Messiah Lutheran Church

09/08/2026

👶👧🧒👦 It was an especially beautiful thing that Messiah’s Children were nominated to be Ministers of the Week this week as all our littles head back to school from preschool to high school seniors!! Our young people bring so much to our Spirit filled congregation, and for the first time in many years, it was the first summer we were graced by our young people every single Sunday!

Join us as we bless our kiddos backpacks and be sure to sign your little ones up for Children’s Sunday School at https://bit.ly/MLCYouth!! 👶👧👦🧒

09/08/2026

🎒🎒🎒 Want your littles to connect with God, themselves and make new friends? Want your kiddos to learn good morals and how to be good citizens in this complicated world?

Join us this Sunday at 10a at Messiah Lutheran Church, 2850 Guilderland Avenue in Rotterdam, as we bless our kiddos backpacks and launch another year of Children’s Sunday School!

To sign up your child for Sunday School, please go to https://bit.ly/MLCYouth today! 🎒🎒🎒

09/06/2026

Conflict is a part of relationships and life in community. Jesus’ words in today's gospel are often used in situations having to do with church discipline. The prophet Ezekiel tells of warning the wicked to turn from their ways, and Paul reminds us that love is the fulfilling of the law. We gather in the name of Christ, assured that he is present among us with gifts of peace and reconciliation. Pastor Dustin will preach and preside. Mass will begin with 15 minutes of music & meditation.

09/04/2026

Our happy gardeners were hard at work this morning with a massive harvest, including beautiful sunflowers to decorate our altar for the start of the Season of Creation this Sunday. Join us at 10a!

09/03/2026

Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” - Matthew 18: 19-20

Dear siblings in Christ,

Earlier today I sat down with our beloved member Laurie Lumbra alongside her fellow Community Advocate Hayden Schwartz for an interview with CBS6 about a rally the Rotterdam Community Center, the Schenectady County Food Council and Schenectady Shares are cohosting this coming Tuesday, September 8th at 6:30pm in front of our County Office Building at 620 State Street urging our county legislature to pass a resolution calling for a two year delay on funding cuts to SNAP, a federal program that for decades and successfully supported predominately children, seniors and people with disabilities in accessing healthy and nutritious foods.

This resolution is modeled off a similar resolution passed in heavily Republican Orleans County in Western New York in July, and will be one of many such resolutions passed across New York State in a bipartisan manner urging our federal government not to cut such a successful program amidst the worst food affordability crisis since the Great Depression.

I pray you can join us and support Laurie and her fellow advocates!

I also pray you can join us on Sunday, September 20th at 3:00pm for our Upstate New York Synod Advocacy Roundtable by rsvping at https://bit.ly/unysadvocacyroundtable at one of a number of different Lutheran congregations across our region to discuss hunger and other important ways we live out our baptismal call to “strive for justice and peace in all the earth.”

Labor Day calls us all to remember the contributions of working people across America for centuries, the stories of whom can inspire us to build a society where all have enough to eat, all have access to healthcare and all have a place to lay their head.

Join us this Sunday as well, as reflect on how Christ has been present in the lives of working people organizing to build a better work, at Messiah!

In hope,
Pastor Dustin

Life together in our Spirit filled congregation grounded in Jesus Christ.

09/02/2026

Our Lutheran Men in Mission gather every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am at Tops Diner for an hour of fellowship over great food!

All are welcome to join us!

08/31/2026

Marge Reynheer gave a powerful testimony as part of our Messiah at 100 Centennial Appeal last Sunday!

Please keep those stories coming for our Generosity Storybook, with stories due to Heather Zimmer on September 16th and be sure to RSVP to Heather at [email protected] by September 22nd for our All Congregation Event taking place on Friday, October 2nd at 6:30p hosted by Jody and Bill Fleming!

Hear why Heather Zimmer cares so deeply about our Spirit filled con...

08/31/2026

From hosting our cherished annual Women of the ELCA Christmas Party to hosting our upcoming Messiah at 100 All Congregation Event on October 2nd at 6:30p and helping in all manner of decorating efforts around the congregation, Jody Fleming does so much to serve Christ here at Messiah Lutheran Church! Congratulations Jody on being named our Minister of the Week and thank you for all you do!

08/30/2026

The prophet Jeremiah speaks of the incurable wound of his suffering yet finds in God’s words the delight of his heart. When Peter doesn’t grasp Jesus’ words about suffering, Jesus tells the disciples they will find their lives in losing them. Such sacrificial love is described by Paul when he urges us to associate with the lowly and not repay evil with evil. In worship we gather as a community that we might offer ourselves for the sake of our suffering world. Pastor Dustin will preach and preside. Mass will begin with 15 minutes of music & meditation.

08/29/2026

Just a sample of the amazing talent and Spirit last night at our Christmas in August Coffee House Open Mic!!!