Welcome to St Matthew's Lutheran Church
Dear Visitor,
Now that Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany are past, we continue our preaching theme for this year, “Holy Communion,” and look closely in sermons at the Old Testament reading appointed for each Sunday.
The Sundays after Epiphany are known as ordinary time (from the Latin word for number, “ordinalis”), which means these are numbered Sundays and not part of a season of the liturgical year. Most of the preaching texts for these Sundays are from Isaiah with others from Micah, Deuteronomy, and Exodus.
The Lord Jesus Christ teaches His disciples to read what we call the Old Testament through Him (Luke 24:27). We look at the original context in which that particular Word of God was first spoken by a prophet and, then, we see how the Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of that Word. The next step is application as we consider what it means for Christ’s Body in the world to reflect His Light in the darkness of sin, death, and evil.
Like the early Church, we believe the principal service of God’s house should always include the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:42). We sing hymns with theological depth. We take God’s Word seriously. We believe in mystery. We are intergenerational. We believe the Church should be led by the Holy Ghost not the zeitgeist (the spirit of this age). We are traditional but neither rigid nor stodgy. Dare to be Lutheran Christians (both evangelical and catholic) with us!
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 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, January 28-29, 2023. Vicar Robert Alan Shivers preaches, “Holy Communion: Holy Lord” (Micah 6:1-8). The color of the day is green signifying growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, His Father, and the Holy Spirit. The Sundays after Epiphany are not a season but are known as ordinary time, from the Latin “ordinalis” for number.
From the console of our 47 rank Austin pipe organ with trompette-en-chamade, Bill Glisson leads at 6 p.m. on Saturday and on Sunday in the singing of joyous hymns: “Rise Up, O Saints of God” (Entrance); “When Peace Like a River” (Hymn of the Day); “Go, My Children, with My Blessing” (Recessional). Our Sunday distribution hymns are: “Jesus, the Very Thought of You”; “We Come to the Hungry Feast”; “We Are Called.”
Special music for traditional worship includes: Bill Glisson’s organ prelude, “Ville Du Havre” (Livingston); Bill plays “Jesus, The Very Thought of You” (Franks) at the Saturday offering; Annie Jewell sings “In the Garden” (Mills) at the 8:30 offering; The Adult Choir sings, “All Things to All” (Courtney) at the 11 a.m. offering: Bill’s postlude, “Festal Song” (Wold).
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
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https://mailchi.mp/stmatthewsch/fourth-sunday-in-advent-p7ocqbsx1e?e=423ab67a37
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