March for Life at Church of the Messiah

This week more than a dozen members of Church of the Messiah will be heading up to Washington, D.C., to join with CEC for Life and participate in the 47th Annual March for Life.  If you cannot make the trek to the frozen north, you can still participate in a series of events planned right here at Church of the Messiah.

On Thursday night, beginning at 7:00, we will have a night of pro-life intercession and prayer at Church of the Messiah.

On Friday morning, starting at 9 o’clock, we will participate in a silent prayer vigil at All Women’s Health Center at 1545 Huffingham Road (click HERE for a map.  Please park in the church parking lot or alongside the road.)

On Saturday morning, starting at 9 o’clock, we will be leading the Liturgy for the Pre-Born in front of All Women’s Health Center.  If you have never attended one of these liturgies, this will be a perfect opportunity to do so.

For more information on any of these services, please contact Casey Harlow or Fr. Scott Melanson.

In light of these scheduled event and our many youth who are traveling to Washington this week to participate in the March for Life, we are cancelling both Youth Group and our Adult Bible Study on Wednesday night, January 22nd.  This events will resume as normal on Wednesday, January 29th.

Lenten Bible Study Series Begins Wednesday Night

This Wednesday night, March 13th, Church of the Messiah will begin a new Bible Study series which will run through the the season of Lent.  This teaching series will bring back the previous “Lent with Lewis” theme and will be based on C. S. Lewis  work Reflections on the Psalms.  The Book of Psalms is the Old Testament book most frequently quoted in the New Testament.  It was the hymnal from which Jesus would have worshiped every morning and every evening.  C. S. Lewis has tremendous insights into the wonderful but rarely mined source of wisdom.  The evening begins with a soup supper from 6:00-6:45 prior to the service.  Our Lenten services will include a time of praise and worship, readings from Holy Scripture, teachings based on Reflections on the Psalms, and the Holy Eucharist.  Additionally, Church of the Messiah’s Youth Group (6th grade and up) meets during this time and childcare is provided for those too young for Youth Group.

Wednesday Night Services Resume Tonight!

After a long hiatus for the Summer and very successful 25th Anniversary Celebration, Church of the Messiah is excited to restart Wednesday Night services, this Wednesday, September 12th.  We begin the evening with a free community dinner from 6:00-6:45.  Tonight there will be two different types of soups, salad, and a kid-friendly option.  The service itself begins at 7 o’clock with a time of praise of worship, reading of Holy Scripture, prayer, a life-application Bible study on the First Letter to St. Timothy, followed by Communion.  Since we know that many have to prepare for work and school the next day, we are committed to be finished by 8:30.  During our Wednesday Night services, Youth Group, which is for students in 6th through 12th grades, meets in our Youth Room.  Throughout the entire service we have childcare provided.  For more information email or call Church of the Messiah at 904-721-4199.

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!

Series on the Mission of the Church Continues This Wednesday Night

Church of the Messiah’s mid-week series on the Mission of the Church continues this Wednesday, February 1st.   Having already celebrated the Confession of St. Peter and the Conversion of St. Paul, this Wednesday we will observe the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple.  This is the occasion when the Church remembers how the Holy Family brought the 40 day old Jesus into the Temple to present Him to the Lord according the Law and how the prophets Simeon and Anna foretold His destiny at that time.  This is an incredible event in the life of Christ and it has a great deal to say to the Church in the world we find ourselves today.  Join us this Wednesday as we hear how the Presentation speaks to the Mission of the Church and how each of us as Christians can participate individually in the call to reach the world.

Every Wednesday night begins with a soup supper from six o’clock to 6:45.  The service itself begins at seven o’clock.  Childcare is provided during the service for those younger than 6th grade and Church of the Messiah’s Youth Group (6th-12th grades) will be meeting during the service as well.  The evening will conclude by 8:30 so that everyone can have plenty of time to return home and prepare for work and school the next morning with plenty of time.

Wednesday nights are always amazing at Church of the Messiah.  Bring a friend.  Have dinner and fellowship, then hear about the mission of the Church and our call to live in the world today!  It’s going to be an incredible few weeks.

Series on the Mission of the Church Continues This Wednesday Night

Church of the Messiah’s mid-week series on the Mission of the Church continues this Wednesday, February 1st.   Having already celebrated the Confession of St. Peter and the Conversion of St. Paul, this Wednesday we will observe the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple.  This is the occasion when the Church remembers how the Holy Family brought the 40 day old Jesus into the Temple to present Him to the Lord according the Law and how the prophets Simeon and Anna foretold His destiny at that time.  This is an incredible event in the life of Christ and it has a great deal to say to the Church in the world we find ourselves today.  Join us this Wednesday as we hear how the Presentation speaks to the Mission of the Church and how each of us as Christians can participate individually in the call to reach the world.

Every Wednesday night begins with a soup supper from six o’clock to 6:45.  The service itself begins at seven o’clock.  Childcare is provided during the service for those younger than 6th grade and Church of the Messiah’s Youth Group (6th-12th grades) will be meeting during the service as well.  The evening will conclude by 8:30 so that everyone can have plenty of time to return home and prepare for work and school the next morning with plenty of time.

Wednesday nights are always amazing at Church of the Messiah.  Bring a friend.  Have dinner and fellowship, then hear about the mission of the Church and our call to live in the world today!  It’s going to be an incredible few weeks.

The History of the Biblical Church Series Available On-Line

biblical-church-advertOn Wednesday, October 19th, Fr. Looker concluded the five-week teaching series The History of the Biblical Church.  Now the entire series along with the PowerPoint presentation used during the teachings are available on-line.  During the Bible Study, Fr. Looker took context clues given by St. Paul in his various Epistles to expand the picture given by St. Luke in The Acts of the Apostles.  By comparing details in St. Paul’s writings with St. Luke’s story, the congregation was able to hear a much more full and and vivid story of the history of the earliest Church, the Church during the times of the apostles, evangelists, and disciples, than they had ever seen before.  This was a very enriching teaching series and now it is available for download.  You can download the PowerPoints and listen along with the teachings or just listen to the teachings by themselves.  A new series begins Wednesday, October 26th, at seven o’clock.

Week 1: Introduction & Background [Download the PowerPoint]

Week 2: The History of the Church of Galatia [Download the PowerPoint]

Week 3: The History of the Church in Thessalonika [Download the PowerPoint]

Week 4: The History of the Corinthian Correspondence [Download the PowerPoint]

Week 5: The History of the Prison Epistles [Download the PowerPoint]

Wednesday Night Service Canceled to Prepare for Hurricane Matthew

hurricane-matthewIn order to provide everyone with ample time to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Matthew, Church of the Messiah is cancelling service for Wednesday night, October 5th.  While we do not anticipate that weather would disrupt our service tonight, we want to give all of our members plenty of time to exercise all due prudence in making all necessary preparations before the storm’s arrival late Thursday night.  This cancellation will affect our Wednesday night service on October 5th, the Intercessors’ Meeting on Friday morning, October 7th, and Fusion on Saturday, October 8th.  It will not affect our Sunday morning service which will continue as normal at 10 o’clock on Sunday, October 9th.   Please be in prayer for all those who are in the path of Hurricane Matthew and those who have already been affected by this storm.

Topic of Newest Bible Study Announced

biblical-church-advertLast night, during the amazing night of worship and intercession, Fr. Scott Looker announced the title and topic of the new, upcoming Bible study series for Church of the Messiah’s Wednesday night services.  The title of the study will be “The History of the Biblical Church.”  It will be a five-week series beginning September 14th and concluding October 12th.  Fr. Looker was quick to point out that this would 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.

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!