Join Vicar John Sorensen for Worship this

First Sunday of Lent, February18, 2024

at Messiah, Myrtle Beach!

The Great Litany and Holy Eucharist!

The Vestry Meets after Church this Sunday

Dear Friends in Christ:

The Collect for the First Sunday of Lent, February 18, 2024:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

This week, we have the famous story of the Temptation of Christ. Each year on the First Sunday of Lent, we have a different perspective of the story from a Gospel, Matthew, Mark or Luke. This year, Mark's version is read. It is the sparsest. Jesus is simply Baptized by John the Baptist, and immediately "driven" into the wilderness for his Temptation ordeal. While the other Gospels detail the three temptations, Mark is content to say that it happened, giving the preacher plenty of room to speculate (Lectionary Link).

And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

My interpretation is that the Devil is trying to ruin the relationship between Jesus and his Father. This would sabotage the entire salvation narrative. They have a covenantal relationship of trust and fidelity. Lent gives us an opportunity to reconcile our impaired relationships with God, our Church and each other. The fact that the other reading for today is about the covenant that God made with Noah in the Ark after the flood is proof that relationship with God is our first order of business in Lent.

(This Open Domain painting is by Juan de Flandes (artist) Hispano-Flemish, active 1496 - 1519, owned by the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, on display at the National Gallery of Art. Below.)

Each year on Ash Wednesday, I offer the above "Lenten Practices" document 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.



Vicar John Sorensen

Church of the Messiah Upcoming Worship Schedule

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

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

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 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. 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 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

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 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. 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