ABOUT US

Since 1801, Messiah has served in the Juniata County community as a ministry of Jesus Christ. It continues this work today by challenging its members to reach out to the world with God’s love. OUR MISSION is To proclaim to our community and the world God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ and his people called, gathered, enlightened, sanctified and sustained by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament.

 

Messiah is a congregation of the Upper Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God which leads us to the Living Word, Jesus Christ. Our Christian faith is expressed in the the historic creeds of the Church and in the Augsburg Confession.  Messiah’s membership is a cross-section of the Juniata County community.  All people rich or poor, young or old, mature in faith or searching for hope are welcome to join us as we grow in service to God and neighbor.  We are not afraid of the difficult questions produced by today’s rapidly changing culture and believe that the Bible, as witness to Jesus Christ, God’s living Word, continues to guide his people with grace and love. Messiah has a long history of participation and leadership as a member of the Juniata County Ministerium. It has been instrumental in helping to plant the Juniata County Food Pantry, Juniata County Habitat for Humanity and other ministries in and around our community.

WORSHIP LIFE

Weekly celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Sharing the Lord’s Supper together is the center of our congregational life. We are fed with God’s grace and forgiveness we are reconciled with God and neighbor, made whole with God’s Spirit as we move out into the world to serve.

 

Junior Church
Children are welcome in our worship. To better provide age-related opportunities for children, three Sundays a month they may participate in a special service just for them, led by our junior choir director.  Children are encouraged to return to join in the Lord’s Supper with the full congregation.

 

Family Sunday
The first Sunday of each month focuses on our lives as families and the family of God.  Our youth in our services as acolytes as well as help to distribute the Lord’s Supper.  Additionally, the Junior Choir makes a joyful noise with selections they have practiced in Junior Church.

 

Choir/Special Music
Messiah’s small, but dedicated choir — directed by Andrea Cameron — leads worship each week throughout the year.  Special music is used throughout the year with special summer music.  Some of our guest performers have included a flutist, harpist and various vocalists, all from our own back yard!
Improvements to our acoustics and sound system have greatly enhanced the beauty of our music and congregational singing. Messiah has an excellent, fully equipped Allen Organ and an upright piano which are played skillfully by our musicians Bob St. Clair and Slone Smith.

 

Who is Welcome Here?
We at Messiah Lutheran Church want the following to be known.
WE want it to be of public record that those of different skin and heritage are welcome here.
WE want it to be known that those who suffer from addiction to drugs and alcohol (whether they are recovering or not) and their families are welcome here.
WE want it to be known that women and children are welcome here and that they will not be harassed or abused.
WE want it to be public record that in this congregation you can bring children to worship and even if they cry during the entire service, they are welcome.
WE want it to be known that those who are single by choice, by divorce, or through the death of a spouse are welcome here.
WE want it to be known that if you are promiscuous, have had an abortion, or have fathered children and taken no responsibility for them, you are welcome here.
WE want it known that gossips, cheats, liars, and their families are welcome here.
WE want it to be known that those who are disobedient to their parents and who have family problems are welcome here.
WE want it to be of public record that gays, lesbians and members of their families are welcome here.
Let it be of public knowledge that we at Messiah Lutheran Church take seriously that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) The young and the old, the rich and the poor, all of the broken are welcome here.
WE want it to be of public knowledge that “we are justified by the grace of God, which is a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 3:20)
WE offer welcome here because we believe that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:8); that is us. Christ did not die for us after we showed signs of “getting it all together,” Christ loved us and still loves us while we are yet sinners.
Sinners are welcome here; sinners like you and me like our neighbors. Let us not condemn the world, but let us proclaim to a broken and hurting world, God’s forgiveness and grace. WE want it to be of public record that since we are a sinful people that we will not always be as quick to welcome as we should. Let us be quick to admit our sin and seek forgiveness.
May God give us the grace to welcome and forgive one another as Christ has welcomed and forgiven us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to die for it.” (John 3:16)