Calendar of Events. Wednesday, February 27 6:00 pm Cottage Meeting. 6:00 pm Sit Happens

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1 Calendar of Events Sunday, February 24 8:15 am Holy Communion 9:30 am Sunday School 10:45 am Holy Communion 2:00 pm Kropp Birthday Open House 5:00 pm Youth Group Monday, February 25 5:30 pm Cub Scouts 6:00 pm South Youth Football & Cheer 6:00 pm Contemporary Worship Planning Team 6:30 pm Boy Scouts 6:30 pm Christian Ed./ Youth Committee 7:00 pm Property Committee Tuesday, February 26 4:00 pm Morningstar Choir 6:00 pm Sit Happens 7:00 pm WELCA Wednesday, February 27 6:00 pm Cottage Meeting 6:00 pm Sit Happens Thursday, February 28 9:00 am Morning Prayer 10:00 am SWA History Collection 6:30 pm Finance Committee 7:00 pm Alanon 7:30 pm NA 7:30 pm Sanctuary Choir Friday, March 1 World Day of Prayer Saturday, March 2 10:00 am Cottage Meeting 4:00 pm Renew Worship 6:30 pm Trivia Night MESSIAH MESSENGER USPS Published each week by Messiah Lutheran Church, 324 South Howard Street, South Williamsport, PA. Publication Office, 324 South Howard Street. Entered as a periodical October 15, 1940, at the Post Office at Williamsport, PA under the Act of March 3, POSTMASTER: Send address change to Messiah Lutheran Church, 324 South Howard Street, South Williamsport, PA

2 MESSIAH MESSENGER Published by MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH Phone: address: February 20, 2019 VOL. 77 NO. 8 JOIN US THIS LENT AS WE STUDY JOHN S GOSPEL John is unique among the Gospels. We call Matthew, Mark, and Luke the Synoptic Gospels. Synoptic is a Greek word that means to see together, and it is appropriate here because these three Gospels are very similar. They share much of the same material and general outline of Jesus life. John s portrayal of Jesus is noticeably different from that of the Synoptics. Many of the events recorded in John are not found in the Synoptic Gospels. John s Gospel is largely set in and around Jerusalem, whereas the Synoptic Gospels record Jesus ministry in Galilee. Jesus sounds different in the Synoptic Gospels, where he speaks in parables and in a straightforward, plainspoken way. But in John, Jesus speaks in metaphors that are more obscure. In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus describes the kingdom of God and the ethical imperatives demanded in the Kingdom. (The Kingdom is mentioned seventy-five times in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.) In John s Gospel, the focus is not on the kingdom of God (only mentioned twice), but on Jesus himself as the one who reveals God. The author of John presents Jesus as the source of life, and he wants to be sure we get this. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus calls people to follow him. In John, Jesus calls people to believe in him and to abide in him. Both following and believing in Jesus are important dimensions of Christian discipleship. John s Gospel, more than any of the others, is something of a spiritual or theological commentary on Jesus life, death, and resurrection. We re not meant to read it as a journalist s or biographer s account of Jesus life. In John, details of events and even the words of Jesus are not so much about what actually happened, though clearly they are rooted in what actually happened. Instead they are about the meaning the spiritual significance of Jesus life. For this reason, I believe, Clement of Alexandria (a.d ) described John as the spiritual Gospel. To find out more about why John wrote his gospel, how it differs from the Synoptic gospels, and the spiritual significance he hopes his readers will see, worship and read the Gospel of John this Lent. More details to follow

3 SERVICE ASSISTANTS 8:15 AM 10:45 AM Ushers Harry Seltzer, Pam Eveleth, David Strickler, Rita Strickler, Jody Fullmer Arch Watkins, Debby Frey, Lauren Russell, Charles Luppert, Thad Day Lay Assistant John Silverstrim Susan Bryan Communion Assistant Marilyn Frailey Mary Ann Stitzer Altar Guild TBD TBD Chief Communion Usher Sylvia McCarty Carol Armstrong Communion Presenters/Greeters Al and Marcella Kelley Dick and Bonnie Sheasley Acolyte Sydney Brown Jonathan Hess Crucifer Jackson Peck Lexi Greevy Cantor Rob Byham Rob Byham Flower Delivery Marilyn Winter Sunday, February 17, 2019 at Messiah: Attendance: 144; Offering: The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God by the Anna Knopp Weasner Memorial Fund Morning Prayer is every Thursday at 9:00 am in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. Please Join Us! Daily Bible Readings Sunday February 24 Genesis 43:3-11, 15; 1 Cor. 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38 Monday February 25 Psalm 38; Genesis 33:1-17; 1 Cor. 11:2-16 Tuesday February 26 Psalm 38; 1 Samuel 24:1-22; 1 Cor. 11:17-22, Wednesday February 27 Psalm 38; Leviticus 5:1-13; Luke 17:1-4 Thursday February 28 Psalm 99; Deuteronomy 9:1-5; Acts 3:11-16 Friday March 1 Psalm 99; Deuteronomy 9:6-14; Acts 10:1-8 Saturday March 2 Psalm 99; Deuteronomy 9:15-24; Luke 10:21-24

4 Winter Fun Day on Saturday, Feb. 23rd from 1 pm - 3 pm in Shaheen Hall. ALL CHILDREN AGE 4 - GRADE 6 are invited! Activities will include an INDOOR SNOWBALL BATTLE and there will be a light snack served. No preregistration is required but it would be helpful. A signup sheet is on the alley bulletin board. Any questions, contact Kathryn Pratt at or via at dellpratt@hotmail.com. Looking forward to a lot of fun!!!! Youth Movie Day. New Day & Time! February 23, 1:00 pm. Depending on what s playing at the movie theater, we ll either head to the theater or have a movie afternoon at the church. Either way, we ll have snacks, popcorn, and something fun to watch. Contact Vicar Josh with any questions The Library Corner - Highlighted books in our library Children - Quigley's Village - The Wonder Kids Colossal Cash Caper DVD - Learning to be courageous is fun when Danny, Bubba and Spike imagine themselves as the Wonder Kids looking for adventure. On assignment from Mr. Quigley they find a money purse in the park and are faced with the dilemma of keeping it or giving it back. This DVD is found in the Religious themed DVD section. Adult themed - Traveling on Holy Ground - Pocket Devotions for Lent -Year C - Travel through Lent and upon holy ground. Does holy ground really extend beyond biblical times and places to the times and places in which we live? This book provides the "map" for a journey to discover Jesus Christ through scripture readings, meditation, and prayer. By word and story we reflect on Jesus: How does Jesus relate to Simon or Martha? How does Jesus speak to us in these texts? This resource follows the Gospel of Luke from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday. Book in the Easter section of our library.

5 Cottage Meetings 2019: Messiah members are invited to gather for approx minutes for informal discussion and light refreshments. We will consider what Messiah Lutheran Church currently is, and dream, with the Spirit s guidance, about how Messiah might continue to be a linchpin in this community. February 27 March 2 & 16 Sign-up sheets are in the narthex Times & locations are on sign-up sheets Save this date! Trivia Night is ALL are invited to celebrate Martha Kropp s 90 th birthday. When: February 24 th Stop by any time from 2 p.m. 4 p.m. Where: Shaheen Hall. Please join us! Church Women United in Lycoming County World Day of Prayer Date: Friday, March 1, 2019 Place: Shiloh Baptist Church 433 Walnut Street Williamsport, PA Time: 1:30 PM Theme: Come, Everything is Ready Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God Luke 14:15

6 WELCA Tuesday FEBRUARY 26 7:00 p.m. (Jensen Lounge) MARY WOODS, Peace Advocate, will speak about the 13-month ( to ) Walk for Peace that she, her husband and several others made crosscountry (in RV s and a car) as they spoke with community leaders and planted Peace Poles Devotions Georgette Copp; Refreshments Mary Ann Stitzer and Ruth Doran Everyone is welcome! March 2nd at 6:30 pm sponsored by WELCA and will benefit the Messiah's Preschool Scholarship Fund. Come with your team of six or come and join another group to make a team. The cost is $8.00 for one or $15.00 for two. Please bring a snack to share. Pizza and beverages will be provided. Come join us for good fun, good fellowship and great snacks. See you there! Upper Susquehanna Synod Representative, Robert Bradford sends thank you letter to Messiah for participation in the Christmas-at- Sea project. The letter begins Mine is a letter expressing deepest thanks for your congregation s generous efforts in last year s Christmas-at- Sea project to provide gifts of warm clothing, snacks and holiday greetings the letter goes on to describe the surprised and happy reaction of the cargo crew members that are forced to sit out Christmas in New York Harbor when the portchaplains distributed the 670 gift sacks collected from Upper Susquehanna congregations. The letter ends with Please share these words of appreciation with your congregation council and the congregation as a whole. Thank you. Sincerely yours in Christ, Bob Bradford. Included with the letter was a sheet with the participants names & number of bags collected. Zion Church of Kratzerville (a 1 st time participate) collected the most: 70 bags. Messiah had collected 23 bags. Thirty-nine out of 125 congregations participated in the project including 4 first time participants.

7 The Boy Scout Troop's annual spaghetti dinner will be held in Shaheen Hall on March 16th from 4-7 PM. Dine in or take out. Meal includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, rolls, and dessert. Dine in includes choice of beverage. Cost is $8 an adult and $5 for child under 10. Tickets may be purchased from any Boy Scout, after services on March 3rd or 10th, or at the door. Thank you for your continued support of the scouting program. Shrove Tuesday, or Mardi Gras as it s known in New Orleans, is a celebration before the beginning of Lent. The youth will have a Shrove Tuesday party on Tuesday, March 5 from 6:00 7:00 pm. We ll have a pancake dinner and play some games as we prepare for the season of Lent. It s that time of year again! Time to start thinking about going to Camp Mount Luther this summer and to be an agent of C.H.A.N.G.E. CML offers a variety of programming for children, youth, adults, and families. For more information contact our camp person, Ginny Amme at ginwin2@gmail.com or go to

8 Renew Worship begins Saturday, March 2 at 4:00 PM, and will be offered on the first Saturday of each month. Adding this service, which will feature a more relaxed atmosphere and contemporary music, helps make sure that Messiah is offering a worship opportunity that welcomes all of our community to connect with God. The new service will eventually even include a praise band. If that sounds interesting to you, invite a friend and come check it out! Even if contemporary worship is not comfortable to you, please let others know about it. Services and churches grow through our actions and word of mouth. Central Pennsylvania Food Bank s most popular and important fundraiser of the year: SOUP AND A BOWL! will be held March 1, 2019 at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport, 3 seatings: 11 am, 1 pm, and 4:30 pm. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door and include a pottery bowl. For more information visit centralfoodbank.org under the Special Events tab. Thank you to my dear friends at Messiah for your presence, hugs, kind words, cards, prayers, and other expressions of love and support upon the passing of my mother, Shirley Cristini. -- Kathy Wither and family (Vanessa/Brett, Ali, Gordie, Elliot/Nicole, Jack and Dylan)