PARISH EVENTS
By vote of our Congregation Council, Messiah is tentatively planning to resume in person worship and other events on Sunday, June 28th, although plans may change in either direction depending on guidance from Upstate New York Synod Bishop John Macholz. Unless additional guidance is issued, all events listed below will be conducted virtually on either Facebook Watch, our website or Zoom as noted.
Great Vigil of Pentecost
Saturday, May 30th at 7:00pm
From the study of Christian history we know that Easter and Pentecost were the first two feasts celebrated by the earliest followers of Jesus. While the ancient church celebrated a vigil with Easter as early as the second century, from at least the fifth century it also celebrated a Vigil with Pentecost as a way of recognizing the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to make all things new! In these most unprecedented of times, we at Messiah will seek to reclaim the tradition of the Great Vigil of Pentecost through a virtual conversation about what it might mean #BuildABetterNormal as a Spirit filled community grounded in Jesus Christ, along with a renewed form of the ancient Litany of the Holy Spirit led by candlelight by Pastor Dustin.
Feast of Pentecost Mass
Sunday, May 31st at 10:15am
Even though we can't be physically together, this is a HISTORIC Sunday! In a joint virtual service with our friends at Trinity Reformed, we'll begin to take the next step in our journey towards becoming one faith community together grounded in Jesus Christ and nurturing our neighborhood in body, mind and soul. After a festive service featuring both Pastor Dustin and Pastor Jonathan, we'll conclude the service with the lighting of candles, symbolizing the power of the Holy Spirit that continues knitting us ever closer together! And immediately after worship we'll head outside to commission Messiah's very own 518Rainbow, a beautiful mural from noted local artist and friend of the congregation Rachel Longmire! Join us here on Facebook Watch or on our website and following worship, we invite members of both congregations to a virtual Pentecost Coffeehour on Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93223736256.
Adult Education: Christ and the Coronavirus
Sunday, May 31st at 8:45am
Over the last few weeks our Sunday morning adult education class has transitioned to discussing how our faith in Christ relates to COVID19 and we plan on continuing that journey well into the summer! Each week Merle Longwood leads us through a discussion of recent articles about how COVID19, our faith, and a wide variety of topics from race to public health to poverty and more all interact. Join us live on Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/913384341.
Vespers
Sunday, May 31st - Thursday, June 4th at 6:00pm
What began as a brief prayer service during difficult times is rapidly growing into a virtual space for our entire local community to pray, comfort one another and engage in conversation. After a brief opening reflection on a Bible verse from the daily Revised Common Lectionary, Pastor Dustin interviews a very special guest via Zoom. The service then concludes with intercessory prayers from folks joining us online. Join us on Facebook Watch!
Sunday, May 31st: Tonight on Vespers, Hannah Borski, a lifelong member of Messiah, joins us to discuss her experience of COVID19 as a high schooler and what Church means during such a complicated time. We also reflect on Acts 2:1-21, the story of the descent of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church!
Monday, June 1st: Tonight on Vespers, the Rev. Jo Page joins us, Dean of the Hudson Mohawk Conference to discuss the work of the wider Lutheran Church during these challenging times. As June 1st is also the Feast of Mary, Mother of God's visit to her cousin Elizabeth in Saint Luke 1:39-57, we also reflect on the evolving role of women in ordained ministry and look forward to our celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Women's Ordination in the Lutheran Church later this summer.
Tuesday, June 2nd: Tonight on Vespers, Russell McDonald, a relatively new member of our congregation and a local artist who recently celebrated six months of sobriety (you're awesome Russell!) joins us to discuss how creating art, particularly using the Zentangle method, has become a major component of self-care amidst COVID19. We also discuss Saint Paul's words in Romans 8:26-27, particularly how the Holy Spirit "intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words."
Wednesday, June 3rd: Tonight on Vespers, Dr. Crystal Hall, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at United Lutheran Seminary (and someone who went to Sunday School with Pastor Dustin) joins us to discuss the changing role of seminary education and how the New Testament speaks to the many crises of contemporary life. We also reflect on Saint John 7:37-39's image of the Holy Spirit as "living water."
Thursday, June 4th: Tonight on Vespers, Dr. Merle Longwood, a longtime member of Messiah and Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Siena College, joins us to tell his own story of being a young seminary intern at a Lutheran congregation in the South at the height of the civil rights movement. We go on to reflect on how this experience continues to inform his thinking around issues of race and social justice and highlight Job 28:1-11's poetic words about wisdom found in God's good creation.
Feast of the Holy Trinity Mass
Sunday, June 7th at 10:15am
The idea of the Holy Trinity, that God exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is an ancient idea with great contemporary relevance! As we reach out for community during such difficult times, it is gospel truth that even God does not exist alone, so we shouldn't either! Join us for the Feast of the Holy Trinity as we celebrate God's good gift of life together here on Facebook Watch or on our website!
Bread for the World Virtual Advocacy Summit: Our Faith, Our Future
Monday, June 8th - Tuesday June 9th
This year Bread for the World is bringing together people of faith from around the country to participate in worship, advocacy-focused workshops, learn up-to-date legislative priorities and virtually advocate with their elected leaders on issues related to hunger and poverty. To be certain, this year’s Advocacy Summit will look different than previous in-person gatherings held in Washington but it's importance won’t be! More than ever, it's critical that people of faith, including our members right here at Messiah, lift up their voice to ensure that the most vulnerable here in the United States and abroad receive the nutrition they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. To see a full list of virtual workshops, speakers, film screenings and more, as well as to register, go to www.bread.org/advocacy-summit and let Pastor Dustin know you'll be participating!
Come to the Water: A Virtual Course on Baptism for Young Parents and their Children
Sunday, June 7th, 14th & 28th at 4:00pm
Gosh... we have A BUNCH of new babies at Messiah. This is awesome, but instead of doing one on one classes before baptism, we thought it would be a good idea to try starting a new tradition... holding a biannual group course on baptism to help all our young parents to better get to know each other! Using a great resource called Come to the Water from Sparkhouse, Pastor Dustin will lead three fun group discussions with our first on baby psychology and faith, the second on the history of baptism, and the third on baptism as a gift and a calling. RSVPs are required! Please email Pastor Dustin at pastor@messiahschenectady.org with each baby's full name, date of birth, address, names of parent/guardians as well as their email addresses and phone numbers by Sunday, May 31st to reserve a spot!
Vespers
Monday, June 8th - Wednesday, June 10th at 6:00pm
What began as a brief prayer service during difficult times is rapidly growing into a virtual space for our entire local community to pray, comfort one another and engage in conversation. After a brief opening reflection on a Bible verse from the daily Revised Common Lectionary, Pastor Dustin interviews a very special guest via Zoom. The service then concludes with intercessory prayers from folks joining us online. Join us on Facebook Watch as we continue with our summer schedule of episodes Monday - Wednesday each week!
Monday, June 8th: Tonight on Vespers, Natalie Penna, a local youth and climate activist, discusses why she is so passionate about combating climate change.
Mass for the First Sunday after Pentecost: Hope
Sunday, June 14th at 10:15am
The Season after Pentecost starts with Holy Trinity Sunday and after that is called "Ordinary Time." This is a long season when the Church focuses on its “ordinary” work of worship, learning, and serving together. In fact, we'll be in this season of the church year all the way until the First Sunday of Advent in December! In summer, there is a focus on growth and harvest, since this is the growing season for many plants and crops. It is also a time for growing as Jesus’ followers as we listen in on many of the teachings he shared with his disciples and others. On this Sunday, we focus on the hope we know in faith as discussed in Romans 5:1-8. Join us here on Facebook Watch or on our website!
Young Adult Group Dinner
Sunday, June 14th at 7:00pm
We have a bunch of new folks joining us in their twenties and thirties and this is an opportunity to connect with folks over dinner, share a brief devotion and simply hang out. Join us at https://zoom.us/j/94691181775!
Mass for the Second Sunday after Pentecost: Father's Day!
Sunday, June 21st at 10:15am
The highlight of this service is a very special message from our young people about the importance of fathers, grandfathers and others providing fatherly care in their lives. We also focus on the idea of Christian freedom in Romans 6:1b-11. Join us here on Facebook Watch or on our website!
Mass for the Third Sunday after Pentecost: Welcome
Sunday, June 28th at 10:15am
As we begin to contemplate what a return to physical worship and fellowship might look like, the central theme of this Sunday could not be more important... welcome! As Saint Matthew 10:40-42 tells us, when we welcome the stranger, we welcome Christ into our midst... it's that simple and that complicated! Join us here on Facebook Watch or on our website!
2nd Annual Calumet Campership Fund Benefit Concert
Sunday, June 28th at 7:00pm
A truly CENTRAL ministry here at Messiah is supporting our young people, and a big part of doing that is ensuring that any young person who wants to go to Camp Calumet Lutheran can do so, whether or not their family can afford the cost. While all our other Calumet spring fundraising events were canceled because of COVID19, and the virus will certainly limit our kids' involvement this summer, we anticipate even more of our young people wanting to attend Calumet in 2021. Thus, we plan on hosting a benefit concert showcasing the musical talents of all of our members just like we planned before our entire world changed a couple months ago to help our kids get a head start on fundraising for next year. Join us here on Facebook Watch or on our website! If it's impossible to have an in-person component to the show, we'll certainly make that happen! Please speak with Kristen Olochnowicz if you want to be included in the show!
To view our complete parish calendar, click here.
Great Vigil of Pentecost
Saturday, May 30th at 7:00pm
From the study of Christian history we know that Easter and Pentecost were the first two feasts celebrated by the earliest followers of Jesus. While the ancient church celebrated a vigil with Easter as early as the second century, from at least the fifth century it also celebrated a Vigil with Pentecost as a way of recognizing the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to make all things new! In these most unprecedented of times, we at Messiah will seek to reclaim the tradition of the Great Vigil of Pentecost through a virtual conversation about what it might mean #BuildABetterNormal as a Spirit filled community grounded in Jesus Christ, along with a renewed form of the ancient Litany of the Holy Spirit led by candlelight by Pastor Dustin.
Feast of Pentecost Mass
Sunday, May 31st at 10:15am
Even though we can't be physically together, this is a HISTORIC Sunday! In a joint virtual service with our friends at Trinity Reformed, we'll begin to take the next step in our journey towards becoming one faith community together grounded in Jesus Christ and nurturing our neighborhood in body, mind and soul. After a festive service featuring both Pastor Dustin and Pastor Jonathan, we'll conclude the service with the lighting of candles, symbolizing the power of the Holy Spirit that continues knitting us ever closer together! And immediately after worship we'll head outside to commission Messiah's very own 518Rainbow, a beautiful mural from noted local artist and friend of the congregation Rachel Longmire! Join us here on Facebook Watch or on our website and following worship, we invite members of both congregations to a virtual Pentecost Coffeehour on Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93223736256.
Adult Education: Christ and the Coronavirus
Sunday, May 31st at 8:45am
Over the last few weeks our Sunday morning adult education class has transitioned to discussing how our faith in Christ relates to COVID19 and we plan on continuing that journey well into the summer! Each week Merle Longwood leads us through a discussion of recent articles about how COVID19, our faith, and a wide variety of topics from race to public health to poverty and more all interact. Join us live on Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/913384341.
Vespers
Sunday, May 31st - Thursday, June 4th at 6:00pm
What began as a brief prayer service during difficult times is rapidly growing into a virtual space for our entire local community to pray, comfort one another and engage in conversation. After a brief opening reflection on a Bible verse from the daily Revised Common Lectionary, Pastor Dustin interviews a very special guest via Zoom. The service then concludes with intercessory prayers from folks joining us online. Join us on Facebook Watch!
Sunday, May 31st: Tonight on Vespers, Hannah Borski, a lifelong member of Messiah, joins us to discuss her experience of COVID19 as a high schooler and what Church means during such a complicated time. We also reflect on Acts 2:1-21, the story of the descent of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church!
Monday, June 1st: Tonight on Vespers, the Rev. Jo Page joins us, Dean of the Hudson Mohawk Conference to discuss the work of the wider Lutheran Church during these challenging times. As June 1st is also the Feast of Mary, Mother of God's visit to her cousin Elizabeth in Saint Luke 1:39-57, we also reflect on the evolving role of women in ordained ministry and look forward to our celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Women's Ordination in the Lutheran Church later this summer.
Tuesday, June 2nd: Tonight on Vespers, Russell McDonald, a relatively new member of our congregation and a local artist who recently celebrated six months of sobriety (you're awesome Russell!) joins us to discuss how creating art, particularly using the Zentangle method, has become a major component of self-care amidst COVID19. We also discuss Saint Paul's words in Romans 8:26-27, particularly how the Holy Spirit "intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words."
Wednesday, June 3rd: Tonight on Vespers, Dr. Crystal Hall, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at United Lutheran Seminary (and someone who went to Sunday School with Pastor Dustin) joins us to discuss the changing role of seminary education and how the New Testament speaks to the many crises of contemporary life. We also reflect on Saint John 7:37-39's image of the Holy Spirit as "living water."
Thursday, June 4th: Tonight on Vespers, Dr. Merle Longwood, a longtime member of Messiah and Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Siena College, joins us to tell his own story of being a young seminary intern at a Lutheran congregation in the South at the height of the civil rights movement. We go on to reflect on how this experience continues to inform his thinking around issues of race and social justice and highlight Job 28:1-11's poetic words about wisdom found in God's good creation.
Feast of the Holy Trinity Mass
Sunday, June 7th at 10:15am
The idea of the Holy Trinity, that God exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is an ancient idea with great contemporary relevance! As we reach out for community during such difficult times, it is gospel truth that even God does not exist alone, so we shouldn't either! Join us for the Feast of the Holy Trinity as we celebrate God's good gift of life together here on Facebook Watch or on our website!
Bread for the World Virtual Advocacy Summit: Our Faith, Our Future
Monday, June 8th - Tuesday June 9th
This year Bread for the World is bringing together people of faith from around the country to participate in worship, advocacy-focused workshops, learn up-to-date legislative priorities and virtually advocate with their elected leaders on issues related to hunger and poverty. To be certain, this year’s Advocacy Summit will look different than previous in-person gatherings held in Washington but it's importance won’t be! More than ever, it's critical that people of faith, including our members right here at Messiah, lift up their voice to ensure that the most vulnerable here in the United States and abroad receive the nutrition they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. To see a full list of virtual workshops, speakers, film screenings and more, as well as to register, go to www.bread.org/advocacy-summit and let Pastor Dustin know you'll be participating!
Come to the Water: A Virtual Course on Baptism for Young Parents and their Children
Sunday, June 7th, 14th & 28th at 4:00pm
Gosh... we have A BUNCH of new babies at Messiah. This is awesome, but instead of doing one on one classes before baptism, we thought it would be a good idea to try starting a new tradition... holding a biannual group course on baptism to help all our young parents to better get to know each other! Using a great resource called Come to the Water from Sparkhouse, Pastor Dustin will lead three fun group discussions with our first on baby psychology and faith, the second on the history of baptism, and the third on baptism as a gift and a calling. RSVPs are required! Please email Pastor Dustin at pastor@messiahschenectady.org with each baby's full name, date of birth, address, names of parent/guardians as well as their email addresses and phone numbers by Sunday, May 31st to reserve a spot!
Vespers
Monday, June 8th - Wednesday, June 10th at 6:00pm
What began as a brief prayer service during difficult times is rapidly growing into a virtual space for our entire local community to pray, comfort one another and engage in conversation. After a brief opening reflection on a Bible verse from the daily Revised Common Lectionary, Pastor Dustin interviews a very special guest via Zoom. The service then concludes with intercessory prayers from folks joining us online. Join us on Facebook Watch as we continue with our summer schedule of episodes Monday - Wednesday each week!
Monday, June 8th: Tonight on Vespers, Natalie Penna, a local youth and climate activist, discusses why she is so passionate about combating climate change.
Mass for the First Sunday after Pentecost: Hope
Sunday, June 14th at 10:15am
The Season after Pentecost starts with Holy Trinity Sunday and after that is called "Ordinary Time." This is a long season when the Church focuses on its “ordinary” work of worship, learning, and serving together. In fact, we'll be in this season of the church year all the way until the First Sunday of Advent in December! In summer, there is a focus on growth and harvest, since this is the growing season for many plants and crops. It is also a time for growing as Jesus’ followers as we listen in on many of the teachings he shared with his disciples and others. On this Sunday, we focus on the hope we know in faith as discussed in Romans 5:1-8. Join us here on Facebook Watch or on our website!
Young Adult Group Dinner
Sunday, June 14th at 7:00pm
We have a bunch of new folks joining us in their twenties and thirties and this is an opportunity to connect with folks over dinner, share a brief devotion and simply hang out. Join us at https://zoom.us/j/94691181775!
Mass for the Second Sunday after Pentecost: Father's Day!
Sunday, June 21st at 10:15am
The highlight of this service is a very special message from our young people about the importance of fathers, grandfathers and others providing fatherly care in their lives. We also focus on the idea of Christian freedom in Romans 6:1b-11. Join us here on Facebook Watch or on our website!
Mass for the Third Sunday after Pentecost: Welcome
Sunday, June 28th at 10:15am
As we begin to contemplate what a return to physical worship and fellowship might look like, the central theme of this Sunday could not be more important... welcome! As Saint Matthew 10:40-42 tells us, when we welcome the stranger, we welcome Christ into our midst... it's that simple and that complicated! Join us here on Facebook Watch or on our website!
2nd Annual Calumet Campership Fund Benefit Concert
Sunday, June 28th at 7:00pm
A truly CENTRAL ministry here at Messiah is supporting our young people, and a big part of doing that is ensuring that any young person who wants to go to Camp Calumet Lutheran can do so, whether or not their family can afford the cost. While all our other Calumet spring fundraising events were canceled because of COVID19, and the virus will certainly limit our kids' involvement this summer, we anticipate even more of our young people wanting to attend Calumet in 2021. Thus, we plan on hosting a benefit concert showcasing the musical talents of all of our members just like we planned before our entire world changed a couple months ago to help our kids get a head start on fundraising for next year. Join us here on Facebook Watch or on our website! If it's impossible to have an in-person component to the show, we'll certainly make that happen! Please speak with Kristen Olochnowicz if you want to be included in the show!
To view our complete parish calendar, click here.