On Christmas Day, we will celebrate the Incarnation of Our Lord with our Christmas Day Service.  This service is a brief Said Mass and usually lasts about forty-five minutes.  Our Christmas Day Service will begin at 10 o’clock and is our only service of the holiday season that will be held in Church of the Messiah’s sanctuary (where we met before the pandemic began).

Our Christmas Eve service will be held in the sanctuary of Ft. Caroline Presbyterian Church which allows us to be seated with adequate social distancing.  For more information on our COVID19 precautions, visit our COVID Precautions Page.  For those who cannot join us in person, all of our services will be live streamed via Facebook Live on the church’s Facebook page.

During this season of holidays, we invite everyone to join us, whether in person or virtually, for any or all of our Advent and Christmas service.   “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

On Thursday night, December 24th, we will celebrate Christmas Eve with our traditional Family Service.  This service includes a special presentation from the children and youth of the church, a reading of the Nativity Gospel, the singing of traditional Christmas Carols, and other special surprises.  Please note that this year our Christmas Eve Family Service will begin at the special time of 7:30 pm.

On Christmas Day, we will celebrate the Incarnation of Our Lord with our Christmas Day Service.  This service is a brief Said Mass and usually lasts about forty-five minutes.  Our Christmas Day Service will begin at 10 o’clock and is our only service of the holiday season that will be held in Church of the Messiah’s sanctuary (where we met before COVID).

All of our services (except Christmas Day) will be held in the sanctuary of Ft. Caroline Presbyterian Church which allows us to be seated with adequate social distancing.  For more information on our COVID19 precautions, visit our COVID Precautions Page.  For those who cannot join us in person, all of our services will be live streamed via Facebook Live on the church’s Facebook page.  Childcare is provided during each of our services (except Christmas Day).

During this season of holidays, we invite everyone to join us, whether in person or virtually, for any or all of our Advent and Christmas service.   “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Yet despite the horror of these two wars, other wars, and those that continue to take place there are incredible stories of light, courage, and hope.  The ravages of the two wars gave rise to a list of Christian men and women who, today, provide examples of how to live in and with suffering. Their lives pointed to something far greater and beyond the horrors of war and the inhumanity of man. I have several favorites, from this time, including St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), and Dietrich Bonhoeffer who died at the hands of the Nazi’s in concentration/death camps.  Also, Corrie Ten Bloom, who spent time in a concentration camp and survived influenced, has influenced other’s walk with the Lord, particularly regarding reconciliation.

Europe was forever changed as a result of these two wars and the evil of genocide not only in Germany but in the Soviet Union where over 20 million died at the hand of communism. Many had their faith challenged, and they rejected the Church and her message.  A large portion of Western Europe that has surrendered to the values of secular humanism still experience this rejection.  Now, countries that were once the center of Christian life and thought have an attendance of less than 5% of the population.  This suggests that the Church failed to answer the deep discouragement and hopelessness of war.  Despite this, some of the greatest theological works originated from that time.  Some of these works are from great authors like C.S. Lewis, Karl Barth, and others.

One story from the first World War has always stood out in my mind. There are many but this one is so unique.

World War I was fought in trenches.  These trenches were cold and wet.  Two thousand Americans and seventy-five thousand British soldiers died of trench foot; a disease caused by feet and socks that didn’t dry.  Thousands more had feet and legs amputated from the same disease.  World War I also introduced gas warfare.  Men died horrible deaths.  One can barely read the effects that gas warfare had on the dying person because it is so graphic.  It is no wonder, that despite many nations storing toxic gases, every civilized society has condemned the use of chemical gases in warfare.

The young men in the trenches suffered.  During suffering, Pope Benedict, on December 7,1914 called for a truce but the warring governments refused to heed his plea.  But on Christmas Eve of 1914, the soldiers themselves put down their weapons.  Across the no-man’s land (the area between the opposing trenches) the British soldiers heard the German soldiers singing Christmas Carols.  Some suggest that the first carol was Silent Night sung in German to which the British sang the same back in English.  On Christmas Day, the Germans, unarmed crossed into the no man’s land with gifts for the British soldiers.  The British did not trust them at first but eventually they too entered the land and gave gifts to the Germans.  For a moment, if only so briefly there was “peace on earth.”  The war resumed on December 26th.  And, it took four more years before a very fragile and vindictive treaty was signed.  A treaty that historians tell us was doomed to fail.

Christ was among the suffering; he was in the trenches singing hymns with them. Christ was with them amid the darkness. Christ enters the darkness of humanity by becoming complete and perfectly human to redeem humanity and restore it to its proper dignity and worth.  Christ becomes human and takes it upon Himself to be the enemy of death defeating our enemy and making it the very means by which we are born again into eternal life.  We can now participate in His death and so know the power of His resurrection, seating us with Him in the place we belong both now and then.

It is incredible that God became a baby.  God became a helpless dependent baby, born of a human mother making every womb a holy sanctuary of life.  The creator God became dependent on His creation for food, shelter, warmth, and even human affection.  God reveals Himself not as wrathful or vengeful but in love with humanity (John 3.16) by coming to us in humanity.  It is the gift Him that is the mystery that silenced a war.  It is also the mystery that silences the stirring and rumblings of a restless soul.  As St. Augustine wrote, “you have made us for yourself and our souls are restless until they find their rest in you.”

The Incarnation we see at Christmas time is God’s solution to the problem of evil, whether it be from war, genocide, or the horror of the modern holocaust of abortion.
The Incarnation is God’s solution to the continual fight against sin, the world and the devil.  The Incarnation is that which turns sinners into saints – even martyrs.  The Incarnation is that which gives us hope.  The Incarnation calls us out of fear and compels us to seek that which is greater than the horrors in the trenches.

There is so much suffering in the world even today.  But our faith tells us that we will always find Him among the suffering and the poor, in the prisoner, the stranger, the hungry, the thirsty, and the homeless.  We will always find Him fully human and divine in a small piece of bread and a sip of wine.  Forever Christ is with us – Emmanuel.

I pray each of you, no matter what your circumstances, will find a moment to ponder, like Mary, the mystery of infant Jesus.  I pray you have a most blessed Advent and Christmas.

Under His mercy

+Craig, Patriarch

The week of December 26-30 the parish office will be closed.  We will not be having a service on Wednesday night, January 28th.

We will have a special service Sunday morning, January 1st, at 10 o’clock.  This will be the Eighth Day of Christmas, the day on which Mary and Joseph gave their child His Divine name.  This is a special day in the Church, the Feast of the Holy Name.  On the first day of the week and the first day of the new year, we will hear about what that name means and what God calls us as well.

On Wednesday night, January 4th, we resume our Wednesday Nigh Soup Supper Services by observing the Feast of the Epiphany.  We will begin our soup supper at six o’clock with a variety of soups for the adults and food appropriate for younger children as well.  The service begins at seven o’clock and we will celebrate the Epiphany when the Magi brought their gifts to honor the Christ-Child.  This year we are taking up an offering for Emergency Pregnancy Services of Jacksonville, our local pro-life crisis pregnancy center.  They need size 4-5 diapers and formula of any kind.

Finally, on Friday, January 6th, we will have our Epiphany Fellowship Dinner at Blackfinn Ameripub in the St. John’s Town Center.  The cost is $22 per person as we gather and have our Christmas Fellowship at a time when we can all relax and enjoy each other’s company with the stress of the season almost behind us.  You may purchase your tickets by putting a check in the offering basket or by selecting “Epiphany Fellowship Dinner” when giving on-line.  This dinner will be an adults only event.

We wish you the merriest of Christmases and invite you to join us at all of these events as we celebrate the season together!

Christmas Eve, December 24th, at 7 pm We will have our family service with a special activities and worship for the children as well as Christmas carols by candlelight.  This is a wonderful Church of the Messiah tradition.  Everyone is welcome and it is sure to be a fantastic time for all.

Christmas Day, December 25th, at 10 am We will absolutely gather Sunday morning and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior on the Lord’s Day. Christmas Day services are also a tradition at Church of the Messiah and have been for many years.  The service is a slightly abbreviated service as we are all aware and mindful of family obligations on this day.

The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, January 1st, at 10 am In Jewish tradition, children were named eight days after they were born so the “Eighth Day of Christmas” is a special holiday which we get to observe this year because it too falls on a Sunday.  Join us on the first day of the week and the first day of the year as we hear what God calls us and how we are called to live in 2017.

The Epiphany, January 4th, at 6 pm Our Wednesday night services resume with the observance of the Epiphany on Wednesday, January 4th.  The soup supper will begins at six o’clock and lasts until 6:45 and our Epiphany service begins at seven o’clock.  All throughout Advent we are collecting diapers (size 4 and 5) and formula (any type) for Emergency Pregnancy Services of Jacksonville so that, just like the Wise Men, blessed the Baby Jesus, we can bless our local pro-life crisis pregnancy center.  This will be an amazing night to be sure.

Christmas & Epiphany Fellowship Dinner, January 6th, at 6 pm We will be celebrating the close of the holiday season with a fellowship dinner at Blackfinn Ameripub in the St. John’s Town Center.  The cost will be approximately $25 per guest to be paid to Church of the Messiah in advance.  More information will be available shortly.  This will be an adults only event.

Then, on Christmas Day, we continue the celebration at 10 o’clock in the morning.  It has been a tradition at Church of the Messiah for over ten years now to celebrate the Holy Eucharist on Christmas morning.  Everyone is welcome to join with us in this brief but celebratory said Mass on Christmas Day.

Then don’t forget that Christmas is a season that last twelve days long, so we will be celebrating Christmas on December 27th and January 3rd at our 10 o’clock services as well.  Merry Christmas from Church of the Messiah!

Saturday, December 5th, is the Men’s Fellowship Breakfast at Church of the Messiah.  Join with all of the men of the church as we gather at 8 o’clock in the morning for a manly breakfast and time of sharing.  This month we will also help stuff Christmas cards for our Christmas Caroling outreach event later on this month.  Join us for great food and great fellowship with great men of God.

Sunday, December 6th, is the Second Sunday of Advent and a special day for our kids.  The Advent theme of Reaching Out and Reflecting In will continue but there will be an extra surprise in store for the kids this Sunday.

Monday, December 8th, Women Alive has is monthly meeting at Church of the Messiah.  Women Alive is a monthly gathering of women from all over the city of Jacksonville and surrounding areas. These meetings are a safe place to encounter Jesus through extended worship, teaching, and prophetic ministry. Every woman is invited to attend as we pursue more of Jesus and discover more of who He is in us!

Tuesday, December 9th, is the December Ultreya for Northeast Florida.  These are monthly reunion meetings for those who have attended a Tres Arroyos weekend or similar three-day retreat (Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, etc…).  The night begins at 6:30 with a potluck meal, includes grouping, and concludes with the Holy Eucharist.

Saturday, December 12th, is our monthly Fusion Service.  Fusion is our Young Adults Ministry which reaches out to those between 18 and 35(-ish) who are un-churched or whose home churches have no young adults ministry of their own.  This month  we will be addressing self-condemnation and seeing ourselves as God truly sees us, having been created in His image and likeness.  We will begin at 6:30 with light appetizers and the service begins at 7 o’clock.  Everyone is welcome and childcare is provided.  A Facebook event has been created HERE.  Click to join and invite those you know who would be blessed to attend.

Sunday, December 13th, following our service for the Third Sunday of Advent, our ladies will head our to their Christmas Progressive Luncheon and Ugly Sweater Contest.  The ladies will be preparing Christmas Cards for our Christmas Caroling outreach event as well.  By the way, they will be wearing those ugly sweaters to church on Sunday morning!

Sunday, December 20th, is the Fourth (and last) Sunday of Advent.  After our service we will have lunch together and then head out into the ice and snow to bring merriment to the local neighborhood with Christmas Carols!  We will sing Christmas songs and invite people from the local neighborhood to join us at our upcoming services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Be sure to join us for this incredibly fun outreach event.

Thursday, December 24, is Christmas Eve!  We will celebrate the night beginning at 7 o’clock with our family service.  There will be special music and offerings from our Kids’ Church and a special Children’s Sermon.  Join with us as we celebrate the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

Friday, December 25, is our Christmas Day service.  We gather bright and early at 10 o’clock on Christmas Day to observe the Feast and celebrate the Birth of Christ.  This special service is holy and unique throughout the year and helps to keep the focus on the “Reason for the Season.”