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Starts at 10:00 AM​

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Taylorsville Utah
​(801) 965-8484
5200 So. 2700 W. Taylorsville, Utah  84129

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"We are called to proclaim God's grace by sharing the story of Jesus to bring light, hope and healing to the world"

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Download Bulletin here:

bulletin.pdf
File Size: 505 kb
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After watching the Sermon would you please answer a one question survey?

St. Matthew's Core Values

WELCOME

Worship is the center of our common life. Worship moves us to service. That service is supported by fellowship and community. Worship + Service + Community. We invite you to take part in these with us.

We are a member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, committed to hospitality, justice, inclusivity, mercy and joy in the name of Christ.

We serve the West Side of the Salt Lake Valley. Our congregation came into being in 1989 when St. Paul and Atonement Lutheran churches merged.

Online Giving

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St. Matthew’s has chosen a new provider, named Tithe.ly, to manage it’s online giving. Make one-time donations or set-up a giving schedule that meets your needs. Tithe.ly will do the work for you, making your giving easy and convenient.
Donations

Newsletters:

December Newsletter:
december_2023_-_newsletter.pdf
File Size: 1815 kb
File Type: pdf
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Comprehensive Ministry Review:
Comprehensive Ministry Review
File Size: 507 kb
File Type: pdf
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Council & Ministry 2021 Reports

2021_st._matthews_annual_council_and_ministry_reports.pdf
File Size: 1294 kb
File Type: pdf
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Events:
*Dream Academy: 12/2 5 PM to 7 PM
*Christmas Program: 12/17 (During Service)
*Christmas Eve: 4th Sunday of Advent at 10:00am
*Christmas Eve Service will be held at 7:00 pm

​Mark Your Calendar – Upcoming Events
Dream Academy will occur on December 2nd from 5 PM to 7 PM. There will be dinner, cookie decorating, and caroling. Santa will also make an appearance. Anyone is welcome to come and join us! St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 4615 South 3200 West. This event celebrates the holidays with children of incarcerated parent(s) and their family.

Thank you, 
​Submitted by Mary Wimmer Outreach & Advocacy Ministry 
We are excited to share that this year’s Christmas Program is going to be a new one to us all. It is going to be December 17th, 2023. We hope that you all will be there for it as it is going to be so great, I mean so great. We will have lots for all to do, not just any one person, but a few, LOL. We hope that you are enjoying the book markers that we handed out. If you did not get one, please see one of us, Samantha Johnson, Eric Stoker, Pam Lawrence or Elizabeth Hawke. We have plenty to share. PS we have something super special coming your way.

​Blessings, Elizabeth Hawke Faith Formation Ministry

​Just a Friendly Reminder:

● 4th Sunday of Advent at 10:00 am.
​● Christmas Service will be held at 7:00 pm.

The Little Pantry

We are continuing a monthly food drive to help restock our shelves for the Little Pantry. On the first Sunday of every month please bring a nonperishable food item and/or personal hygiene item. Food Items that are needed are drinks, stews, pop-tarts, Spaghetti-O’s, cups of soup, cereal/oatmeal, canned ravioli, canned fruit, and canned meats. Personal items needed are shampoo, bar soap, toothpaste/toothbrushes, toilet paper, and paper towels. We have had generous monetary donations to carry us through the end of the year. Outreach and Advocacy Ministry would like to thank all who have donated money or goods through this last year. Our Little Pantry is used extensively so it is a wonderful resource for our community. 
Thank you again, Submitted by Jacki Peercy Outreach & Advocacy Ministry 
Our Warm Clothing Drive continues in December and will run through February. If you have extras in your closet, please start gathering gently used or new items such as gloves, hats, scarves, jackets, socks, and blankets. All donations will benefit the Crossroads Urban Center.  Thank you again, 

​Submitted by Cindy Becker Outreach & Advocacy Ministry
​Our senior breakfast club is growing if you would like to join us. We meet at Dee’s Family Restaurant 4710 South Redwood Road every other Tuesday at 9:00 am. Our next breakfast dates are December 5th & 19th.

​Submitted by Mike Stoker Breakfast Club
The Frank Cordova Foundation has donated 4 turkeys to our little pantry this year. At the FCF we envision helping as many families as possible across the 3 valleys here on the Wasatch front. In our 24th year we have united with For the Kids and together we served 2177 full Thanksgiving meals. Please find it in your heart to support us. Accepting donations year round to build this community driven organization – all volunteer.
www.fcfutah.org/donate

​Submitted by Mary Wimmer Outreach & Advocacy Ministry

​The Peoples’ Sermon:

When Pastor Christine announced her retirement, I am sure that we all shared the same emotions and questions, such as “Who is going to preach?” While we wait with anticipation for the new pastor, the good news is that six members of our congregation are being trained as Lay Preachers to share God’s message with you each Sunday.
Our Preaching Ministry considers this role an honor and privilege and a responsibility not to be taken lightly. We meet regularly and spend much time in study and prayer. Currently, we are in a six week training course with other Lay Preachers and clergy, taught by the Rev. Dr. Shauna K. Hannan, a professor of homiletics and Pacific Lutheran theological Seminary. In this course, we are leaning about preaching as a ministry of the whole congregation and ways we can be a more participatory congregation in proclaiming the gospel, with not just one voice, but all of our voices.
Scriptures assure us that lay preaching existed, beginning with Jesus. As said in Mark 16:15, “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation.’” Please offer your support and prayers for the Laity Preaching Ministry as we begin our new church year with new beginnings and anticipation.

Blessings, Submitted by Pam Lawrence Preaching Ministry

Adult Forum

Adult Forum is meeting again right after service. We are using the book “Jesus is Enough,” by Claudia May. Don’t feel like you have to have the book to join, we are very willing to share, and there is no reading before we meet. We read a section that morning and then enjoy discussing what we read. Come join the fellowship and wonderful discussion. I can tell you that all of us that participated before we broke for the summer have missed meeting and are ready to be back. We welcome anyone to stop by and see what we are about. We would love to see you each week, but feel free to pop in as you are able. Thank you,
​Submitted by Leandra Ludlam Adult Forum
The Prayer Shawl Ministry has resumed meeting at the church and meets on the 1st Monday of the month at 2 PM. Prayer shawls, hats, baby blankets, and scarves are projects we work on together. We have a great need for yarn donations;
please see Mary Wimmer or Henny Johnson for more information. 

​Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly:

The focus of the 2024 Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly will be the election of a new bishop. The Date is April 25 - 27, 2024 and will be held in Loveland, Colorado. If you are a member of St Matthew’s Lutheran Church and would like to attend and represent our congregation this spring, please talk to Pastor Brigette Weier or council president Mike Stoker.

​Submitted by Mike Stoker Council President

Sunday Service Streams Live

It’s snowing, I’m sick or I just can’t get moving on a Sunday morning. Don’t worry you can still watch service.

St Matthew’s streams service live every Sunday at 10:00 am so join us online. If you can’t join service on Sunday morning, service is still on our web page for five days www.stmatthewsut.org

So if you want to hear the sermon or gospel again provided to us by our preaching ministry team and the beautiful music that Sam plays, just go to St. Matthew’s web page and click on the link.

Submitted by Communication Ministry

Reconciling in Christ News

Made in God’s Image – God’s Boundless Diversity
Reconciling in Christ (RIC)
Made in God’s Image
After a two-year journey, lots of discussions, many prayers, one on ones and development of a welcoming statement, St. Matthews Lutheran Church, has become a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation.  Please rejoice with us as we celebrate.
“As a Reconciling in Christ congregation, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church is an inclusive and welcoming community. We affirm that all people are created in God’s image and, as beloved children, are worthy of God’s love and grace. We welcome those of any race, ethnicity, creed, class, age, gender, marital status, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. In creating a beloved community, we join together in a commitment to racial equity and to celebrate our uniqueness to live freely in God’s grace.”
 Come join us as we celebrate and rejoice in God's boundless diversity. 
St. Matthew’s Vision Statement
Our vision is a community deeply rooted in the love of God, energetically engaged in meaningful relationships with our neighbors near and far, committed to rich diversity, intentional inclusion, bold advocacy, and care for creation to connect people to God and transform lives.

On November 21st St. Matthew’s congregation voted unanimously to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation. “What does this mean for us?” is a question many of us might be thinking. Becoming a RIC congregation will provide opportunities as we lean into our new Visioning Statement and Welcoming Statement. Reconciling Works tells us, “Many LBGTQ1A+ people have learned by experience that they are not truly welcome in church, even in churches that state, “All are welcome here!” A general statement of welcome is often heard as meaning, “everybody but me,” so it can take a special effort to communicate and authentic welcome to LBGTQ1A+ people. The RIC program seeks to make known settings where people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions are truly welcomed.” 


There is so much to learn and to do that it might seem overwhelming, but have no fear, together we can take it one step at a time. Education is a good place to start. As Allies, we need to learn about pronouns and helpful ways to use them. Another good place to learn about the LBGTQ1A+ community is to become familiar with terminology that is welcoming and hospitable. Expressing and cultivating hospitable curiosity is something we can learn and do on this continuing journey of radical welcome. Here is a link for allies to become familiar with terminology.

https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/allys-guideto-terminology_1.pdf.
To learn more about pronouns and terminology check out
https://www.reconcilingworks.org/pronouns-matter-helpful-suggestions/. 
Why become a member of St. Matthew’s in Taylorsville?  Here are a few reasons our members have expressed why they are part of the Mission and Ministry here:
  • I get to be a part of something larger than myself.  Together we can do more than I as an individual can accomplish.  (I get the) guidance to accomplish more in my personal life.
  • I get the chance to be forgiven, and to leave the church feeling spiritually better about the week to come.
  • Sense of family and community, friendship, and love
Membership is making a commitment to Christ and becoming active in faith as part of our calling through baptism.  Membership also means discipleship. Life is always a journey of learning and growing in Christ!  Membership involves participating in the life of the congregation through active worship, contributing and receiving communion. 
For how you can be part of the exciting ministry at St. Matthew’s as a member, ask an usher for a “Request for Membership” form.
The Faith Formation ministry wants to hear your faith story! What is a faith story? A story of how you are living your faith, maybe it’s helping someone in need, showing random acts of kindness, speaking kind words to strangers, teaching or mentoring, simply showing the love of Jesus to others anywhere or anyplace.

What is YOUR story? As we approach the summer months and families are On the Go, we ask that you be on the lookout for ways you can make a difference in someone’s life, THEN come back and tell your story! You can do this by writing your story and sending to St. Matthews or email officeofstmatts@gmail.com or tell, give to one of the Ministry members listed below. Please address to: Faith Formation Ministry.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!!
Your Faith Formation Ministry Samantha Johnson, Eric Stoker, Pam Lawrence, Elizabeth Hawke, Megan Hartun.

Submitted by Pam Lawrence Faith Formation Ministry

First Communion - 
​Preparing the Communion Bread
Sept. 24, 2022

Sunday Worship 10:00 am
Christian Education 9:00 a.m.
(except for the summer break, when we simply worship)

2654 West Builders Drive (5200 S. and 2700 W.)
Taylorsville, UT 84129

Phone:  801-965-8484
officeofstmatts@gmail.com

Some of what goes on here....

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Food-bank is always open because of the Outside "Little Pantry".
We are accepting in-person donations on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm.
We also have a clothing drop box on site.
Small Change to Change the World + The World Hunger Appeal

Our Bishop is the Rev. James Gonia
The Rocky Mountain Synod of the ELCA
www.rmselca.org | 800-525-0462 | The theme for the synod this year is Deeply Rooted, Bearing Fruit.

We are part of the Utah Conference of ELCA congregations and we work closely with our Episcopal sisters and brothers.

Our national church is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, www.elca.org   We are proud to be part of a church that is ecumenical, open and welcoming.

Building on the Spirit's
​work among us
Naming what we get to do together as Christ’s Church here in the ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod is what our strategic planning process is all about. In 2016 your Synod Council approved our first three year plan, with four major areas of emphasis and numerous goals and objectives related to each. In the Strategic Plan 2.0 Summary, you’ll see a sampling of the ministry and witness we have accomplished together during this period of time. It’s exciting to see how the Spirit has been at work among us!

Building Usage Policy:

building_usage_policy.pdf
File Size: 187 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​Spread the Word

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Check into Facebook every time you are here at St. Matthew’s.  Tell folks what you are doing, post pictures and tag your friends.
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Do you have an Instagram account?  If so – take pictures to show your friends and family where you are and what you are doing at St. Matthew’s.

Opportunities To Serve

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Choir or Special Music – the choir sings several times a year and practices for 20-30 minutes following worship most Sundays. For more information contact Leandra Ludlam. Counters – contact Karla Stoker to be trained and added to the schedule.
Facilities & Grounds – upkeep of the facilities requires many hands & a variety of talents. Contact Frank Cordova.
Faith Formation – Sunday School Teachers needed for the upcoming year. We use the Spark Lectionary   Series. Contact Samantha Johnson for more information.
Fellowship – get together with a few others and sign-up to provide Coffee & treats on Sunday morning prior to & after  worship. contact Mary Kay Arnold to sign up.
Prayer Shawl Ministry – do you knit or crochet. Contact Henny Johnson for more information.
Outreach Ministry – needs help with the Food Pantry, meals for Family Promise, special collections for   organizations that St. Matthew’s supports. Contact Jackie Peercy.
Worship Ministry – Worship Assistants, Lectors, Ushers, Greeters, Cantors, Acolytes – contact Mary Kay  Arnold to be trained and then added to the schedule. 

History of St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Taylorsville, Utah

St. Matthew’s congregation had it’s beginning in the 1950’s and 1960’s with membership in the early Utah mission churches of St. Paul’s in Kearns (LCA) and Atonement in Granger (ALC). In 1987 the two churches sold their buildings and joined together in the newly formed Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). January 1, 1988 was the beginning of this new church named St. Matthews Lutheran Church. The first service in the new building was held March 8, 1993, in the soon to be incorporated Utah city of Taylorsville. In October 1999 the addition of an education wing was added to the church. St. Matthews Lutheran Church is the only ELCA congregation on the west side of the Salt Lake City valley. For the past 35 years the church has been a “beacon of light” in the community and hope to continue to share God’s love while serving our congregation and community in many more years.
Respectfully submitted, Mary Kay Arnold 
St. Matthew's is now operating on solar power.
Click on the picture above to see the System Details.