Friday, December 19, 2025
1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory!
Psalm 24:1-2, 10
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from your MLC office staff!
Sunday Worship Service
Fourth Sunday in Advent – Traditional Service
Isaiah 7:10-17
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25
The ZOOM meeting ID for all hybrid services is: 485 087 170.
Access the room using a smartphone, tablet or computer using this link: https://zoom.us/j/485087170
You may also “listen” to the service without video by calling: +1 669 900 6833.
Christmas Services
12/24 7:00pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship
– In Person & Online Zoom
*Please join us for preservice organ music 6:45*
12/24 11:00pm Candles & Carols
– In Person Only
*Please join us for preservice organ music 10:45*
12/25 10:00am Christmas Day Worship
– In Person Only
MLC Office Closed
Sock Drive
MLC Sock drive is happening thru these cold winter months. Please consider donating. A collection box is located in the Narthex.
TWO DONATION OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSIDER MESSIAH AS THIS TAX YEAR COMES TO AN END
Let’s Talk About Our Austin Organ
Our beautiful Austin Organ is showing its age. Over the last ten years, we have had to repair and replace the blower motor, a motor starter, and re-leather the baffles. We have several options looking toward the future of this valuable asset to our worship life.
The Console (keyboard area) of the organ uses an older technology by Austin of making the electrical connections to play a note on the pipes. This sometimes fails when a little wire becomes bent and no longer makes a connection. The wiring in general is not up to current electrical building codes with the cloth insulation on the wires.
Ann Thiermann, our organist, met with John Hupalo and Bill Vischer our organ repair people to discuss good stewardship of this instrument. They gave a bid of $140,000 in August to replace the older Austin Console, with a new digital console that would include a midi interface. Talk about a little sticker shock to Ann and Pastor when we saw the quote.
The Board of Directors asked Tim Morgan, Ann Thiermann and Pastor Rice to be a committee to review options at this point. They met recently and have come up with three options for the congregation to consider.
This Pipe Organ Committee decided to have a open forum for members to discuss the Organ and the options available. You are invited to join us on Sunday, January 4, 2026 after worship in the Organ Loft to see the status of our organ. In the future we will need to have a congregational meeting to decide which direction we wish to go.
Option 1: Budget $3,000 - $5,000 a year for the next ten years to repair the organ as the console begins to fail. This would be a stop gap measure and would not completely repair the challenges. This will be in addition to our already budgeted tuning costs of the organ, which normally run between $1000 and $3000.
Option 2: Raise $140,000 to hire an organ repair company to replace the Austin Console and wiring to current building code requirements.
Option 3: Raise $75,0000 -$90,000 to purchase the parts, and then budget annually for the next few years funds to slowly install (or have volunteers trained to install the parts that were purchased.)
From the Board of Directors
Dear Friends and Members of Messiah Lutheran Church,
In an effort to plan for the coming retirement of Pastor Rice, who will be 68 in March of 2026, the board would like to begin making plans for Messiah’s future.
We have several members who have suggested remodeling the “Upper Room” into a functioning apartment in the hope that we could house interim pastors comfortably while Messiah looks toward the future. We have members who are willing to start a donation effort toward this remodeling effort and would always appreciate your support.
After the “Upper Room” is converted into an apartment it would be our hope to get further donations to remodel the garage apartment into a working parsonage with additional bedrooms and bathrooms to house a pastor and family. This would greatly help with the difficulty that Messiah Lutheran would have paying district scale in the Santa Cruz market. Remodeling the garage apartment is seen as necessary for the church to supply housing and afford a minister a living wage in this very expensive area.
If you would like to donate to this project, please note on your check that it is for CHURCH PARSONAGE REMODELING.
A Message From Stanford Blood Center
Thank you so much for your continued partnership this year! We truly appreciate you and all you do to help us with our mission.
Last Friday we welcomed 37 people through the door. There were eight deferrals, and three double red cell donations, giving us 26 whole blood productive units and six double red units, for a total of 32 productive units. Out of the 37 through the door, we welcomed three first time donors.
Since each whole blood donation is separated into three components, the 26 whole blood productive units impacted the lives of approximately 78 patients, plus the six from the double reds, for a total of 84 lives impacted by the lifesaving donations collected at Messiah Lutheran Church. Feel free to share this information and use it to help motivate donors for the next drive!
I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I will be reaching out with marketing materials about a month before your next drive.
Thank you again!
Aprille Walsh | Account Manager
Stanford Blood Center
Thursday Morning Bible Study
Bible Study will resume on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
Thank You MLC!
Thank You MLC for your generous support with my 8th grade East Coast/Washington DC trip. I am so excited! Your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated.
A family member of mine has donated some Sees candy to your congregation…make sure you get some chocolate at coffee hour this Sunday!
Thank You!
Grace Seiley
Agnus Day
It’s not only more blessed to give than to receive, it’s easier! Especially when what is being exchanged is advice.
MLC Birthdays & Anniversaries
None this week
Santa Cruz Warriors Faith & Family Night
Preschool Update
Wishing Everyone a Blessed Christmas
To give a donation via the Preschool’s Amazon Wish List, please click https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2KIFUH7B16OPX, or the blue button:
General Fund Donation
If you would like to donate to support the ministry of Messiah Lutheran Church, mail your offering to Messiah Lutheran Church, 801 High Street, Santa Cruz CA 95060, or you can make a General Fund donation by clicking below. Please email melody@messiah-lutheran.us a note of each online donation that you make so we can include it in your offering statement.
