Saint Matthew Lutheran Church (BLOG)

As June arrives, we are making final preparations for the work being done in the Worship Center. For a minimum of 6 weeks, our Sunday worship will move into Fellowship Hall.  We are installing a projector, suspending it from the ceiling so that the tall a/v cart will not obstruct views and the cord will not be a tripping hazard.  We are also installing new speakers to make the sound much clearer.  We are eagerly anticipating having a well-equipped space like the one we  enjoy in the Teen Center and Worship Center for our larger events.

While the worship space is vacated, we plan to replace the existing carpet, repaint the epoxy floor, re-upholster the pews, install new kneelers, refinish the communion rails, replace the choir chairs and update to energy efficient LED lighting.  This is an ambitious project and every effort is being made to keep within our 6 week time frame.

You may be wondering about other areas in need of refurbishing – specifically the bathrooms, kitchen and Fellowship Hall.  Those areas will be addressed as part of the capital campaign kicking off in the fall.  We anticipate having architectural renderings by that time for your review. 

We sincerely appreciate the direction and expertise given by the  newly established Renovation/Building Team members: Ken Calvert, Janette Drew, Pastor Kevin Murphy, Sandy Houseman, Kevin Morgan, Gary Drew, Michael Monaldo, Forest Borene and Ann Farrow.

Worship Moves to Fellowship Hall June 17

Starting on June 17, our Sunday morning worship services will move to the Fellowship Hall during our remodel of the worship center for 6-7 weeks. 

One of the challenges of worshiping in the Fellowship Hall is that it is simply a smaller space than we are used to. It may be a tight fit. Worship attendance during the summer is slightly lower than during the school program year, so we are expecting that we'll be able to have a chair for every person who enters our worship space. We are so thankful for the flexible and positive spirit of this community!

One of the greatest characteristics about the Saint Matthew community is that we simply love to be  together.  We worship together, eat together, do   mission together and follow Jesus...together. May we be strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus as we worship together in new ways this summer!

Pastor Kevin on Sabbatical

Pastor Kevin is going to be on sabbatical, May 3 through July 2.  His sabbatical plan has three major goals for this two month time:

Write a discipleship manual for Saint Matthew based on Kevin’s time in Sheffield, England, work with 3DM Ministries, and teaching at Fuller Seminary in Northern California.

Spend time in Israel in study and preparation for leading the  October Saint Matthew trip to Israel. Kevin will be the     second van driver for a friend who has been taking people to Israel for many years. Kevin and Debi have been to Israel two times, and Kevin one additional time. He will also have four days in Jordan after the Israel trip, a place where he has not yet visited.

Accompany the Saint Matthew Honduras Trip at the end of June. Kevin has always wanted to go on this mission trip, and is excited that now he will have the opportunity.

In his last sabbatical (June 2006), Pastor Kevin went to Sheffield, England for the first time and was gone only two weeks. He returned to Sheffield with Debi and Jessica the following November for another ten days. The results of that important time in Pastor Kevin's life has had a real impact on Saint Matthew and beyond (see the article "3DM - Matthew Learning Community").

The sabbatical policy at Saint Matthew is that pastors can take up to three months of sabbatical after seven years, and every five years thereafter. They must secure their own funding for what they do on their sabbaticals. Pastor David just completely his first sabbatical in October 2011 and February 2012.

We are thankful to have the pastoral team of Pastor Sara, Pastor Mary, Pastor David, Roger Dill and Intern Pastor Bill McKinley filling in some of the gaps while Pastor Kevin is on sabbatical. Please pray for his time, that it might be inspirational and renewing.

This has been a careful and prayerful deliberative process, going around the Learning Circle. These interviews have been part of the Observation and Reflection steps. Next will come Discussion from all the input that's been gathered.

During the next month, the Transition Team will be compiling the information which has been gathered and begin to put together some recommended guidelines for proceeding to the Church Council. The deadline for the completion of their work is the Church Council meeting in September, 2012.

Palm Sunday – April 1
8:15, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.

Maundy Thursday – April 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Community-wide Communion Service
Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church
1801 Lacassie Ave, Walnut Creek

God’s Friday – April 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Children’s program available

Easter Sunday – April 8
8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.

February 19, 2012

PRAY AROUND The LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, holy is your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.  Amen. 

February 25, 2012

Philippians 3:1-4:13;

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12;

2 Corinthians 3:4-5

READ

February 24, 2012

Acts 2: 42-47;

I John 3:1-2;

Isaiah 12

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