MESSIAH MISSIVE NO. 344 - Beloved Church,

Though Saint Peter’s mythological appearances frequently feature him as a cartoon doorman at the “Pearly Gates,” there’s so much more to his story. Matthew’s Gospel features Peter as a prominent disciple, perhaps symbolic of the entire flock of faith in some ways: doubting yet strong, stubborn yet curious, bumbling yet articulate when the moment requires it. This Sunday we hear Peter confess Jesus to be “the Messiah:” the chosen one, the redeemer of God’s people, who will usher in a new age of societal justice and love. That’s a pretty radical confession, especially while they are in a city of Roman deities and other mythological figures some might look to for “deliverance!” The kingdom of heaven that Jesus brings into our present moment promises to make all things right, and Peter’s got the key: not as an escape from the hardships but as a door *through* them. Come and be gathered again into God’s reign this Sunday, and know Christ’s presence with us in broken bread and wine outpoured.

• Bulletin for this Sunday: https://bit.ly/45BheuX

• Ministry Team Spotlight: Next week please join the Connections Team as we kick off a series highlighting the many ministries here at Messiah. Join us for light refreshments in the Gathering Space after worship to learn more about what the Connections Team is doing. 

• Save the Date – Home Day of Service Sept 13: Come at 9:00am to help assemble 150 lunches for Project Hope for the Homeless. Stay after church to represent God’s love felt and shared at Messiah as we march in the parade. We will be collecting water, single serve bags of chips, fruit cups, cups of apple sauce, granola bars, and fruit snacks between now and Sept 6. Please see the Sign-Up Genius (below) for donations for the Day of Service: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4CA9AB29A1F49-65274980-elca

• Sunday School: Sunday School will start on September 20, 2026 at 9:00am sharp. Students will be ready for pick-up at 9:50am.    PLEASE NOTE: We are looking for another teacher. If you feel called to participate in the faith journey of our youth, either weekly or as an occasional substitute, please get in touch! Talk to Sarah Dellinger, Lisa Halberg, or Allison Schreiber to learn more.

• Save the Date: Saturday Oct 17: Intergenerational Game Night 4:30pm.

• Save the Date: Sunday Oct 25: Reformation Day Potluck and Speaker.

• New Member Sunday: We are hoping to welcome new members before the Summer concludes if there is interest. Talk to Pastor Paul or another friend at the Church if you’d like to learn more!

Dear Church,

I hope this letter finds you well in the new year. As most of you are aware, Messiah has gone through some changes lately as we adjust our staffing to fit our budgetary commitments for 2025. I would like to take a moment to update you on the status of some of the different positions and how we can use your help as a congregation moving forward. 

First, Sheryl Trost volunteered to step down from the Community Faith Facilitator position in favor of focusing on Christian Education with our Sunday School program. While this will take her away from the Connections Team leadership, this has yielded a salary savings as part of the revised budget. The Connections Team will continue their mission with the existing committee members. 

Second, we parted ways with our long-time Custodian, Steve Newcomer. While we have really appreciated his years of service, the required budget cuts made it difficult to sustain a dedicated custodial position. Snow removal will continue under our current contract and the Council has an action item to explore lawn care alternatives. For inside the church, we've contracted with a professional cleaning company that will be in twice a month for a thorough review of the church. This new schedule will require a bit of an adjustment so I'd like to empower the entire congregation to take action to keep our church and building clean if you see an opportunity to do so. 

Third, the Council has authorized the search for a Property Manager/Rental Coordinator position. This new position will help coordinate the property and maintenance activities at the church as well as providing a meaningful focus on generating revenue from our outstanding facilities that will help support our congregation and mission into the future. The job description will be available in the church and online if someone you know is interested in this exciting opportunity. 

Finally, the rest of the church staff took a small pay cut so that we could maintain the important positions that directly affect worship. You may see changes to our bulletin, order of service and music presentation. I'd encourage you to reach out to the Council with any questions about these changes as we navigate our budget for 2025 and beyond. 

In order to better keep the congregation in the loop, I've started posting financial information and the Pastor's report on the bulletin board in the hallway outside the library. In addition, the new job posting can be found there as well. 

As always, your church council is available to answer any more particular questions. 

Best, 

Ben Johnson / Church Council President