Live to our Facebook page, be we will also be opening the study up to participation via Zoom.

Every Wednesday night in Lent, starting on February 24th and ending March 24th, you can join the Bible Study by visiting zoom.us and using the Meeting ID and Password in the picture to the left.  Alternatively, you can still participate as we stream the Zoom meeting to Facebook.  The Zoom meeting will open at 6:45 and we will stream to Facebook beginning at 7:00.

We hope that, as we journey together through the Season of Lent, you will join us in this Lenten Bible Study and grow deeper in your walk with The Lord.

Join Church of the Messiah for Ash Wednesday

Church of the Messiah invites you to join us on February 17th, starting at 7 pm, for our annual Ash Wednesday Service.  Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Holy Season of Lent which recalls Our Lord’s forty days in the wilderness following His baptism in the River Jordan.  The season of Lent is time of prayer, fasting, and charitable giving as well as deliberately focusing on strengthening our walk with The Lord.  The Ash Wednesday Service is wonderful way to begin the season of Lent.  The service includes a time of praise & worship, readings and a homily from Holy Scriptures, the special once-a-year Imposition of Ashes and Litany of Penitence, as well as the Holy Eucharist.

That evening we will hold our service in the sanctuary of Ft. Caroline Presbyterian Church to allow us to be seated with social distancing.  We ask that, while up and moving around the sanctuary, people wear masks for the sake of charity and in accordance with local ordinances.  For those who are unable to attend our service that evening, we will live stream the Ash Wednesday service on our Facebook page.  For more information on our COVID precautions, click HERE.

We invite everyone to join us Wednesday, February 17th, whether in person or on-line, beginning at 7 o’clock, as we observe Ash Wednesday and begin a Holy Lent.

You’re Invited to Ash Wednesday Service

On Wednesday evening, March 26th, starting at 7 o’clock, Church of the Messiah will hold its annual Ash Wednesday Service.  Ash Wednesday is the traditional beginning of the Holy Season of Lent which commemorates Our Lord’s forty days in the wilderness following His baptism in the River Jordan.  Lent is time of prayer, fasting, and charitable giving as well as deliberately focusing on strengthening our walk with The Lord.  The Ash Wednesday Service is wonderful way to begin the season of Lent.  The service includes a time of praise & worship, readings and a homily from Holy Scriptures, the special once a year Imposition of Ashes and Litany of Penitence as well as the Holy Eucharist.   Our Youth Group will be included in the special service and childcare is provided for those between the ages of one year old to fifth grade.  We invite everyone to join us this Wednesday night, beginning at 7 o’clock, as observe Ash Wednesday and begin a Holy Lent.

Confession Available Every Sunday Morning Through Lent

Starting this Sunday morning, March 10th, and running throughout the season of Lent, there were will be a priest available to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation every Sunday morning.  If you would like to have a priest hear your confession, someone will be available from 9 o’clock until 9:45 prior to our Sunday morning services.  A special place has been prepared in the first classroom during this time, or you may always reach out to one of Church of the Messiah’s clergy and schedule and appointment for confession on your own.

Lenten Bible Study Begins This Wednesday Night

During the announcements of the Ash Wednesday Service, Fr. Looker revealed the topic of the Wednesday night Bible study throughout the season of Lent.  Because of the Patriarch’s Conference on Church Growth last week, the first night of this Bible Study will be this Wednesday night, March 15th.  During the Lenten services we will be discussing the Jewish root of the Eucharist using the book Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre. Fr. Looker has mentioned how excited he is to be able to address this topic saying,

“I’ve always wanted to preach on Maundy Thursday about the connection between the Passover and the Eucharist, but I never felt that there was sufficient time in one sermon to cover it fully.  With this study, I believe we will be really able to dig into the topic and look at the Last Supper and the Eucharist like the Apostles might have in the first century.”

This is sure to be a fascinating study that will change the way we look at the Last Supper and our own worship services.

As part of our regular Wednesday night worship services, we will begin each evening with our regular Soup Supper from 6:00 to 6:45.  The service itself begins at 7 o’clock and is a Eucharistic worship service.  Church of the Messiah’s Youth Group meets during the Bible Study for their own teaching and fellowship.  Childcare is provided during the service and we are mindful to end by 8:30 so that those with work and school the next day are able to get home and prepare for the next day.

Please join us this Wednesday night, beginning at 6 o’clock for our soup supper and 7 o’clock for our service and Bible Study.  It will be an amazing time of opening up the Scriptures and seeing the Last Supper in a new way, just in time for Holy Week!

Celebrate Ash Wednesday this Wednesday Night

Ash Wednesday BannerThis Wednesday, February 10th, Church of the Messiah will celebrate the beginning of Lent with our traditional observation of Ash Wednesday.  Lent is the season which precedes Easter and commemorates Our Lord’s forty days in the wilderness and Israel’s wandering in the wilderness for forty years.  Christians throughout the ages have prepared to celebrate Easter by observing Lent with prayer and fasting.  Ash Wednesday, as the beginning of Lent, is a special service which includes the Invitation to a Holy Lent, the Imposition of Ashes, and the Litany of Penitence.  This incredibly special and unique service will begin at 7 o’clock.

In order make it easier for everyone to be a part of this service, Church of the Messiah will be serving a soup supper dinner beforehand in the parish kitchen.  Dinner will be served from six o’clock to 6:45.  Everyone is welcome to attend the service and soup supper.  Childcare is provided during the service.  The service will be over by 8:30 in order to ensure that everyone may be home in time to get children ready for school the next morning and prepare themselves for work the next day.  We want everyone to join us for the beginning of the season of Lent and Ash Wednesday, February 10th.

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday

when-is-ash-wednesday-2015-this-year-3This Wednesday, February 18th, begins the season of Lent with the yearly celebration of Ash Wednesday.  Lent is the period of 40 days which both commemorates Our Lord’s 40 days in the wilderness fasting and praying before He began His public ministry and helps us to prepare to celebrate the coming feast of Easter by fasting and praying in similar ways.   Ash Wednesday is the special celebration where we take time to remember that the Christian walk is called to be one of prayer, fasting, and penitence.  We will gather together at 7 o’clock and participate in the imposition of ashes, the litany of penitence, and then partake of the Holy Eucharist as a way to begin a Holy Lent.  We invite everyone to join us this Wednesday, beginning at 7 o’clock for our Ash Wednesday Service.

“The Devil’s Playbook” Concludes This Wednesday!

The Devil's Playbook AdvertChurch of the Messiah’s Lenten Bible study series will conclude this Wednesday, April 9th, at 7 o’clock.  Having spent the last four weeks reading and discussing The Screwtape Letters, we will wrap up our study by focusing on Letters XXV-XXXI.  Here’s a spoiler:  The patient actually dies in the last letter!  Join us Wednesday night and see if the patient makes it to Heaven or Wormwood has his way with him for the rest of Eternity.  We will also be addressing the topics of “unselfishness,” cowardice, what is “real,” and more.  Be sure to be there as we conclude what has already been a life-changing study.

As with all of our Wednesday night Bible studies, the service begins at 7 o’clock with a time of praise and worship.  We end with intercessory prayer and dismiss by 8:30 so that everyone has time to return home and prepare for work and school the next day.  Childcare is provided and Church of the Messiah’s Youth Group meets at this time as well.  We look forward to seeing you there!

“The Devil’s Playbook” Continues Tonight!

The Devil's Playbook AdvertPride, Gluttony, and Lust, are all on the agenda tonight as we continue with week 3 of “A Peek Inside the Devil’s Playbook”: A Lenten Bible Study Based on The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis.  Wednesday night, March 26, beginning at 7 o’clock, we will discuss letters XIII – XVIII of The Screwtape Letters and address three of the Seven Deadly Sins!  This has been an exciting Bible study and many participants have commented how much the weekly sessions have impacted their daily lives.  Join Church of the Messiah tonight and see what everyone is talking about!  You need not have read the book to participate in the Bible study, but, if you have missed any of the sessions, you can view the previous weeks’ presentations and listen to the audio by going to the Wednesday Night Bible Study tab of our Sermon Library and downloading them or listening on-line.

As part of our regular Wednesday night services, the service begins with a powerful time of praise and worship, and concludes with a time of intercessory prayer.  Childcare is provided during the service and youth are participating in the Bible study with the adults.  The service dismisses by 8:30 so everyone has plenty of time to make it home in time to get ready for work and school the next day.  Invite your friends!  We look forward to seeing everyone tonight!

“The Devil’s Playbook” Continues This Wednesday

The Devil's Playbook AdvertAfter an exciting first night, “A Peek Inside the Devil’s Playbook,” Church of the Messiah’s Lenten Bible Study Based on The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis, continues this Wednesday night, March 19th.  We more people attend the first session of “The Devil’s Playbook” than any of Church of the Messiah’s previous Bible Studies and the comments were thrilling!  People who were there last Wednesday night said, “It’s great to read something such as Ole Screwie’s letters and learn from them and then have a teacher guide to new and different insights especially by connecting with biblical references. Love it!”  Another commented saying, “We are having some really great services on Wednesday nights! I would certainly encourage all to come. I look forward to being refreshed by the worship and Word each week!”  Join us this Wednesday night at 7 o’clock to we what everyone is raving about!

This week we will be discussing Letters VII-XII of The Screwtape Letters and addressing topics that include partisanship and causes in the Church, what happens when you do not feel like your prayers are reaching God, Christian attitudes towards humor, and having non-Christian friends.  It will be a lively discussion for sure!  The service begins at 7 o’clock with praise and worship, followed by Bible study and concluded with intercessory prayer.  We will dismiss by 8:30 so everyone can be ready for work the next day.  Childcare is provided during the entire service.  Just in case you missed last week, both the PowerPoint Presentation and the audio recordings are available in the Wednesday Night Bible Study section of our Sermon Library.  Click the link to download and listen.