Easter Morning at St. Matthew's!


Easter Sermon: "Freedom"
By the Rev. Dr. Blair Pogue

Christianity is not a pie in the sky religion that looks the other way in the face of human suffering. It is a faith that proclaims that Jesus inhabits the human condition and is in solidarity with us and others as we experience unjust violence and suffering. Through Jesus' resurrection from the dead, God is able to restore us to community with God and those we've loved and lost. This future promise and hope informs our present. It makes us free, regardless of what happens to us and those we love. We are freed from guilt, shame, fear, and despair. We are free to walk into a new and different way of living.
The hopeful future God offers enables us to live lives of abundance, generosity, hospitality, and freedom from fear. In an age of anxiety, tribalism, division, and narcissism, God frees us to live for others. 
 
"I've been in freedom." No matter what we've been through or done, no matter what we face, no matter what happens in our Cities or world, God offers us freedom. God desires freedom for everyone.
 Read More Here...
 
Finances and Faith: Next 3 Sundays, 9:15am  
  
On April 3, 10, and 17 from 9:15-10:15 in the Library Dan White, Blair Pogue and Dwight Zscheile will facilitate three sessions in which we explore some of what scripture has to say about managing money, share our own experiences of and struggles with money, and learn small, concrete practices that enable us to live without fear and become more generous people.

Generosity Reflection 
- Dan White   
By Dan White

God loves us, loves us madly, and wants the best for us.  He knows us, knows our strengths and weaknesses and is constantly urging us to be our best.  We usually know what being our best means but sometimes find reasons not to go there.  We commit the most original sin, persuading ourselves that we know better for ourselves than God does.
God is first of all a giver. 

He gives us his unconditional love, life and his Son, Jesus Christ. From time to time we have abused all of his gifts but he keeps on loving us.  It is not possible for us to do anything that will stop that love.  God knows that we need to give too. He knows that the benefits of real giving are always greater for the giver than for those who receive.  

When we give we start to free ourselves from the fear that comes from trying to do it all ourselves. We become more connected to others, both in our immediate communities and in the wider world.  We begin to shake off the fear that inevitably comes from trying to create a fortress of money or other resources to protect and isolate us from the world.
The people in my life who I believe have the least peace with money are the ones who do not understand about giving.  Some of them have a great deal of money and focus only on having more, not on finding ways to partner with God by giving it away.  Fear of not having enough drives them. How rich are they?

God is a giver and he wants us to be more like him. Of course he knows it is not easy for us which is why He finds so many ways to talk to us about it, to rouse us from the comfortable place we try to make for ourselves to hide from the discussion.  But God will prevail and we will be the winners.

Theodicy Jazz Collective at St. Matthew's: Jazz & Gospel Workshop & Vespers 

On Saturday, April 23, St. Matthew's will host a jazz/gospel workshop and Vespers with the Theodicy Jazz Collective, now headquartered at the Washington National Cathedral, and led by friend of St. Matthew's the Rev. Andrew Barnett. The workshop will take place from 3:30-5:30 and the Vespers at 5:30. The service will consist of the Theodicy Jazz Collective (four of them will come to St. Matthew's), our own J Michael Compton and Jeff Kidder playing, and a choir made up of adults and youth from St. Matthew's singing. 
- the Rev. Andy Barnett       

All are welcome!  At the workshop we invite you to explore the theory and practice of multi-cultural worship music. We'll pay special attention to global rhythms like clavés and montunos, jazz harmony, choir arranging, and techniques to foster congregational singing. Please bring your instruments if you have them, and plan to sing!

Theodicy Jazz Collective is committed to making justice real through the creative, spiritual power of music. The group believes that music has the power to promote understanding in society and that the jazz principles of community, flexibility, and listening can help the church thrive in our rapidly changing world. Inspired by jazz, blues, gospel, traditional hymns, and world music, Theodicy believes that the diverse cultures that gave rise to this music deserve our utmost respect. Respect includes a commitment to racial equality.

Tired of the "traditional vs. contemporary" liturgy debate that so often distracts us from authentic, communal worship, Theodicy seeks to offer a new approach. Far from abandoning tradition, Theodicy expands the poetry of the Church by combining jazz rhythms and harmonies with the rich liturgies found in the Book of Common Prayer, the oral tradition of spirituals, and established hymnody. Bringing voices from the margins of society into the center of tradition and liturgy, we explore the theological questions of the twenty-first century with a commitment to musical and academic excellence, responsiveness to the Spirit, and a love of tradition and the liturgical canon.  Read more about the Theodicy Collective.
Looking Ahead: Calendar Highlights
  • April 3, 10 & 17: Faith Forum on Finances & Faith with Blair Pogue, Dan White & Dwight Zscheile,  9:15am in the library.
  • April 10: Living Faith: "Resurrection Exploration" for children and youth, 9:15am 
  • April 20: Confirmation Class at 7:00pm, continuing on 3 consecutive Wednesdays, April 27, May 4 and 11.
  • April 15-16: Middle School Youth Retreat at St. Matthew's - Pre TEC (includes Twin Cities and Southern MN area youth).
  • April 23: Jazz and Gospel Workshop, 3:30pm and Vespers, 5:30pm with the Rev. Andy Barnett and the Theodicy Jazz Collective.
  • April 29-30: Women's Retreat at the Riverwood Conference Center
 
Please share your news and photos with us: tidings@stmatthewsmn.org 

Visit our website for the prayer list, calendar and sermons