St. Matthew Lutheran Church

It is with great regret that we of the Congregational Council are calling off this year’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Many of volunteers who come to prepare, serve, clean up, and deliver are in the high risk group for Covid. The same is true for the majority who come to enjoy the meal and comradery on Thanksgiving Day in years past. For these reasons we look forward to next year when we can come again to join in Christian fellowship on this day of thanks.

Greetings!

This is the fourth week of our program Fulfilling God’s Purpose! This week’s theme is “Giving Joyfully and Cheerfully.”

Jesus said, “Freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).  Billy Graham said, “God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.” As nice as it is to receive gifts, it is even more meaningful to give them. Finding joy in our giving, we begin to understand why Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

God is love (John 4:8), and he shows his love for us by giving. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God never stops give to us. First God loved, then he gave, and he keeps on giving. Forgiveness, salvation, and, in fact, all we are and everything we have or ever will have are gifts from God.

As Jesus lived a giving lifestyle, we, through the working of the Holy Spirit, live a similar lifestyle. Through our giving, we worship him, express our thanks to him, and renew our commitment to him. When we give, we put our love for Jesus into action.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, we know how much you have given to us. You have held nothing from us. Help us to respond to your great love for us with generous and giving hearts.  In your precious name we pray. Amen.

Blessings on your journey as a steward!

Greetings!

This is the third week of our program Fulfilling God’s Purpose! This week we focus on the theme “Living as Servants.”

The Gospel of John records a powerful lesson about servanthood taught by Jesus on the night of the final meal he ate with his disciples. All 12 disciples were gathered in an upper room with Jesus in their midst. Off to the side was a basin with water meant for the washing of feet. Washing feet was the job of the least servant who knelt down and washed the feet of the guests. 

On that night, when the 12 were gathered with Jesus in their midst, Jesus took the basin, knelt down, and began washing the feet of each disciple. It was a very awkward moment. You see, they recognized the one with the basin. They knew he was the Son of God.  Finally Peter, speaking up as if to voice the concern, the awkwardness, and the embarrassment of the whole group, said, “Lord, You shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:14-15).  Jesus told us he came not be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). In the same way, God wants us to serve others. We are his servants through whom he works as we become his hands, feet, and mouths.

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, just as you came to serve, grant us compassion and humility to be servants.  Open our eyes to opportunities to serve. Use us to support those who are in need. We pray that you will use our program, Fulfilling God’s Purpose!, to help us grow in grace and knowledge of our Savior for your glory and the good of your people. In your precious name we pray. Amen.

Blessings on your journey as a steward!