The Lutheran Church of the Messiah   

Weekly Devotion 

If you spend much time at all on the internet, you may have seen the photo that a waitress posted a few days ago. The photo shows a standard restaurant receipt, with the gratiuity written into the check-as it almost always is for large parties. The recipient of that check scribbled out the 18% gratuity and wrote in "I give God 10%, why should you get 18? 

-Pastor ____________."

While this kind of note is unconscionably stingy, and gives Christians bad press-and from a pastor, no less-it did strike a nerve in me. My sinful self wanted to reply with some snide remark like "Don't mistake this as a pattern, most Christians are much more generous with their waitresses than with God."

The fact of the matter is, we American Christians do have a generosity deficit. I read with horror the recent book Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don't Give Away More Money, by sociologists Christian Smith, Michael O. Emerson and Patricia Snell. Percentage-wise, the average Christian gives 6/10ths of 1% to charity of any kind whatsoever. And the self-avowedly active Christian gives only an average of 2% to charity.

Face it: we Christians believe that our attitude toward God shapes our attitude toward fellow human beings. If you're miserly with the God who, we believe, in supreme generosity has made and sustained and blessed you, well, you're probably going to be stingy toward others, even those who serve you for very low wages.

We are summoned to a better way of life. A way of life held aloft on the swells of God's unfathomable abundance. That stuff you own? It's not really yours. It's been entrusted to you to use in ways that bring honor to God, and that serve your neighbor. On this latter, we'd do well to remember Luther's interpretation of the commandment to not steal: "We are to fear and love God so that we neither take our neighbor's money or property...but instead help them to improve and protect their property and income."

I know lots of folks see that photo of the receipt with the stingy note written on it and say "Aha. Just what we expected of those Christians." What would it take for them to see true acts of ordinary and ongoing generosity, and then say "Aha. Just what we expected of those Christians"? What would it take for us to live in ways that extended the generosity that God has shown us to others?

Mission Planning Process,  

Month One

During the year ahead, the people of Messiah will be undergoing a focused Mission Planning Process. We want you to be a part of this important process. 

The first part of our process begins with a series of cottage meetings. Our meetings are taking place at different times and in different places so that everyone can attend at least one meeting! 

***** The meeting at the Feibish home has been RESCHEDULED****

Welcome, Carole!

Messiah welcomes Carole Mitchell as music director. Carole comes with a great deal of experience as a church musician, performer, and teacher. Most of you recognize Carole from her presence with us the past few months as our supply organist and choir director. 

 We hope you will get to know her better and to find out more about the future of our music program on Sunday, February 10th, as we welcome Carole with a special reception after worship.

Lent 

The season of Lent begins on February 13th, with Ash Wednesday. There will be two communion services, with an imposition of ashes: a spoken service at noon, and a musical service at 7PM. 

Our midweek Lenten gatherings this year will operate much like our Advent gatherings-- with a simple meal, a reflection, conversation and communion. 

Plan to be present on Wednesdays February 20th, 27th, and March 6th, 13th, 20th.

Council Retreat

Messiah's council, along with the council from Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, will be participating in a retreat led by Pastor John Webber. We will meet at the church Friday, February 8th and Saturday, February 9th.

Everyone is welcome to join us for this time of reflection and planning for our church's future.

Contact Pastor Nathan for more details.

  Rev. Nathan Hilkert

Pastor 

Ms. Melissa Moody 

Office Administrator