EMERGENCY PHONE (941) 548-6163
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CANCELED THROUGH MAY 12, 2020
On March 13th, in response to Governor DeSantis' Declarations of Emergency and A Public Health Emergency, our Synod Bishop, Rev. Pedro Suarez issued recommendations for all ELCA churches in Florida to consider. Bishop has asked that we cancel all events including worship, meetings, activities through the end of March. Our council and pastoral staff have met and decided to accept the bishop's recommendation, and thus we have canceled all events.
Meetings
Worship
Classes
In addition, the parish office will be closed to the general public. Our pastoral staff will continue to maintain office hours and will be available in emergency situations by appointment only. We will continue to update you by email and encourage you all to remain safe and adhere to all precautions suggested by the CDC, WHO, The State of Florida and local authorities, to remain safe throughout this unprecedented period.
We will be publishing a guide for home worship and sending that out via email in order that you may observe a time of prayer and worship privately, while our corporate worship times together are suspended. Many churches are planning to LIVESTREAM or FacebookLIVE worship services. We will try to gather these together to provide to you as well.
Should you have any questions, you may direct them to us via email
pastor@messiahnfm.org
john.renfroe@messiahnfm.org
office@messiahnfm.org
God, our peace and our strength, we pray for our nation and the world as we face new uncertainties around coronavirus. Protect the most vulnerable among us, especially all who are currently sick or in isolation. Grant wisdom, patience, and clarity to health care workers, especially as their work caring for others puts them at great risk. Guide us as we consider how best to prepare and respond in our families, congregations, workplaces, and communities. Give us the courage to face these days not with fear but with compassion, concern, and acts of service, trusting that you abide with us always, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
True Humility
Palm Sunday - April 5, 2020
The servanthood of a teacher in Isaiah, the outcast in the psalm, those who bow down in Philippians: today’s readings teach humility. On this day we move from Christ’s triumphant ride on a humble donkey to the humiliation of the cross. The humility of the characters in the passion story is in question: Judas, Pilate, the Twelve, chief priests and elders, Barabbas, the crowd, the soldiers, two bandits. Among other things, their lack of humility is what brings about the passion of Christ. There is only one truly humble person in this story: Jesus the Christ. Matthew’s humble Jesus cries out from the cross to ask God why he has been forsaken.
Only in the stories of the resurrection do other humble characters appear: the centurion, the women, Joseph of Arimathea. A careful look at the complexity of humility in the palm and passion stories could set up a reflective theme carried through to Easter. Who in each story do we regard as humble? Why? How does our humility compare? Are there characters who seem to gain or lose humility in the course of the story from the triumphant entry to the resurrection? A deep and meaningful understanding of humility is a worthy and lasting gift to take away from the season of Lent and the celebration of Easter.
Joseph of Arimathea is a particularly good character on which to base an understanding of humility. A close look at all references to him in the Gospels, and a bit of creative narrative, create an image of a truly humble believer. He is referenced in both canonical and apocryphal texts. His devotion represents deep humility that leads to the very finest of good works as he cares for the body of Jesus.
Cape Coral, Florida 33909
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