Dear Visitor,

Welcome to Wilmington whether you are new to the area or on vacation. St. Matthew’s is an evangelical catholic parish in which traditional, biblical, creedal, sacramental, and liturgical Christianity is practiced. We are not rigid in presentation or style, but all the previous generations of Christians in the Church Triumphant would recognize our practice as authentically, orthodox Christianity.

If you have never experienced this kind of Christianity, be assured this is not some fad we have recently adopted as a church growth technique. We are Lutheran Christians, who see ourselves as evangelical, catholic, and orthodox, even when some liturgies are spoken, others sung, some music is older, and some is newer. We are deeply rooted in the Great Tradition of Christianity throughout the centuries.

We are looking forward to our newly expanded Austin pipe organ, with a new three-manual digital console, leading worship again on the weekend of July 6-7. There should be great music that weekend!

Our preaching theme for the summer Sundays beginning June 23 is “Holy Lives.” Each week we will look at an exemplary Christian, a recognized saint, whose life and witness encourages us.  There will be familiar saints like John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the Mother of God. But there will be others we may know less about including: Irenaeus of Lyons; Jan Hus; Benedict of Nursia (the inspiration for “The Benedict Option”); Johann Sebastian Bach; Joanna, Mary, & Salome (the myrrh-bearers who went to anoint Jesus’ body); Bernard of Clairvaux (hymn writer); and Augustine of Hippo Regius in northern Africa (early Church father).

It is no secret that we are now living in a largely post-Christian United States of America. Beginning June 23 at 9:45 a.m., we will have a chapter-by-chapter discussion of Rod Dreher’s book, “The Benedict Option.” If you don’t have a copy, buy one and join us for a lively conversation about how to keep the orthodox Christian faith in a world that either does not know the Triune God or despises His people.

Thanks for dropping by!

Pastor Sam Zumwalt+

szumwalt@bellsouth.net