Pentecost! - June 8

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Acts 2:1-4

At St. Matthew's we celebrate the gift of the Spirit by WEARING RED and by hearing readings in some of the languages which comprise our congregation (Spanish, German, Telugu, Russian, Tagalog, Hungarian, English). Pr. Hans Arnesen will preach and preside at Holy Communion.

Alive with Christ!
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Pastor Hans Arnesen
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319

Summer worship at 10am - June 1

Ascension commemorates the strange story where, after his resurrection appearances to his disciples, Jesus ascends to heaven. Having lost Jesus once, now they've seemingly lost him again.

But God always has a plan, a comeback. Just one week down the road there will be a new gift, a new and ungraspable yet real way of knowing God, when the Holy Spirit descends at Pentecost. God has promised not to leave our side, not to forsake us, not to abandon us, but to comfort us, advocate for us, protect us, and bring us together in one great fellowship.

At St. Matthew's we will share in that fellowship this Sunday June 1 STARTING AT 10AM with Pr. Hans Arnesen preaching and presiding.

Risen with Christ!
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Pastor Hans Arnesen
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319

Resurrection = New Life

Easter is not just a day. For the church, Easter is the reality we have been living since that first Easter when Jesus rose from the grave.

It is also a season in the church year. During the seven weeks of Easter we focus on those first days when the disciples began to discover how God's relentless power cannot be locked away, cannot be killed, cannot be kept down. The community rooted in God's living word grows like a weed, a vine, linking us to the power of redemption.

This Easter season we gather each Sunday
to share God's gifts with one another.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Pastor Hans Arnesen
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319

Christ is Risen - Alleluia!

The dark days are ended. The grave cannot contain the Lord of Life. Easter morning the tomb is empty, and Jesus appears as a testament of God's power to bring life from death, redemption from desolation.

Christ's Church throughout the world and throughout time celebrates God's gift of new life. At. St. Matthew's, we celebrate:

Sunday 4/20
9:30am Easter breakfast
11am Holy communion

Christ is risen! Alleluia!
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Pastor Hans Arnesen
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319

Holy Week

In Holy week, we journey with Jesus through the paschal journey: his last supper with his disciples; his judgment, crucifixion, and death; and the Holy Mystery of his resurrection from the dead.

Maundy Thursday 4/17 - 6:30pm We gather for a light vegetarian supper, followed by a short service and stripping of the altar at 7:30.

Good Friday 4/18 - 7:30pm We meditate on Jesus' Passion in a Service of the Blues.

Easter Sunday 4/20 - 9:30am We share a pot-luck breakfast, followed by a service of Holy Communion at 11:00.

God be with you throughout this and every week.

Lent - A season for turning

For everything there is a season • Turn, turn, turn
a time to plant, and a time to harvest • Turn, turn, turn
a time to break down, and a time to build up • Turn, turn, turn
a time to keep, and a time to put aside.

Lent is a season of turning –
Turning from what is hurtful & towards what is healing
Turning from what is shattered & towards what is whole
Re-turning to the Lord

We turn towards the Lord to know God's grace.

LENT SCHEDULE:
Sundays 11am • Holy Communion
Wednesdays 7pm • Bible study
Palm Sunday 4/13 10:30am • Procession, 11am worship at Grove Plaza
Maundy Thursday 4/17 6:30pm • Dinner followed by Holy Communion
Good Friday 4/18 7:30pm • Meditation at the Cross
Easter Sunday 4/20 9:30am • Community breakfast - 11:00am • Resurrection!

Wishing you a holy Lent and a holy life.
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Pastor Hans Arnesen
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319

Sat 12/7 Gingerbread & Sun 12/8 Holy bread

This Saturday 10am @ St. Matthew’s:
    + Advent decorating
    + Gingerbread houses for the kids

And Sunday at 11am in worship we will hear the word of the Lord:
"A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding…"
Isaiah 11:1-2

While the church decorations are green and festive, anticipating the joy of Christmas and the coming of light, the bare stump should give us pause. Isaiah is speaking to his people who have had their hopes cut-off at the base. Their country has been invaded, their leaders killed and exiled, their Temple in ruins.

After devastation, you wonder if anything will ever really live again, if anything can grow out of

God says yes.
In the coming of Christ, God says yes. In the bread and the wine of reconciliation, God says yes. In the community gathered together, God says yes.

God is faithful, and God's promise is sure.
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Pastor Hans Arnesen
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319