Trinity Sunday - June 15 10am

O LORD our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!—
you whose glory is chanted above the heavens
out of the mouths of infants and children;
    you have set up a fortress against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
what are mere mortals that you should be mindful of them,
    human beings that you should care for them?
Psalm 8:1-4

The psalm sings of the glory of creation and of humans' place in it, "a little less than the angels." It echoes the stately order of the creation story found in the first chapter of Genesis. It has an air of wonder at this amazing world of God's creation.

This Sunday, Trinity Sunday, the church pays attention to that theological image of God who is One, yet known in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. We may not understand this Tri-Unity, but we can glory in the way three can be perfectly in-sync.

At St. Matthew's we celebrate the mystery of God by gathering together for prayer and praise in a service of the Word with Paul Bellan-Boyer leading worship and preaching. The sermon title, "How Good," is taken from the Hebrew words ki tov which recur throughout that great story of creation which opens the Bible: "In the beginning..."

Together in God's grace.
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Pastor Hans Arnesen
85 Wayne Street (btwn Barrow & Jersey Aves)
Downtown Jersey City
201.432.9319

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