Sunday 4/22

Upcoming events:
Sat 4/21 10am-2pm, Work Day - please come lend a hand to beautify our church building.
Sun 4/22 12:30pm, Special congregation meeting: proposal to authorize spending of up to $10,000 for emergency repair of roofing elements

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called 
children of God; and that is what we are. 1 John 3:1

This Sunday we hear about God's surprising appearances, intervening to bring us back into right relationship with God and with each other. Jesus is made known in the breaking of bread, and Rev. Richard Kiesling will preach and preside at a service of Holy Communion.

Watch for Jesus; he is risen!

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

Sunday 4/15 - Jesus appears

Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you...." But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." John 20:19, 24-25

Traditionally called "Doubting Thomas," this apostle expresses something very real to us. Can we trust in God's amazing power? Jesus does not dismiss his question, but comes again to meet Thomas exactly where he is.

Watch for Jesus; he is risen!

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

Thu 4/12 7pm, Supper and Bible study. This is the final evening in this series, and we will be reading the end of Mark, with the women at the empty tomb.

Sun 4/22 12:30pm, Special congregation meeting. The one item on the agenda will be a proposal from the Congregation Council to authorize spending of up to $10,000 for emergency repair of roofing elements. There will be a short presentation regarding the work, and a vote as required by the Constitution for all non-budgeted spending over $5,000.

Pastoral call process. As reported in church last Sunday, the call committee has recommended a candidate to the Congregation Council, who is proceeding to meet with the candidate and consider a recommendation to the Congregation. Please continue to pray for our congregation's discernment and future.

Gracious God, you call us into new life in your Holy Spirit. Guide this congregation in our call process. Encourage us in living out your call to love, welcome, nurture, and serve all people by following the example of Jesus Christ, and send to us a pastor who will strengthen us in this mission. Amen.
 

Holy Week

Maundy Thursday
4/5, Supper and Service beginning at 6pm

We remember the events of the night before his state-sponsored murder. Jesus shares a meal with his disciples. He shows them his vision of leadership, by washing their feet. And he goes to the garden of Gethsemane to spend the night in prayer, while his friends fall asleep. At St. Matthew's we will share a meal with one another and remember Jesus among us with reflections by Diane Kaese.

Good Friday
4/6, Service beginning at 7pm

On this ironically named day, we look to the Cross, where Jesus was tortured and executed, and we look to the uncounted other crosses that human cruelty erects. In this service, the "Seven Last Words" of Christ from the cross, taken from all four gospels, are used to focus our attention. Mark Muntzel, Kim Aycox, Lisa Bellan-Boyer, Pastor Paul Nordeen, Andy Rhode, Clarence Ponnapalli, and Paul Bellan-Boyer will offer reflections on each of Jesus' words.

Easter Sunday - Resurrection Day!
4/8 9:30am Community breakfast
11am Holy Communion

In Mark's gospel, three of the women who followed Jesus went to the tomb early in the morning to anoint his body with burial spices. Instead of finding the dead Jesus, the tomb was open, and young man dressed in white told them that Jesus had been raised from the dead. And they fled in fear.

We celebrate the Mystery of Christ's Resurrection by sharing a meal with one another at 9:30 and then sharing his meal of holy communion, Pastor Judith Spint preaching and presiding.

Enter into the mystery of faith,
journey with Jesus through this Holy Week.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319
stmatthewsjc.org
Artwork:
Armenian miniature of the Last Supper, artist unknown.
White Crucifixion, Marc Chagall, 1938.
The Empty Tomb, Jesus Mafa, illustrations of the Gospel from North Cameroun, circa 1977.
 

This week at St. Matthew's

Upcoming events:
3/30 Friday 6:30pm Family Game night with Lily's Girl Scouts
4/1 Palm Sunday 10:30am Procession, 11am service
4/5 Maundy Thursday 6pm Dinner followed by worship service
4/6 Good Friday 7pm Seven Last Words of Christ
4/8 Easter Sunday 11am Resurrection!

This Sunday we shout Hosanna and process in the neighborhood, recalling Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. In the coming week we will journey with him through the Last Supper on Thursday night, to the cross on Good Friday, and beyond.

Rev. Judith Spindt will lead us in a service of Holy Communion this Sunday, to nourish us for the coming week and for life eternal.

Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319
stmatthewsjc.org

Sun 3/25 Andy Rhode celebration

It is a busy weekend at Saint Matthews.

Thursday 3/22 7pm: Bible study with soup, Mark chapter 10. Jesus is on the verge of entering Jerusalem and the week of his Passion.

Saturday 3/24 10am-2pm: Clean and Polish and Sort Day. A Rummage Sale strategy meeting will be held from 12 to 12:30. Bring your hands and minds ready to work!

Sunday 3/25 11am worship, 1:30pm Dedication of the Andrew C. Rhode Theater at the Barrow Mansion. Please come to celebrate Andy and share refreshments and stories with our neighbors.
You delight in truth deep within me, and
would have me know wisdom deep within. Psalm 51:6

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319
stmatthewsjc.org
Prayer updates:
+ Emma Behrens remains at Jersey City Medical Center.
+ Carol Andersen's cancer surgery was successful; she and Harvey appreciate your prayers and good wishes.

Sunday 3/18 - Worship at 11am

This Sunday we hear an ancient story from the book of Numbers. After their escape from slavery in Egypt, the people are afflicted by serpents. The Lord tells Moses to raise up a bronze serpent that people can look to for healing. More than a thousand years later, John's gospel sees Jesus in this story, that he was lifted up on the cross, and that those who look to him are delivered.

This Sunday we will look to Jesus in the words of scripture, in our lives together, and in the bread and wine of Holy Communion, Rev. Will Henkel preaching and presiding.

Look to Jesus for healing; turn to Jesus for life.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319
stmatthewsjc.org
Bible study in Lent:
- Thursdays at 7pm we'll share a light meal and read through the Gospel of Mark. Volunteers for providing soup are appreciated and can contact mark_sandstrom@yahoo.com.
- Sundays at 1pm we'll read through a number of shorter books in the Old Testament (targeting one book per session), Paul Ellis hosting.

Andy Rhode Celebration:
Sunday, March 25, 1:30pm St. Matthew's and the Barrow Mansion Development Corporation will dedicate the Andrew C. Rhode Theater in honor of Andy Rhode and his father's decades of service to our community. Please join us to celebrate Andy and share refreshments. 83 Wayne St.

Artwork: "Serpent Spiral," at the Musée Guimet, by Giant Ginkgo.
 

Lent Bible study and Sunday worship

Daylight savings time begins this Sunday. Set your clock ahead one hour.

Bible study in Lent:
- Thursdays at 7pm we'll share a light meal and read through the Gospel of Mark. Volunteers for providing soup are appreciated and can contact mark_sandstrom@yahoo.com.
- Sundays at 1pm we'll read through a number of shorter books in the Old Testament (targeting one book per session), Paul Ellis hosting.

This Sunday, Jesus gets angry. "In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables" (John 2:14-15).

A life lived in faith is not without turmoil. Responding to God may lead us into conflict, when we see injustice. The Jesus who overturned table, also overturned the world order, simply by practicing healing, forgiveness, and the miraculous sharing of his life.

We celebrate life in Christ with a meal of his bread and wine, Rev. Gordon Huff preaching and presiding.

All have a home in God's house.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319
stmatthewsjc.org
Artwork: Jesus cleanses the temple, by the Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey.