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Join us online at this time of fellowship and encouragement as we learn about the Holy Spirit! When: Thursday evenings for 8-10 weeks, starting May 27 Time: 7 pm to 8 pm Where? Zoom - Meeting ID 850 2341 5629, Passcode 863767 or, click the button below to join the meeting! The Holy Spirit & His Gifts Click here to join the Zoom meeting! Session 1: May 27, 2021 Watch | Listen Session 2: June 3, 2021 Watch | Listen Session 3: June 10, 2021 Watch | Listen Session 4: June 17, 2021 Watch | Listen Session 5: June 23, 2021 Watch | Listen Miss a Class? Click the date below to watch or listen to the recorded Zoom session! Session 6: July 1, 2021 Watch | Listen Session 7: July 8, 2021 Watch | Listen Session 8: July 15 Watch | Listen Session 9: July 22, 2021 Watch | Listen Session 10: July 29, 2021 Watch | Listen Session 11: August 5, 2021 Watch | Listen Session 12: August 12, 2021 Watch | Listen Session 13: August 19, 2021 Watch | Listen Session 14: August 26, 2021 Class Discussion | No Recordings

WAYS TO GIVE Your gifts and tithes are very much appreciated! Paypal : Log in to your Paypal account or sign up for Paypal using one of the links below. Your Bank : Use your bank’s online bill-pay system to set up a one-time or recurring gift payable to Church of the Messiah. Gifts should be sent to 816 Kempsville Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 23320. Church of the Messiah (General Funds) Foreign Missions Inreach/Outreach

Who I Am in Christ I am a child of the living God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. I’m a new creation and part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. My mind is being renewed by the Word of God. I pull down strongholds, I cast down imaginations, and I bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. If God is for me, who can be against me? Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. I’m the righteousness of God in Him. I know the Truth, the truth has set me free. I am free indeed. For this purpose the Son of God came into the world, to destroy the works of the devil. Satan is defeated. I will not believe his lies. He will not intimidate me. I will submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from me. No temptation will overtake me because God will not let me be tempted beyond my strength. He will always provide a way of escape that I may be able to endure. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I will stand firm clothed in the full armor of God. I will wear the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and the shoes of peace. I will take up the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation. I will wield wisely the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And I will pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers for all my fellow saints. Thanks be to God who gives me the victory through my Lord, Jesus Christ! I am secure because. . . I am free from condemnation. (Rom. 8:1-2) I am hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:3) I am a co-heir with Christ. (Rom. 8:17) I am at peace with God. (2 Cor. 5:18-19) I am chosen by God and loved. (Col. 3:12) I am righteous and holy in Christ. (Eph. 4:24) I am anointed by God. (2 Cor. 1:21-22) I am filled with the Holy Spirit. (2 Cor. 6:19) I am confident that God will complete His good work in me. (Phil. 1:6) I am accepted because. . . I am God’s child. (John 1:12) I am Christ’s friend. (John 15:15) I am born again in Christ. (1 John 5:18) I am part of Christ’s body. (1 Cor. 12:27) I am a saint. (Eph. 1:1) I am adopted as God’s child. (Eph. 1:5) I am complete in Christ. (Col. 2:10) I am a new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17) I am redeemed and forgiven. (Col. 1:14) I am a citizen of heaven. (Eph. 2:6) I am significant because. . . I am the salt of the earth. (Matt. 5:13) I am the light of the world. (Matt. 5:14) I am a branch of the true vine. (John 15:1,5) I am God’s workmanship. (Eph. 2:10) I am God’s co-worker. (2 Cor. 6:1) I am a witness for Christ. (Acts 1:8) I am one of God’s living stones. (1 Peter 2:5) I am an enemy of the devil. (1 Peter 5:8) I am victorious in Christ. (1 Cor. 15:57) PRINTABLE VERSION

HOW TO ASK JESUS TO BE YOUR SAVIOR God made you. And God loves you! No one lives a perfect life or does everything they should. Everyone needs forgiveness. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Everyone deserves to be punished. We've all failed to love God and others. We need God's gift of Jesus. For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. (Romans 3:23) God sent Jesus to take our punishment and die for us. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) Jesus came alive and rose from the dead. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8) Open the door of your heart to Jesus. Jesus said, "Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends." (Revelation 3:20) You can pray a prayer similar to this one: Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross for me. Please forgive all I've done wrong. Come into my life and be my Savior. Thank you for loving me and giving me eternal life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me live for you. Amen. As soon as you ask Jesus for his forgiveness, you can be sure he forgives you. Trust God's promise that Jesus is your Savior and that you have a home in heaven. For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Messiah hosts two Community Bible Study classes on Thursdays during the school year. The 2023-24 term begins on September 7. Both classes will be studying "A King is Coming," in the books of Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, and Ephesians. The LADIES’ DAY CLASS takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings. Nursery care is provided for infants and toddlers, as well as age-appropriate curriculum for older kids. An online class is also available. The CO-ED EVENING CLASS runs from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.This group offers men’s, women’s and co-ed classes, as well as online classes. Virtual online classes are also available; please ask for details. Annual registration is $35 for adults and $10 per child (day class only). The registration fee includes the cost of study materials. Scholarships are available, so please don't let financial concerns keep you from learning more about God's Word. To learn more and to register for one of these questions, visit: www.chesapeake.cbsclass.org . You can learn more about the Community Bible Study organization at: www.communitybiblestudy.org.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23 The Rev. Dr. Marty O'Rourke has served as a local church pastor for over 35 years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Medina, Ohio; and Chesapeake, Virginia. He is passionate about equipping Christian leaders to finish well. While researching sexual misconduct in the church for his Doctor of Ministry dissertation, he discovered that prevention training of leaders reduces the likelihood of moral failure. Most prevention training has primarily a psychological approach, whereas the "Guard Your Heart" prevention training that Pastor Marty developed is grounded in the Scriptures and the social sciences. Many Christian leaders do not finish well. Paul, who finished well, writes to his spiritual son, Timothy: "Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity" (1Timothy 4:12). The primary purpose of this training is to empower pastors and Christian leaders to finish their race well, by understanding the unique temptations leaders and their families face in a culture where temptation, especially sexual, abounds. Click the link above to watch the opening session of the Guard Your Heart training. Escaping Sexual Sin Before It's Too Late , By Rev. Marty O'Rourke. Click here to view article published on CBN.com Contact: Rev. Marty O'Rourke Church of the Messiah 816 Kempsville Road Chesapeake, VA 23320 (757) 436-2545 morourke@churchofthemessiah.org Marty has presented the Guard Your Heart training numerous times to the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA); M.Div and D.Min. classes at Regent University; chaplains at Portsmouth Naval Hospital; the Falls Church staff in Falls Church, VA; Mid-Atlantic Christian University, and hundreds of pastors and church planters in Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. What others are saying about "Guard Your Heart" As an Executive Pastor I had my staff attend the Guard Your Heart workshop led by the Rev. Marty O'Rourke. I have been a pastor for over twenty years, and my wife and I have been in ministry in several different churches over the years. I have also had my staff take several different workshops on prevention of misconduct of various kinds. I found the Guard Your Heart workshop to be the most helpful in addressing issues straightforwardly, but from a positive Christian point of view. (The Rev. Dr.) Frederick Wright Senior Associate Rector, The Falls Church Falls Church, Va. 22046 We are greatly privileged to have such an experienced, encouraging, well-equipped presentation. You know whereof you speak, making it accessible for students to understand and practical to apply. I have no doubt that you prevented problems in our students' lives and ministries, and equipped them to serve others better. Mark A. Jumper, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Theological and Ministerial Studies School of Divinity, Regent University The Guard Your Heart training seminar is an asset to any ministry or organization, one of the most powerful tools available today is a preemptive strike against the problems of integrity and sexual misconduct before they happen. My opinion should be an essential part of all leadership preparation I strongly encourage you to consider this seminar for your ministry or organization. I would be delighted to comment further on this seminar resource contacted by phone or email. Sincerely, Dr. James T. Flynn Associate Professor of Practical Theology Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program School of Divinity, Regent University jamefly@regent.edu 757.352.4527 My husband and I have been married for 33 years. We have been in ordained ministry for 28 of those years. Entering parish life after seminary was something we were not prepared for. The demands of "The Church" and the demands of a family can become overwhelming. I wish we had heard this teaching before leaving Seminary. There are so many "mine fields" in the ministry. Rev. O'Rourke shared practical ways to prevent getting "blown away." His message was proactive, like the Priests having an accountability partner, and letting your wife know about all your appointments, especially when women are involved. There were many other great suggestions. Penny Rauh Church of the Epiphany-Anglican Herndon, VA To: Whom It May Concern From: Charles J. Cunningham Jr., Lt Gen, USAF (Retired) Joint Forces Staff College Subject: Improper Behavior, Temptation, and Avoiding Trouble This is my personal endorsement of, and professional judgment regarding a very important program designed by the Rev. Dr. Marty O'Rourke to prepare leaders to do the right things when associating with others, especially those under their leadership.

Sunday, April 16 Sermon: Intimacy or Isolation? Pastor Ken Shomo Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides Handout: Loneliness & Intimacy in the Wisdom of Proverbs ____________________________________ Wednesday, April 18 Webinar: Intimacy vs. Technology Pastor Ken Shomo & Pastor Marty O'Rourke Zoom Meeting ID# 928 2372 1136 or zoom.us/s/92823721136 Watch ____________________________________ Sunday, April 23 Serm o n: " Put On Love" Creating Connection & Fostering Relationship Pastor Marty O'Rourke Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides ____________________________________ Sunday, April 30 Sermon: Five Forms of Intimacy Pastor Ken Shomo Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides Luncheon: Marriage Tools & Tune-Up Pastor Ken Shomo Handouts: Safe Place Chart | Types of Intimacy | Speaking Your Mate's Love Language | You do not have to be alone to be lonely. Loneliness means we do not feel truly known, seen, or understood. An epidemic of loneliness was reported years ago and has only been exacerbated by social media, political division, and the pandemic. Apart from Christ, we all experience deep loneliness; and even as believers we can fail to experience the richness of relationship God intends for us. The great news is that God’s word speaks to the issue of loneliness! We can grow healthy relationships and find true intimacy in our friendships, families, and the church. Three-Week Series Beginning April 16, 2023

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13 According to Scripture, hope is confident expectation in the certainty of God's faithfulness to fulfill his promises. Our sermon series will explore various facets of hope that empower us to live victoriously as witnesses for Christ in the midst of life's trials and tribulations. Come and be filled with joy and peace; go and share from the overflow of hope to those in need. December 3, 2017 The Power of Hope in Christ Pastor Marty O'Rourke Slideshow Presentation December 10, 2017 Hope Is On the Way Pastor Jim Brown December 17, 2017 The Reason for Hope Pastor Marty O'Rourke Slideshow Presentation December 24, 2017 (10:00 am) The Certainty of Hope Pastor Jim Brown Slideshow Presentation December 24, 2017 (Christmas Eve) Hope Has Arrived Pastor Marty O'Rourke Slideshow Presentation December 31, 2017 The Love That Hope in Christ Releases! Deacon Tom Sweeney When He Comes January 14, 2018 The Light That Hope in Christ Releases! Pastor Marty O'Rourke Slideshow Presentation January 21, 2018 The Joy That Hope in Christ Releases! Pastor Jim Brown Slideshow Presentation January 28, 2018 The Boldness That Hope in Christ Releases! Rev. David Martin Slideshow Presentation "Confession" handout February 4, 2018 The Hope in Christ that Releases Endurance Pastor John Dooley Slideshow Presentation Sermon Handout Please reload

Sunday Sermons JUNE 19, 2022 Always Be Prepared to Be Reasonable Pastor Marty O'Rourke Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides Sunday Sermons JUNE 26, 2022 Can I Really Trust the Bible? Pastor Nile Gomez Watch | Listen Sunday Sermons July 3, 2022 Is God Anti-Gay? Pastor Marty O'Rourke Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides Special Testimony by Tim Maurer Sunday Sermons July 10, 2022 Is the Church Too Political? Pastor Ken Shomo Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides Sunday Sermons July 17, 2022 How Could a Loving God Allow So Much Suffering? Pastor Nile Gomez Watch | Listen Sunday Sermons July 24, 2022 Does God Hate Women? Vivian Hayes Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides Sunday Sermons July 31, 2022 Is There a "GOSPEL" of Biblical Sexuality? Rev. David Martin Watch | Listen Sunday Sermons August 7, 2022 Are Science and Faith Incompatible? Pastor Nile Gomez Watch | Listen Sunday Sermons August 14, 2022 How Can a Loving God Allow People to Go to Hell? Pastor Marty O'Rourke Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides Sunday Sermons August 21, 2022 Isn't There More Than One Way to God? Pastor Nile Gomez Watch | Listen Sunday Sermons August 28, 2022 Has the Church Become an Un-Safe Place? Pastor Ken Shomo Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides Sunday Sermons September 4, 2022 Who Am I? Pastor Marty O'Rourke Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides Sunday Sermons September 11, 2022 Where Are We Now? Tim Maurer Watch | Listen Why did Jesus so often respond to a question with a question? I read that “Jesus is almost 40 times more likely to respond to a misstatement, a comment, a question, or a threat from someone by drawing them further into conversation rather than just pouncing with a proclamation.” How different this is than how people relate to one another through social media. I also know that one of the main reasons young people walk away from the faith is that there is no opportunity given them to discuss these tough questions. As our culture continues to move away from Christian values, and the attack on our faith grows more intense, we need to be able to give a reasonable answer for the hope that we have in Christ. — Pastor Marty Please join us beginning June 19 for our summer sermon series, “Tough Questions.” Two goals for this series are: To help us personally answer tough faith questions; To equip us to respond to others, believers and unbelievers, who are asking tough faith questions. Topics will include: Always Be Prepared to Be Reasonable Can I really trust the Bible? Is God anti-gay? Is Christianity misogynistic? How and why should Christians engage with politics? What do Christians believe about sex and human sexuality? How could a loving God allow so much suffering? Are science and faith incompatible? How can a loving God allow people to go to hell? All sermons will be recorded and will be posted online each week.

2023 Lent Sermon Series & "Revival Bootcamp" God is moving! We see this at Asbury College and other campuses, and also inside our own church. Both Pastor Nile and I sense that God is pouring out His Spirit. So how do we enter into a move of God? Every revival is characterized by repentance . In the 2019 Book of Common Prayer, the invitation to Lent is to the observance of a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance ; by prayer, fasting, and alms-giving; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. These godly practices will help prepare us for a move of God. So, Lent is an ideal time to prepare and equip ourselves for an outpouring of God’s Spirit. In our Lenten program, we will lay out a biblical foundation for revival each Sunday, followed by how to experience it each Wednesday. For example, we will teach about healing one Sunday; then at that Wednesday’s “Boot Camp for Revival,” we will learn to pray for people to be healed and experience healing ourselves. Please make every effort to join us for this Lenten program, as we believe it will impact your life and the outreach of our church. — Pastor Marty Sunday Sermons Weekly @ 10 am Revival Bootcamp Wed nesdays @ 7 pm February 26, 2023 | First Sunday of Lent Self-Examination & Confession: Knowing Ourselves by Knowing God Fr. Dominick Hankle Watch | Listen ____________________________________ March 5, 2023 | Second Sunday of Lent God’s Kindness Leads To Our Repentance Pastor Marty O'Rourke Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides ____________________________________ March 12, 2023 | Third Sunday of Lent With All Your Heart Pasto r Nile Gomez Watch | Listen ____________________________________ March 19, 2023 | Fourth Sunday of Lent Freedom from Depravity Tim Maurer Watch | Listen ____________________________________ March 26, 2023 | Fifth Sunday of Lent Revival & Fullness Vivian Hayes Watch | Listen | Se rmon Slides Watch | Listen | Sermon Slides March 1, 2023 Experience Self-Examination & Confession Watch | Handouts ____________________________________ March 8, 2023 Experience Repentance & Cleansing Watch | Handouts ____________________________________ March 15, 2023 Experience Healing Watch | Handouts ____________________________________ March 22, 2023 Experience Freedom Watch | Handouts ____________________________________ March 29, 2023 Experience Revival & Fullness Watch | Handouts

FOREIGN MISSIONS The Foreign Missions Committee oversees the financial and spiritual support we provide to missionaries and organizations outside the United States, as well as to individuals from our congregation who go on short-term mission trips to other countries. The list here describes some of the areas we support. If you feel led to donate to any of our foreign missions, please click here . If you would like more information about any of these missions, please contact the church office . GET INVOLVED Eastern Europe: Aaron & Winnie Aaron and Winnie have been working with teens in Eastern Europe since 2009. Their youth center ministers to middle- and high-schoolers through music, drama and the arts. They have also been active with supplying humanitarian aid and witnessing to many refugees fleeing from Syria. Middle East: Betsy & David David and Betsy have ministered for over 20 years to a small but growing Christian community. They have also responded to the desperate needs of refugees from Syria by seeking out ways to welcome in and care for these refugees and provide medical aid. Central America: Carmen & His Love in Action School for the Deaf Since 1989, Carmen and His Love in Action School and Vocational Training Institute have been educating and training hearing impaired children. FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SERVING THE COMMUNITY CHURCH MINISTRIES

Prayers for Personal & Corporate Pentecost Prayer for Personal Pentecost Father, I am thirsty and dry and I need the refreshment of Your Holy Spirit. Fill me to overflowing that streams of living water might flow from within me. I want to grow more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, Lord. I desire to worship You in spirit and in truth with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength. I need a drink from Your well of living water that never runs dry. Create in me a clean heart, O God. I invite You to do in me that which You need to do in order to do through me that which You desire to do. Send Your Spirit to lead me into all truth and understanding that I might serve You with a glad and sincere heart and that I might use the gifts You have given me to serve others. Lord, here I am. I am Yours. Help me to love my neighbors as You love them. Give me opportunities to share the good news of what You have done in my life with those who are hurting and those who are searching for truth. Clothe me with Your power, Lord, for my desire is to take hold of that for which You have taken hold of me, and I can only do so in the power of Your Spirit. Lord, thank You for loving me, forgiving me, equipping me, and sending me. May all I say and do bring You honor and glory. In the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen. Prayer for Corporate Pentecost Father, we celebrate Your goodness. We delight in Your Presence. We remember the wonderful things You have done and we thank You for Your continued patience with us and provision for us. We come to You now in faith asking You to rain down Your Spirit on us once again. Baptize us in a fresh outpouring of Your love and power. Drench us. Refresh us. Revive us. Lord, we can only be who You’ve called us to be in and by the power of Your Holy Spirit. So, send Your Spirit of wisdom and revelation upon us now that we may fulfill the hope to which You have called us. Empower us by Your Spirit to go where You send us, sharing the good news of Jesus with all who will listen. May Your streams of living water flow from within us to all with whom we come in contact. Thank You for the bountiful resources that will enable us to do all that You’ve called and equipped us to do. Freely we have received, Lord. Freely we will give. By the power of Your Spirit we will be steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work to which You have called us for we know our labor is not in vain because we have the victory thorough our Lord, Jesus Christ. And it is in His mighty name we pray, Amen! PRINTABLE VERSION