This Week at Messiah

Summer Service Schedule FAQ
Beginning July 1, Messiah will move to one combined service at 10:00am for the rest of the summer. This decision has raised a lot of questions, so here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ’s):

• Q: What will the music be like? Every service will have elements of traditional hymns and contemporary music. How those are incorporated will vary from week to week.
• Q: What will the order of service be like? We will alternate orders of service. Beginning on July 1, we’ll have a contemporary outline to worship which will be followed on
• July 8 with a liturgical outline featuring the canticles “This is the Feast” and “Agnus Dei” for example.
• Q: How are these orders different? The orders of service are different in how they move through the time of worship but they both contain elements of our Lutheran faith.
• Q: How are these two orders of service the same? Each of these outlines contain a time of Confession and Absolution, a Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Lord’s Supper. These four elements of worship will appear every Sunday… they just may be at a different time in the service outline.
  
• Q: Will there be Adult Bible Study? There will be no Adult Bible Study on July 1. Pastor Vanderbilt will lead a study on the lessons for the day at 8:45a.m. in the Good Shepherd Room starting July 8 for those who are interested. This Bible Study will end promptly at 9:45a.m.
• Q: When will normal services resume? Normal service times and formats will resume the weekend after Labor Day, September 9.

If you have other questions, please feel free to contact your Elder or Pastor Vanderbilt.

The Art of Worship Campaign is Complete!
Thanks and praise to God for the generosity of the members of Messiah!  What was intended to be a summer-long campaign was completed in just 6 weeks!  Here’s an update:

• New Screens are installed and working wonderfully in our Sanctuary.  Many of you have shared what a difference this makes!  Deepest thanks to the Planned Giving Board for their grant to fund this project!
• New Banners are purchased and received but need to be dedicated to the Lord’s use in our Sanctuary.  The Altar Guild, Elders, and Pastor Tom are coordinating this dedication service and we’re hoping to do this before September.
• New Hymnals are purchased and received.  Watch the announcements for a “Hymnal Replacement Party” coming soon!
  

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New Bible Study
After watching the children have so much fun learning about Jesus, we decided it was time to plan some fun for the adults. Be watching the screens, bulletins, and announcements for new adult Bible classes to begin the week of September 17.

Deacon Beacon
May this July have many memorable moments of Messiah members on missions for Christ.  I will be at church Mondays and Fridays this month in the mornings.  I will also be available any other time by appointment.  Call 517-525-5876 to schedule.
Yours in Christ,
​Deacon Bill

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Youth Trip to the Zoo
The Youth will be heading to Potter Park Zoo Trip on July 22 after worship from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - we’ll grab a quick lunch and spend the afternoon at with the animals.

Last Blast to Michigan’s Adventure
The Youth are sponsoring a 56-passenger bus to Michigan’s Adventure on Saturday, August 25. This trip is open to all youth and families, but we ask that all children under 13 be accompanied by an adult. We will leave Messiah’s parking lot at 9:00 a.m. and return about 9:00 p.m. that night.

The cost of the bus is paid for by the Youth and a portion of each ticket will also be covered. The cost to attend is $25 per person - food and extra expenses in the park will be your responsibility. The ticket includes an entire day of fun and thrills with over 60 rides and attractions, including WildWater Adventure!

Ticket order forms are available in the Narthex or from Sara Vanderbilt. Orders are due back to Sara by August 12 (or until the bus is filled - priority will be given based on when orders are received). If you have any questions, contact Sara Vanderbilt.

Youth Blessing Bags
Thank you to everyone who donated items for the blessing bags in 2017. The youth will be continuing this ministry into 2018. New bags are ready and waiting in the hallway across from the bathrooms.

Can You Help with Youth at Messiah Activities?
There is always a way for parents or anyone with the heart for youth to help. Two specific way to help are the following…

• Specific events - if you don’t have a lot of time to commit, you can volunteer to help with a specific activity
• We need 2 people to help with Sunday morning Youth Bible Study - you would serve as a discussion facilitator for either High School students or 6-8 grade students

If you wish to help with either an activity or Sunday mornings, please let Sara Vanderbilt know.

Youth and Parents - Stay Informed of Youth at Messiah Activities

• Sign-up for updates on your (and your child’s) phone by doing one of the following... Text @messiahyth to the number 81010 (or) Visit www.remind.com/join/messiahyth and add your phone number
• Visit the Youth at Messiah Facebook page and make sure you get notifications of postings
• Bookmark the Youth at Messiah shared calendar - http://bit.ly/youthatmessiahcalendar - this also has a way to sign‑up for events to let me know if your youth is attending

Youth At Messiah Facebook Page Stay current on all Youth at Messiah activities by visiting our Youth at Messiah Facebook page - www.facebook.com/groups/youthatmessiah

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Pastoral Care
Please contact the office for an appointment.  If you have something that needs to be brought to an elder's attention, please call them at their number as listed in Messiah's Directory.

Altar Flowers
​If you wish to dedicate flowers for an occasion or just want to be able to take home some color on a Sunday, take a look at the flower chart in the hallway by the church offices. There are many openings available between now and the end of the year.