November 2025 Pastor's Letter
Pastor Dustin at our Third Annual Empty Bowls Gala.
|
Dear siblings in faith,
As we head into Advent and the start of a new year in Christian community together here at Messiah Lutheran Church, know I've never been so excited about our future together. We raised over $21,000 at our Third Annual Empty Bowls Gala this year, and received word about a number of significant grants in the last couple weeks. While there's still a lot to figure out with God's help, I am thankful to say we are on a MUCH stronger path at the Rotterdam Community Center than we were this summer. New young people are regularly filling our pews and building new relationships with God and one another. This winter will see what is shaping up to be a HUGE crew taking a weekend of sabbath together at our Second Annual Camp Calumet MLK Winter Retreat Weekend. Help-Portrait and our Thirteenth Annual Community Christmas Concert and Christmas Eve Potluck are all planned and ready to go! This is the BEST time of year to be at Messiah, dear friends... so please join us and invite a friend to celebrate around our common table where all are welcome in justice and joy In Christ's name, happy Advent, dear Church! in hope, Pastor Dustin |
Office Number Changes
This September our Congregation Council voted to discontinue our old land line number. We need that land line number as an emergency call out line for our lift, and unfortunately, once the lift was hooked up to the line, our lift began picking up the phone for us! To add an additional land line would be an extra $50 / month, and most individuals directly call Heather on her work phone anyway. Moving forward, if you need assistance from Messiah's office, please call Heather directly at 518.364.3216. Thank you!
Youth Lottery Ticket Raffle!
You raised $434 to replenish our Youth & Family Fund through our Lottery Ticket Raffle with Pete Carucci being the big winner! Thank you for your support!
A Note from the Bread of Life Food Pantry
With heartfelt thanks to our congregation for your generous support of the food pantry. Your kindness and giving spirit are a blessing to those in need and a beautiful reflection of God's love in action!
Honor Your Loved Ones with Flowers for Mass!
You can both beautify our worship space for Sunday Mass AND honor your loved ones by purchasing flowers in their honor! The cost is only $10 to be paid in cash or check directly to Judy Becker, who has been faithfully stewarding this program for many years. There is a Flower Chart to reserve a Sunday on the central pillar in the narthex, but at the time you sign up for flowers please write your dedication and enclose $10 in the provided envelopes. You can either put those envelopes in the Bread of Life Food Pantry mailbox, the offering plate or hand them directly to Judy Becker. Dedications will then be listed in the bulletin each Sunday. Thanks so much for helping make worship beautiful in Christ's name!
Reverse Advent Collection to Benefit the Bread of Life Food Pantry
Step 1. On November 30, 2025, pick up your bag in the narthex.
Step 2. Plan you daily gives! (Keep it simple – we will provide a list of the items that the Bread of Life Food Pantry provides to our clients.)
Step 3. Add 1 item to your bag each day starting December 1, 2025.
Step 4. Place your bag in the narthex by Sunday, December 21, 2025.
It’s that easy. At the end of Advent, you will have a full bag to give and a heart filled with happiness knowing you made a difference this holiday season. Thank you!
Step 2. Plan you daily gives! (Keep it simple – we will provide a list of the items that the Bread of Life Food Pantry provides to our clients.)
Step 3. Add 1 item to your bag each day starting December 1, 2025.
Step 4. Place your bag in the narthex by Sunday, December 21, 2025.
It’s that easy. At the end of Advent, you will have a full bag to give and a heart filled with happiness knowing you made a difference this holiday season. Thank you!
David and Lore Ellis Landscaping Fund
David and Lore Ellis supported our Spirit filled congregation in many ways throughout their lives, but in particularly, they spent decades caring for our landscaping around Messiah and provided so many beautiful shrubs, bushes and flowers. In April 2025, our Congregation Council voted to create a new David and Lore Ellis Landscaping Fund in their honor. If you'd like to contribute, simply put "Landscaping Fund" in the memo line of a check, select "Landscaping Fund" on tithely or speak with Pastor Dustin.
2025 Mission Support Campaign
On Reformation Sunday, October 26th, the people of Messiah rallied around the following three goals for 2026 as we head into our 99th year as Spirit filled congregation together:
Out of the thirty households who submitted a Statement of Intent on Reformation Sunday we are proud to say we had eighteen households increase their financial commitment and four households make a Statement of Intent for the first time, leading to $9,382 in increased giving so far for the year ahead! We also had many members sign up to serve on one of our 23 committees.
If you haven't already submitted your Statement of Intent for 2026, please reach out to Mission Support Chair Ann Marie Gray today!
- Renovate our water damaged Youth Room to serve as a blank canvas for youth art and self-expression.
- Expand programming so youth are more visible and valued in the worship, service and community life of the parish.
- Make worship more engaging to people of all ages and abilities.
Out of the thirty households who submitted a Statement of Intent on Reformation Sunday we are proud to say we had eighteen households increase their financial commitment and four households make a Statement of Intent for the first time, leading to $9,382 in increased giving so far for the year ahead! We also had many members sign up to serve on one of our 23 committees.
If you haven't already submitted your Statement of Intent for 2026, please reach out to Mission Support Chair Ann Marie Gray today!
Newsletter Articles Due
Let's continue supporting Heather by getting newsletter articles in on time. Please send all newsletter articles to Heather at [email protected] by the following dates for the upcoming month: November 23rd, December 14th, January 25th.
Office Hours for Heather and Pastor Dustin
Both Heather and Pastor Dustin continue to hold expanded in-person office hours this fall. With Pryor starting Kindergarten this year, Heather will now be in person at Messiah on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am - 2:00pm. Pastor Dustin will be in person on Wednesdays at Messiah from 2:00pm - 4:00pm. You can also see any changes to normal office hours on the Parish calendar, found here.
Leadership News
As you can see from looking at our current Committee Roster (digitally linked with a paper copies in the Parish Administrator's Office) there are SO MANY of our members (and some non-member friends!) who have signed up for one of our 23 committees and one of our 6 new volunteer lists.
There are now only ten committees remaining where we are looking for new leaders:
Faith Formation Ministry Team
Fellowship Ministry Team
Social Action Ministry Team
Stewardship Ministry Team
Worship & Music Ministry Team
If you are interested in serving in one of these roles in the coming year, please speak with Mission Support Chair Ann Marie Gray!
There are now only ten committees remaining where we are looking for new leaders:
Faith Formation Ministry Team
- Youth Committee Chair
Fellowship Ministry Team
- Lutheran Men in Mission Chair
- Young Adults Committee Chair
Social Action Ministry Team
- Community Service Committee Chair
- Social Justice Committee Chair
Stewardship Ministry Team
- Archives Committee Chair
- Creation Care Committee Chair
- Personnel Committee Chair
- Property & Grounds Committee Chair
- Publicity Committee Chair
Worship & Music Ministry Team
- All set!
If you are interested in serving in one of these roles in the coming year, please speak with Mission Support Chair Ann Marie Gray!
The Rev. Jonathan Vanderbeck Mental Health Fund
In June 2021 as part of our commitment to prioritize mental health as a congregation our Congregation Council voted to create the Rev. Jonathan Vanderbeck Mental Health Fund. This fund is designed "to support members in paying for necessary mental health care" and as of the end of December 2024 has $1,039 in contributions but has not yet been used. If you are someone struggling to pay for mental health care, please contact Pastor Dustin for a confidential conversation. If you are someone who would like to contribute to this fund, please visit our Donate & Volunteer page, click "Give" and select "Mental Health Fund" in tithely's "Give To" box.
Messiah Youth Fund Bottle & Can Collection!
Want to help our youth attend the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, Minnesota? We need to start saving now! One way you can support that important work is donating your bottles and cans to the Messiah Youth Fund account at Green Bottle Redemption Center! NOW located at 651 Consaulus Ave, the redemption center is open Tuesday - Friday from 9a - 4p & Saturday from 9a - 2:30p! Thanks so much and please help us spread the word!