Messiah Lutheran Church, Knoxville TN

This year, as part of Vision Messiah 2010, our congregation is seeking to focus its attention on the issue of Hunger, its causes, as well as the various initiatives and ministries that seek to give aid to over one billion people who suffer from hunger.  

During the month of September, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, and its parent organization Feeding America, are asking faith communities to take action to fight domestic hunger. Throughout Hunger Action Month, Feeding America’s nationwide network of more than 200 food banks is calling upon communities to take action through the “30 Ways in 30 Days” campaign.

Here at Messiah, we have a long history of taking action in local and global hunger ministry. Our FISH pantry, KARM meals, and support of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal are just three examples of Messiah’s action over the years to serve the poor and feed the hungry.

This month we’re asking you to find the way that’s right for you to make a difference. Whether it’s by advocating and raising awareness, making donations, or giving of your time and energy, consider how you might use this month as a time to further your involvement in hunger action. To assist you, we encourage you to take a look at page 3 to learn more about Messiah’s current hunger ministries. In addition, we invite you to bring a canned food to worship on Rally Day—Sept. 12—to give during the offering. All canned foods collected will go to Messiah’s FISH pantry. On Sept. 19 we’ll include a special offering for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal in our worship. Go to http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/ELCA-World-Hunger.aspx to see ways in which your offering makes a difference in our church’s action against hunger.  You might also want to visit http://hungeractionmonth.org to take Second Harvest’s action pledge and to learn more about other ways you can observe Hunger Action Month.

The need in our community, country and throughout the world is tremendous, but so is the impact that we can make together. Let’s join together this month and take action.

Rally - verb. get together, assemble, join forces, unite, ally, collaborate, cooperate, pull together.

It is a new school year and football time in Tennessee!!! So is it time to Rally!!! Join the ministers of Messiah as we gather in the fellowship hall on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 9:45 am for Rally Day 2010!

The children of Messiah (preschool through 5th grade) will join us for refreshments and then go to an opening time of music with Ms. Jenny Adams and Ms. Holly Burkett in the Chapel Narthex. From there they will proceed to their designated classrooms. Preschool through 1st grade with Ms. Sue Tobey in room 127 and 2nd through 5th grade with Ms. Anne Driskill in room 125.

Youth will meet in the fellowship hall for refreshments and then head to the lower level to their classrooms.  Middle schoolers (6th–8th grades) will meet in room 007. High schoolers (9th-12th grades) will meet in the youth room (003/005.)

Bring a non-perishable food and a smile!

In support of Hunger Action Month, we invite all to bring a non-perishable food item to worship on Rally Day. All foods collected will go to Messiah’s FISH pantry.

Suggested items include: peanut butter, canned fruit, canned soups, canned meat, baked beans, macaroni & cheese, and dried milk.

And don’t forget your smile as we will be taking a photo of the entire congregation in front of the church (weather permitting) to be used as a welcoming photo on our website.

Come be a part of Rally Day 2010!

The adult Sunday school class meets on the main level in the fellowship hall at 9:45 am each Sunday mornings.

Current study:  Christian Commitment in Today’s World  by Margaret Krych (from Augsburg Adult Bible Studies curriculum)

Study what genuine Christian commitment means in today’s world, and how God’s faithfulness provides the foundation for this commitment.

            July 25 God’s Own Faithfulness (2 Thess. 3)

            Aug. 1  Rising above the Circumstances (Phil. 1)

            Aug. 8  Summer Sunday Brunch

            Aug. 15            Living into the Future (Phil. 3:1b—4:1)

            Aug. 22            Growing in Joy and Peace (Phil. 4:2–14)

            Aug. 29            Upheld by God (Acts 28; Phil. 4:15–23)

The Messiah Book Group will meet Tuesday, April 7 at 7:00 pm in the church library to discuss The Gift of the Jews by Thomas Cahill. The discussion will be led by Georgia Phillippi. Anyone interested is welcome to attend, whether you’ve read the book or not.

Join Messiah Book Group for future discussions

The Messiah Book Group meets every couple months to discuss books. Anyone interested is invited to join the group for one or all of the discussions. The group will meet in the church library at 7:00 pm on the dates listed below for the book indicated.

•           September 13, 2010 - Discussion led by Pat Kopp

Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’s Forbidden Messages in the Heart of the Vatican
by Benjamin Blech & Roy Doliner

•           November 1, 2010 - Discussion led by Connie Cole

When Bad Things Happen to Good People
by Harold S. Kushner

Other books on the group’s list:

•           Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled,
            Beat-up, and Burnt Out by Brennan Manning

•           The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

•           The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

•           An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor

•           God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most
            Important Question–Why We Suffer by Bart D. Ehrman