Ash Wednesday Service |
New Church Photo Directory Coming Soon. Schedule your photo session now! It's been 6+ years since the last one was printed. Member data has been input now all we need is your photographs. Local photographer, Jamey Penny- Ritter will take your individual or family photo. You will get a ten-minute time slot.
Messiah Church Directory Photos are being taken starting This Weekend! Local photographer Jamey Penney-Ritter is ready to take our photos COVID safely, one unit at a time starting THIS Saturday, February 20 from 10-12:20 at Messiah Lutheran Church. You can directly sign up for your ten minute slot by going to this website: http://signup.com/go/XTGTrwx Church Directory Photo Sign-Up If you are unable to attend a photo shoot with Jamey then take a picture with your cell phone and send it to Keith at 612-803-2588. His email address is: kholm@superior-consulting.com. Sending the photo as a jpeg image is preferable. Have fun with this! Adding family pets to your picture is encouraged. |
Join Zoom Service
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81694776307 Meeting ID: 816 9477 6307 Passcode Required: church One tap mobile +16465588656,,81694776307# US (New York) +13017158592,,81694776307# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 816 9477 6307 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kduB73ylFz |
Celebrating Sam Benson's Graduation with Drive-by at Church!Several friends and family members came by to congratulate Sam on his early graduation and to wish him well and he enlists in the Air Force. Congratulations Sam. God Bless!
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Faith and Misinformation: Bringing Our Faith to Online Spaces - Zoom Class
ZOOM Class Meeting ID: 839 7997 1063
Passcode: faith And, here is the one-question survey: Faith and Misinformation Pre-Class Survey |
Video Services......
Parking Lot Services |
Presenting Messiah's Generosity Project |
Messiah had parking lot church on Sunday, December 6th. Our next parking lot church will be on Christmas Day, December 25, 10:30 am weather permitting. Everyone stays safe and warm, plus we get to worship together. Thank you to all who came!
We will get through this global pandemic together. And, we will always have online worship every Sunday. |
Sunday Sermon VideosDuring these challenging times of closures due to the Covid19 virus, we are pleased to be able to offer our Sunday message via video. Our plan is to post the sermons every week until we are advised that it is safe for us all to worship together again. Special thanks to our videographer, Mary Childs for helping with this project.
Having Church at Home! |
Parking Lot Service
Washburn Elementary Parking Lot 10:30 am. We will post dates for future services. Dear Messiah Family, We grieve the loss of gathering in a group, loss of hugs, loss of health, to name a few. Political and racial unrest continues. What binds us together? As Jesus followers, we are brought together to love God with all our hearts, minds and souls and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Messiah invites you to worship online (messiahofwashburn.com) or at the parking lot. Questions? Call Pastor at 715 209-1100. P.S. Due to a COVID spike, we won’t hand out communion, so please bring your own bread and wine/juice & stay in your car. Thank You! Love in Christ, Pastor Nancy Sunday Sermon TextSunday sermon texts are available. Click on the Home tab above to go to the sermon text page or click here.
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Heaven's Helping Hands Delivers!HHH received so much thanks for the 30 meals delivered in November that they did it again last night! Pastor Nancy offers thanks on behalf of the 30 folks who received this six-course meal. They loved it! Also Bob and Linda Leis offer thanks to all who helped make and deliver the meals. To God be the glory!!
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Whatever You Do!
Getting to know our Church Community
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Online Newsletter is Here!
Click here or on the image above to view the newsletter
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A Baptism in a Parking Lot?
We see God in the eyes of our children and the solitude of a deer stand. When wings whistle through a marsh and gobbles thunder through the woods. We're blessed by the delicacy of wild blueberries and the exultation we feel from the tug of a fish. Who does a baptism in a parking lot? The hunter, gatherer, and angler in all of us. Jared T. Myers, Ph.D. |
Help Support our Ministries
Thank You All for continuing to support Messiah through your financial gifts. If you would like to help support us using PayPal or Credit Card. Simply click the Donate Button below.
A Message from Dr. Brent Price While he was in New Jersey |
Lord, Make Us Instruments of Your Peace |
"Pastor Nancy, please ask your parishioners to keep us all in prayer. It is like a war zone here. We are exhausted and afraid for our lives."
Bay Area folks got to know Brent when he was working as an infectious disease control consultant for Ashland's Memorial Medical Center. Brent became a friend of Messiah and told me his mother was so happy he found a church. Brent recently took a job at a New Jersey hospital. He called me on March 28, after an 87-hour, six-day work week. "COVID-19 has taken over the hospital. As soon as we clear rooms for COVID-19 patients, the beds are full. People are dying daily from this disease." Brent asked all of us to keep him and all who are working in the medical professions wrapped in prayer. "Please follow your Governor's Safer At Home policy." And, lend extra support to all who are working on the front lines. This not only includes all who are working at hospitals, clinics and in emergency ways, but also our store and post office clerks, veterinarians, and all other essential workers. Send cards of love and support. Share looks of encouragement. Some say we could all act as if we are carrying the virus, so we protect all people we are in contact with. If you like to send Brent a note or a card his address is: Brent Price, 100 Franklin Street. Apt. F-305, Morristown, NJ 07960 |
Greetings All! On Wednesday night, January 6, Messiah's Youth Ministry Team met on Zoom to do some COVID-safe planning for our youth and families. We closed our meeting with each person praying for the person next to them. I do not have the exact words, but here is a summary of the prayers. Praying with them, I felt the power of God in prayer through community, even if on Zoom. I hope you also feel God's presence as you pray these words.
Love in Christ, Pastor Nancy Dear God, This night we pray for peace; peace in our hearts, peace in our country, peace in our world. We can't change what is happening in Washington DC, but we know you are present desiring to enter our hearts and to fill us with your peace. We pray for our country leaders, teachers, health care workers, singles and families who are hurting due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic. Lord, help us heal. Help us be peace makers within our own contexts. Use us to love our people through food, devotional books, love-crafts. Inspire us to know how to reach out to one another. In your name we pray this and ask for anything else you see that we need. Amen. |
Shoppers Available!
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Are your groceries or medications running low? Call the church office 715-373-5378. We can help! We have volunteers who will be happy to go to the store for you and pick up groceries or supplies. Leave a message and we will get back to you.
Stay Safe At Home! |
About Messiah Lutheran Church
Messiah Lutheran Church was formed in March of 1973. Messiah is the result of a merger between two Washburn Churches. Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded by Swedish settlers in the late 1800’s. The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church was also founded in the late 1800’s. After years of operating independently, the two churches proposed a merger. After several years of discussion, the two churches finally completed the merger in March of 1973. The new church was named Messiah Lutheran. Messiah now has over 200 members.
Messiah is also a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Church, meaning that we invite and welcome people of every age, color, culture and political persuasion, every sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic status and ability as we celebrate together our unity in Christ. We welcome you to join us for worship or one of our many special community or ministry events.
Messiah is also a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Church, meaning that we invite and welcome people of every age, color, culture and political persuasion, every sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic status and ability as we celebrate together our unity in Christ. We welcome you to join us for worship or one of our many special community or ministry events.
Success! Goal reached to purchase new room divider. Thanks to all who donated!Messiah's serving groups donated $1000 toward buying a new wood folding room divider priced at approximately $2000. They challenged the congregation to come up with the remaining $1000 and the congregation met the challenge! Thanks to all who helped raise money for the new divider!
No Easter Breakfast This YearBecause of the current Covid19 situation, the annual Easter Breakfast coordinated by Bill Luckenbill will not be held this year. Proceeds from the breakfast have been used to help pay for youth camp scholarships. Bill has ideas on how to raise money for the scholarships. More news to come!
Your Place in the Family of Messiah2020. Wow. There’s something about those two twenties. Two zero two zero. It kind of makes you wonder what momentous things this new year will hold. What will 2020 mean for you? What will it mean for the Mission of Messiah Lutheran in Washburn?
If you have been wondering how you can serve God in a meaningful way, this could be the time for you to try a new role. Are you good with organizing and attending to details? Do you know your way around a kitchen? Do you enjoy serving others and making them feel loved? For some time now one of the three Serving Groups at Messiah has been in need of a second person to partner in its mission. This vacancy has meant that the rest of the serving teams are under an additional work load to “fill in the gaps.” Is this a job that God might be calling you to do? Now? As we begin 2020? What does a Serving Group do? They minister to families in their time of grief by serving funeral meals. They may also minister by organizing other “special” meals as occasions arise. If you have ever attended a church dinner, or had friends or family blessed by this meal, then you know what a caring offering this can be. The love shown through the actions of our Serving Groups is remembered fondly by those we serve. God’s Love, Our Hands. Please pray and ask God whether this is the place where you can serve in the Messiah church family. You would not be alone! God’s faithful servants, Gail Jenicek and Cheryl Follis, are the co-captains of the Serving Groups. They direct and support each of the three groups when it is their turn to serve. Also, there is an amazing Serving Group Handbook which outlines every step, so you can be sure that you haven’t forgotten anything. Some might find this job too challenging. But maybe not for YOU! God is calling. Are you listening? Who will answer? Call the church office (373-5378), or talk with Cheryl or Gail to learn more. 2020! Be awake to the opportunities to serve this year. RIC
Here's a riddle: What's old and new?
Answer: Messiah’s welcoming and diverse family! Messiah has always extended an open and loving welcome to all. And a few years ago we became even more committed to this welcoming nature by becoming a "Reconciling In Christ" congregation. We joined a larger community of churches who reach out to those who have felt left out. Our adopted welcoming statement reads, "We welcome people of every age, color, culture, and political persuasion, every sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic status and ability as we celebrate together our unity in Christ." So that is our identity and our tradition. That is the “old.” The "new" part is that now we have a group of church members who are working to bring forward our commitment to welcoming diversity in new ways. In April we showed part of the National Geographic film, "Gender Revolution" and invited a neighbor, Carri Hoagland, to share her personal story of discovering her transgender identity. We also attended the April meeting of PFLAG where Pastor Nancy was awarded Person of the Year by that group for her work on diversity in our local communities. In June we plan to help with the annual Chicken Dinner fund-raising Sunday by working on a special celebratory service that will intentionally reach out to invite community members to join us! So again, "What's old and new?" Messiah's tradition and Messiah's re-emphasis of Christ's message of love and acceptance. Let's celebrate! ~Ginny Pedersen, RIC Committee Thrivent Choice Dollars Help Messiah
Are you an eligible Thrivent member with Choice Dollars available to direct?
Each year, eligible Thrivent members are designated Choice Dollars based on their qualifying insurance premiums, contract values and volunteer leadership. If you're an eligible Thrivent member with Choice Dollars available to designate, you can help strengthen our community by directing them to Messiah Lutheran Church. Thank you to those members who participated in the program and helped support our church's mission by directing Choice Dollars! Visit Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more and find program terms and conditions. Don't miss this opportunity to recommend where Thrivent Financial should distribute some of its charitable outreach funds. Serving Group Leader NeededAre you interested in co-chairing a serving group? Group 2 needs one more leader to help out Sally Toepfer and Ruth Carlson. Please contact the church office if you can help.
Business Card Bulletin Ads AcceptedThe Council approved a policy allowing one business card ad in each Sunday Bulletin. If you would like to place an ad, you need to provide a camera ready business card size ad. The cost is $25.00 per ad. Drop your ad and the cash at the church office by the end of the day on Thursday. Please share this information with area businesses that may be interested in buying an ad.
Divine Spark
Have you heard about The Divine Spark? This book is a product of Pastor Nancy Sabbatical. It is a collection of inspirational stories from members of the LGBTQ community.
"This collection of stories beautifully illustrates the power of radical truth-telling and vulnerability as tools to foster change and understanding in community. Leonard Cohen wrote is his song Anthem, “There is a crack, a crack in everything / That’s how the light gets in.” These storytellers have embraced their authentic selves (cracks and all) and have become beacons of light in a world that desperately needs illumination." Mary Dougherty Mother, Photographer, and Author Creator of the Words for Water project Co-founder of FarmsNotFactoriesWI.org To learn more about The Divine Spark or to order a copy, click here. Copies are also available for purchase at the Church office.
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Congratulations Jared and Sarah
Jared and Sarah Myer welcome Jane Elizabeth to the family!
Pastor Don Nicholson's Tuesday Study Group -Bible Study - Join us!During the Lenten season, this group has selected topics to study including: Killing and War, Loving Thy Neighbor, The Death Penalty, Teachers – What They Teach, Environment, and Marriage Equality. This group meets every Tuesday at 1:30. All are welcome.
New Cross Installed
Update on Gary KruegerAfter a December 23 phone call with Gary Krueger, here is what we know. On December 1 a tree fell on him while he was removing snow. He is at Miller Dwan Rehab in Duluth and hopes to get out in January or February. It is too soon to tell, but he hopes to walk again in a year or two. Send cards and cash directly to: Gary Krueger, 79050 Dryer Rd, Washburn, 54891. There is a GoFundMe page also, but a small percentage is taken out of your donation. He thanks everyone for their thoughts, prayers and donations. Gary is the father of Molly, Parker and Savanah.
Opportunities To Give, Serve and Learn
Host a Sunday coffee fellowship. Those who plan to send their child to bible camp, this is a great way to do a fundraiser. Call Angel at 715 685-8130 if you need training in using the kitchen.
Help with Easter Sunday Breakfast. The proceeds from this free will offering also goes to Bible campership fund. Call the church if you can help or bring an egg bake! How to Donate to Messiah
2020 Giving Envelopes are here. If you haven't picked up yours, please contact Cheryl Follis.
Simply Giving - Electronic Giving Thank you so much to all who have started giving their church offering electronically. We are now receiving over $1200 per month by direct deposit through either Simply Giving or through individual bank accounts. Prayerfully consider giving this way. When you miss a Sunday you can continue a steady offering to Messiah. We sure appreciate you. Call 715 373-5378 to receive the Simply Giving form. To view and print the electronic giving form, click here. All are welcome to the Mary Naomi Circle!This group is a Bible study – traditionally a women’s group - that gladly welcomes newcomers and all interested parties. We meet monthly in the gathering room at Lakeview Terrace Apartments on Thursdays at 1-3:00 pm. We use the Bible studies featured in Gather, a Lutheran publication. Copies of the Bible studies and sample magazines are on hand for any who wish to view this study and learn more. For specifics please contact Pastor Nancy, Tracy in the church office (373-5378), June Steele (373-2541) or Janice Allen (812-1068). Cleaners Needed
If anyone would like to pull a month (or more) stint on helping clean the church, please contact Bob Leis at 715-373-1087. By utilizing volunteers to clean the church we are saving considerable money by not hiring a janitorial service. There are cleaning jobs available that would only take about an hour a week!
Heaven's Helping Hands Would Like the Members of Messiah to Consider an
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Quick Clicks to Navigate Through the Website
It's pretty easy to find your way around Messiah's website. Scroll over any of the tabs on the top of the page. Drop down menus will appear. Just click on anything you are looking for. Another way is to click on any of the links below to be taken directly to the page you are looking for.
