MESSIAH MESSAGE - Messiah Lutheran Church
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APRIL 2021
MESSIAH MESSAGE
Love God. Love People. Serve Others.
Blindspot
“A salad with all the vegetables!” That’s my Subway lunch order. More often than I care to admit, I pop over to
Subway throughout the week around noon. It can sometimes be a strain on the wallet, and to be honest, the
meal is nothing to ride home about. So, what keeps me going back? The answer... Margie. A sweet older woman
who wears her sanitation gloves past her elbows. She works the counter nearly everyday during the lunch hour.
As she prepares my order, she lets me complain about the struggles that I am going through. On occasion, she’ll
tell me about the current drama in her kid’s lives. Mostly though, it’s me venting. Without realizing it, I’ve almost
turned my lunch break into therapy. It’s the relationship that we’ve developed that keeps me coming back for a
visit.
Once the pandemic hit, I stopped going to see Margie for almost a year. Unlike most other relationships, I really
didn’t miss Margie. At least, I wasn’t aware that I did. I felt a heavy loss when forced to skip family gatherings.
There was a deep hole created not seeing my Messiah family. At some level, that hole still exists. Those losses
were di erent because they were obvious and heavily felt. For Margie, however, I wasn’t even aware that I
missed our conversations. The rst time I walked into that Subway again, it was like a light switch went on and I
suddenly became aware of how meaningful it was to have a nonjudgmental and empathetic listener in my life.
Being unaware that something is wrong or missing is an example of a blindspot. Our lives are lled with them.
Do you ever feel a perceptually unsettled? It feels like something isn’t right, but on the surface, you have control
over everything in front of you. I’ll bet, there’s a blindspot. Blindspots are problems, issues, or concerns that we
have that are brought on by an unknown source. What makes them “blind” is only feeling the side e ects while
being unaware of the cause. It’s nearly impossible to address a problem when you can’t identity its root. Many
may already know this, but spiritual directors, therapists, and pastors never really o er solutions. Rather, we are
tools for helping people help themselves. Once you can name it and claim it, only then, are you able to address
whatever is causing that uneasy feeling.
Blindspots not only exist in our personal lives, but they also exist on a societal level as well. Both as a society,
and as individuals, we must ght against the impulse to say “there’s nothing wrong.” Of course there is, we
know, because we can observe and experience the side e ects. The sooner that we can be honest about our
imperfection, the sooner God can work through us. We can only be transformed into something better through
honesty. I’m not suggesting that all our problems will be solved, but trust me, our barriers are much easier to
overcome when we are aware of what they are and where they come from.
The relationship I have with Margie is how God is calling the church to live. Messiah is a place where we can be
open and honest about the struggles of life. Too often, we understand the church as a community of people that
already has everything gured out. The church has become the last place anyone would ever talk about sin
because, unfortunately, it is most often the church that is rst in line to cast the stone. My sisters and brothers,
the time has come for the church to channel our inner Margie. It’s time to listen. We cannot be the balm that the
world so desperately needs, helping society identity its blindspots, if we’re not willing to hear what the world is
saying. Because we know about the love of Christ, we have so much potential. It is God who will soften our
hearts. God will lay down our stones. God will reveal to us a love
that is radiant, unending, and lled with Grace. New life for us
is just around the corner, I can feel it!
With extra ranch!
Pr. Lucas McSurley
Email: pastor@messiahlutheran.cc
Cell: 937-725-5587
Blog: revre ections.com
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Messiah Message
At a Glance...
Maundy Thursday - April 1 at 7:30pm
Good Friday - April 2 at 7:30pm
Bird House Crafting - Sun, April 4 at 9am
Easter Sunday - April 4 at 10am
National Day of Prayer - May 6
Confirmation Sunday - May 23
Memorial Day Parade - Mon, May 31
Serving Food Bank - Sat, June 12 from 8am-11am
Living Word Learning Series - Sun, Jun 13 - Aug 29 at 9am
VBS - Mon. - Fri, July 26-30
Recurring Ministries
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
10am - Warm-up 10am - Bible 8am - Serving at 11:00am - Women’s 8am - Men’s 9am - Learning
Study Green Good Neighbors
Portage Lakes *Social Hall Brunch Bunch Bible Study Hour *Social Hall
9am - Property *2nd Thursday, *3rd Saturday, FLC
6:30 pm Children Social Hall
Maintenance 9am - Choir
of Alcoholics *currently inactive
6pm - Steps Beyond
7pm - Boy 10am - Bible
7pm - Venturing 10am - Worship
Scouts Study *Online
Crew *Sanctuary
6pm - AA
April 2 Easter Morning
Online
Bird House Building
Join us online or in-person (FLC) on Easter
April 4 morning for a spread-out and family
orientated bird house crafting event at 9am.
April 11
at 11:00am
On Zoom
& In-person
Church Council
Thank you to those who brought
We have one position still open for our council leadership. Please
beauty to our Sanctuary this prayerfully consider if God is calling you to lead our faith family.
Easter Sunday!
Betty Goodwin -
Memory of loved ones Gathering Grounds
Beth Haas -
We’ve been hard at work
Glory of God & memory of
loved ones
transforming our Office
Space into “Gathering
Pearl Haefka - Grounds” a place to sip
Memory of loved ones coffee and enjoy
fellowship on Sunday
Brad & Dorothy McGarvey -
mornings. It will also
Memory of daughter, Lynette
be a nice place to
Becky Pataki - gather for meetings and social
Our Lord & Savior get-togethers. We want this space to feel
like it really belongs to the Messiah
Sue & Don Spears - community, so if you’re looking for a
Memory of loved ones place to grab coffee or hangout
throughout the week, consider Gathering
Irma Studer -
Grounds.
Memory of loved ones
Sandy & Ray Wolter - Open Sun-Weds, 8am-1pm
Memory of loved ones
Memorial Day Parade Con rmation
The City of Green is deliberating whether or not it will Mark your calendars for Con rmation
proceed with the Memorial Day Parade. If it takes place, Sunday on Pentecost, May 23rd. We
Messiah has indicated that we’re excited to participate. missed Luke Ludrosky and Lane
The Parade will be held on Monday, May 31st. Keep Mooney’s Con rmation last year, so we
watch for details and nalizations to come. have seven Con rmands: Avery
Altrichter, Rory Altrichter, Emily Hunter,
Jillian Sanders, and Evan Reed. Get
Mother’s Ministry pumped to celebrate their
accomplishment!
Messiah has been collecting diapers for the last few
months. Since MOPS began, we have made an
intentional e ort to show our support for new and
struggling moms in the community. Are you feeling Pentecost
called to donate a few diapers as we transform our
space into a focus on outreach. There is a need and Sunday
Messiah is called to meet it. Thank you for your e ort
and donations! Now that generous donors have got the
ball rolling, we’re looking forward to launching this
ministry very soon. Men’s Bible Study
Please inquire about whether we will meet in
Easter Drive-thru the Family Life Center on Saturday, April
17th. Together, we socialize and chat about
We had a successful day on March 27, passing out a faith-based topic. We’d love to welcome
goodie bags to 90 kiddos in the community. Every you to our conversation and fellowship.
bag contained the Resurrection story, so we literally Please connect with Mark Ludrosky with further
shared the Gospel! questions.
Wednesday Morning
Bible Study
Now that Lent is over, on Wednesday’s at
10am, Pastor Lucas will lead an online
Bible study live on Facebook. Mostly, this
brief study is an overview from the
devotional resource, the Upper Room.
Brunch Bunch WMLC
Tuesday Morning
The women of Messiah’s next meeting will be Bible Study
Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 11:00am. After the We are planning to resume in-person Bible
meeting we will order pizza from Guiseppe’s and Study on Tuesday April 6th at 10am,
enjoy lunch for those who want to stay. All women following Easter.
of Messiah are welcome.
Leadership Advance Christmas CD
Once a year, Messiah’s council meets for an Messiah has put together a holiday CD lled with
extended gathering to vision together, planning festive music. You can ll-out a form on the website
long-range goals for Messiah. We’ll gather on (www.messiahlutheran.cc) to receive a copy. We’re
Sunday, April 25 from 11am-2:30pm. Stay tuned accepting donations that will go towards our music
and get excited to hear about our discussions! ministry.
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Living Word Learning Series
How do Lutherans read Scripture? Together, we’ll explore what it means to understand the Bible as the living,
breathing, and inspired Word of God. If God is not done speaking to us, how do we know what God is saying?
Come learn, dialogue, and wrestle with tough questions.
Typically, we do not gather for a Learning Hour during the Summer, but we’ve had a long enough break.
Remaining physically distant in the Family Life Center, we will meet on Sunday mornings at 9am, from June 13 -
August 29. Open to all ages, we’ll prioritize youth and adapt the curriculum based on who is present.
Co ee Collection
As always, Messiah continues to
collect coffee for Haven of Rest.
Don’t forget to bring coffee with
you on Sunday or drop it in the
Narthex during of ce hours.
Thank you for your generosity!
Covid Update
Although we have returned to in-person Worship on Family Life Center
Sundays, Messiah leadership will remain attentive,
diligent, and hold safety as our highest priority. You We have begun renting the FLC, making
will always be able to join us for Worship online at
10am on Facebook Live or at our website, sure our guests adhere to Covid
www.messiahlutheran.cc. Please do not attend if you guidelines. Usually 4-5 nights of the week,
feel uncomfortable, if you have been exposed, or feel a small team gathers for basketball. They
even the slightest bit abnormal. Other ministries will
gather in-person at the discretion of that group and are extremely grateful to use our space.
its leaders. Masks must be worn at all times in the
church building. Messiah hopes to continue to see
our folks receive the vaccine. The sooner this Messiah is scheduled
happens, the sooner we can get back to church life to serve at the Food
as we prefer it. On our current trajectory, by May, all Bank on June 12 from
adults are to be able to receive the vaccine. If you
need help signing up, Messiah can get you in touch 8am to 11am. They
with someone who can help. have adjusted to make
sure volunteers are
regularly washing
WE CAN DO THIS!
hands, wearing masks,
For those that are and keeping a
comfortable distance.
gathering, the better
we are at adhering to Save the Date!
safety measures, the
sooner we can National Youth Gathering in Minneapolis.
implement familiar July 24-28, 2022.
community practices.
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Easter Greetings Mission Support
From the ELCA Presiding Bishop
Did you know that ELCA members in more
I try to imagine what it must have been like on that rst
Easter morning when there wasn’t the knowledge of the than 8,900 congregations in the US give
Resurrection. When, instead, it was all about death and approximately $1.7 billion in regular o erings
disappointment. And I imagine Mary Magdalene coming annually to support ELCA ministries in their
to the tomb in order to care for Jesus’ body, to prepare it local communities and worldwide? When
for burial. The story was over. The hope was gone. And members give through their congregations,
then someone shows up in the garden, and Mary can’t
about 5.5% of that money is shared with the
recognize him. Thinking that he’s the gardener, she says,
“Sir, tell me where you’ve taken the body so that I may local synod, which then shares a portion with
bring it back here.” the national churchwide o ce. Thanks to the
faithful and generous support of ELCA
Imagine a woman, literally, thinking that she could carry congregations, the Northeastern Ohio Synod
the deadweight of a man. All of that grief, the heaviness was able to share $583,865 in direct Mission
of that physically as well as spiritually, and just then
Support for ELCA churchwide ministries.
Jesus speaks her name. “Mary,” he says, and her eyes
are open. And she can see Jesus because she has been
seen by Jesus. Her name has been called by the risen
Lord, and now she is part of the Resurrection story that
happens for all of us in baptism. Jesus has called all of
us by name and knows every one of us. And we too now
are part of the Resurrection story. Her mourning was
turned into dancing
Happy Easter, dear Church
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
.
.
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Endless Possibilities!
Messiah Lutheran Church
What would you like to see happen with Messiah’s overgrown Council Meeting Agenda
backlot? Below are some brainstorming ideas. Whatever we March 28, 2021
do, it’s important to understand our mission as being for the
surrounding community. Devotion: Laura
Treasurer/Generosity Report:
- Looks like we’re a little behind, but
Garden nothing to panic about.
Our Boy Scouts are already off to a great start!
President’s Report: (Kirk)
- April’s Council meeting will be our
Walking Track extended “advance meeting” April 25,
Many times, we’ve seen mothers lunch provided.
walking our building while their - Council installation that day in
worship as well.
kiddos play basketball!
Property: Jack (on vacation)
- Jennifer, Ray, Bill, and Pastor are
Pavilion working hard to transform co ee
Picnics and church life go hand-in-hand! room. Flooring was $730.
- Painting at least two more handicap
parking spots
- We have a couple people willing to
Playground donate AED,who should get
Talk about family-friendly! certi ed, any reason not to move
forward?
Social: (Laura)
Food Forest - A ton of Co ee and Diapers were
A low maintenance “let it grow” garden! donated
- Continuing to explore Family Promise
Fellowship: (Mark)
- Planning Spaghetti Dinner for the Fall
Solar Panels - Easter birdhouse building
Imagine our church helping a
neighborhood with energy bills, likely Worship:
national media coverage! - Holy week coming up
- Slowly incorporating regular liturgy
- Covid protocol going well
How is the Spirit speaking to you? Discipleship:
- Con rmation is May 23rd
Let’s get creative! - Vacation Bible School July 26-30
- When to begin Sunday School hour?
Evangelism:
Military Service Wall - Easter drive thru was success!
- Messiah’s calls are now being
Messiah is in the early stages of looking forwarded to Pastor
into honoring those who have served
our country by displaying a military Pastor’s Report:
service wall indoors. Eventually, we’ll - Dates he’ll be out of town.
add memorial bricks to our garden
outside. You will receive an email
outlining more details about the wall and Prayer
how to add a family member to the wall.
THANK YOU to those who have served!
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Worship Attendance ANNIVERSARIES APRIL
2 Florence Putz
February March 3 Don Spear
APRIL
7 - 123 online 7 - 109 online 5 Brittany Zager
HAPPY BIRTHDAY !
14 - 116 online 24 in-person 27 Bill & Vikki Schmeidel 9 Allison Hughes
17 - 91 online 14 - 75 online
Avery Sanders
10 in-person 29 in-person
21 - 73 online 21 - 90 online 10 Presley Reed
28 in-person 37 in-person 14 Tyler Pellikan
28 -101 online 28 - 71 online 15 Jaclyn Cain
24 in-person 42 in-person
17 Kelly France
Ralph Burkey
19 Courtney Bennett
Messiah Lutheran Church Finances January - February 2020 20 Seth Stennett
Income Expense Income - Expense 23 Kelly Ward
$250,000 Jordan Pellikan
Income is $12,300 less than budget. 24 Kayla Levers
Expense is $500 under budget.
Balance is $11,800 deficit vs budget. Erin Jackson
$224,300 $224,300
Projected Balance of $19,000 deficit at end of year. 26 Owen Cain
29 Kelly Sanders
30 Bill Freund
$200,000
Bob Porter
April Readings
4 Isiah 25:6-9
Acts 10:34-43
$150,000 John 20:1-18
11 Acts:4:32-35
1 John 1:1-2:2
John 20:19-31
18 Acts 3:12-19
$100,000
1 John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48
25 Acts 4:5-12
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18
$50,000 $45,000
$37,400 $37,900
$32,700
$7,100
$0
$0
($4,700)
Yard Signs
($50,000)
Year To Date Actual Year To Date Budget Annual Budget Available in the
Church O ce!
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