SCS = Sunday Church School, AF = Adult Forum, C = Confirmation, LL = Lifelong Learning

January

4 - SCS, AF

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “Jesus”

11 - SCS, AF

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “Jesus”

18 - SCS, AF, C (7 - 8:30 pm)

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “Jesus”

25 - SCS, AF, C (7 - 8:30 pm)

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “Jesus”

February

1 – SCS, AF, C (9 – 10 am)

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “Jesus”

8 - SCS, AF

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “Jesus”

15 – SCS, AF, C (7 - 8:30 pm)

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “Jesus”

22 – Winter Break: No SCS, AF, C

Ash Wednesday service - 7 pm

March

1 – SCS, AF, C (9 – 10 am)

3/4 - 4/1: Lenten Soup and Worship

8 - SCS, AF Daylight savings time begins

15 – SCS, AF, C (7 - 8:30 pm)

22 – SCS, AF, C (7 - 8:30 pm)

29 – SCS, AF C (7 - 8:30 pm): special event!

Spring 2009

SCS = Sunday Church School, AF = Adult Forum, C = Confirmation, LL = Lifelong Learning

April

5 – Palm Sunday – SCS, AF, C (9 – 10am): worship project

12 – Easter: No classes. Join us for worship and the Easter Brunch!

19 – SCS, AF, No C—attend Mr. Gordon’s class as usual

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “The Church’s Mission in a Scientific Age”

26 – SCS and AF meet together (school vacation week), No C

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “The Church’s Mission in a Scientific Age”

May

3 - SCS, AF, C (9 – 10 am)

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “The Church’s Mission in a Scientific Age”

10 – SCS, AF

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “The Church’s Mission in a Scientific Age”

17 – SCS, AF, C (7 - 8:30 pm)

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “The Church’s Mission in a Scientific Age”

24 - SCS, AF, C (7 - 8:30 pm)

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “The Church’s Mission in a Scientific Age”

31 – SCS, AF

Wed. (7 – 8 pm) – LL: “The Church’s Mission in a Scientific Age”

June

7 – SCS, AF, C (9 – 10 am)

14 - Closing Ceremonies for SCS, AF, C (all at 9 am)

21 – No classes. Worship time remains at 10:30 until July 5^th.

24^th – 28^th Confirmation Camp at Calumet

July

22^nd – 26^th ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans

13^th – 17^th Vacation Bible School (tentative date)

Ministry Planning Event scheduled for Saturday, January 3rd is at 9:00 am and goes until 12:00 pm. Everyone is invited to attend, and leaders of ministries are especially encouraged to attend. The Congregation Council members are expected to be there. Any questions call Pastor.

This is the recipe for the January 8th meal:

Mexican Fiesta

3 ½ to 4 c. cooked, diced chicken

1 onion, chopped

1 11-oz can mexi-corn, drained

1 12-oz package shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

1 sweet red bell pepper, seeded & chopped

1 t. chili powder

1 15-oz can Mexican stewed tomatoes

2 10-oz cans cream of chicken soup

1 13-oz. bag tortilla chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine chicken, onion, corn, cheese, bell pepper, chili powder, tomatoes, and soup.

Grease 9X13-inch baking pan. Place about 1/3 to ½ of the tortilla chips in the bottom of the pan. Crush slightly with the palm of your hand.

Spoon chicken mixture over chips and spread out in pan. Crush remaining chips slightly and sprinkle over casserole.

Bake uncovered for 40 minutes.

Those wishing to put an item in the Annual Report of the congregation are encouraged to do so by January 11th. The meeting will be held on January 25th after worship.

Sunday School, Adult Forum (but not Confirmation) are scheduled to resume on January 4th at 9:00 am. You are invited to pick up a Christian Education schedule from the Narthex table. It will also be posted elsewhere on the website ASAP.

The Adult Forum on the economy has been rescheduled for Sunday January 11th beginning at 9:00 am. Bob B will lead this informative session on the Market and managing the gifts God has given you. For more information call the church office at 673-2011

SHARE is looking for any gift cards to help buy turkeys for holiday season. If you would like to pick one up please go to Market Basket or Shaws as it could go toward a Christmas basket for the family we adopted!

Anne Marie House is desperately seeking diapers and wipes!  Sizes 5 and 6 needed!  Give to Roxanne or Marge .

FISH has developed into an acronym for Friends In Service Helping. It originated in England-during the war people would put the fish sign in their window and it would show that this was a safe haven for anyone to stay and be safe. The organization has been in this area for over 30 years.   It is a volunteer transportation service, transporting mostly the elderly to Dr’s visits, treatments, such as dialysis or physical therapy or counseling.   It is not restricted to the elderly.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services will be at 5:00 & 10:30 pm.

Service of the Longest Night – a time of prayer and reflection, candlelight and connection to remember…to grieve…to find hope. Sun. Dec. 21 at 8:00pm @ Gethsemane Lutheran Church, St. James Hall, 65 Sagamore St. Manchester, NH. For More details see Pastor.

Mark your calendars for the weekend of January 3-4. On Saturday, you are invited to a Ministry Planning Workshop as the culmination of our Mission Focusing process. This event will serve to put what we have discovered in the process to work in the life of the congregation. On Sunday the 4th, our consultant, Pr. Renee Liabraaten will report to the congregation, and preach the word of God’s abundant grace.

Mark you calendar! “Faith, Hope & Love” will be putting on a benefit concert at Messiah on Sun. Jan. 18^th 2009 @ 2pm. There will be a free will offering that will go to help the youth attend the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans.

Share Food Pantry is in NEED! They are looking for any kind of rice, canned fruits, fruit juice and shampoo. Please place in basket in the hallway. Thank You!

Sat. Jan. 17, 2009 the Red Cross will be here at Messiah for our annual blood drive. It will be from 9am – 2 pm. Any questions see Karla.