Vol. 8 - No. 3 | January 17, 2019
St. Matthew Lutheran Church & School e-News
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
The Sanctity of Human Life
Explore God Chicago 2019 Continues!
This weekend we celebrate the  Second Sunday after the Epiphany . The Theme of our Worship this weekend will be " Is There a God? " as we continue our series " Explore God ."

Worship Services this week:

Saturday - 5:30pm
Classic Worship

Sunday - 8:00  Classic Worship w/communion
10:45 Contemporary Worship w/communion
HeartWork:

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:14  
Next weekend is "Bread For Life" weekend.
Please bring a loaf or loaves to services this weekend and next to support COOL Food Pantry.
This weekend in the worship services the message series will be asking the question “Is there a God?”
This topic has proven to be a particularly exciting one to explore with skeptics. But even believers can sometimes experience moments of doubt about God’s existence.

This Sunday you'll have an opportunity to join in the discussion! At 9:20 Pastor Blonski will be hosting an Explore God discussion group. The topic this Sunday will be " Is There a God? "

A discussion group is also forming in the Wauconda area. Hosted by Chuck Lintner in his home, you'll have the opportunity to invite a friend that might not be comfortable coming to a church but still has questions about God. His group will meet on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.  You can contact Chuck at 847/452-7007 for more information.
BIBLE/DEVOTIONAL READINGS – For the week starting January 20, Bible readings are provided to assist you in daily reading and prayer. Click on the Bible passage to read the Scripture lesson at BibleGateway.com .
Sunday
The wedding at Cana 

Monday
Jerusalem will be saved

Tuesday
Spiritual Gifts

Wednesday
God's steadfast love endures
Thursday
Service well-pleasing to God

Friday
God's love in Christ Jesus

Saturday
Human sin and God's goodness

Sunday
Jesus returns to Nazareth
NOTES FROM THE PASTORS

PLEASE inform the Pastoral staff when a pastoral call or visit is desired – the hospitals and rehabilitation centers do not make contact us. If you or a loved one is receiving medical treatment, please make contact with the Church office (847) 438-7709, or call Pastor Kinne (224) 360-2629, or Pastor Blonski (909) 373-7936.

Time to return the palm branches - Please return the dried Palm branches from last Palm Sunday to the basket on the church office counter. They will be burned and the ashes used for our observance of Ash Wednesday at the beginning of the season of Lent.
St. Matthew Lutheran - There's an App for that!
Along with our new and improved website (which you can see here ), we have a new mobile app! Go to the Google Play store (for android devices) or the App Store (on Apple devices) and search for "St. Matthew Lutheran."
JANUARY UPCOMING EVENTS

18 -    WINTER FEST -  Everyone is invited to attend a music
          concert featuring Christian music artist, Joe Guerra from
          7-9pm at St. Matthew.  Bring your friends and neighbors to
          this wonderful FREE night of Christian family entertainment.
31-   Early Childhood Center Open House 5:30pm


FEBRUARY EVENTS :

8 -   Daddy Daughter Sweetheart Ball - 6:30pm
16 & 17 - LADIES’ BOOK SALE  (see details below)
 
LWML MEETING  - January 20 will be the first LWML meeting of 2019!   Mark your calendars and join us for lunch and our quarterly meeting. Please sign up on the church counter or you may contact Nancy at nblonski@truemen.org .

LADIES AID & WOMEN GUILD BOOK SALE  - will be held on Saturday, February 16 from 9am-3:00pm and Sunday, February 17 from 9:30am-1:00pm in the gym. Please bring your gently used books, (including paperbacks), games, puzzles, CD’s, Videos, Books on Tape, Audio Tape and music discs to the school stage by Friday, February 15 . 

ALTAR FLOWERS ARE NEEDED FOR ALL OF 2019  - 
St. Matthew received a donation for Altar Flowers from the Feldbush Family. This donation will allow us to offer Altar flowers at a reduced cost of $25.00 per arrangement. Please contact the church office if you would like to order flowers. 
 
YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS

‌
Lutheran Schools’ Week
Real — Present—God—Psalm 46
January 27, 2019 - February 2, 2019
More Information to Come….  
WILLING WORKERS

Volunteer Needed - We are in need of a volunteer from the congregation to be our "Candle Captain". The new volunteer would be in charge of refilling, wick adjustment, and management of all of the candles for the Church. Total time needed should be between 60 & 90 minutes every other week. There is a volunteer sign-up sheet on the Church Office counter. Thank You.

LECTORS - Would you like to read the Old Testament & Epistle Readings in a worship service? Contact the Church Office to sign up for this important worship ministry!

COFFEE HOUR  - There is a sign up sheet for coffee hour volunteers for 2019 on the church office counter.

NORENBERG NORDICS -  The Norenberg Nordics snow shoveling team are looking for volunteers to help with shoveling snow this winter. 
If you are interested please contact trustee Chris Norenberg @ 484/356-3144. 
The Gospel is simple, but the world is complex. How do we share the Good News of Jesus in today’s world? Here at St. Matthew, we want to help you be equipped, to be a more active and effective witness of Jesus by participating in Every One His Witness.
 
You will learn the LASSIE approach to witnessing in specific witnessing contexts.
LASSIE is: L isten, A sk, S eek, S hare, I nvite E ncourage
 
What night of the week or what time on the weekends works best for you? There is a survey sheet on the church office counter, pick your best time(s).

If you have additional questions please see Pastor Blonski.

There are only six sessions. Give your input and we’ll set up a time to learn this important and effective tool of reaching our neighbors and friends with the Gospel by Easter Sunday! 
BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
SUNDAY
CSI BIBLE STUDY - Meets Sundays at 9:20am in Luther Hall .
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday School meets on Sunday mornings at 9:20am.  Please meet in the Sunday School Wing that is located in the lower level school classrooms.
ADULT DISCIPLESHIP CLASS - THE ADULT DISCIPLESHIP CLASS has begun meeting Sunday Mornings through March 3 during the Education Hour, 9:20-10:20 a.m. in the Upper Level Conference Room. This is an eleven (11) session, one-hour Informational class for those desiring to study the Basic Teachings of the Bible from the Lutheran Perspective. The study is designed for those individuals seeking membership in our congregation , and is also strongly encouraged as a review for all current members of St. Matthew.
THE YOUTH CONFIRMATION MINISTRY 1st, 2nd, & 3rd year classes are held on Sunday's at 6:30p.m.-7:45p.m.
Pre-Confirmation are held on Sunday's 9:20 a.m.
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL BIBLE STUDY
Meets this Sunday 9:20am-10;20am in the Gym.
Come for a bible study and snacks with open gym and hangout time to follow.
Meets every 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Sunday of Each Month.
MONDAY
LCC BIBLE STUDY WITH TIM HETZNER -  Who is Jesus According to Jesus  meets on Mondays at 9:30am & 7:00pm in Luther Hall.
TUESDAY
TUESDAY EVENING LADIES BIBLE STUDY - Tuesdays at 7:00pm in Luther Hall. The topic is: Our Hope & Our Future: A Study of Jeremiah . All women are invited to join us. 
THURSDAY
THURSDAY MORNING LADIES’  -  meets on Thursday mornings from 8:30-10:00 a.m. in Luther Hall.
SATURDAY
MEN'S BIBLE STUDY - This Saturday, January 19, we continue our new study on the Book of Proverbs . Each week we'll try to tackle two chapters of Proverbs, exploring and discussing how this book promises that we will never face life alone or without good counsel. When facing the practical dilemmas of life, the Lord is with us to establish our steps. Calling on His name, wisdom answers!
TECHNOLOGY HELP NEEDED
VIDEO RECORDING AND EDITING - Do you have a passion for making videos? We are looking for people to record our sermons and devotional moments and edit them for broadcast on Facebook and Youtube and elsewhere. If you are interested, contact Pastor Blonski by email here or call him in the church office at 847/438-7709.
ST. MATTHEW MINISTRY NEWS
CHRISTIAN OUTREACH OF LUTHERANS (COOL) -  A food pantry for some of the neediest families in Lake County. Please bring a can of food/box of cereal with you when you worship and place them in Luther Hall. Thanks for helping those in need. January food item: Peanut Butter. 
SHARING THE JOY — Are you or somebody you know in need of meals? Sharing the Joy ministry of St. Matthew would like to help. Please contact the church office to set up meal deliveries.
UPCOMING TRIPS
JOURNEYS OF PAUL IN GREECE - October 5-15, 2019  
You are invited to join Rev. Timothy & Debra Kinne and Rev. Dr. Greg & Yvette Seltz on a land and sea tour of Greece as we follow the Journeys of Paul. For this 11 Day Tour we will take in places like Philippi, Thessalonika, Delphi, Corinth, Ephesus, Patmos, Santorini and Athens.   

2020 EUROPEAN TRIP & OBERAMMERGAU is an 11 Day Classic Classic European Tour (September 20-30, 2020) which will include Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, Nurnberg, Rothenburg, Heidleberg, a Rhine River Cruise, the Neuschwanstein Castle and culminating in Oberammergau for the 2020 production of the Passion Play.
The Passion Play is produced by the citizens of the Village of Oberammergau every ten years in thanksgiving to the Lord for keeping the Black Plague away from them ever since 1634. See Pastor Kinne for more information or to sign up for the trip. PastorKinne@StMattsOnline.com or 224-360-2629.
DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES
Taking Faith Home is available each week in the service folder. It is also sent via email each Friday afternoon.

Monday Bible Study Leader Tim Hetzner also offers a daily devotional via email here .
 
In My Father’s Footsteps is provided by Pastor Blonski and is a bi-weekly devotion available via email here .
NEWS FROM THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

This week, our Emerging Skills and Interest were: Exploring Healthy Habits for the New Year. The Letter of the Week was "G". The letter “G” was also the theme of our Show & Share. In our Religious Studies, we learned about Jesus as a child.
Priority Registration is now open for current students, their siblings, and members of St. Matthew Lutheran Church.
Please visit & ‘like’ the Facebook page:

Important Dates:
January 21 – MLK, Jr Holiday - No School or Extended Care
January 27-February 2 – Lutheran Schools Week
January 30 – 9:00 Hearing & Vision Screenings by Lake County  Health Department
January 31 – 5:30-7:30 Open House Event
 



Chapel Offerings
The chapel offerings collect each week will be for 'Rebecca's Garden of Hope.' This is a recognized service organization for The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod that reaches out to children with tutoring and mentoring services as they share the love of Jesus.