The October Ultreya for North Florida will be Tuesday, October 13th, beginning at 6:30 in the evening with a covered-dish potluck meal. If you have previously attended a Tres Arroyos weekend you are welcomed and encouraged to attend as part of your “fourth day walk.” As always, we will conclude the evening with the Holy Eucharist. The Ultreya will be hosted at Church of the Messiah (click HERE for a map and directions) and is open to anyone who has attended a Tres Arroyos weekend or similar 3-day weekend retreat (Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Lighthouse Via de Christo, etc…). We look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday night.
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Tuesday Night Is the Ultreya for Northeast Florida
The October Ultreya for North Florida will be Tuesday, October 13th, beginning at 6:30 in the evening with a covered-dish potluck meal. If you have previously attended a Tres Arroyos weekend you are welcomed and encouraged to attend as part of your “fourth day walk.” As always, we will conclude the evening with the Holy Eucharist. The Ultreya will be hosted at Church of the Messiah (click HERE for a map and directions) and is open to anyone who has attended a Tres Arroyos weekend or similar 3-day weekend retreat (Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Lighthouse Via de Christo, etc…). We look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday night.
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Bp. Simpson Issues Appeal for Hurricane Relief for the Bahamas
On Tuesday, October 6th, Bp. David Simpson, whose episcopal oversight includes the Bahamas, issued this appeal to clergy of the Diocese of Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Joaquin:Although our sister parish, Church of the Nativity, in Nassau, Bahamas, was not struck by the recent hurricane, other parts of the nation most certainly were. In response to this humanitarian crisis, the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection and the Diocese of Florida are undertaking a Hurricane Relief Fund to assist the people of the Bahamas in restoring their lives and property in the aftermath of the storm.
At the Cathedral, we will be collecting items as well as cash. Outside the Cathedral, however, given transportation issues, it seems best to appeal for financial contributions. We will then take all such cash contributions and purchase supplies locally to be sent to the Bahamas. We will be working with Fr. Bowleg in this regard to ensure that our contributions are received properly and distributed wisely.
If you are inclined to join in this effort, you can make your checks out to the Diocese of Florida, clearly earmarked “Bahamas Hurricane Relief”.
Worshipers at Church of the Nativity, CEC, in Nassau, Bahamas. For those wishing to send checks directly to the Diocese of Florida, the address is 6701 SW 25th St, Miramar, FL 33023. Alternatively those withing to make donations make make checks payable to Church of the Messiah, clearly marked “Bahamas Hurricane Relief” and we will send those donations out next week.
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Fr. Terry Gensemer to Lead Liturgy for the PreBorn This Saturday Morning
This Saturday morning, at 10 o’clock, Fr. Terry Gensemer, International Director of CEC For Life, will lead the local pro-life community in a Liturgy for the PreBorn. The Liturgy will be held in the public right-of-way in front of A Woman’s Choice of Jacksonville (Click HERE for a Map). The service is being held in conjunction with Jacksonville’s Fall 40 Days for Life campaign. The Liturgy for the PreBorn is a service similar to a prayers at the time of death for the many preborn children who will face death in abortion clinics in Jacksonville and all over America each day. A Woman’s Choice of Jacksonville is one clinic in Jacksonville where abortions are performed six days a week so people will be praying at the same time women and children could be going into the clinic to have abortions. The following morning, Fr. Gensemer will preach at Church of the Messiah’s 10 o’clock service.
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Fr. Terry Gensemer to Visit Church of the Messiah
Fr. Terry Gensemer, the International Director for CEC For Life, will visit Church of the Messiah October 3-4. During his time at Church of the Messiah, Fr. Gensemer will lead a Liturgy for the Pre-Born outside of one of Jacksonville’s most notorious abortion clinics as part of the annual 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign. Sunday morning, Fr. Gensemer will preach and celebrate the Holy Eucharist at Church of the Messiah’s regular services beginning at 10 o’clock.
In addition to leading CEC For Life and sitting on the Patriarch’s Council, Fr. Gensemer is a Board Member of the National Pro-Life Religious Council, a Pastoral Care Associate for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, and the Pastoral Director for the Society of Centurions, an organization which hosts healing retreats for those who have left the abortion industry. Fr. Gensemer’s tireless work for the Pro-Life cause has taken him to five different continents and countless churches across the world. On this trip, Fr. Gensemer will be joined by his wife Patti.
Be sure to mark your calendars because October 3-4 are going to be an exciting weekend. There is never a dull moment with Fr. Terry and Patti Gensemer around. Be sure to join us for each of these powerful events.
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Fr. Looker to Open 40 Days for Life Kickoff Rally in Prayer
This Sunday, September 20th, 40 Days for Life will hold a Kickoff Rally to begin their annual fall campaign. The Kickoff Rally begins at 4:45 and will include a preview of this year’s Fall Campaign, testimonies from Dr. Pete and Patricia Kuhlman on the importance of prayer in the Campaign, and prayer in front of one of Jacksonville’s abortion clinics. This year, Fr. Scott Looker has been asked to open the rally in prayer. The Kickoff Rally will take place in the parking lot of the pro-life Women’s Help Center. Please park at Prince of Peace Roman-Catholic Church (Click HERE for a map).
For those unfamiliar with it, “40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion. The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion.”
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Money for Women’s Retreat Due this Sunday
This year Church of the Messiah’s Women’s Ministry will be joining Christian Healing Ministries at the Captivate 2015 Conference. If you are going to attend Captivate 2015, please have $85 ready by this Sunday. Captivate is CHM’s annual conference and the focus of this event is worship, teaching, and ministry. The conference runs October 1st through 3rd and will begin Thursday evening, will have sessions all day Friday, and conclude Saturday afternoon. You can click HERE for last year’s schedule. For all the information on the conference, you may click HERE. Church of the Messiah will be reserving one room at the Hyatt Regency as a women’s hospitality lounge during the conference. If you would like to stay at the hotel, visit Christian Healing Ministry’s website.
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Tuesday Night is the Northeast Florida Ultreya
The September Ultreya for North Florida will be Tuesday, September 8th, beginning at 6:30 in the evening with a covered-dish potluck meal. If you have previously attended a Tres Arroyos weekend you are welcomed and encouraged to attend as part of your “fourth day walk.” As always, we will conclude the evening with the Holy Eucharist. The Ultreya will be hosted at Church of the Messiah (click HERE for a map and directions) and is open to anyone who has attended a Tres Arroyos weekend or similar 3-day weekend retreat (Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Lighthouse Via de Christo, etc…). We look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday night.
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Aslan Roars’ Igniting Revival Conference Begins This Friday
This Friday night, July 17, Archbishop Chuck Jones will begin an Igniting Revival Conference at Church of the Messiah. The purpose of the conference is to create an atmosphere for the presence of God to ignite revival in the hearts of God’s people through worship, teaching, prophetic words, and healing prayer. The conference begins Friday night at 7 pm, continues with two sessions Saturday at 10 am and 2 pm, and concludes on Sunday morning with Abp. Jones celebrating and preaching at Church of the Messiah’s Sunday morning service starting at 10 am. Childcare is provided at all sessions. No registration is required. There is no fee to attend any session, although a love offering will be collected for Abp. Jones and his team. A Facebook Event has been created so that those wishing to join can do so an receive updates between now and the Igniting Revival Conference Facebook Event.
Archbishop Chuck Jones is the Archbishop of the Southeast, Bishop of the Central Gulf Coast and Pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King Church in Selma, Alabama, a church in communion with the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (ICCEC) and Founder of Aslan Roars, a ministry for igniting sustainable revival on personal, corporate and geographic levels. For Abp. Jones’ complete biography, click HERE. In addition, Abp. Jones will bring his wife Olivia Jones, ministry director and traveling missionary Biography of Karen Welch, revival missionary Biography of Ron Roberts, and Canon Dan and Deborah Whitt, the pastor of The Charismatic Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Charlotte, NC, and his wife. For more information on conferences, contact Church of the Messiah at 904-721-4199 or visit www.AslanRoars.org. -
Church of the Messiah to Host Igniting Revival Conference
The weekend of July 17-19, Archbishop Chuck Jones will be leading an Igniting Revival Conference at Church of the Messiah in Jacksonville, FL. The purpose of the conference is to create an atmosphere for the presence of God to ignite revival in the hearts of God’s people through worship, teaching, prophetic words, and healing prayer. The conference will include sessions Friday night beginning at 7 pm, Saturday sessions at 10 am and 2 pm, and Abp. Jones will be the celebrant and preacher at the Sunday morning service at 10 am on Sunday morning, July 19th. Childcare is provided at all sessions.
Archbishop Chuck Jones is the Archbishop of the Southeast, Bishop of the Central Gulf Coast and Pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King Church in Selma, Alabama, a church in communion with the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (ICCEC) and Founder of Aslan Roars, a ministry for igniting sustainable revival on personal, corporate and geographic levels. For Abp. Jones’ complete biography, click HERE. For more information on conferences, contact Church of the Messiah at 904-721-4199 or visit www.AslanRoars.org. -
Fr. Scott Looker Appointed Next Rector of Church of the Messiah
Fr. Scott & Lizz Looker with their children, Easter of 2015. This past Sunday, June 28th, Fr. Scott Looker was selected to be the next rector of Church of the Messiah following the retirement of Fr. David Paysinger this August. Bishop Simpson notified Fr. Looker and Fr. Paysinger of the decision prior to Sunday service that morning and Fr. Paysinger made the announcement to the congregation following the Holy Eucharist and before the final blessing and dismissal.
Fr. Looker began attending Church of the Messiah during Christmas of 1994, six months before graduating high school. Although he left Jacksonville to attend college and seminary, he always returned home and attended Church of the Messiah while on vacations and summer breaks. Fr. Looker graduated Loyola University of New Orleans in 1999 and Nashotah House Theological Seminary in 2002. In November of 2001, while still in seminary he was ordained to the Diaconate. Following his graduation from seminary, he was assigned to Church of the Messiah as a Parish Deacon. In November of 2003, Fr. Looker was ordained to the Priesthood and began serving as one of the priests-in-residence and members of the Rector’s Council. In his years with Church of the Messiah, Fr. Looker has overseen a variety of ministries from Nursery to Youth Group, Men’s Ministry to Altar Guild, and all sorts of ministries in between. He has been involved with local and national pro-life outreach movements and marches. Fr. Looker is an instructor for St. Michael’s Seminary, the on-line seminary for the CEC, and is responsible for clergy development for the Diocese of Florida, conducting a continuing education presentation at the annual Diocesan Clericus.
In 2004, Fr. Scott married his wife Lizz, who also had been attending Church of the Messiah since 1994. They have five children together. Lizz is currently the head of the Nursery and Youth Group and in the past has served as parish secretary. In 2007, Lizz was instrumental in convincing Emergency Pregnancy Services to open their Arlington branch through her extensive counseling work in the area. In the Fall, Lizz will be home-schooling three of their five children.
A Service of Installation of Fr. Looker as the next rector of Church of the Messiah will take place on Thursday evening, August 27th, beginning at 7 pm. Frs. Paysinger and Looker are already working together to begin a smooth transition and will continue doing so throughout the next several weeks. Church of the Messiah covets your prayers for both the Paysinger family as they transition into a new time of their ministry and the Looker family as they begin to take on a new role of leadership in the Church.
