Don’t forget that you can call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Here is our audio recording from this morning’s worship service. The recording can also be found at stmatthewsmorganton.org or by calling 828-202-5804 any time this week.

Don’t forget that you can call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can always call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Here is our audio recording from this morning’s in-person worship service. The recording can also be found at stmatthewsmorganton.org or by calling 828-202-5804 any time this week.

Don’t forget that you can always call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can always call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can always call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can always call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

Don’t forget that you can always call the church office at 828-437-5420 or visit our website to submit any prayer concerns you might have, as well as give your tithes and offerings securely.

Have a blessed day!

We will have different worship options starting next Sunday. More details to follow.

1) Brief Ash Wednesday prayer and reflection will go live on Facebook at 12 noon. It will also be available on the church website and audio by phone/email link.

2) 5pm-6pm Imposition of Ashes. Drive through the breezeway between the sanctuary and Education Building if you would like receive ashes and a prayer.

3) Lenten reflections with Kate Bowler: Duke Divinity professor and author of Everything Happens will have daily email and instagram reflections. Sign up here: https://katebowler.com/lent/text text text

A Song for Ash Wednesday:

Thanks, Jordan, for choosing our song.

Prayer concern from Trish J:

Please put Kathleen Munrow, Edie Conners, granddaughter on the prayer list. She, along with 3 of her coworkers, are having a bad reaction to their second Covid shot. Kathleen is at Grace Hospital undergoing test to see if a stroke has been triggered since she has all the signs of having a stroke.. She has high blood pressure. Please keep her and fellow workers in prayer.

text text text text

Thanks, Jordan, for finding and suggesting this week’s song.

This singer is a nurse who has treated Covid patients

As we enter a new year, all Glory be to Christ

Go now, and live in the spirit of your baptism, even when you are led into wild and hard places. With repentance and trust, give yourselves to God, and with fasting and prayer, strengthen yourselves against the ways of the tempter. And may God enfold you in tender and lasting love. May Christ be beside you in times of struggle. And may the Spirit guide you back to the path whenever you stray, that you may keep the covenant. We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,

In the name of Christ. Amen.

And in case you need more Christmas carols, here’s a sing along:

If you listen to the audio only file, on our website or through dial a sermon, you will hear a shortened version with the scripture and sermon. The video link above is active now, or you can watch through our church facebook page starting at 10am.

Please keep Lois, Lynn, Roy, Hannah, Mary, and Miles in your prayers.

Our worship service begins with a reflection from me in the St. Matthews sanctuary, and then it transitions to the service of music, candlelight, and communion put together by First UMC. If you received a Christmas kit from the church, you can use that. If not, never fear. Find a candle, flashlight, or other source of light. Grab a cracker, some bread, and juice (or any other drink you have on hand). Jesus isn’t picky, he’s thrilled to be together. As we move through the service, you will receive instructions about what to do when.

Below is the link for the worship video. It will premiere live on Facebook and YouTube at 5:30pm, and the recording will be available for viewing at any time following the premiere.

The audio version includes only the St. Matthews specific portion. You can listen from this email or by calling 828-202-5804 any time today.

Merry Christmas. Live love.

Grace Episcopal Church has graciously shared their service of Lessons and Carols, which is available here:

Please continue to pray for Miles, Mary, Roy and Hannah.

Our Christmas Eve Service will be live on the St. Matthews Facebook page at 5:30 pm on December 24, or you can listen and stream as usual. We are partnering with First United Methodist for an online Christmas Eve service that will include Communion and candlelight. If you would like a worship kit with bulletin, candle, and communion elements, reply to this email or call the church and let us know how many you need.

Today’s scripture from Matthew gives us a picture of abundant growth by God’s gift. May we grow good soil in our lives.

Come to me all you who are weary and overburdened…

Opening song:

Song for the Gospel (maybe listen right before the second reading of Matthew)

Reflection song:

Prayer of Confession

Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord! Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Text: Psalm 25:6-11

Lord of patience and persistence, we live in a broken and shattered world. All around us we see great evidence of hatred and alienation. We cannot help but observe the alienation of your people from each other. We create devices to separate rather than unite; to divide rather than come together in hope. Forgive us for our sins. These sins cause such division and hurt. Remind us today that the disciples, too, lived in a fearful world and that one day you came to them, as they sat huddled in fear, and you empowered them. You gave them hearts of courage and faith. Please bring to us the same hearts that we may serve you well, bringing peace and hope to our world. In the name of Christ, we offer this prayer. AMEN.

Words of Assurance

Dear ones, fear no more! The power of God’s Holy Spirit has set us free from the prison of doubt and fear! Now is the time to shine with the light of God’s love, given to you by Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Prayer of Confession

Lord Jesus Christ, in you we see awesome power.You triumph over death and bring forth new life.You stand over all earthly powers.You are the head of the church.Yet, we often fail to acknowledge this power in our lives.We see violence in the world.We see injustice in our communities.We see hunger and need among our neighbors.We see longing for something more.We see failures and faults in our lives.In all these things, we feel powerless.Forgive our hesitance to call upon you.Forgive our propensity to rely upon ourselves.Forgive our reluctance to acknowledge your power.Speak your words of power again.May your will may be done on earth as it is in heaven.Amen.

When I read this scripture, I can’t help but sing this song from my choir days:

Prayer of confession included in todays reflection:

Prayer of ConfessionLord of mercy, there are so many times in our lives when we feel alone. We wonder where you are. We cry out to you in our confusion, pain, and hurt. And when you do not immediately grant the prayers of our cries, we begin to doubt that you even care or exist. Stop us from going down this path of self-destruction. Help us look around and find the many ways in which you have blessed our lives. Forgive us when we are so quick to doubt and so arrogant in our demands of your responses. Give us a spirit of patience and willingness to be ready to hear your voice. Strengthen us for the ministries of love and hope that you have placed before us; for we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN. (from Ministry Matters, Nancy C. Townley)

I hope everyone is well and holding up under social distancing. If you have a God sighting to share, please put it in the comments so we can lift those up together.