PRESENT REALITY AND FUTURE HOPE
The following is the result of prayer, conversation, and discernment. It is what I trust God is doing presently at St. Matthew and also what the congregation may grow into as God’s people.
St. Matthew Church is a place of welcome and acceptance. All people find here a sense of community, belonging, and relationship. People want to be in the presence of this community because God’s love is spoken here and God’s saving, loving, forgiving, strengthening presence is known here. We accept our differences and find strength and joy in diversity.
God is holy and perfect. We are sinful and imperfect. We understand this vital difference between us and God. We recognize our dependence upon God for all that is good and right and holy. We know that God’s love, acceptance, forgiveness of us in Jesus Christ, is a gift of God’s grace—a gift we cannot earn, but are called in faith to accept and receive.
Visitors are guests and members are disciples. That creates unique opportunities and expectations for hospitality, ministry, education, and edification. That we love and follow Jesus as Lord is evident in everything we say and do as the people of God in this place.
We desire to share of our time, talent, and treasure because we understand that these are gifts from God for us to give away. We welcome challenges for we know that we are much stronger together, much better together, than we might ever be as individuals.
As God’s richly blessed people, gathered in this congregation, to be a place of hope and promise, we know that growth in faith and discipleship, knowledge, fear and love of the Lord continues for us until the day of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Kevin T. Shively
Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 4.14.2010 03:56 PM
Past Weekly Reflections
GETTING AWAY FROM GOD? - Pastor Kevin Shively - 9.1.2010 09:55 AM
496…496…496……. - Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 6.22.2010 10:37 AM
DO WE LIVE THE STORY? - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 5.15.2010 04:06 PM
PRESENT REALITY AND FUTURE HOPE - Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 4.14.2010 03:56 PM
A WAKE UP CALL - Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 2.22.2010 09:22 AM
WHAT CAN I GIVE __________? - Pastor Kevin Shively - 12.15.2009 07:07 PM
LIVING LOVE… - Pastor Shively - 10.9.2009 02:49 PM
“FEED MY SHEEP” - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 8.27.2009 07:18 PM
JESUS, JUSTICE, JAZZ! - Pastor Kevin Shively - 7.27.2009 01:53 PM
A-B-C - Pr. Shively - 6.18.2009 06:54 PM
WHEN? - Pastor Kevin Shively - 4.30.2009 01:06 PM
FOOLS FOR GOD - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 4.3.2009 08:30 AM
Why Put Off Until Tomorrow… - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 3.25.2009 08:17 AM
WHEN YOU… - Rastor Shively - 2.28.2009 08:24 PM
WSIDAAFOJ? - Pastor Shively - 1.26.2009 03:48 PM