From the Pastor’s Desk…
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
Psalm 98:4-6
Worship
“As followers of Jesus we gather in thanksgiving and in times of sorrow to praise God through worship, song, prayer and sacrament.”
The third core value that St. Matthew’s congregation identified was that of Worship. Psalm 98 points to several things, the joyful noise that we make with all of creation is directed to the LORD. Our voice of praise comes from the blowing winds, churning seas, roaring lions, trembling leaves, stumbling rocks, silent slumber, and yes, our voices and music on Sunday mornings. We join with creation in making a joyful noise, all the time, Sundays are not exclusive to this delightful praise. But this sense of worship when we purposely gather is part of the bigger picture in our relationship with God, our relationship with each other and our relationship with our neighbor.
We are first and foremost, followers of Jesus, the one who gathered the first disciples together and taught them to pray, to feed the marginalized, to welcome the stranger, to heal the sick, exorcise demons, and to raise the dead. That is some of what we do when we gather as the worshipping community. We also gather on joyous occasions to celebrate Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Reformation Sunday, weddings and baptisms. We also gather on those somber occasions to remember the Passion of Our Lord, Good Friday and to bury our dead. Sometimes when we gather it is to hold a vigil of prayer for some disaster such as 9/11, a missing person, or other community need.
Each time we gather, we are drawn closer to Jesus as both individuals and as a congregation. We have had a difficult past two years, but we still found ways to gather and are slowing returning to safely gather in person again. Soon our prayers of lament will be replaced with songs of praise as we introduce corporate singing once again. We do this not for ourselves but to bring praise to our LORD who has been with us throughout the pandemic and has led us into new life!
When we have new life, the gathered are then dispersed to do the LORD’s work in daily living. We share the good news that has shaped us in our life of worship and invite others to “Come and See.”
Peace,
Pastor Christine
Psalm 98:4-6
Worship
“As followers of Jesus we gather in thanksgiving and in times of sorrow to praise God through worship, song, prayer and sacrament.”
The third core value that St. Matthew’s congregation identified was that of Worship. Psalm 98 points to several things, the joyful noise that we make with all of creation is directed to the LORD. Our voice of praise comes from the blowing winds, churning seas, roaring lions, trembling leaves, stumbling rocks, silent slumber, and yes, our voices and music on Sunday mornings. We join with creation in making a joyful noise, all the time, Sundays are not exclusive to this delightful praise. But this sense of worship when we purposely gather is part of the bigger picture in our relationship with God, our relationship with each other and our relationship with our neighbor.
We are first and foremost, followers of Jesus, the one who gathered the first disciples together and taught them to pray, to feed the marginalized, to welcome the stranger, to heal the sick, exorcise demons, and to raise the dead. That is some of what we do when we gather as the worshipping community. We also gather on joyous occasions to celebrate Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Reformation Sunday, weddings and baptisms. We also gather on those somber occasions to remember the Passion of Our Lord, Good Friday and to bury our dead. Sometimes when we gather it is to hold a vigil of prayer for some disaster such as 9/11, a missing person, or other community need.
Each time we gather, we are drawn closer to Jesus as both individuals and as a congregation. We have had a difficult past two years, but we still found ways to gather and are slowing returning to safely gather in person again. Soon our prayers of lament will be replaced with songs of praise as we introduce corporate singing once again. We do this not for ourselves but to bring praise to our LORD who has been with us throughout the pandemic and has led us into new life!
When we have new life, the gathered are then dispersed to do the LORD’s work in daily living. We share the good news that has shaped us in our life of worship and invite others to “Come and See.”
Peace,
Pastor Christine
