|
 Saint
Matthew Lutheran Church welcomes you to share in the mission,
fellowship, and programs we offer through our congregation. There are
activities and opportunities for every age group. We are committed to
becoming a people centered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing
God's love with one another and with those apart from the church.
The
family atmosphere at Saint
Matthew Lutheran inspires us to serve our Lord in many ways. It is
our mission to serve as a blessing as we have been blessed.
This
About Saint Matthew
page provides an overview of the many ongoing programs and services
offered by our church. Click on a Topic or sub-topic, below, to view
more information. Click on the  Back
icon to return to the Topics list. Click here
for directions to our church, click here
to request information by e-mail, or click here
to go to our Church Office page.
Thanks
for visiting us on the Internet and we look forward to having you
worship with us soon.
William
E. "Bill" Flippin, Jr., Pastor
Christian
Education
Adult
Forum: Adult
Forum: Each Sunday adults gather in the Fellowship Hall for a time
of growing and sharing together. Topics of Christian concern and
interest are presented.
Bible
Studies: The
women of our congregation meet regularly in Circles on the 3rd
Monday of each month in the Church house. The Bible Studies printed
in Lutheran Woman Today are the basis for discussion. Monthly the
Lutheran Men in Mission of the congregation meet for a Saturday
breakfast and Bible Study in the Education Building. A weekly Bible
Study for adults meets on Tuesday mornings. Special courses dealing
with the Bible, family concerns, and faith concerns are offered frequently.
Children’s
Church: Children’s
Church is a new ministry offered for children between the ages of
five and seven years old during the 10:30 Worship Service. Following
the children’s sermon the children go with a volunteer leader to
the Children’s Church. While there they will learn about
God’s love, Jesus, the Bible, and other topics to help with
their spiritual growth. They will also enjoy stories, crafts,
singing, or just playing together as it relates to the lesson. During
the Offering, they will be returned to their families to participate
in Communion and the remainder of the service.
Confirmation
Class: The
Pastor or lay persons of the congregation lead confirmation classes.
The classes meet throughout the school year. We serve those who are
currently in seventh and eighth grades in a two-year course of
exploration in faith, self, and in Christ.
Newcomer/Discipleship
Class: Designed for those new
to Saint Matthew Church, our Pastor regularly offers exploration
classes for those interested in the Christian faith and learning
about the Lutheran doctrine.
Sunday
School: Our
Sunday Church School serves pre-school age through adults. Meeting
each week, our Sunday Church School emphasizes the warmth and
compassion of our Lord Jesus as presented through Scripture.
Vacation
Bible School: Our Vacation
Bible School takes place each summer for children ages two through
the sixth grade. Each Sunday adults gather in the Fellowship Hall for
a time of growing and sharing together. Topics of Christian concern
and interest are presented in four-week units. Guest speakers often
share their area of specialty with the group. Of course, coffee and
pastries are always available.
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Community
Support
Community
Outreach: Our
congregation actively supports Outreach ministries within the
community, such as, Saint Anne's Food Bank, House of Mercy, Sister
Judy's Kids, and the Valley Rescue Mission.
Hosting
Community Support Groups: Saint
Matthew serves as host to several non-profit help groups in the
Columbus/Phenix City area. Several groups meet in our facility
including Aerobics, Al-Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous, Boy Scouts, and
German Club. Call our Church Office if you know of a non-profit
organization in need of a meeting place.
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Congregation
Council
Overview:
The Congregation Council is the
governing body of our congregation and is elected at our annual
meeting. The Council coordinates the standing committees of the parish.
Standing
Committees:
Fellowship:
Encourages the caring and fellowship aspects of our life and ministry
together, including the Women of the ELCA and Lutheran Men in
Mission. The committee also coordinates Lenten, Advent, fellowship
meals, and social activities of the Church.
Finance:
Serves to educate and inform the congregation of financial matters.
Outreach:
Serves to identify outreach programs in the community where our gifts
and talents can work to serve those apart from our parish.
Parish
Education:
Ensures that the teaching ministry of the congregation, along with
the youth, scouting program, and family ministries in our
congregation, are accomplished in Christ-like ways.
Property
and Grounds:
Evaluates the physical needs of the gathered congregation and plans
for the future physical growth needs of the Church.
Stewardship:
Serves to educate, share, and honor the Head of the Church, Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Opportunities for growing in the use of God's gifts
are shared.
Worship
and Music:
Strives to assure that the worship life of our congregation is
helpful in the praise and thanksgiving we offer to God. Coordinates
the activities of the Altar Guild, Chancel Choir, Hand Bell Choir,
worship assistants, greeters, ushers, communion assistants, and music
programs to support Worship Services.
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Congregation
Services
Altar
Guild: We have an active Altar
Guild that meets regularly and serves in the area of caring for the
Sanctuary in our worship services.
Parish
Health Program: Our Parish Health
Program began in September 2002. The main purpose of the program is
to improve the congregation's well being by presenting health related
information and to connect congregation members with the appropriate
spiritual or medical resources.
Newsletter: A newsletter
is published monthly with news and information about ongoing church
activities and upcoming events. Click here
to visit the Newsletter page.
Nursery:
We offer a staffed Church Nursery,
located in the Education Building, for young ones during the Sunday
morning Worship Service.
Office
Administrator: The Church Office is
the operations center of our church. We have an Office Administrator
on our staff and the office is open five days a
week. Please click here
to visit the Church Office page.
Web
Site: We have an Internet presence
(this web site), which contains information about our church.
The URL or address is www.StMatthewColumbusGA.org
Worship
Assistants: Laypersons share an
important role in our worship together. Lay Assistants help with the
liturgy, readings, and communion, while our young people assist as
acolytes. Many others serve the ministry as greeters and ushers
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Group
Activities
Boy
Scouts of America: Our
congregation supports, sponsors, and hosts Troop 2 of the
Chattahoochee Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Pack 2 of the
Cub Scouts. Several of our members serve as scout leaders and many of
our youth are active in these scouting programs.
Celebration
Café: As
we gather around the Lord's Table on Sunday, we also gather around
the dinner table on Wednesday. This is a special outreach of the
congregation. From September to June, the Celebration Café
serves a fellowship meal beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by a short
program at 6:00 p.m. During Advent and Lenten season, a brief service
is held at 7:00 p.m. We look forward to Wednesday evening as a way to
meet and greet one another, and to get to know visitors and newcomers
on a more personal basis
Music
Ministry: We
have an excellent Chancel Choir and Hand Bell Choir, which assist us
in our worship together. The organist provides joyful accompaniment
to our worship services. Chancel Choir and Hand Bell Choir practice
is on Wednesday evenings.
Weekday
Opportunities:
Monday: Women's
Circle Meetings, Aerobics
Tuesday: Bible
Study, Scouting, Aerobics
Wednesday: Celebration
Café, Chancel Choir, Hand Bell Choir, seasonal evening Advent
and Lenten devotional services
Thursday: German
Club, Aerobics
Saturday: Men's
Breakfast
Sunday: Congregation
Council, Super Sunday, Confirmation Classes
Youth
Groups: Our Church Youth, middle
school through high school age, meet regularly and share in special
group activities, such as, a youth-led Bible Study for youth
(meetings follow Wonderful Wednesdays Celebration Café), a
summer beach retreat, a winter ski trip, and a yearly fundraising
yard sale. Our youth also participate in service projects, such as,
Sister Judy's Kids at Christmas and Easter, Food Source ministry, and
Habitat for Humanity. The "Super Sunday" program serves
those in elementary school with a monthly activity September through May.
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Worship
Information
Advent
and Lenten Observance: We observe
both the Advent and Lenten seasons by sharing in a fellowship meal
followed by a devotional service on Wednesday evenings.
Sunday
Worship Services:
8:30 a.m. Worship
with Holy Communion—an informal service.
9:15 a.m. Christian
Education Hour—Sunday School and Adult Bible Study—an
opportunity for all ages.
Coffee
is served between Services.
10:30
a.m. (9:30
a.m. during the summer) Worship
with Holy Communion–the Lutheran Liturgy Service
11:45 a.m. Fellowship
Time. Coffee and refreshments the first Sunday of the Month
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Worship
Frequently Asked Questions
What
is Lutheran Worship? Lutheran
worship follows the liturgy of the ancient Christian tradition. This
liturgy, rooted in Scripture, provides the form for our weekly
worship together
Who
may receive Holy Communion? All
baptized Christians, who believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is
present through the Bread and Wine, offering the forgiveness of sin,
are welcomed to the Lord's Table. We invite you to share at God's
Table as we worship each week. First communion classes are offered
for young people to prepare them for their first communion.
How
do I become a member of Saint Matthew Lutheran Church?
If you have not been baptized, then baptism is the first step toward
membership. If you are a baptized member of another denomination,
then we invite you to join our Newcomer/Discipleship class. If you
are a member of another Lutheran congregation, please contact that
congregation for a Letter of Transfer to be forwarded to Saint
Matthew Lutheran Church. Please contact or e-mail the Pastor for more
information. Pastor@StMatthewColumbusGA.org
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