eNews

The Messiah Messenger eNews

Friday December 4, 2020

4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
  and put away your indignation toward us!
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
  and grant us your salvation.

Psalm 85:4,7

Worship Services

Due to Santa Cruz County moving back to PURPLE Tier our Worship Services this Sunday will only be via ZOOM at 10am.

The ZOOM meeting ID for Sunday Services will be Meeting ID: 485 087 170. 

Access the room using a smartphone, tablet or computer using this link: https://zoom.us/j/485087170

You may also “listen” to the service without video by calling: +1 669 900 6833

ZOOM worship will continue every Sunday at 10:00am.

Please watch your email, or go to our website www.messiah-lutheran.us for any last minute updates. 

We will also offer a brief continuation of the online service on site for communion on Sundays December 6 and 20 at 11:30am on the Church Patio.

Looking Ahead -Midweek  Advent & Christmas Eve Services Schedule

Worship Services will be on Wednesdays at 6:30 via ZOOM. 

Please use the Sunday Worship Services ZOOM Meeting ID for access…

Meeting ID: 485 087 170. Access the room using a smartphone, tablet or computer using this link:  https://zoom.us/j/485087170

You may also “listen” to the service without video by calling: +1 669 900 6833

Wednesday, December 9

Wednesday, December 16

Wednesday, December 23

Christmas Eve, Thursday December 24

Advent Devotionals Available

We have purchased a limited number of Advent Devotions “Jesse Tree” Our Advent Worship services, and Christmas service will follow the theme of the Jesse Tree.

We will send Advent Devotionals via USPS.

If you would like to receive one, please call the office at 423-8330 or email Barbara at Barbara@Messiah-Lutheran.us. 

You may also order the devotion as an eBook via Amazon Kindle or Apple iBook. Search for “Jesse Tree: Daily Devotions” published by Concordia Publishing.

Board of Directors Board Briefs

Messiah Lutheran Board of Directors this month will be sending out a “Board Briefs” outlining what Messiah Lutheran has experienced this last year and plans for the new year.  Our bylaws do not require a Winter Voters Meeting. Since the COVID 19 restrictions still impact meetings, the board elected to send out a report.  They also plan on a calling campaign by the board to all members to do a short survey and check in with all members.

A Farewell to our Church Musician Tanya Davidson

This has been a challenging year for Worship and for live music all around the country.  It hurts when it comes close to home.

With the return of Santa Cruz County to the State’s Purple Tier regarding COVID-19, Messiah Lutheran church is having to face some further challenges. Our forced move back to online only worship services, and reduced income at Messiah, we had to make many adjustments.

Messiah Lutheran Church Board of Directors and pastor discussed our limited alternatives.  Reluctantly, it was decided that the church would lay off our church musician so that she could apply for COVID 19 unemployment.

It is our hope that when we transition out of this time of COVID, we will be able to worship together on site, and have the financial resources to again hire a church musician.

Message From Tanya

Dear Congregation of Messiah Lutheran Church,

On Wednesday, November 18th, I was informed that my position at Music Ministry of Messiah Lutheran Church has come to an end due to the challenges that live music faces all around the country and globally.

As I am saying goodbye as a musician, I am also saying "HUGE THANKS!!" to all of you as a Christian and a friend.

My time with Messiah Lutheran was very special for me and my family. All the support that I had with my twins’ spiritual and educational challenges, and my personal/musical growth and opportunities was tremendous. I enjoyed chats during coffee hours, international events under the wings of Messiah Lutheran and the joy of sharing delicious food with the community.

It was an honor for me to play Messiah Lutheran's gorgeous organ. I remember precious memories of sharing my musicianship with music lovers of all congregations as an instrumentalist (organ and violin) and as I developed a creative connection with each singer of Messiah Lutheran Choir and the Praise Team over these two years. As this church has a rich singing and instrumental tradition, it's important for all of us to preserve these traditions for the future. I believe that musically, we will meet again.

I wish I could say my goodbye(s) and to express good wishes to all of you in person with cake and chats but hopefully we can revisit this after Covid -19 restrictions clear up.

I am Thankful to Messiah Lutheran, Pastor Rice and all of you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessings, Tanya Davidson.

Thursday Bible Study

The ZOOM meeting ID for 9:30am Thursday Bible Studies will be Meeting ID: 450 934 553.   We are studying The Gospel of Mark.

Access the room using a smartphone, tablet or computer using this link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/450934553?pwd=VW13cmxaWU9TeW02c2JGMnZVRDNJQT09 

Zoom meeting ID: 450 934 553

Preschool Update

The most wonderful time of the year!  It truly is at MLP.  We have the honor and privilege of sharing the Christmas story with the children in our care.  For most of the children this is the first time they have been introduced to the story of Jesus’ birth.
We are also working on transforming our outdoor classroom into a winter wonderland which is a little challenging since most of our decorations are for indoors.  If you have any outdoor decorations that we could borrow please contact the preschool.

To give a donation by buying something on the Preschool’s Amazon Wish List click the blue button:

General Fund Donation

Messiah Lutheran Church, has had to make some budget adjustments, and may make more in the near future.  We are trying to be good stewards of the resources God has given us.  Please consider an additional donation at this time.

If you would like to maintain your stewardship commitments to support the ministry of Messiah Lutheran Church, mail your offering to Messiah Lutheran Church, 801 High Street, Santa Cruz CA 95060, or you can make a General Fund donation by clicking below.  Please email melody@messiah-lutheran.us a note of each online donation that you make so that we can include it in your offering statement.

Stanford Blood Center Blood Drive

The Stanford Blood Center held their 2nd blood drive at MLC on Friday, November 22.  Here is the thank you we received from the center….

Good morning Pastor Rice,

We had a very nice blood drive Friday.  We welcomed 45 through the door, there were 11 deferrals, giving us a total of 34 productive units, which is five more units than the September 11th, blood drive.  Since each whole blood donation is separated into three different components, the 34 productive units, impacted the lives of approximately 132 patients.  Out of the 45 through the door, we welcomed 12 first time donors to Stanford Blood Center, which we are always looking for first time donors hoping they become regular donors.

Everyone who came to donate blood Friday mentioned how nice it was to have a church such as yours, willing to help with blood drives and how this is such a great community event.

Our next scheduled blood drive is for Friday, January 22nd, 2021.

On behalf of the patients we serve, thank you so much for your contribution on making the drives possible.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving weekend and stay healthy and strong.

Monica

Community Drive-Through Food Distributions 

If you or someone you know needs food, call Second Harvest Food Bank at 

(831)662-0991.

Drive-through distributions are Fridays, 9am-1pm as follows:

12/4   FRIDAY - Santa Cruz, Beach Boardwalk

12/11 FRIDAY - Watsonville, Santa Cruz Fairgrounds

12/18 FRIDAY - Santa Cruz, Beach Boardwalk

12/23 WEDNESDAY - Watsonville, Santa Cruz Fairgrounds