Join Fr. Jim Craig for Worship this

Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 17, 2024

at Messiah, Myrtle Beach!

Dear Friends in Christ:

The Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 17, 2024:

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen..

On this week, the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the lectionary moves to the writings of the Prophet Jeremiah. On Lent III, we read the story of the Israelites receiving the Ten Commandments. They were written in stone, engraved on stone tablets. That's so they couldn't be lost, erased or forgotten. This week, Jeremiah (31:31-34) proclaims a new initiative from God. The commandments no longer will need to be written down. God will engrave his law on their hearts:

I will put my law within them,

and I will write it on their hearts

This is an amazing development in the history of religion, and a wonderful innovation within Judaism. Religion is full with ceremony, ritual, readings, music, altars, scrolls, books and beautiful imposing buildings, designed to aid in worship and enhance a sense of the divine presence. However, we have here the possibility of the removal of the middle-man. Here, God's words are written directly inside us, laying the foundation for the possibility that God can speak directly to each one of us. That possibility, and capacity, was finally realized with the gift of the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost. Our ritual and imagery, then serve to enhance and illustrate God's presence, but not replace it.

In this week's Gospel reading from the 12th Chapter of John, Jesus is preaching about his upcoming "glorification" and crucifixion. His "lifting up" will be the event that draws people to Jesus. An agricultural metaphor is given, that of a planted seed sprouting as being similar to God's life in us! To emphasize the point, God himself responds with an audible shout that sounds like thunder. Listen! Pay attention!

Join Fr. Jim Craig for worship this Sunday at Messiah, Myrtle Beach.

Fr. John Sorensen, Vicar

Saint Patrick's Day!

March 17, 2024 (Transferred to March 16 or 18)

In the year 2000 AD, Vicar John had the amazing privilege of being in the Anglican Diocese of Down and Dromore in Ireland. We were there in March in Downpatrick to celebrate the Second Millennium. We worshipped at the place Saint Patrick arrived in Ireland and where he lived and ministered.

One story of Saint Patrick comes early in his career. In 433AD in defiance of the pagan king, Laoise, Patrick lit a Paschal fire to celebrate Easter. It was said that if that Paschal fire was not put out on that day it would never be extinguished. (Lighting the Beacons: Kindling the Flame of Faith in our Hearts, by Rt Revd Dr Jill Duff, Bishop of Lancaster.)

Bishop David McClay writes, "Almost 1600 years later the fire of the gospel has not been put out but needs fanned into flame in Ireland again." That is the theme for Diocesan celebrations this year, and matches well the themes for Sunday's Bible lessons, since Saint Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday year: Jeremiah's promise of God's Law implanted in our hearts, and Jesus' story of the seed of God's life planted in each of us!

When a Saints Day falls on a Sunday, it is usually moved to the following day. This year, in the Diocese of Down and Dromore, Saint Patrick's Day will be celebrated on Saturday Evening, the day before! Whenever you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, Join us this Sunday at 10am at Church of the Messiah, Myrtle Beach! Below: Stained Glass Saint Patrick Window, Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh.

Church of the Messiah Upcoming Worship Schedule

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.

Around the Church

The Choir sings, February 25, at Church of the Messiah, Myrtle Beach.

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