#MM307 - Expectant Church, This time of year brings much waiting. Christmas is still a good few weeks away, 2026 has yet to dawn, and we get to just “hang tight” as it all rushes closer each day. But we don’t necessarily just wait it all out, right? We are preparing! Each at our own pace, steadily making progress, paving the way for the big things to come. I take heart in this rhythm especially as we remember that God is at work among it all, working to bring love and peace and joy to the world. God is at work, preparing us for Christ’s kingdom unfolding, even if it seems like that kingdom can’t come fast enough. But perhaps that’s the tension of Advent that is so appealing, that feels so real. So hang tight, beloveds, and know that as we prepare, God is preparing, too! Make way for all the good things soon to come!

• Bulletin for this coming Sunday: https://bit.ly/DEC7thBulletin-MLC25

• Greening of the Church – Dec 6: Please join us on Saturday, December 6, at 10am to decorate our church for the Christmas season. There are plenty of assignments for all abilities. Please also remember we will need to de-green the church and this will be on Saturday, January 3 at 10am.

• Annual Congregational Meeting – Dec 7: Immediately following worship. We will vote on the 2026 budget and elect council members.

• Men’s Fellowship Lunch – Dec 10: Our Men’s Fellowship Lunch takes place on the second Wednesday of each month; 12pm at Vicinato Pizza, 5080 Mayfield Rd. Please join us if you can!

• Carols & Cocoa – Dec 14: You are invited to our 3rd annual event. Join us for an afternoon of festive cheer! Everyone is welcome! Sunday, December 14 at 3pm at Messiah.

• Christmas Eve Worship – Dec 24: There will be two services on December 24; 5pm will be a family friendly Holy Communion festival, and 7pm will be Quiet Christmas Compline (for those looking for a more focused and contemplative holiday).

• Young Worship Leaders: Children of all ages are welcome to serve in worship as readers, and those in grade 5 or older can serve as acolytes. Please see the church website to sign-up and talk to Pastor Paul if you have any questions.

• Pledge Cards and Giving Envelopes: We are still accepting financial pledges for 2026! Please fill out a blue pledge card and return it to the church office; extra cards are available on the table by the bulletins. Giving envelopes can be found outside the church office on the hallway pew.

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