Vol. 8 - No. 8 | February 21, 2019
St. Matthew Lutheran Church & School e-News
The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Explore God Chicago 2019 Concludes!
This weekend we celebrate the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany . The Theme of our Worship this weekend will be "Can I know God Personally?" as we conclude our series " Explore God ."

This is also "Bread for Life" weekend - bring those loaves for the C.O.O.L. Food pantry!

Worship Services this week:

Saturday - 5:30pm
Classic Worship w/comm

Sunday
8:00  Classic Worship
10:45 Contemporary Worship
HeartWork:   John 20:27

Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
This weekend in the worship services the message series will be asking the question “Can I Know God Personally?"


This Sunday you'll also 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 " Can I Know God Personally? "
BIBLE/DEVOTIONAL READINGS – For the week starting February 24, 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
Love for enemies
Monday
Joseph reveals himself

Tuesday
The resurrection body

Wednesday
Joseph is kind to his brothers
Thursday
Life in the Spirit

Friday
A new commandment

Saturday
Trust the Lord
Sunday
Jesus is transfigured
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.
HELPING HANDS MINISTRY of St. Matthew Lutheran Church & School is intended to provide critical emergency financial support. Please contact one of the Pastors if such support is needed. Contributions to this ministry are also welcome. 
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."

MARCH EVENTS:
6 - Ash Wednesday - Noon & 7pm Service
6 - Lenten Dinner - 5:30pm
16 - Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty Event
16 - Lake Zurich Chamber Expo
16 - Glow Party, Youth Event 
17 - the Rev. Dr. Greg Seltz, from LCRL guest preacher
23 - Super hero & princess party
 
APRIL EVENTS:
13 - Feed My Starving Children - 2:00-4:00pm
 
On Saturday, March 16, 2019 the Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz from the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty will lead a Champions for Religious Liberty Event at St. Matthew Lutheran Church & School, Hawthorn Woods, Illinois.

Dr. Seltz will lead sessions on:
·     Christian Confidence when Worldviews Collide.
·     Set Free to Live Freely.
·     Two Kingdoms – One Mission for the sake of unity of the Gospel.

The Champions for Religious Liberty Event will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 1:30 p.m. Lunch is included. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Please call St. Matthew Lutheran Church 847-438-7709 , or email to: smlcs@stmatts.net to indicate your attendance at this Event.
Dr. Seltz will also serve as the Guest Preacher for the Weekend Services at St. Matthew, Saturday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 17 at 8:00 & 10:45 a.m.

The mission of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty is to ignite and fuel a uniquely Lutheran response to increasing intrusions, limitations and challenges by the government in the life of the Church, while educating, encouraging and equipping LCMS members and organizations to take informed action in support of marriage, life and religious freedom.
Choir from Concordia St. Paul, Minnesota to sing Good Friday.
The Christus Chorus of Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, will assist in leading the Service of Tenebrae Vespers at St. Matthew Lutheran Church & School, on Good Friday, April 19, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
The 32-voice choir, under the direction of Dr. David L. Mennicke, will present a variety of music at appropriate times throughout the worship service. The choir is grateful for the opportunity to present some of the great music of the Church and to witness through music as an expression of faith. A freewill offering will be taken to support the music ministry of the choir.
YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS

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
 
We have classes scheduled on six consecutive Sundays, April 28 thru June 2 in Krueger Hall during the Educational Hour. (9:20-10:20am) We are also open to offering the class at additional days and times. There is a survey sheet on the church office counter, pick your best time(s). If you have additional questions please see Pastor Blonski.  
BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
MEN'S SMALL GROUP - A new small group is forming that will explore the book "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge, using the resource "Wild at Heart Field Manual."
If you are interested, sign up in the church office or email Pastor Blonski here.
SUNDAY
CSI BIBLE STUDY - Meets Sundays at 9:20am in Luther Hall .
THE BOOK OF EXODUS: LET MY PEOPLE GO!
Beginning next Sunday the Transfiguration of our Lord – March 3, 2019 the Adult Bible Study will a study the book of Moses called Exodus. In it, Moses asks Pharaoh to let God’s people go seven times (Ex 5:1; 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3) and Pharaoh finally does it! The Sunday Morning Bible Class will look at the exciting history and theology connected with the book of Exodus. It will all be very practical and useful! 
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 NEXT ADULT DISCIPLESHIP CLASS will begin meeting Sunday Mornings March 10 – May 19 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 - is on hiatus while Tim is leading a group in Israel.
TUESDAY
TUESDAY EVENING LADIES BIBLE STUDY - Inclement weather has been preventing us from meeting! Please check the website or your email on Tuesday afternoons to find out if weather causes the Bible study to be postponed.

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 weekend we continue our study of Proverbs - chapter 4. All MEN of the community are welcomed! You'll have inspiring discussion as well as hot coffee and fresh pastries! 9:00 a.m. in Luther Hall.
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  
Pastor Timothy Kinne and his wife Debra, from St. Matthew Lutheran Church & School, Hawthorn Woods, invite you to join them and the Rev. Dr. Greg & Yvette Seltz on a magnificent tour of the Journeys of Paul in Greece, October 5-15, 2019.
The tour will include the cities of Amphipolis, Philippi and Neapoli (Kevala), Thessalonica and Veria (Berea), Meteora and Delphi, Corinth and Cenchraeae. We will then board a ship for a cruise on the Aegean Sea to visit Pireaus and Mykonos, Crete and Santorini, and finally Athens.
 
To learn more about the tour and to Download a Brochure please click on the link: You are welcome to take a look at the direct link to the tour by clicking here.
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 Interests were: Exploring Construction & Ways to Construct. We reviewed our past letters in Language & our Religious Studies topic focused on Jesus Teaching about Birds and Flowers. The preschoolers celebrated Valentine’s Day with a class party and festivities last Thursday.
The preschool Facebook page:
 
Important Dates
March 6 – Ash Wednesday Chapel Service
March 7-8 – Teacher In-Service – No School or Extended Care
March 25-29 – Spring Break – No School or Extended Care
Chapel Offerings
The chapel offerings collect each week will be for: