Pastor’s Message

In the sacraments of Holy Communion and Holy Baptism, God comes to us with grace, forgiveness, and everlasting life. In the waters of our baptism, God claims us as children of God forever. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit and sent into the world to show and tell what God has done and continues to do in this world! On Sunday, June 26 we will welcome Sisanie Lopez into God's family here at Messiah through the sacrament of Holy Baptism.

On Sunday, July 3 we will celebrate with Sean Anderson as he receives his First Communion. In, with, and under the bread and wine, Christ feeds us himself for faith, forgiveness and life with God forever. Sean has studied Holy Communion, Scripture, and Luther’s Catechism at home with his parents and with me. 

The sacraments are a great gift of our Lutheran Christian tradition because in them God joins God’s Word with physical elements so that we can touch, taste, and feel God’s love. I invite you to join us for these special milestones in the lives of Sisanie and Sean. As the family of faith at Messiah, we give thanks to God for these children, and we keep our promises made at baptism to support them in their faith and to welcome them into and nurture a life in Christ with us!

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The Nebraska Synod Assembly was held June 2-4 in Kearney, Nebraska at the Younes Conference Center. The Rev. Scott Johnson was elected as Bishop of the Nebraska Synod on the fifth ballot. Our bishop-elect has served as director of campus ministries at Midland University in Fremont since 2019. He served as pastor of St. Petri Lutheran Church in Story City, Iowa, from 2012 to 2019; as campus pastor at University Lutheran Center at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, from 2008 to 2012; and as pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Barrett, Minn., from 2003 to 2007. Rev. Johnson will take office Sept. 1, and you are invited to his installation at 1 pm on Sept. 24 at First Lutheran Church in Kearney. The Rev. Brian D. Maas has served as bishop of the Nebraska Synod since 2012. I invite your prayers for the Nebraska Synod in this time of transition as Pastor Johnson begins his new call as Bishop of our Nebraska Synod.  

At the Synod Assembly, I was elected to a six-year term on the Nebraska Synod Council. The Nebraska Synod Council is the board of directors of this synod and serves as its interim legislative authority between meetings of the synod assembly. The Council is composed of both clergy and lay leaders from across the state of Nebraska. Meetings are held quarterly both in-person and electronically. I served previously on the Council from 2012 to 2018. It is a great opportunity to give back to the Nebraska Synod personally and professionally. I look forward to my time on the Council and deepening Messiah's relationship with our Synod and the ELCA.  

In Christ,
Pastor Steven
 

Community Food Events
 
Hot meals at Messiah have been discontinued indefinitely.

Food Boxes are available at the Success Academy (corner of State and Lafayette)
on two Saturday afternoons every month. 

July Food Box Giveaways:
Saturday, July 9^th, 2022
Saturday, July 23^rd, 2022
 

Power of Prayer
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Everyone, no matter how big or small, carries burdens, fears and grief. At times it can feel like a heavy load almost too heavy to carry, but with God, we are reminded we don’t have to. This summer at VBS we focused on what a relationship with God looks like through prayer. Giving our kids tools & reminders that God is ALWAYS with them, even in the storm.

Thank You to everyone who volunteered their time: Jill Lenners, Noah Mueller, Teresa Mueller, Morgann Pospisil, Abby Lopez, & Chloe Lopez.

A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED ITEMS AND MONEY TO HELP MAKE VBS POSSIBLE THIS SUMMER!

 
Monthly Messenger: July 2022
Messiah Church Calendar
Messiah Lutheran Church Picture Book