After worship on Sunday, November 16, you're invited to participate in a very special Christmas gift-wrapping event!
The youth of Saint Matthew would like for you to join them in sharing the joy of Christmas with children in other parts of the world through Operation Christmas Child.
What is Operation Christmas Child? Here's a video that will tell you all about it:
And here's a video that will tell you how to pack your Christmas shoebox:
On Sunday night, our youth went to Walmart in order to put together sample shoeboxes. We bought plastic storage boxes about the size of shoeboxes, meaning that the recipients of the Operation Christmas Child gifts will be able to use the container for other purposes.
For more information on Operation Christmas Child, go here.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
A Special Message from Pastor Mark
Dear Saint Matthew Friend:
"I wish I knew more about my faith"
I hear statements like this from Christians all the time.
They also say things like, "I wish that my children [or grandchildren] [or nieces and nephews] had a closer relationship with God."
At Saint Matthew, we try to address these very real concerns. We provide a variety of learning opportunities not just to fill people's heads with information, but to help them to live each day with confidence and hope and joy!
One of the missions of Christ's Church is to make disciples. That isn't just about evangelism, sharing the Good News with those outside of the fellowship of the church. It's also about growing in our own faith. That growth is something that mostly happens in our Monday through Saturday worlds, where followers of Jesus Christ face their daily ups and downs with faith, prayer, service, and immersion in the Bible.
But, if you're serious about your own growth as a Christian or the growth of the faith of the important children in your life, then we have some great opportunities to help you with that at Saint Matthew.
For example...
Sunday School kicks off its 2008-2009 program year tomorrow morning. There are classes for every age group. Adults start at 9:00/ Everybody else at 9:15. (If parents want to wait to show up for the adult class in the Luther Room until after their kids are in their classes, that's fine.)
Searching for the Truth, a six session class in which we compare our Christian faith to the beliefs of other world religions, begins on Monday, September 22. Each session will run from 7:00 to 8:30pm. (No class on September 29.) I've just been doing some work on this class and I'm getting really excited about it!To register, contact the church office at 385-2272.
Catechism is Saint Matthew's three-year program to prepare sixth, seventh, and eighth graders for their lives as adult Christians. The great thing is that we have several high school students who have decided that they want to be part of the class as well. If you have a young person in your life who would like to be part of this exploration of Christian belief, they can be registered by calling the church office at 385-2272. The first class for the 2008-2009 year happens on October 18, from 9:00am to 2:30pm. (Breakfast and lunch provided by parents on a voluntary basis.) We actually have a ton of fun in Catechism. Our focus this year will be on The Small Catechism by Martin Luther.
Watch for more opportunities for help with becoming more joyful and assured in your relationship with Jesus Christ!
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Mark
"I wish I knew more about my faith"
I hear statements like this from Christians all the time.
They also say things like, "I wish that my children [or grandchildren] [or nieces and nephews] had a closer relationship with God."
At Saint Matthew, we try to address these very real concerns. We provide a variety of learning opportunities not just to fill people's heads with information, but to help them to live each day with confidence and hope and joy!
One of the missions of Christ's Church is to make disciples. That isn't just about evangelism, sharing the Good News with those outside of the fellowship of the church. It's also about growing in our own faith. That growth is something that mostly happens in our Monday through Saturday worlds, where followers of Jesus Christ face their daily ups and downs with faith, prayer, service, and immersion in the Bible.
But, if you're serious about your own growth as a Christian or the growth of the faith of the important children in your life, then we have some great opportunities to help you with that at Saint Matthew.
For example...
Sunday School kicks off its 2008-2009 program year tomorrow morning. There are classes for every age group. Adults start at 9:00/ Everybody else at 9:15. (If parents want to wait to show up for the adult class in the Luther Room until after their kids are in their classes, that's fine.)
Searching for the Truth, a six session class in which we compare our Christian faith to the beliefs of other world religions, begins on Monday, September 22. Each session will run from 7:00 to 8:30pm. (No class on September 29.) I've just been doing some work on this class and I'm getting really excited about it!To register, contact the church office at 385-2272.
Catechism is Saint Matthew's three-year program to prepare sixth, seventh, and eighth graders for their lives as adult Christians. The great thing is that we have several high school students who have decided that they want to be part of the class as well. If you have a young person in your life who would like to be part of this exploration of Christian belief, they can be registered by calling the church office at 385-2272. The first class for the 2008-2009 year happens on October 18, from 9:00am to 2:30pm. (Breakfast and lunch provided by parents on a voluntary basis.) We actually have a ton of fun in Catechism. Our focus this year will be on The Small Catechism by Martin Luther.
Watch for more opportunities for help with becoming more joyful and assured in your relationship with Jesus Christ!
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Mark
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
More Mission Trip Pictures #6
To find out what Bailey, Jesse, and Pastor Mark are doing here, scroll down and read the post about Mel Trotter Ministries.
More Mission Trip Pictures #5
Jesse, taking a break from his endless sorting, shows how truly dangerous static cling can be.
Why is Garth Brooks sneering from Kylen's T-shirt? Doesn't he like the color of paint she's using?
More Mission Trip Pictures #4
Jacob and Fran (top and bottom pictures) joined Sam and John, along with folks from other congregations, in cleaning the Potter's House School in inner city Grand Rapids. The school began as a prayer, a dream, and a dare of faith with almost no cash. The school has continued to grow and bring the hope of Christ to a community that needs it more than most.
Our youth and adults were inspired by Potter's House.
They also worked very hard...including cleaning the entire building with paper towels!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
