Happy Epiphany and Happy New Year

from Messiah, Myrtle Beach!

Dear Friend in Christ:

The collect for the Epiphany, which we are celebrating this Sunday, January 7, the first Sunday the year, captures the theme of the day:

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Episcopal Publication "Holy Women, Holy Men", about the saints days of the church year, says this about the Feast of the Epiphany, which is the Twelfth Day of Christmas, this Saturday, January 6 in our calendar:

The name Epiphany is derived from a Greek word meaning manifestation or appearing. . . . An alternative title: "The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles". The last phrase, of course, is a reference to the story of the Wise Men from the East.

A Christian observance on January 6 is found as early as the end of the second century in Egypt. The feast combined commemorations of the visit of the Magi, led by the star of Bethlehem; the Baptism of Jesus in the waters of the River Jordan; and Jesus first recorded miracle, the changing of water into wine at the marriage of Cana of Galilee, all thought of as manifestations of the incarnate Lord.

The Epiphany is still the primary Feast of the Incarnation in Eastern Churches, and the three-fold emphasis is still prominent. In the West, however, including Anglican Churches, the story of the Wise Men has tended to overshadow the other two events. Modern lectionary reform, reflected in the 1979 Prayer Book, has recovered the primitive trilogy, by setting the event of the Baptism as the theme of the First Sunday after the Epiphany in all three years, and by providing the story of the Miracle at Cana as the Gospel for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany in Year C.

In most years, we can celebrate the arrival of the Magi on the Sunday before Epiphany, "II Christmas", and the Baptism of Jesus the Sunday After the Epiphany, between January 6 and 12. But this year, the Magi were left out because there was no II Christmas. So, I have moved the Lectionary and Celebration for Epiphany to this Sunday, the Sunday after the Epiphany, where we can close out Christmas with the story of Gaspar, Balthasar and Melchior as featured in Hymn 128, "We three Kings", by Rev. John Henry Hopkins. Hopkins was Rector of my former parish, Trinity, Plattsburgh, NY, from 1872-1877, and its been a project of mine for 40 years to study his work.

You can read the lessons for Epiphany, and the Magi, at this Link. If you want to read up on the assigned lesson for this Sunday, the Baptism of Jesus, you can find that here.

Fr. John

Christmas Eve 2023

A wonderful liturgy was celebrated at Messiah at 7PM on Christmas Eve. Here, the lights were shut off while the congregation sang Silent Night to candlelight. Fr. John preached a sermon on the Christmas Carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Beautiful music was provided by the choir, our parishioner violinist and Charles, our Music Director (clergy, choir and altar staff are behind camera). A view from the Altar.

Church of the Messiah Ephphany Worship Schedule

Sunday, January 7, 2024, Sunday after Epiphany, Magi, Ten AM: Fr. John

Sunday, January 14, Second after Epiphany, Ten AM: Fr. Jim

Sunday, January 21, 2nd Epiphany, Annual Meeting, Ten AM: Fr John

Two Home Events During Epiphany

Messiah Parishioners are invited to two events at Parishioner Homes during Epiphany Season.

First, Epiphany is a traditional time for House Blessings, House Blessings are particularly appropriate when a family moves into a new Home. Donna and Al Wiggin invite the congregation to their home for a house blessing after Church on The Sunday after the Epiphany, January 7, 2024.

Al and Donna Wiggin

invite you to an Epiphany/3 Kings/Magi celebration

and blessing of their new home

At Noon, after our Sunday 10 a.m. Worship & Fellowship

on Sunday, January 7th, 2024. Music, food and libations will be provided.

Our address is 7082 Belancino Blvd. MB. 29572. 

Second, 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 start January 2 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 January 2, 2024:

Dinner is at 6 at 1523 Brookgreen Drive, Myrtle Beach. The menu is clam chowder and popovers. Discussion about 6:45. Compline at 8. If you have not joined us in a while, please consider making us a part of your new year. All you will need is a bible, and if you do not have one, we have extra here. 

Bible Study on Daniel begins Thursday, January 11, 2024

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 will begin 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 Dreamm 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

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!

Our "New" Parish Secretary Began December 5!

Parish Directory Update Underway

Wednesday, December 5, Patty Tate began as the Parish Secretary of the Episcopal Church of the Messiah. One of Patty's first projects is the update of the parish directory. The Parish Directory is a printing of the parish membership list as recorded in "Realm" our ACS membership software. Membership is not simple, some of our members attend Messiah while keeping their membership in a previous parish. Some have transferred their membership to Messiah Church. Some attend Messiah seasonally, with an official "home" parish. Some are from other denominations while married to a Messiah member, and mostly attend here. And some are not sure where they belong, being in transition! So whatever your status, please contact Patty at the parish email, messiahatthebeach@icloud.com, or respond to Patty if she asks you for clarification about your membership status! We want each of you to feel welcome at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah, Myrtle Beach.

Welcome back Patty Tate!

The Annual Parish Meeting

is Scheduled for Sunday, January 21, 2024

Elections for Vestry and Annual Diocesan Convention Delegates

Messiah's Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 21 at 11:30 after church. The annual parish meeting is a great way to find out about the business and ministry of the church, because annual reports are part of the meeting. That will include a budget for the 2024 year. But the only thing voted on at the Annual Parish Meeting are the Parish Vestry Members (technically a "Mission Committee" for mission congregations who serve with a Vicar). Also voted on are delegates to Diocesan Convention. Budgets are not voted on at the Annual Parish Meeting. That business is the responsibility of the elected vestry.

This year, terms are expiring for Vestry Members David Martin and Monica Orosz. There is also an opening for the unexpired second year of Alan Jeffcoat's term. Monica is running for another term, David is retiring and Alan is leaving early, which means that we need candidates for two open vestry positions, one two-year and the other one-year. Please speak with Warden Rick Stall or Vicar John Sorensen if you are interested. You can also suggest someone!

Church Practice is to announce the Annual Meeting at least thirty Days prior to its occurrence. So This is the first of those written Announcements!

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