Sunday 1/22 - Annual Meeting

St. Matthew's 2012 Annual Meeting will take place Sunday January 22, after the worship service, beginning at approximately 12:30pm. Our Annual Report (PDF, 1.3MB) includes the meeting agenda, financial reports, and reports from many of the congregation's ministries. (Printed copies are available at the church building.) At the meeting we will elect members to the Council and several other offices, and adopt a budget for the coming year.

Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." Mark 1:14-17


This Sunday we will hear how God calls people into mission. As Jesus once called disciples on the shores of Galilee, so he calls us again into ministry together in and through this church. Rev. Paul Brndjar will preach and preside at a service of Holy Communion.

Believe in the good news!

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201-432-9319
stmatthewsjc.org

Sunday 1/15 - Worship at 11am

This Sunday's lessons highlight the call of the Lord. The young prophet Samuel hears the Lord calling in the night but needs help to recognize God's voice. Psalm 139 speaks of a God who knows us intimately: "You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you are acquainted with all my ways" (v2-3). Then the gospel of John gives us a conversation between Jesus and the reluctant disciple Nathaniel.

God calls each of us uniquely into relationship and into the holy mission of transformation. This Sunday we will listen again for the voice of God, with a service of Holy Communion led by Rev. Jack DiMatteo.

Wonderful are your works, O God!

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201-432-9319
stmatthewsjc.org
Congregation news:
Our Annual Meeting will take place NEXT Sunday 1/22 after worship. A bulletin of reports will be available at church this Sunday.

The painting "Calling Disciples," 2001, is by Dr. He Qi ,a professor at the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in China.
 

Sunday 1/8 11am worship - 3 Kings

This Sunday we celebrate the beginning of Epiphany, the season of Light.

We hear the story of the magi, seers from the East (traditionally known as the 3 Kings) who come to pay homage to Jesus, with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And we receive the gifts Jesus gives to us: salvation, the hand of fellowship, forgiveness tasted in bread and wine. Rev. Will Henkel will preach and preside.

Come! Let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201-432-9319
stmatthewsjc.org

Congregation news:
Our Ministry Site Profile for the call process is available on our website, click here to view or download. It will be finalized at Monday's Council meeting.

New Year's Day - Holy Communion 11am

The new calendar year begins with Sunday, and the celebration of God's promise in Jesus Christ. This Sunday we observe the naming of Jesus, how the infant was circumcised on the eighth day, and named as the angel had foretold.

Our worship service begins at 11am with Pr. Judith Spindt preaching and presiding at Holy Communion.

The promise of God is here.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201-432-9319
stmatthewsjc.org

Christmas Eve 7pm & Christmas Day 11am

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:15

Throughout the 4 weeks of Advent, we have been preparing, looking and listening for signs of God's coming into the world. This Saturday night and Sunday morning we celebrate the miracle of the incarnation - God in flesh. Born to a poor young girl in the most humble of circumstances, witnessed by shepherds and goats and angels - and by those of us who gather together in his name.

At St. Matthew's we will gather Christmas Eve for a service of Holy Communion filled with Christmas carols and special music and ending in candlelight. Rev. Paul Brndjar will preside and Paul Bellan-Boyer will preach. The service begins at 7pm. Then on Sunday we will have a small informal communion service at 11am, Rev. Judith Spindt preaching and presiding.

May God bless us, each and every one, this Christmas season.

Come! Let us adore him - Christ the Lord!

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201-432-9319
stmatthewsjc.org

Advent - Sunday 12/11 worship 11am

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all
might believe through him. He himself was not the light,
but he came to testify to the light. John 1:6-8
The days get shorter. Sometimes the light seems fragile, scarce, hard to find. Sometimes we may need some prompting, a hint, a witness to show where the light is, or even to kindle the hope that the light is coming.

This Sunday we light the 3rd Advent candle as we wait for Messiah, the light coming into the world. Rev. Lisa Bellan-Boyer will be leading worship and preaching starting at 11am. Following the service, we will have a special congregation meeting to review our call process and elect a call committee.

The Light is Coming!

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201-432-9319
stmatthewsjc.org
 

Sunday 11/20 11am - Christ the King

This Sunday we celebrate the vision of Christ as King. But he is a king like no other. While depicted as a ruler, Christ's kingdom is built not upon the power of his military forces, or the gold in his treasury, or the labor of the poor and exploited, but upon God's righteousness, God's justice, God's love for creation, and God's promise of salvation. God seen in Jesus Christ did not rule from an earthly throne, but was found amidst the poor, the suffering, the oppressed.

Our worship service begins at 11am, with Paul Ellis preaching. Come and share in Christ's kingdom.

May God's glory be yours.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201-432-9319
stmatthewsjc.org
Image:
The image of Jesus seen on the right is "Christ of Maryknoll," by Robert Lentz.