About Messiah Lutheran Church
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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. |
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Help Support our MinistriesThank 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.
Prayers for Ukraine Click Here
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If you can't make in sanctuary service:
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Bread for Life
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Presenting Messiah's Generosity Project |
Whatever You Do!
Getting to know our Church Community
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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. |
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Membership Directory Available Online
Our new membership directory is now available. The church uses a company called Instant Church Directory to create the directory. To view the directory click here or on the directory Icon to the left. You will be taken to the Instant Church Directory website. Click on the blue Member Sign In Button on the top of the page. You will be asked to enter the email address you provided to the church. Follow the instructions and you will be all set!
You can also download the directory on your mobile phone. Go to the site you use to download apps. Select the Instant Church Directory app and follow the instructions. 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 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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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. 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
2021 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. 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!
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. |
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.
