Newsletter 

Here is Pastor Jon's April letter  - - - - - - 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name

of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey

everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always,

to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20

Spring is upon us.  Farmers are out in the fields, readying them for crops.  Mowers are being serviced in preparation for grass cutting.  Even birds and squirrels are actively searching for food, nesting materials, and mates.  It is a time for new things to emerge.

Around St. Matthew, there is newness present as well.  The summer is bringing the newness of no Wednesday night education classes.  Instead, there is an amplitude of offerings from our local Outdoor Ministry sites – mainly Water’s Edge Ministries (previously known as Green Lake).  There are camps available for all ages, 1st-12th grade, and lots of scholarships available to help with costs.  Check out their website or pick up a pamphlet from the table in the fellowship hall.

Alongside the camps, VBS is coming at the end of summer.  For the week of August 3-6th, we will be hosting a Vacation Bible School (VBS) program from 9-3pm each day.  Youth will learn about God, play games, have a meal together, and have many exciting experiences during this time.  It is open for all youth, even those who are not members or are only in the area for that week.  Be sure to sign up your youth, and any friends, so that we can have an accurate number.

But one of the most obvious “new things” around the church is that of the sign.  For those that have not noticed yet, the old sign has been replaced by a new, digital sign.  For those who remember, the original sign was donated in memory of R. Lamprecht many years ago, and now has been updated to a digital sign in memory of G. Lamprecht.  Though the project is not yet complete, it will be soon.

This sign is one major way in which helps us to accomplish the God directive of being Evangelical.  Through the sign, we are able to share the Good News with the world.  Of course, sharing the Good News is referred to as evangelism, and is a central tenet of the Christian faith.  It involves proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection, and the salvation available through Him. It is rooted in the Great Commission (Matthew 28), where Jesus instructed His followers to spread His teachings to all nations.

The core message of the Good News is of course prominently displayed in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This verse highlights God's love and the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.  This is the news we are to proclaim to the world through our own hopes, through our own dreams, and through our own lives.  But how do we do it?  The sign is a great start, but…….

We can tell of God’s saving grace in our lives through our personal testimonies to the world.  Paul says, in Acts 22, “You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.”  Yet, I have found, many do not like to be vulnerable in front of others.  They are kept from speaking their truth in fear of embarrassment, ridicule, or other emotions.  Their fear of what others will think, say, or do keeps them from fulfilling God’s directive.  But this is the best way to proclaim the Good News to others.  Your personal stories combined with an invitation to come worship is one of the time-tested, age-proven ways to help others to see the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Personal testimony as well as preaching and teaching help get the news out.  In Acts 8:4, it is noted that, “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went”, demonstrating the early Christians' commitment to spreading the message despite their own persecution.  And if someone could go and preach while being hunted for their beliefs, then we should be able to overcome our fears of ridicule to do the same.

But if even that is tough to do, then we can share the Good News through our own personal love and service to our neighbors.  Jesus told us to, “Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  It is something that is proclaimed in baptism when the newly baptized receives the light of God (in the form of a baptismal candle).  A fellow Christian (not usually the Pastor) gives the light to the family, and says the same words that Jesus did so many years ago.  Thus, living out the command of the Gospel message, drawing others toward Christ, and God’s saving love.

Sharing the Good News is a divine mandate and a privilege for Christians. It involves proclaiming the message of salvation through Jesus Christ and living out the gospel in everyday life. We are encouraged by the promise of the Holy Spirit's guidance and the transformative power of the gospel in our lives to be the light of God in a dark, dreary world. 

Just like the new digital sign will be a beacon of light in the world, helping us to proclaim that “(St. Matthew Lutheran) is a fellowship of believers, made in God's image and called as disciples of Christ to share the Good News with everyone through learning, listening, praying and working together actively to reach out to our community." (St. Matthew Mission Statement)                            -  Pastor Jon Wendt