THE MESSENGER
Published monthly by St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
5709 Wedgwood Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76133
Sunday Holy Communion 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Sunday School for all ages: 9:45 a.m.
In ministry in southwest Fort Worth since 1953
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church,
organized in 1953 and a Reconciling in Christ congregation of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America, is located at the corner
of Granbury Road & Welch in
southwest Fort Worth. The church
office is open Mon.-Fri. from 9:00
am to 4:30 pm.
Phone: 817-292-1338
Fax: 817-292-3329
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.stmatthews-elca.org
St. Matthew’s Greenbrier
School 817-292-5592
Church Staff
Michael Masterson, Pastor
Jolene Webster, AIM, Director of
Music Ministries
John Parsons, Director of Youth
and Family Ministries
Hans Grim, Organist / Pianist
Mary Nedde, Administrative
Assistant
Kelly Riddle, Office Assistant
Kay Green, Sunday Nursery Staff
Council and Commissions
President: Claire Kirchhoff
Vice-President: Kelly Riddle
Secretary: Olivia Riddle
Treasurer: John Creecy
Financial Secretary: Eric Moeller
Christian Ed.: Faye Youngblood
Fellowship: (Open)
Outreach: Bill Anderson
Property: David Brown
Stewardship: (open)
Worship: Tim Knutson
Youth: Beth Hummel
Mission Statement
Living in Christ through faith.
Living for neighbor
through love.
October 2014
DATES TO KNOW FOR OCTOBER
Wednesdays, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29:
Fellowship Dinner, Choirs and Confirmation;
(see information below re. Oct. 29)
Thursdays, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30:
Women’s Study Group 10:00 am; women’s
lunch out on Oct. 2
Saturdays, Oct. 4 and 18:
Men’s Breakfast at Dixie House Café, 8:30 am
Sunday, Oct. 5:
Youth lunch at noon, then go to Main Event
Saturday, Oct. 11:
St. Matthew’s participates in a Habitat for
Humanity house-painting event; Neighborhood
Needs Food Distribution at Altamesa Church of
Christ 8:30 am
Sunday, Oct. 12:
Petting Zoo Sunday School 9:30 am
Saturday, Oct. 18:
Congregation Game Night, 6:00 pm
Sunday, Oct. 19:
Council Meeting, 1:15 pm
Sunday, Oct. 26, Reformation Sunday:
European Choir Homecoming Concert 6:00 pm
Wednesday, Oct. 29:
Children’s Choirs Fallelujah Costume Party, 5:00 pm
Chili Cook-Off for everyone! 5:30 pm
Youth Lego Contest during the dinner hour
OCTOBER 2014
THE MESSEN GER
PAGE 2
EUROPEAN CHOIR HOMECOMING
CONCERT
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014 - 6:00 PM
Come hear the inspiring choral selections the choir
performed on their concert tour to central Europe
FROM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
“Are you a ‘Mary’ or a ‘Martha’?” My answer to that question is usually: “Samuel.”
My first thought when the Nominating Committee asked me to consider serving as president
was: “I’m not qualified.” A list of things I didn’t know (and am still learning) how to do immediately occurred to me: the parliamentary traditions at St Matthew’s, how to work with Mutual Ministry, how to make a church budget, how we relate with Greenbrier School, how we
manage even the most basic of our functions from approving new members to repairing the
front door…. I’m continuing to learn a lot about all of those particular topics, but I think what
I am actually going to remember is that I can rely on the people of St Matthew’s. We all can.
Our financial team is great (John Creecy and Eric Moeller): they are organized, realistic, and hopeful. We have a Stewardship Director (Liz McCarthy) with loads of professional
experience in that realm. We have a huge, active Outreach Commission that Bill Anderson
directs. We all benefit from the work of the Worship Commission each Sunday morning under Tim Knutson’s leadership. Our Youth and Education Commissions (Faye Youngblood
and Beth Hummel are the directors) are working more closely than ever to ensure our church’s
future. These are just a few highlights I am holding up – of course our Ministry team (Rev.
Masterson, AiM Webster, and John Parsons) is amazing, and all of St Matthew’s members
contribute to the life of our community in countless ways – some big, and some small… but
they all add up and make a difference.
At our last meeting, your Council made a commitment to keep St Matthew’s members
even better informed about what’s going on in our church, and all the amazing things God is
doing here. We think this is important because each one of us does, in fact, make a difference
to our community, and we are all called to do so (even if we are initially a little reluctant, like
Samuel). Part of this renewed commitment goes hand-in-hand with the mission of our Stewardship Commission, and this means you can look forward to more frequent and more detailed
information about St Matthew’s finances and budget, as well as records of your own giving. I
admit that I am intimidated by budget sheets and numbers (please tell me I’m not alone in
this!), and making this topic more approachable – being intentional about continuing to talk about stewardship, making it OK to talk about numbers – is one
way for us to be in better communication with one another, and for us to be
even more aware of all the wonders God is working through St Matthew’s.
Claire Kirchhoff, President
OCTOBER 2014
THE MESSEN GER
PAGE 3
Music Notes
AiM Jolene Webster
Director of Music Ministries
Humans are musical beings. Survey results from a large sample of college-aged
young adults revealed that they rated music higher than education, or housing, or even
food on their list of priorities.
When I meet with a bride for wedding-planning, the first order of business on her
mind is music selection and ways it can help paint the picture she envisions for her special day. In planning for memorial services after the passing of a loved one, many times
family members know exactly which hymns they want to include, even though they don’t
always have an opinion about which scriptures are read.
It has been said that after silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. Music speaks in ways that reach to our very core. We were created
to be creative beings that appreciate and benefit from nature, and music, and all art
forms. This is why we sing. This is why we play.
It was Martin Luther who taught that we learn our theology from our hymns.
This is the reason that music is central in our worship. Join in the singing. Open your
hymnal and your soul to music, the vehicle carrying our worship to God.
We invite you to attend the homecoming concert for our St. Matthew’s European
Touring Choir, Sunday evening, October 26 at 6:00 P.M. Bring friends and family to
share in this meaningful musical expression and thanksgiving for the incredible tour
that holds so much meaning for those who traveled throughout Central Europe this past
summer presenting the Word in song.
If music be the food of love, sing on! - William Shakespeare
OCTOBER 29: Full night of fun!
Children’s Choirs Fallelujah
Costume Party - 5:00 pm Come in costume!
Chili Cook-Off - Enjoy good food and fellowship with St. Matthew’s family - 5:30 to 6:45 pm
ALL chili entries are welcome!!! Watch for a poster in the narthex
for you to sign up to bring a side dish.
There will also be a Lego-building contest for our
youth during the dinner hour.
THE MESSEN GER
OCTOBER 2014
PAGE 4
PETTING ZOO COMING TO ST. MATTHEW’S
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12 - 9:30 am to 11:00 am
Come and get up close to members of God’s creation,
most of the 4-legged variety.
October
Anniversaries
October
Birthdays
Jolene Webster
Michelle Roupe
Bruce Anderson
Kathryn Sia
Jan Bothun
Catie Holub
Anita Bodak
Gary Christensen
Dave Berry
Chuck Brunnert
Mary Watson
Rande Wagner
Richard Bodak
Myrna Hund
Taylor Washuta
Danny Stroud
Stephanie Moeller
Oct. 7
Oct. 9
Oct. 10
Oct. 10
Oct. 13
Oct. 13
Oct. 17
Oct. 18
Oct. 19
Oct. 22
Oct. 23
Oct. 26
Oct. 27
Oct. 27
Oct. 27
Oct. 28
Oct. 29
Volunteers Needed: Briarwood
Our Mission Area camp is in need of
painting assistance beginning Mon.
October 20 through Fri. October 31.
If you have a couple of hours to help
with moving paint hoses and other
items as needed, email Jean Oswald
at the camp:
jean@briarwoodretreat
CONGRATULATIONS
and BLESSINGS!
Bob & Liz McCarthy
Gary & Jody Schilling
John & Lisa Reed
Oct. 5
Oct. 16
Oct. 20
Reformation—Then and Now
In three years, Lutheran churches throughout
the world will mark the five hundredth anniversary of the Reformation. The anniversary
remembers the year 1517, when Martin Luther
posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the
Castle Church in Wittenberg. That action
sparked a series of reforms in theological understanding of grace, liturgical practice, accessibility of scripture in the common language,
and much more. But the sixteenth-century Reformation was not a one-time event. Reformation is ongoing. The church of Christ always
stands in need of reform. As in Luther's age, so
in ours: God's word is alive, speaks truth, and
surprises with grace. Ancient texts speak to
contemporary contexts to enliven our faith.
Jeremiah's vision of God's new covenant is seen
this day at the table when the cup is raised.
Paul's declaration of justification by
faith is shared this day at the font.
Christ's truth sets us free for mission and ministry in Jesus' name.
OCTBER 2014
THE MESSENGER
PAGE 5
Why Grace Scares Us
Sin is an ever-constant part of our world. From littering to cheating on taxes, we all do it; we
all sin and fall short of the grace of God. The funny thing is we all do it again. It’s like a particularly
bad version of the song that never ends.
We let our sins control and abuse us and we use other people’s sin to berate and belittle them,
somehow making ourselves feel a little better. We live a life in bondage too sin; and we cannot free
ourselves. But God can. He says to us – YOU with all your flaws and all your failures ARE still and
always will be, forever and ever and ever, MY CHILD.
Now, one would think that after encountering a God like that, one so forgiving, loving, caring
and passionate about us, that we would turn from our sin and live the life that He intended for us. Instead, we become gate keepers.
Mike Yaconelli writes in his book Messy Spirituality “Nothing in the church makes people in
the church more angry than grace. It's ironic: we stumble into a party we weren't invited to and find
the uninvited standing at the door making sure no other uninviteds get in. Then a strange phenomenon occurs: as soon as we are included in the party because of Jesus' irresponsible love, we decide to
make grace "more responsible" by becoming self-appointed Kingdom Monitors, guarding the kingdom of God, keeping the riffraff out (which, as I understand it, are who the kingdom of God is supposed to include).”
I think it is indeed ironic! Jesus love is so lavish and so counter cultural that when we encounter it, we get upset. It’s easier for us when God’s grace is something we have to earn. There is something very comforting about grace being hard to attain. Grace is so far outside the normal way we operate that it literally scares us. We have no frame of reference. It’s easier to understand and fit into our
American values if we can say… I EARNED IT… THEY EARNED IT… WE HAVE TO EARN IT!
See, the truth is, if we are forgiven, we feel just a little bit guilty because honestly we know
that we are going to sin again.
But maybe the point isn’t our sin or our guilt or even the fact that we are destined to sin again.
Maybe the point is the act of God’s grace and how we are supposed to respond to it. We respond not
by turning around and becoming the self-appointed monitors of the kingdom, but by becoming the
welcoming committee.
Even if God’s grace does scare us, maybe there is freedom in learning to forgive, maybe there
is healing in the act of irresponsibly giving grace to others. Maybe all that kingdom-monitoring has
made us tired and weary, maybe it’s time to forgive ourselves and others and finally find the freedom
and peace that God desires to give us.
John Parsons
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
Sunday, Nov. 2 - Briarwood Fall Festival: Everyone is invited for a
fun-filled family day at Briarwood from 2:00 - 6:00 pm! There will be
a games, treats, face painting, raffles, tours of the Streng and
Trester Centers, and Briarwood’s Annual Meeting. A delicious
cookout with hot dogs and hamburgers is scheduled from 4:00
p.m.–6:00 p.m., plus cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, and sodas will be available throughout the afternoon. Please go to
briarwoodretreat.org for more information. We will carpool from
St. Matthew’s at 12:30 pm. All are invited - you will be able to see the new NT-NL headquarters
building and the Mission Development Center that are under construction.
OCTBER 2014
PAGE 6
THE MESSENGER
We Remember in Prayer:
Our Homebound
Richard Bodak
Craig Bridges
T.J. and Dorothy Bridges
Eva Clifton
Joan Gordon
Fay Hennig
Helen Jackson
Marjorie Jellison
Charles and Winifred Mann
Those ill, recovering or otherwise
in need of prayer
Newton Ceat
Brother of a friend of Janice Kammer
Sharon Marr
Friend of Win & Sandy Heinrich
Kayley Poteet
Granddaughter of a friend of Debbie Morse
Marianne Rugeley
Those who mourn
Dave Berry in the death of his sister
Yvonne Elliott on Sept. 13 in Oklahoma
Jackie Brinkman, David & Lois Foy
in the death of husband and father
George Brinkman on Sept. 15
Claire Kirchhoff, whose grandfather,
Robert Kirchhoff passed away on Sept. 20
in Wisconsin
Janice Breitenstine and her sister Linda
Murphy; Linda’s husband passed away
suddenly on Sept. 22 in Ohio
OCTOBER 2014 NT-NL Synod Prayer List:
We pray for these NT-NL Mission Area congregations and entities:
Oct. 5
Oct. 12
Oct. 19
Oct. 26
St. Martin, Littlefield / San Gabriel, Alvarado / South Central Mission Conf.
Rejoice, Coppell / First, Temple / Texas Lutheran University
Resurrection, Plano / Resurrection, Haslet / College and Seminary Students
Trinity, Miles / Indonesian Gethsemane, Allen / DiscipleLife Leadership
We especially pray this month for the sustaining work of the NT-NL Mission
Endowment Fund - assisting new mission starts, helping congregations with
inadequate financial resources, and providing grants for innovative projects.
CONGREGATION
GAME NIGHT
SATURDAY
OCTOBER 18, 6:00 PM
BRING A FAVORITE GAME
TO SHARE
SNACKS WILL BE PROVIDED
We still need painters on Saturday,
Oct. 11 for the Cowtown Brush-Up
(10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.). We are particularly in need of people with ladders to
help us reach the high points. If you are
available to help that Saturday
morning, please sign up in the
narthex, or let Bill Anderson
know (817-292-7691).
OCTOBER 2014
THE MESSEN GER
OCTOBER
BIBLE READINGS
October 5
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:7-15
Philippians 3:4b-14
Matthew 21:33-46
St. Matthew’s, NT-NL Mission
Area, and ELCA Websites:
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church:
www.stmatthews-elca.org
Northern Texas-Northern
Louisiana Mission Area:
www.ntnl.org
October 12
Isaiah 25:1-9
Psalm 23
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14
October 19
Isaiah 45:1-7
Psalm 96:1-13
I Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22
October 26
PAGE 7
Briarwood Retreat Center
www.briarwoodretreat.org
Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA)
www.elca.org
The Lutheran
(Monthly magazine of the ELCA)
www.thelutheran.org
Reformation Sunday
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 46
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36
Women of the ELCA
www.womenoftheelca.org
Northern Texas — Northern Louisiana Campus Ministry Trivia Challenge
Do you like to laugh? Want a great meal? Enjoy testing your knowledge? Care
about young adults? These all come together in this year’s LCM Trivia Challenge,
November 9; 4:00 pm at Christ Lutheran Church in Dallas. All funds generated go
to the NT-NL Campus Ministry Mission Fund, benefitting Lutheran Campus Ministry in the NT-NL Mission Area. Form a team of 8, design table décor that reflects
your congregation or some aspect of campus ministry. Then register for lots of fun
- a table of 8 is $120. Checks should be made payable to NT-NL CMMF (Campus
Ministry Mission Fund) and sent by Sunday, November 2 to:
LCM Trivia Challenge
Christ The Servant Lutheran Church
2121 E. University Drive
Denton, Texas 76209
This year’s meal is being catered by Chef Norman Isa of Briarwood Retreat Center.
Contact Pastor Celene Welch by phone: 817-269-1229; or visit www.lcmdenton.org.
OCTOBER 2014
THE MESSEN GER
PAGE 8
WELCOME BACK PASTOR MIKE & CHRIS
The congregation formally welcomed Pastor
Mike and Chris back from their summer
sabbatical on Sept. 14.
Pastor Mike presented to the congregation
a triptych of a Celtic cross, a photo of the
remains of the priory at Lindisfarne, UK
and a saying:
Christ be with me, Christ be before me,
Christ be behind me, Christ be within me
DAY OF SERVICE - SEPT. 7
Thank you to everyone who participated in the ELCA Day of Service on
September 7. Nearly 40 men, women and children from St. Matthew’s helped with
cleaning up the railroad right of way across Granbury Rd., sorting clothing and
food at Neighborhood Needs, assisting teachers at Woodway Elementary School,
meeting staff at our local fire station, and cleaning at the HOPE Center for Autism. The recipients of our work were very appreciative of the time taken to care
about them!
OCTOBER 2014 at St. Matthew’s
Living in Christ through faith. Living for neighbor through love.
Sun
Mon
Sept. 29
* Wednesday Activities
High Five Choir
5:00 pm
Girls’ Choir
5:25 pm
Boys’ Choir
5:50 pm
Fellowship Dinner
5:30 pm
Madrigals & Confirm. 6:15 pm
Chancel Choir
7:00 pm
5
Eucharist
Eucharist
Eucharist
Eucharist
8:30 and 11:00 am
Sunday School
9:45 am
Handbells
12:15 pm
Europe Choir Homecoming
Concert
6:00 pm
Fri
Sat
6
7
8 *
9
10
Musikgarten 8 am-5 pm Musikgarten 8 am-1 pm Women’s Study Group
10:00 am
Chapel for Greenbrier
School 10:00 am Outreach Commission
6:00 pm
GED Class
6:00 pm
6:00 pm GED Class
11
Food Distribution at
Neigh. Needs 8:30 am
Habitat for Humanity
Build Day
13
14
15 *
16
17
Musikgarten 8 am-5 pm Musikgarten 8 am-1 pm Women’s Study Group
10:00 am
Chapel for Greenbrier
School 10:00 am
GED Class
6:00 pm
GED Class
6:00 pm
18
Men’s Breakfast at
Dixie House 8:00 am
All-Church Game Night
6:00 pm
20
21
22 *
23
24
Musikgarten 8 am-5 pm Musikgarten 8 am-1 pm Women’s Study Group
10:00 am
Chapel for Greenbrier
School 10:00 am
GED Class
6:00 pm
GED Class
6:00 pm
Candleridge Garden
Club
7:00 pm
25
27
28
Musikgarten 8 am-5 pm
Chapel for Greenbrier
School 10:00 am
GED Class
6:00 pm
8:30 and 11:00 am
Sunday School
9:45 am
Handbells
12:15 pm
Council Meeting
1:15 pm
26
Thu
4
Men’s Breakfast at
Dixie House 8:00 am
8:30 and 11:00 am
Petting Zoo Sun. Sch. 9:45 am
Handbells
12:15 pm
Youth & Edu. Mtg. 12:15 pm
19
Wed
Sept. 30
1 *
2
3
Musikgarten 8 am-5 pm Musikgarten 8 am-1 pm Women’s Study Group
10:00 am
GED Class
6:00 pm Outreach Commission
Women’s
First
Thursday
6:00 pm
Lunch
11:30 am
GED Class
6:00 pm
8:30 and 11:00 am
Sunday School
9:45 am
Handbells
12:15 pm
Youth Lunch and
Main Event
12:00 pm
12
Tue
29 Musikgrtn 8 am-1pm 30
31
* Dinner = Chili Cook- Women’s Study Group
Off-All Invited! 5:30 pm
10:00 am
Lego Contest during the
dinner hour
GED Class
6:00 pm
Children’s Falleluia
Costume Party 5:00 pm
Bishop’s Convocation - Briarwood
Nov. 1
Men’s Breakfast at
Dixie House 8:00 am
LITURGICAL
MINISTRIES
OCTOBER 2014
Time
8:30
Sunday
October 5
Sunday
October 12
Reformation
Sunday
October 26
Sunday
October 19
Cindy Kohn
Steve Weis
Gary Christensen
Kelly Riddle
Keith Thompson
John Fitch
Sandy Heinrich
Tom Gluntz
Renee Hill
Phil Moroneso
John Reed
D. Brynell
Marj Rudolph
Ruth Vinciguerra
Anita Bodak
Patti Brunnert
Tom Gluntz
Phil Beckman
Shawn Wagner
Jim Gordon
Faye Youngblood
Robert Roupe
Nick Washuta
G. Christensen
(Ushers)
Ryan Ford
Finn Riddle
(Ushers)
(Ushers)
11:00
Caleb Gonzales
Jacob Gonzales
Emerson Cunningham
CHANCEL
MINISTRIES
8:30
11:00
Marj Rudolph
Faye Youngblood
Marj Rudolph
Faye Youngblood
Nancy Teigen
Faye Youngblood
Nancy Teigen
Faye Youngblood
GREETERS
8:30
11:00
Mary Frances Page
Congregation
Mary Weis
Chuck & Patti Brunnert
Don Clifton
Mike Haro
Carol Washuta
Congregation
8:30
Win Heinrich
Cindy Kohn
Mary Creecy
Tom Gluntz
Rande Wagner
Win Heinrich
Tom Gluntz
Mary Creecy
11:00
Phil Moroneso
Gary Christensen
Phil Beckman (Alt.)
David Brynell
Phil Beckman
Phil Moroneso (Alt)
Gary Christensen
Chuck Brunnert
Kelly Riddle (Alt)
Desiree Ford
Kelly Riddle
David Brynell (Alt.)
Bob and Liz McCarthy in
celebration of their 12th
anniversary.
Leah Kammer in memory
of Don Kammer.
Marianne Rugeley in memory
of Tom Williams.
Frank Wingard in memory of Mary Wingard.
Kay Green
Bethany Narvaez
Kay Green
Bethany Narvaez
Kay Green
Bethany Narvaez
Kay Green
Bethany Narvaez
LECTORS
USHER
CAPTAINS
11:00
8:30
11:00
8:30
ACOLYTES
COUNTERS
CHANCEL
FLOWERS
Chancel
flowers are
given by…
NURSERY
CARE
8:15
through
12:15
Andrew Beckman
Rayanna Morton
Katie Beckman
Ben McCarthy
If you are unable to serve on your designated Sunday, please find a replacement and notify the church office:
817-292-1338 or [email protected]
Lectors:
Assisting Ministers
Acolytes:
Greeters:
Church Offc.
Jolene Webster
Kelly Riddle
Church Offc
817-292-1338
817-223-1276
817-360-4584 (cell)
817-292-1338
Ushers:
Chancel Ministries:
Counters:
Chancel Flowers:
Nick Washuta
Tim Knutson
Church Office
Church Office
817-732-7787
817-821-7940 (cell)
817-292-1338
817-292-1338