ABOUT US

Messiah Episcopal Church is a growing community committed to the worship of God, the lordship of Jesus Christ, and renewal through the Holy Spirit. Our vision is to bring people together from every generation and many nations to worship Jesus Christ and take his healing into the world.

Visiting


Messiah is located in the Highland Park neighborhood of Saint Paul, one block west of Snelling Avenue on Ford Parkway at Macalester Avenue, an easy commute from most places in the Twin Cities, with on-street parking.


We invite you to experience worship at Messiah on Sunday mornings at our Holy Eucharist service, with our unique blend of traditional and contemporary music. If you're not familiar with the traditional Episcopal Holy Eucharist liturgy, we invite you to explore the The Book of Common Prayer which guides our worship. Our common prayer shapes our belief in the Triune God and expresses our rich theology. We conduct the 8:30 AM service in English and the 11 AM service in both English and Sga Karen, the language spoken by our Karen immigrant parishioners. 


You are welcome to bring children of all ages to the worship services at 8:30 and 11 AM. If you need a space to worship with wiggly, hungry or crying children during worship, we have a "quiet room" at the back of the church where you and your child can take a break. We also provide nursery care for children ages three and under. 


Children, youth, and adults are invited to patriciate in Christian education at 10 AM from September thought May.


If you'd like to learn more about Messiah, connect with our staff/clergy, and/or sign up for our weekly emails, please fill out our Connect form. 


We look forward to meeting you! 

Our mission

Responding to God’s grace, we gather in worship through word and sacraments and proclaim God’s message of redemption through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we follow Jesus as he transforms the world for God’s purpose.

Led by God, and in dependence on his grace and power, we aim:


To be loyal to the faith revealed in the Bible and cherished by the church across the ages and around the world, sustained by liturgical worship that is authentic, reverent, vibrant, and creative.

  • Many of us came to Messiah as Christians; all of us are on a journey to Christ-likeness. Regardless of distinctions, we are called to use our gifts to the full. We are men, women, and youth who work in partnership with the church to carry out God’s work.
  • We encourage active participation in worship through various means such as music, art, drama, and dance, and serving as readers, ushers, and eucharistic ministers.
  • As members of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota and the Anglican Communion, we are committed to working for their renewal.

To grow in obedience to Christ through biblical teaching and mutual encouragement, so that we may follow our Lord in faithful and loving service to him and to one another.

  • Education ministries include a unique children’s program, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, as well as Sunday school for junior and senior high youth, confirmation curriculum, and adult classes.
  • The youth program sees kids coming to Christ and Christian kids becoming Christian adults. It features Wednesday evening worship, Bible study and fellowship, special events, a week-long junior high camp, and an annual mission trip.
  • Small groups that meet in people’s homes (house groups) are an important way that we grow in discipleship.

To promote healing and transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit by engaging in outreach in our community and the wider world, and providing prayer and financial support in a variety of contexts.

  • We are mostly English speakers with a growing immigrant presence.
  • Our outreach includes a long-time partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, overseas missionaries, and service to the homeless.
  • We offer ministries of healing and intercessory prayer.

our history

Messiah officially became a parish in 1891, meeting in a building on Fuller Avenue. The church moved again in 1930 to the corner of Juno and Cretin and in 1947 broke ground at the corner of Macalester and Ford Parkway, where the church is located today.


“Remember the church is people and not some building. And what makes this parish a fellowship is that we are bound together by the leadership of Jesus Christ and once you are infused with this spirit of Jesus Christ—then watch out because exciting things are going to happen.” -Rev. Robert Wolterstorff, Rector, 1940-1955


Download the pdf, Messiah Episcopal Church History 1991-2016.