Welcome to St Matthew's Lutheran Church
Dear Visitor,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
With this ancient victory cry, the Church across space and time has proclaimed the Lord has triumphed gloriously over sin, death, and the old evil foe. On the cross, God’s Son in human flesh, Jesus Christ, has shed His precious blood to rescue rebellious humanity from that unholy trio. By His glorious resurrection, we have the assurance that in Him the faithful dead will rise to live in a new creation forever.
St. Matthew’s is an evangelical catholic parish, which means we are “evangelical” by being committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and “catholic” by being rooted in the faith once delivered to the saints. When you worship with us, you experience a vibrant Christianity that would be recognizable to the previous centuries of Christians. We are biblical, creedal, and sacramental!
We sing hymns with spiritual depth and musical integrity in a variety of styles and from many sources. We believe the Scriptures when they declare: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), which means worship includes times of careful listening and quiet reflection on the mystery of God’s everlasting love.
When you worship at St. Matthew’s, you hear God’s No (His Law) and God’s Yes (His Gospel) proclaimed from the pulpit to afflict the comfortable and to comfort the afflicted. It’s bracing to hear the truth about our brokenness, to know we always need a Savior every day, and to be reminded that we cannot by our own reason or effort believe in Jesus Christ or come to Him. At St. Matthew’s, we don’t tell you what to do. We tell you what He has done for sinners and what it means to live grateful lives.
Discover the Lutheran difference this week. At St. Matthew’s, when it says Lutheran on the sign, you can actually count on scriptural, creedal, and sacramental worship week after week.
Please find your way to where Christ has promised to be present in the Word and Sacraments always!
Thanks for stopping by!
Pastor Sam Zumwalt, STS+
Come Worship with Us
Saturday 6:00 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
Monday 5:00 PM
Wednesday 12 Noon
THE GREEK WORD FOR CHURCH, “EKKLESIA,” means the ones “called out” of their homes to assemble with the Lord for the apostles teaching and fellowship, the breaking of the bread, and the prayers (Acts 2:42). We urge you to join us in person for worship!
If you can’t worship with us in person, be sure to worship with us on YouTube Live this Saturday @ 6pm; Sunday @ 8:30 and 11am; Monday @6pm; Wednesday @Noon. To access our YouTube channel, please CLICK HERE https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1n7DcvSmSFXYO51dWbdykw
We welcome you in Jesus’ name to celebrate with us The Feast of Pentecost, May 28, 2023. Fr. Samuel David Zumwalt preaches, “Holy Communion: His Spirit on You” (Numbers 11:24-30). The color of the day is red, the color of the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Adam Anthony, grandson of Darin and Karin, will be baptized at the beginning of the 6pm Eucharist on Pentecost weekend, Saturday, May 27.
The Rite of Confirmation will be celebrated at the 11 a.m. Eucharist on the Feast of Pentecost, May 28, 2023, for Connor Andrew and Nora Mae. If you have not celebrated a confirmation at St. Matthew’s, it is a very moving service. A reception for the confirmands will be in the narthex at 9:30 a.m.
From the console of our 47 rank Austin pipe organ with trompette-en-chamade, Bill Glisson leads with the Adult Choir on Saturday at 6 p.m. and and at 11 a.m. on Sunday in the singing of joyous hymns: “O Day Full of Grace” (Entrance); “Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest” (Hymn of the Day); “Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling” (Recessional). Our Sunday distribution hymns are: “Children of the Heavenly Father“; “Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song”; “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart.”
The Joyful Noise Ensembles leads the 8:30 a.m. Eucharist in the singing of joyous hymns and spiritual songs: “Spirit of the Living God, Fall Fresh on Me”; “Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest”; “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart”; “The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve.”
Special music for the weekend includes: Bill Glisson’s prelude “Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire“ (McCabe); Bill’s Saturday offering “Holy Spirit, Truth Divine” (Fedak); The Joyful Noise sing “Spirit of God in the Clear Running Water” (Winter) at the 8:30 offering; The Adult Choir sings “A Mighty Rushing Wind” (Martin, Drennan) at the 11 a.m. offering. Bill’s postlude is “Tongues of Fire (Pentecost Dance)” (Fedak).
Did you know that you can give online to St. Matthew’s? https://stmatthewsch.org/online-giving/
Sheila Whitmeyer oversees the nursery on Sunday mornings for up to five children per service. For more information, please email: slwhitmeyer@aol.com
For online worshipers, be sure to download the bulletin: https://stmatthewsch.org/bulletin/
Live broadcast of each worship service begins several minutes before the posted worship time.
St Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church
612 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 791-4582
Worship Services
Saturday 6:00 PM
Sunday 8:30 & 11:00
Monday 6:00 PM
PRAY daily
“To be a Christian without Prayer is no more possible than to be Alive without breathing.” - Martin Luther
WORSHIP weekly
"To gather with God's people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer." - Martin Luther
READ the Bible
“The Bible is Alive, It speaks to me; It has feet, It runs after me; It has hands, It lays hold of me” - Martin Luther
SERVE at and beyond St. Matthew’s
“God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.” - Martin Luther
Be in Relationship to encourage spiritual growth in others
"If he have faith, the believer cannot be restrained. He betrays himself. He breaks out. He confesses and teaches this gospel to the people at the risk of life itself." - Martin Luther
GIVE of my time, talents and resources
“I have held many things in my hand, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands that I still possess.”– Martin Luther
Pastor Sam's Blog
Read Pastor Sam's blog for current news and inspiring articles
HOLY WEEK @ ST. MATTHEW’S AND WHO’S PREACHING
NOONDAY HOLY WEEK WORSHIP Monday 4/3: Pastor Michael Bergbower, “Not to Be Served But to Serve” (Isaiah 42:1-9) Tuesday 4/4: Vicar Robert Shivers, “Chosen for Service” (Isaiah 49:1-7) Wednesday 4/5:…
Read MoreFUNERAL OF RICHARD THOMPSON ON WEDNESDAY 3/1/23 @ 2 P.M.
The Funeral of George Richard Cunliffe Thompson III (Richard) will be in the nave on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 2 p.m. Burial follows immediately in the Memorial Garden. A…
Read MoreUNSUNG SAINTS: JIM THE BISHOP
https://mailchi.mp/stmatthewsch/saturday-after-ash-wednesday-5wzscma6jf?e=423ab67a37
Read MoreMARGARET BALDWIN FRENCH GRAVESIDE SERVICE 2/24/23 @ 1 P.M.
We will give God thanks and praise for the life of Margaret Baldwin French on Friday, February 24, at 1 p.m. at the Bethany Presbyterian Cemetery on Castle Hayne Road.…
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