Vicar John Sorensen is Preacher and Celebrant

this Sunday November 26, 2023, Christ the King!

Dear Friend in Christ:

This Sunday, November 26, is the last Sunday of the Church year, fittingly called in the lectionary calendar "The Last Sunday after Pentecost." We end our lectionary readings that followed Easter and Pentecost in a triumphant manner, calling the day "Christ the King." The collect sums up the theme:

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The prophet Ezekiel proclaims that The Lord God is searching for his sheep so that he can be their shepherd. God will give them good pasture, grazing land and plentiful water. God will seek the lost, bring back the strayed, bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. Ezekiel then Changes his tone to one of judgement and warning. There are fat sheep that have abused the weak sheep, butting them out of the good pastures and scattering them. God will restore the abused sheep and make them whole.

The Gospel reading is the last Gospel Reading from the Book of Matthew this year. It is Matthew's Last Judgement Scene. But Matthews King Jesus judges not on a person's conversation to Christ, but based on doing Good Works. The Divine King will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. The good sheep are the ones who when "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me!" The ones who did not do those things were sent "into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Those who cared for their fellow humans are sent into "Eternal Life."

You can find this Sunday's lessons at this link. Next Sunday, December 3, is the first Sunday of Advent. It is also Stewardship Ingathering Sunday.

Our Episcopal Church of the Messiah

2024 Stewardship Program Has Begun!

The annual Thanksgiving Stewardship Appeal has been sent to the church! A 2024 pledge card is enclosed below for you to print and complete! You can also find a regular pledge card at the Church entrance, to place in the the offering basket during Advent worship. Let's build Messiah's Future Together!

Messiah Christmas Party Sunday, December 10

After Church in the Upper Room

Bring a Sweet or food to Share, Join in Carol Singing.

Messiah has once again sponsored an Angel Tree with our friends at Fostering Hope. Each tag lists a child, his or her age, and a wish. All of the gift tags have been taken for fulfilling. Please remember to bring your

gifts UNWRAPPED and securely packed in a bag with the tag attached this Sunday, Nov. 26 so we can get them to Conway by their deadline.

Our "New" Parish Secretary to Begin December 5!

About a year ago, our Parish Secretary left her position at Messiah to pursue a new job opportunity. During that time, we considered a few applications but did not find the right "fit". For one thing, we thought that the best practice would be to have a Parish Secretary who was not a member of the Episcopal Church of the Messiah. So, we've gone a year without a Parish Secretary.

Recently, we reconnected with that former Secretary. A part-time position at Messiah was exactly what she was now looking for. In addition, during her time away, she became a member of a parish closer to her home and is happily the member of another church. She is also very happy to become our church secretary again.

So, Wednesday, December 5, Patty Tate will begin as the Parish Secretary of the Episcopal Church of the Messiah. Her work will not be exactly as it was before; for example, previously Patty was a vestry-member who also organized outreach projects. That will not be part of her work. Additionally, in order for Patty to implement some new office software systems and coordinate that ACS software with Treasurer Peggy Kovacs, Patty will not initially produce the church bulletin. That work will remain with Amy Jordan for a while more. We are very grateful that Amy has produced the church bulletin for the past year, and organized the Sunday Worship Volunteers, and is willing to do that for a little while more.

During the past year, our Vicar has started a Constant Contact E-newsletter. This type of email communication has become the standard for organizational communications and we will continue that practice. The E-news will normally be co-produced by the Vicar and the Parish Secretary. The secretary will add announcements and the vicar will provide the message. Patty will establish a procedure for sending her announcements for the newsletter once she is on board and gets the office running again!

Welcome back Patty Tate!

Our October Visioning Retreat II Concludes with Recommendations for Building a New Messiah Church

Our second visioning retreat with Ann Fleming of the Episcopal Church Building Fund (photo above) concluded Monday afternoon, October 30, with five specific recommendations for building the new Messiah Episcopal Church on a new property in Myrtle Beach. You will be hearing more from the Steering Committee in the coming weeks, and the Vestry will consider the recommendations at their November 19 meeting. But here is a brief Summary of the Recommendations of our team, pictured above.

(1) begin the process of calling a full-time residential priest to Messiah by Summer of 2024, and provide a paid support staff for the office to support our clergy and ministry

(2) Grow and Expand the Messiah Congregation, and redevelop and improve existing parish program and ministry offerings

(3) Proceed with the purchase of a 1.4 acre lot that we believe is the future location of the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Myrtle Beach

(4) Develop a financial and business plan to fund 1-3 above and lay out the timeline and steps that will lead to the construction of our new church within five years. This report will become our plan to be presented to and approved by the diocese for support and funding for this new future!

(5) Meet with the Diocese for acceptance and funding.

Stay tuned for more news, and keep our congregation in prayer. This will require the time, talent and treasure of each of us!

Many Blessings,

Fr. John

Messiah Sunday Children's Program

Our regular worshippers include at least three families with young children who have difficulty attending the entire worship service. Most churches consider it a part of their ministry to all their members to provide a childcare opportunity during Sunday worship. Our Fall Childcare program began September 10.

Chelsea, our new childcare person has enjoyed working with our children and will continue to do so. With your support and encouragement, Messiah will develop a quality, predictable Sunday Children's Program. This is an important component to church growth! We are can report that Chelsea will offer childcare for our 7pm Christmas Eve Service!

A Short History of Episcopal Church of the Messiah

Messiah was founded as a congregation on Sunday August 4, 2013. The church rented classrooms on 79th avenue to hold our first worship services. We had to move our furnishings in and out each Sunday. Fr. Wilmot Merchant, Rector of Saint Stephen's, North Myrtle Beach, helped us connect with the Methodists, who gave us space for over a year at their 65th avenue school property near the ByPass. In the fall of 2014 we found temporary space with the Saint Philip Lutheran Church, and in November of 2014 we were recognized by the Diocese of South Carolina as a mission Congregation, Messiah. In 2019, we moved to our current location where we have full use of our own rental property. Our next step is to partner with the Episcopal Church Building Fund and the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina to find ourselves a new home! No one wants to be a refuge forever! That process is underway!

Dear Reader:

Messiah Episcopal Church is a congregation in transition, seeking to rebuild at a new location after losing our church property in a schism that started over ten years ago. It's an exciting time to be part of a congregation! Please join us at Church Sundays at 10am. We are located in a shopping center at 4201 North Kings Highway, adjacent to (behind) Finish Strong Fitness. To reach me directly, you can email me at lakesinai@comcast.net. Soon, the office email will be functioning as well.

Many Blessings to you,

Fr. John Sorensen, Vicar