Join Vicar John Sorensen for Worship this Sunday

at Messiah, Myrtle Beach!

Ash Wednesday is February 14, Noon & 7PM!

Dear Friends in Christ:

The Collect for this Sunday, February 11, the Last Sunday of Epiphany:

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

This week, we have the famous story of the heavenly chariot of fire that conveys the prophet Elijah from his earthly existence to his heavenly reward. Its a dramatic story for Elisha, Elijah's successor prophet, who was there. It was a great story in Jewish lore. It is background for the gospel story of the Transfiguration of Christ, because on that mountaintop with Jesus, Peter, James and John there also appeared Moses and Elijah. In the National Gallery of Art, there's an excellent painting of Elijah leaving Elisha in the Chariot of Fire, by Giuseppe Angeli, dated 1740-1755, Open Domain, below.

Most people are also familiar with the African-American Spiritual, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." The Music to the chorus is above. While a song about Elijah's chariot, it is also musical metaphor with many meanings. One of those meanings was during the slavery era, where it was used as a song of deliverance, hope and warning.

Join me Sunday as we explore the story of Elijah, his Chariot and the Transfiguration of Jesus on the Mountaintop. You can read this Sunday's Bible lessons at this link.

Vicar John Sorensen

Lenten Begins on Valentines Day!

Lent is approaching in a few weeks, with Ash Wednesday falling this year on Valentines Day! Now there's some divine humor for you, Valentines Day is a Day of fasting and penitence! So get some ashes before taking the spouse out to dinner! Also, Charlie and Amy Jordan informed me that the Tuesday Study Group held at their home will feature a Shrove Tuesday Celebration (see below).

Participating in the Imposition of Ashes is an important part of beginning Lent for Episcopalians. We have two services on Ash Wednesday, February 14. At Noon, Fr. John will lead the Liturgy of Ash Wednesday with Eucharist. At 7 PM, Fr. Jim will again offer the Imposition of Ashes with Eucharist.

The Sundays of Lent take a more somber tone, with a change in music and in the liturgy. We begin Sunday Worship with the Decalogue each week. The first Sunday of Lent, February 18, begins with the Great Litany.

Church of the Messiah Upcoming Worship Schedule

Sunday, February 11, Last Sunday after Epiphany, Ten AM, Fr. John

Ash Wednesday, February 14, Ashes & Eucharist, Noon: Fr. John

Ash Wednesday, February 14, Ashes & Eucharist, 7pm: Fr. Jim

First Sunday of Lent, Feb. 18, Great Litany & Eucharist, 10 am: Fr. John

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

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

ROOTS at Grace Cathedral

When Fr. John was in Israel in 2017 on a trip with the Jewish Federation of Philadelphia, one of the groups they visited with was the ROOTS project. This consists of Palestinian and Israeli leaders in conversation, working for understanding and peace. ROOTS is coming to the Charleston Episcopal Cathedral, and this is highly recommended by our Vicar (Ad above).

Thursday Morning Bible Study

A Thursday morning Bible Study on the Book of Daniel is now meeting at 10am Thursdays in the Upper Room. Cindy Craig is the leader (left in the photo below). There's room for You!

Two Bible Studies During Epiphany and Beyond

Tuesday Evening Study Group

Special Dinner Shrove Tuesday, February 13, 2024

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. A new study season will started January 9 for Epiphany. The topic of study is the Season of Epiphany. You can view the lessons at Charlie's Blog by clicking this link.

Charlie & Amy invite members and friends of Messiah to attend, here are the 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

The Annual Parish Meeting

Was Held Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 11:30 after Church

Messiah's Annual Parish Meeting was held on Sunday, January 21 at 11:30 after church. We welcomed our newest members, heard annual reports and learned details of our finances and a draft budget for the 2024 year. We learned about the report on our future business plan that Kristi Burch and team are preparing to be presented to the Diocese of South Carolina.

We elected the following vestry members: Monica Orosz, Jim Kiefer and Eileen Fairchild. We expressed thanks for the ministry of off-joing vestry-members David Martin and Alan Jeffcoat.

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 will be 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. Soon, the office email will be functioning as well.

Our Church Secretary, Patty Tate, is in the office Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can email her at messiahatthebeach@icloud.com.

Many Blessings to you,

Fr. John Sorensen, Vicar