Newsletter 

This Week:

Sunday, June 14: Worship service 9:00A with coffee & rolls following.

Tuesday, June 16: Roll-In Fund Raiser 5 – 8

Sunday, June 21: Worship service 9:00A with coffee & rolls following. Happy Father's Day!

Monday, June 22: Council meeting 8:00P

Tuesday, June 23: Roll-In Fund Raiser 5 – 8

Sunday, June 28: Worship service 9:00A with coffee & rolls following.

Tuesday, June 30: Roll-In Fund Raiser 5 - 8

Congratulations to Colby Arends, son of Ken and Carmen Arends, on his promotion to Colonel in the United States Air Force. At his promotion ceremony held May 29th in the Joint Staff Flag Room at the Pentagon, Lieutenant General Todd Isaacson described Colby as a “Quiet Professional”—someone who sees what needs to be done and accomplishes it without seeking recognition. He also awarded Colby a Defense Meritorious Service Medal. General Isaacson spoke of his deep respect for Colby and his work ethic. After 33 years of military service, Colby will begin a new assignment at Fort Meade, Maryland, in July. Fewer than 1% of Americans serve in the military, and less than 1% of those service members achieve the rank of Colonel.

Visits from Pr. Jon: Would you like a visit from Pr. Jon, please call the church office (507-342-5327) or Pr. Jon’s cell (563-564-7249) and let us know.

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Put on your calendar the following activities:

Tuesdays, June 2-July 28 – Roll-in’s at Roadhouse, Wabasso.  We serve ice cream treats at the weekly event, beginning at 5:30 and ending around 8:30.  Proceeds benefit the youth ministry.  We like to have 3-5 people serving (youth included).

Weekly, June 7th – July 30th – Summer Camp at Water’s Edge Ministries (Formerly Green Lake Ministries).  They offer various camps for all ages K+.  Friends encouraged to come.

July 26-31 – Summer Mission Trip, Duluth, MN.  For all grades 6-12th.  Cost is only $575 (with more fundraisers all summer long).  We will be serving the community of Duluth in many ways as we dive into Christ’s call to serve others.

August 2-6 – VBS week, 9-3 every day.  We will again be served by the staff at Water’s Edge Ministries (formerly Green Lake Ministries).  All youth and friends ages K-6th invited to attend.  Cost is free.

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

And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples

and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the world of God in

order to wait on tables.” (Acts 6:2)

This month, the Southwest Minnesota Synod (SWMN) of the ELCA is conducting its annual meeting. But what is a Synod? Good Question……..

A synod is a gathering of members that helps the Church to walk forward together in the same direction. The word “synod” comes from the Greek syn-hodos, meaning “the same way” or “the same path.” Synods were common in the first centuries of Christianity, giving bishops the opportunities to meet and discuss issues of importance for the life of the Church. It is a common thing in almost all denominations.

In most Synods across the denominations, meetings have been organized on regular schedules, bringing together bishops, experts, and various delegates to discuss topics like the Eucharist, the Word of God, the World relations, the new evangelization, the family, young people, and many other topics.  

Our Synod does many things that people don’t realize. The Synod is for the entire people of God, all the baptized! Everyone is invited to be a part of the Synod with nobody left behind. The aim is to give the entire Church a lived experience as one, gathering the fruits of what the Holy Spirit is saying and doing among us all, here and now. And to put the actions into practice in churches across the entire nation. This calls us all, at every level of the Church, to renew our way of being and working together across the world, moving us forward as children of God.

So we ask, what does the SWMN Synod do in the world? Well, the Synod provides vital support and resources for its 223 current congregations and their congregational ministry efforts. It assists congregations in the call process, and provides resources to strengthen the church’s ministries. They promote youth and family ministries, helping in the development of faith and practices in youth, through groups like the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO), which I am currently serving on the board of.

But the Synod also provides access to worship supplies, materials for justice initiatives, and provides guidance in all aspects of worship. They also emphasizes the importance of restoring and reconciling communities in the name of Jesus Christ, something that Luther saw as one of the main aspects of being a disciple of Christ.

Historically and in the present, synods reaffirm Scripture’s final authority-meeting to preserve and proclaim truths rooted in the reliability of God’s revelation. The collective process of discerning God’s will ensures that a synod remains focused on glorifying the Creator, edifying the church, and advancing the gospel.

- Pastor Jon Wendt                      

You can find information as well as service livestreams for St. Matthew on our Facebook page: St. Matthew Lutheran Church Wabasso.

We also have a new website: www.stmatthewwabasso.com.  Here you will find all the information about church and schedules.

You can also e-mail the church office at stmatthewwabasso@gmail.com If you could please send an email to the church office with your name and phone number, that will help us update our church directory (name, phone, email).