Newsletter

 

Pray for Peace

In this sad and tragic time of war and terrorism, we pray for our men and women in the military, our President, and Congress. We pray for the innocent who suffer and die. We pray for every effort to bring peace on God’s earth and an end to national, ethnic and   religious beliefs that foster fear, mistrust, arrogance, intolerance, hatred, torture, and   killing.

 

FREE TRANPORTATION TO AND FROM MESSIAH WORSHIP SERVICES

 

Thanks to the generosity of a Messiah member, we now provide free transportation to and from Messiah. Simply call ACTION CAB AND COURIER, 381-1010, to make arrangements and tell them to bill Messiah for your fare.

 

SATURDAY SUPPERS at Messiah

“Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”  Proverbs 11:25

  

Messiah Church opens the door for a free meal on every Saturday Night, serving 4:30 to 5:30 PM.

 

VOLUNTEERS: Without volunteers every week, this ministry simply would not be.  Many of you are regulars – which is a huge support.  There are also regular co-workers from other churches.  The sign up poster is down in the fellowship hall, near the coffee.

Help is especially needed to SERVE the meal – this means just come from 4:00 to 6:00.

8-10 people are needed each Saturday.

SAINT FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER / SUPER SAVER / ROBERTS MILK / HY-VEE

We continue to be so grateful that some of the meal needs are supplied by these connections.  We also rely on monetary donations that help provide a substantial part of the meal and there is often enough for take outs.

 THANK YOU TO OUR FAITHFUL CAPTAINS AND CO-CAPTAINS

Ed & Carol Young,  Jim & Janice Elrod,  Dave & Julie Reimers, Theresa Burson

Please sign-up to help serve - we need more Messiah folk to “step up!”

MONEY GIFTS SUSTAIN NEEDS -  Just mark donation for “Saturday Suppers.”

 

THANKS BE TO GOD – AND THANKS BE TO ALL WHO SUPPORT SATURDAY SUPPERS!

 

Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study

September 12—9:40 a.m.

Today I ate all 3 meals – I didn’t skip one and I had at least a couple of snacks.  I have lost and gained the same 5 lbs for over 1 year and rarely have to even listen to my stomach growl.  While almost everyone I know eats as well as my family does, reality is that 16,000 children die every day from hunger and hunger related causes.  In the U.S. one in every 10 households either lives with hunger or is at risk of being hungry.  Messiah’s Saturday Suppers are a weekly reminder to us of hunger in our own community.  Adult Sunday School will start at Messiah on September 12^th with a 5 week study of Hunger.  We will be using the Taking Root: Hunger Causes, Hunger Hopes Curriculum from the ELCA.   I hope you will join us for this in depth study of hunger in the world today.  The adult Sunday School class meets between services in the lounge.  Please grab a cup of coffee and a doughnut and join us on September 12^th.        Pat Bell, Adult Education Leader

 

LIBRARY NEWS

As I write this it was just one week ago that I was packing my bag to attend the Women of Faith conference in Omaha.  One of the main speakers at the conference was Sheila Walsh.  She touched my heart both last year in Denver and this year in Omaha.  What a wonderful message of trust and faith!  It’s so easy to imagine listening to a speaker that they have such a life of ease and luxury, but that has not been the reality of Shelia’s life.  She has struggled with her faith just like you and I.  Her father died when she was a very young child, she spent a year in a psychiatric hospital and lived many years uncertain of God’s love for her.  “Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God” is her story and search for a deep relationship with God and living a life of trusting in our heavenly Father.  Shelia provides insight into the lives of 10 people from the Bible and their own battles of trusting in their relationship with God, to help us gain understanding in her message.  If you too desire to deepen your relationship and trust more completely in God, I hope you will stop by the library and check out this book.  Shelia’s book “Let Go” is also in the church library.  Other books brought back from Women of Faith include:

 

Untamed by Lisa Harper,

Doing Life Differently by Lucy Swindoll

Revitalize Your Spiritual Life

Angel Song - fiction

A Lady Like Sarah - fiction

Just Between You and Me - fiction

Guys are Waffles Girls are Spaghetti – for Teens

 

 

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY—Messiah has been given a Habitat Family to adopt.  Dana Jelinek will introduce them to our congregation at both services on August 29th.  They are

Martha Lagunas and her husband, Noe’ Catalan and they have three children.  Their Habitat

House #56 at 1010 N. Poplar will be dedicated on September 11th.  Items to help this family get established in their new home are on a poster board in the entrance of the church.  If you can donate any of these items or team up with someone to help donate an item, please take a sticky note from the poster board and bring that item to church by September 9th.  A table will be set up in the front of church along the west wall.  If a monetary donation works better for you, gift cards can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Skagway, Menard’s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, etc. and bring gift cards to the church office.  These gifts and gift cards will be give to them whey they move into their new home!!! Thank you!

 

THANK YOU to everyone who stepped up and volunteered to help Clean Community Systems with the litter pick-up on Tuesday evening, August 17.  The area we were responsible for was Sycamore Street from 4th to Capital Avenue.  When you see the following people, please tell them thank you and give them a pat on the back.  They are Gary Tank, Steve Kjar, Pat Tatro, Sharolyn Moss, Jeff & Sue Koch, Bill & Georgia Stettner, Dave & Tina Benson, Jim & Janice Elrod.  A special thank you to Sue Koch for getting it set up and to Jeff Koch for taking the trash to Grand Island Senior High to dispose of it.

 

QUILT AUCTION—The quilt made for the Camp Carol Joy Holling Quilt Auction sold for $500.00

 

BIBLES FOR THE MILITARY—Donations received to date for Electronic Bibles for the

Military, especially those deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan total $400.00.

 

CHOIR REHEARSAL begins Wednesday, September 8th at 6:30 p.m.   Anyone who likes to sing is welcome!  Come join us as we kick-off the new year!  Rehearsals will be Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

 

SYNOD HEARING—AUGUST 31, AT 7 PM—FIRST ST. PAUL’S, HASTINGS

Draft of Genetic Social Statement.  This hearing is open for comments, to learn more about this and for input.  Any member of Messiah invited and welcome!  Pastor Johnson is the

monitor for this hearing.

 

GRAND OPENING—GOOD SAMARITAN—GRAND ISLAND VILLAGE

Please join us for the Grand Opening of Good Samaritan, Grand Island, Friday, September 17th at 2:00 p.m., Stone Creek Community Center, 4075 Timberline Street, Grand Island. Events include a dedication service in the Village chapel, ribbon cutting, tours and a reception.

Everyone is welcome!

 

DVD MINISTRY—If  you are homebound or have had surgery or an illness and can’t come to worship on Sunday mornings, we offer a DVD of the worship service for you to watch in your home. Just call the church office (382-3471) and we can set you up with a DVD player.  If you have a DVD player we can get a copy of the DVD delivered or mailed to you.  All you have to do is let us know!

 

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL KICK-OFF

September 12th—9:40 AM

The kids will meet with their teachers in the classrooms to begin the new curriculum “Spark”.  Then at 10:20 everyone will go outside on the front lawn for a balloon launch!

See you all September 12th!

Dena Brooks, Director of Sunday School

 

  

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

What an exciting time of year!  New school supplies, new clothes, new friends and old and a new Sunday School year...This year we are using “SPARK” Sunday School material. We will be learning lots about the Bible and how God’s love for us is shown to us every day.  I would like to thank all of the staff who helps Sunday School be so wonderful.  Please let me know if you would like to help in any way.

In Christ, 

Dena Brooks, Sunday School Director

 

CONFIRMATION INSTSRUCTION

 

Classes begin for 7th & 8th grade youth

Wednesday, September 15

7:00-8:00 p.m.

The material we will be using is...

“Crossings—God’s Journey With Us”

 

Confirmation Retreat for 6th & 7th grade youth

 is September 10 & 11 at Timberlake Camp, Marquette

 

Rite of Confirmation is October 31st—10:45 service

For youth who have completed 3 years of Confirmation Instruction

Pictures will be taken by Lad Photography after the service

The Women of the ELCA will host a reception for the confirmands and their families between services in the fellowship hall

 

               VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Wow What a fantastic week!!! We had an average of 28 children attend this year.  It was such a privilege to be a part of a week that inspired children to do Gods will and help those in need. Through hard work our children were able to raise money for Habitat for Humanity and spread Gods word.
  I would like to thank everyone for their support with VBS....the Carvers Club, Sewing ladies, all of our teacher volunteers, high/middle school youth, snack volunteers, council, Cheryl and Pastor. All of your support helped make this years VBS

happen!!    Thank You!   Courtney

 

HEALTH MINISTRY NEWS – September 2010

 

As I sit to write my monthly blurb for the newsletter, the weather has cooled, school is starting and the water parks will be closing, football has returned to the TV and these are all signs that Fall is approaching.

 

The tempo of activity at church steps up and soon it will be Rally Sunday.

 

It has been a particularly busy week for this parish nurse. As I reflected on the

encounters of the week, I thought about this wonderful bit of “wisdom” that I

chose to share with you.

 

When I woke up this morning lying in bed, I was asking myself

What are some of the secrets of success in life?

I found the answer right there, in my very room

The Fan said…be cool

The Roof said….Aim high

The Window said…See the world

The Clock said….every minute is precious

The Mirror said….reflect before you act

The Door said  Push hard for your goals

The Carpet said…..Kneel down and pray

 

Simplicity often is the answer, and in the silent moments of life…we find rest and

renewal. So, think upon those words of wisdom.

 

Blood pressures will be taken between services on September 26

 

Exercise classes continue each Saturday morning and there is no class on

September 11.

 

Blessings to each of you!

 

Sonja Simpson RN MSN, Parish Nurse

 

 

THANK YOU

The family of Jerry Schultz wishes to thank everyone for their

kindness shown to them after his death.  Many, many thanks to the kitchen staff who organized and served the funeral luncheon.  Also thanks to everyone who brought food. It was all done very nicely and taken care of.

 

WOMEN OF THE ELCA

 

Hope everyone has had a great summer with family and friends, safe trips and vacations...now it’s time to begin our fall schedules.

 

General Meeting is Thursday, September 9th at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall.  All women are invited to attend.  Bring a guest!  The program will be given by Pat Bell on the Library.

 

The new officers were installed at the June General Meeting.  They are:

President—Marge Roberts Secretary—Lois Redman

Vice President—Sylvia Happold Treasurer—Roberta Johnson

 

We continue to sew quilts for Lutheran World Relief and meet Monday mornings in the

fellowship hall from 9:00 to noon.  If evenings work better, we sew on the 1st and 3rd Monday evening from 6:00 to 8:30.  Come join us!   (We have 128 quilts boxed up for LWR)

 

For the month of September we will be collecting items for School Kits—We are needing blunt

scissors, legal pads, tablets, pencil sharpeners, pencils with erasers, and construction paper

in assorted colors. Place them in the basket that is set up in the narthex.  We can also use sewing needles and thread to complete the sewing kits. Thank you!

 

Remember ladies that you are all invited to attend a circle meeting of your choice— They meet on the third Thursday of each month.  Lydia Circle meets at 9:00 AM at the church, Miriam  Circle meets at 12:30 at the church and Ruth Circle meets at 1:30 PM in the hostess’ home.

 

                       

 

 

WELCA CALENDAR

September 9—1:30 General Meeting

September 16—Circle Meetings

September 18—Autumn Renewal—Bethlehem, Wahoo

September 21—2:00 Miriam Circle visits Lebensraum

FACEBOOK

Into Facebook?  Become a fan of Messiah Lutheran Church, Grand Island, Nebraska on Facebook today!  What will you find there? 

Pictures from Family Life and Youth Events.  Also the website

address, office hours, schedule of upcoming events and maybe a friend or two.  Already a fan...share photos and friendship on the Messiah Facebook page!!