Join Vicar John Sorensen for Worship this

Second Sunday of Lent, February 25, 2024

at Messiah, Myrtle Beach!

Dear Friends in Christ:

The Collect for the First Sunday of Lent, February 25, 2024:

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen..

On this week, the second Sunday of Lent, the Genesis story continues last week's theme of Covenant. Last week, God made a covenant with Noah and the created world. This week, in Genesis Chapter 17, God makes a covenant with Abraham, his offspring and with Sarah, his wife. Covenant requires relationship, and God is in relationship with humankind. During Lent, the stories from Genesis and Exodus are about various facets of the relationship between God and Humans!

This week's Gospel reading moves in time from the beginning of Jesus' ministry to Chapter Eight's suffering narrative. Jesus is explaining to his disciples his destiny of suffering and death. Peter doesn't want to hear about this. Jesus' response to Peter's questioning of Jesus' resolve had to hurt, after all, who likes being called "Satan?":

"Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

In relationships between people, it can be very difficult when a friend or a loved one changes, moves in new directions or understands their lives differently. One of the dramatic plot lines in Mark's Gospel is the degree of comprehension by Jesus' Disciples of Who Jesus Is. "Who is Jesus? Why is he here." Jesus' answer was difficult to comprehend, hard to accept:

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?

The Theological category for preaching or or talking about this issue is "Theology of the Cross" or Theologia Crucis. Its not a popular topic for Americans because we have tended to like our religion happy, hopeful and optimistic. The Theology of the Cross reminds us of our imperfections, emphasizes theology as more about polarity (living in-between) than certainty, and teaches us that knowing Jesus is a lifetime quest of discovery, knowing with Saint Paul that in this life we only "see through the glass dimly". Our vision is not clear, whether looking in a foggy mirror or through a dirty window. It is said that Martin Luther is the first Protestant theologian of a Theologia Crucis. My guide was theologian Douglas John Hall, who introduced me to Jurgen Moltman's "Crucified God." I'll do my best to make sense of this in my sermon this Sunday, keeping in mind what the Collect says is the point of it all: " Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word."

See you Sunday!

Fr. John Sorensen, Vicar

The "Lenten Practices" document is available for your consideration. We are all familiar with the idea that in some faith traditions, we "give up" something for Lent. This option expands that opportunity for us to try one of several types of disciplines or faith practices during the 40 days of Lent. A stone Jar is placed on the altar-table for you to place your completed document in, should you wish to give yourself the opportunity for accountability. No one will read the paper, it is entirely between you and God.

Church of the Messiah Upcoming Worship Schedule

Second Sunday of Lent, February 25, Eucharist, 10 am, Fr. John

Third Sunday of Lent, March 3, Eucharist Ten AM, Rev. Jim Craig

Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 10, Eucharist Ten AM, Fr. John

Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 17, Eucharist Ten AM, Fr. Jim Craig

Palm Sunday, March 24, Procession of Palms & Eucharist, Fr. John

Maundy Thursday, March 28, Eucharist and Liturgy, 7pm, Fr. Jim

Good Friday, March 29, Sacred Liturgy, Noon, Fr. John

Easter Sunday, March 31, Messiah Church, 10AM, Fr. John Sorensen

Second Sunday of Easter, April 6, 10 am, Fr. Jim Craig

The 2024 Messiah Church Vestry

The 2024 vestry held their organizational meeting on Sunday, February 18, after church, choosing officers. Above, Left to Right: John Sorensen, Vicar; Jim Kiefer, Jr. Warden; Monica Orosz; Peggy Kovacs, Treasurer; Rick Stall, Senior Warden; Patrick Patterson, Clerk; John Manley; Charlie Jordan, Legal Advisor; Eileen Fairchild.

Tuesday Evening Study Group

The Tuesday evening Study Group at the home of Charlie and Amy Jordan begins with dinner. Here, participants are enjoying their Shrove Tuesday before study begins.

Two Bible Studies During Lent and Beyond

Tuesday Evening Study Group

There is a Tuesday Study group meeting at the home of Charles and Amy Jordan. This group, led by Charlie, hosted by Amy has been meeting for over a decade. During Lent, they are  studying Walter Bruggemann’s book The Prophetic Imagination. If you need a book, they are available at the back of Church or from Charlie. You can view the commentary on the lessons at Charlie's Blog by clicking this link.

Charlie & Amy invite members and friends of Messiah to attend, here are the general particulars for the Tuesday evening meetings:

Dinner is at 6 at 1523 Brookgreen Drive, Myrtle Beach. Dinner is served. Discussion about 6:45. Compline at 8. If you have not joined us in a while, please consider making us a part of your Lent. All you will need is a Bible, and if you do not have one, we have extra here. 

Bible Study on Daniel, Thursday Mornings

Cindy Craig, parishioner and spouse of Rev. Jim Craig, is inviting parishioners to join her for a Bible Study on the Book of Daniel. The Course has 11 sessions and began January 11, in the Upper Room, from 10-Noon. It is a discussion and video format, and the author of the course is the former Baptist Bible Teacher, Beth Moore. The sessions are as follows:

I.                    Choices to Make

II.                  A Dream and a Kingdom

III.                No Smell of Fire

IV.               Farewell Lessons from Nebuchadnezzer

V.                 The Handwriting on the Wall

VI.               In the Lions Den

VII.              The Ancient of Days

VIII.            Foreshadowing the Little Horn

IX.                Unexpected Answers to Prayer

X.                  Kings in Succession

XI.                Go your Way

For questions, see Cindy at Church or email her at c.k.craig@hotmail.com

Saying Goodbye . . .

Shelby Vance was with us for a few months

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 will also be employing a second childcare worker, Victoria, who is Chelsea's back-up.

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.

Our Church Secretary, Patty Tate, is in the office Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can email her at messiahatthebeach@icloud.com. She particularly wants you to email her photos of yourself for the Church Directory, which we print periodically in the office.

Many Blessings to you,

Fr. John Sorensen, Vicar