Big Issues Being Addressed in ELCA

Here is the sermon I gave at last Sunday's gathering of congregations of the Scioto Conference, Southern Ohio Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Last Sunday Morning's Sermon...

is here.

Today's Sermon...

is here.

Please Sign Up for the Prayer Vigil

Saint Matthew will be having a Prayer Vigil from 6:00pm, Friday, May 9, to 7:00am, Saturday, May 10 in the sanctuary of Saint Matthew. You're asked to sign up for one-half hour prayer times. Our agenda is simple: to pray for Saint Matthew and its ministry to the community; to ask God to renew our faith and to be bold in sharing that faith with others; and to pray that God will open us to Jesus' Lordship over every part of our lives. Please plan on signing up for a half-hour shift. Sign-up sheets will be in the Fellowship Hall.

The vigil will be taking place on the weekend before we celebrate Pentecost. At the Church's first Pentecost, which happened fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead and then days after He ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit came to the disciples who had been praying together.

As Saint Matthew looks ahead to a time of spiritual growth, we need the power of God's Holy Spirit. So, please plan on being part of the Prayer Vigil, as we seek God's power to do what can't be done without Him.

Two verses will be the theme of our Prayer Vigil. The first is John 15:5, part of Jesus' great farewell discourse, where He says:

I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

The second is First Peter 2:9, in which the apostle Peter describes His followers:

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

In the second passage, Peter defines our purpose as a church; in the first, Jesus points out that we can only fulfill that purpose when we rely totally on Him. Our Prayer Vigil will be Saint Matthew's declaration of total dependence on God and our earnest seeking of His presence and power in everything we say, do, and are.

Please plan on participating in the Prayer Vigil!

Youth Mission Trip Dates and Site Set

The dates and location for the youth group mission trip this summer have been set. We will be going to Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 15 to 20. Eight Saint Matthew young people and five adults are registered.

Next year, hopefully, all of our young people can go! Please pray for our group as it prepares, asking God to deepen our faith through this experience. Pray too, please, that God will keep the group safe.

The Week of Hope mission trip in which the young people will participate is part of the Group Workcamps Foundation's annual Week of Hope program.

Youth: Reminder

Youth group meets this coming Sunday, April 6, from 6:00 to 7:30pm. We'll meet in the church fellowship hall.

Last Sunday's Sermon...

is here.