Rev Jim Craig is Preacher and Celebrant

this Sunday December 17, 2023, Advent III!

Prepare for Christmas this Sunday with the

Service of Lessons and Carols

Dear Friend in Christ:

The collect for the Third Sunday of Advent continues the Advent theme and reminds us of the continued presence John the Baptist:

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

John the Baptist is so important to Advent that he shows up twice, both in Advent II and Advent III. You can read the Bible passages for this Sunday at this link. They include The Song of Mary, rendered in musical form in our Hymnal as S247. Also included in this Sundays official readings is the Gospel of John's version of the appearance of John the Baptist.

Each year, on one of the Sundays of Advent, we offer a special worship service called the "Service of Lessons and Carols." This can be offered in Advent or right after Christmas, depending on schedule. This year we offer the Advent Service of Lessons and Carols on December 17 at our regular Sunday Worship. Scripture lessons detailing the salvation history of Christ are interspersed with music of the season. Its a great way to prepare for Christmas!

Church of the Messiah Christmas Worship Schedule

Sunday, December 17, Lessons and Carols, Ten O'clock AM: Fr. Jim

Sunday, December 24, 4th Sunday of Advent, Ten O'clock AM: Fr. Jim

Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve, Seven O'clock PM: Fr. John

Monday, December 25, Christmas Day, Ten O'clock AM: Fr. Jim

Sunday, December 31, First Sunday after Christmas, Ten AM: Fr Jim

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

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

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!

Thanks to all the members of Messiah for so successfully sponsoring an Angel Tree of gifts for our friends at Fostering Hope. All of the gifts were filled. Thanks!

Our "New" Parish Secretary Began December 5!

About a year ago, our Parish Secretary left her position at Messiah to pursue a new job opportunity. Recently, we reconnected with that former Secretary, Patty Tate. A part-time position at Messiah was exactly what she was now looking for.

So, Wednesday, December 5, Patty Tate began 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!

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