What Do I Say to My Non-Churchgoing Friends?

A few thoughts.

The Easter Sermon...

is here.

'Witnesses for Christ' Gets Off to Great Start!

Twenty-four people gathered last night in Saint Matthew's Fellowship Hall for the first session of 'Witnesses for Christ.' The group will meet for four more Monday nights with the purpose of receiving the tools needed to become more confident in sharing their faith in Christ with others.

'Witnesses for Christ' was originally developed by Lutheran pastor Ed Markquart and helps Lutherans to see that witnessing is all about sharing our Best Friend, Jesus Christ, with our friends.

The goal is to "change the temperature" at Saint Matthew by offering 'Witnesses for Christ' several times in 2008 and thereafter, offering it annually, so that at any given time anywhere from 30 to 50% of our adult membership will have received this vital training.

Watch for the next offering of 'Witnesses for Christ/'

This Week's Prayer List

Ed Anderson, Gloria Arnold, Zachery Joel Baron, Dorothy Beougher, Jenny Brown, Violet Carpenter, George Crow, Pat Dearing, Pam Dotson, Pastor Paul Elhard, Irene Emrick, Myrna Gabriel, Ralph Griffith, Greg Huston, Bob Johnson, Phyllis Koska, Joanne Magle, Dee McLain, Craig Mehr, Dale and Elaine Meyers, Donald and Betty Mowery, Dick and Helen Mowrey, Pat Porter, Jared Rutter, Matthew Rauber, Betsy Shoults, Helen Sigler, Marvin Smart, Craig Smyers, Carolyn Stallman, Sarah Starner, Priscilla Stevens, Mary Jane Stofcheck, Sonny Taylor, and Wib Wallace. Grant protection to those serving their country in dangerous places, especially we pray for Michael Scaparotti.

This Week's Prayer List

Ed Anderson, Gloria Arnold, Zachery Joel Baron, Dorothy Beougher, Jenny Brown, Violet Carpenter, George Crow, Pat Dearing, Pam Dotson, Pastor Paul Elhard, Irene Emrick, Myrna Gabriel, Ralph Griffith, Greg Huston, Bob Johnson, Olivia Kerns, Phyllis Koska, Joanne Magle, Dee McLain, Craig Mehr, Dale and Elaine Meyers, Donald and Betty Mowery, Dick and Helen Mowrey, Pat Porter, Matthew Rauber, Betsy Shoults, Helen Sigler, Craig Smyers, Carolyn Stallman, Sarah Starner, Priscilla Stevens, Mary Jane Stofcheck, Sonny Taylor, and Wib Wallace. Grant protection to those serving their country in dangerous places, especially we pray for Michael Scaparotti.

Did You See This? (#2)

This appeared in the Logan-Hocking School District's publication, Schools in Session. Congratulations, Jacob.

[Click on the clipping to enlarge it.]

Today's Sermon...

is here.

A Note on Palm Sunday Procession

At this Sunday's Palm Sunday worship, we will process from the Fellowship Hall to the sanctuary and not outside. The forecast for Sunday calls for fairly frosty temperatures.

So, when you arrive for worship on Sunday, pick up your palm leaves from the greeters--that's the Libben Family this week, then go to the Fellowship Hall to await the beginning of the service.

Our Gospel lesson will be Matthew 21:1-11 this year.

Scioto Conference Gathering Happens April 13

The Scioto Conference of the Southern Ohio Synod (ELCA) is a group of about thirty congregations in our area. The Conference has gatherings several times each year for the purpose of considering ministry opportunities and challenges and to transact a minimum of business. There will also be worship with Holy Communion.

Our next Scioto Conference Gathering will take place on Sunday, April 13, from 1:00 to 5:30pm (later, if you choose to stay for the Barbecue Dinner that starts at 5:30), in the new facilities of Faith Lutheran Church in Jackson, Ohio.

Topics to be covered are a presentation on domestic violence and information on April's Synod Assembly at Wittenberg University in Springfield. This will be an extremely important synod assembly this year, as we will be electing a bishop. Bishop Cal Holloway is eligible for re-election, but there will likely be other pastors whose names are put in nomination. Pastor John Tickner of the Southern Ohio Synod staff, will be on hand to discuss the process.

If you will be able to attend, please contact the church office. We need to get a congregational RSVP in by April 5, so that organizers can plan the meal.

One and Only Pass at This Sunday's Bible Lessons (March 16, 2008)

Can be found here.

Did You See This? (#1)

This advertisement for Saint Matthew's Holy Week activities appeared in yesterday's Logan Daily News.

[Click on image to enlarge.]

Come and Get Your Sign!

As you know, at the February Church Council meeting, a decision was made to order yard signs promoting Saint Matthew's Easter worship services. The signs have arrived and they're ready for you to put up in your yard.

Imagine the impact when all of Saint Matthew's households put up these two-sided signs inviting the community to celebrate Jesus' resurrection with us!

If you'd like, you can pick up your sign (and those of Saint Matthew friends and family members) from the church all this week or on Sunday. THEN, I ask you to put them up in your yards immediately. Keep them up until Easter. After Easter, store them in your garage or somewhere else and use them again for the two weeks before Easter next year.

We have Good News to share and we have a wonderful congregation to which we can invite our non-churchgoing neighbors and friends. These signs can help us to be even more intentional about reaching out to others with the life-changing Good News of Jesus!

Saint Matthew's Sanctuary

-snapped by Phil Daniels
[Click on the image to enlarge it.]

Please send your pictures of Saint Matthew people, activities, or facilities for use on the church web site now under construction.

This Week's Prayer List

Please pray for healing for the following people: Ed Anderson, Gloria Arnold, Zachery Joel Baron, Dorothy Beougher, Jenny Brown, Violet Carpenter, George Crow, Pat Dearing, Pam Dotson, Pastor Paul Elhard, Irene Emrick, Myrna Gabriel, Ralph Griffith, Greg Huston, Bob Johnson, Phyllis Koska, Joanne Magle, Dee McLain, Craig Mehr, Dale and Elaine Meyers, Donald and Betty Mowery, Dick and Helen Mowrey, Pat Porter, Matthew Rauber, Betsy Shoults, Helen Sigler, Ruth Smith, Craig Smyers, Carolyn Stallman, Sarah Starner, Priscilla Stevens, Mary Jane Stofcheck, Sonny Taylor, and Wib Wallace.

Pray also for the protection of those serving their country in dangerous places, especially ray for Michael Scaparotti.

This Past Sunday's Sermon...

is here.

Youth Group Gathers on Sunday Night

The next gathering of Saint Matthew's youth group happens this coming Sunday, March 16, from 6:00 to 7:30 in the church fellowship hall. On Sunday, the inanimate object you need to bring will be announced. But why not bring a friend? (A friend will presumably be an animate object.)

Meeting with Youth and Parents Rescheduled for March 16

The meeting with youth (sixth through twelfth grades) and parents regarding this summer's mission trip will take place after worship this coming Sunday, March 16. We need to nail down who is going, what dates we're going, and where we're going. (We'll need to make first and second choices on dates and locations because some sites fill up faster than others.) Information will be made available for you to consider at that time.

For more information, see here.

To see a video about the Week of Hope mission trips, go here.