St. Matthew's Church Glendale/Burbank

Sanctuary worship services continue to be suspended for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, continue to worship with us online and check our FaceBook page for weekly details.
Link Devotions/Worship
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNUuIMD48XzplX79wOhuKIQ

These have been challenging times for all of us and they will continue to be uncertain over the coming weeks and months. 2020 will go down in the annals of history as a particularly rough year in our world, and especially in our nation. What's more, 2021 will not be some magic bullet where all will be right with the world again just as soon as the ball drops in Times Square. But for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, we have known since the beginning that this old world is passing away. There always will be times of plague and pestilence as part of the ebb and flow of time until our Lord returns to gather us home. And guess what? The people of God always survive. Survive, and, quite often, thrive. We survive, and we thrive, because we know the greater context of the story - and we know already how the story ends. In terms of eternity this present darkness that we are experiencing in 2020 is but the blink of an eye. Therefore, let us instead keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who has run this race before us, and for us, and whose victory assures us that this temporary suffering is not the end for any one of us. Let us keep our minds focused on the victories - the small ones like a post Covid-19 world, and most of all the big one - the perfect and blissful life that awaits us in the mansions of the Lord. People of God, may those joyful expectations then give us the strength to bear up safely and wisely during these months which do still lie ahead.

[If you are able,] please continue to gather virtually with your brothers and sisters in Christ at St. Matthew's through our YouTube Channel and our Zoom Bible Studies & Celebrations of Holy Communion. If you have not yet joined for Holy Communion on Zoom, it really is not as complicated as it may sound. Even just a telephone will work. And I promise you that you will find strength in truly communing with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

One more idea let me mention please... while many of us can access YouTube on a variety of devices these days: if you live with a significant other, or with children, or with roommates, etc.; and if you have a SmartTV or a SmartDVD (or even just a large computer monitor), try watching our YouTube worship services on there, with others of your household if possible, on Sunday mornings at 10AM. Perhaps even change into your "Sunday go to meetin'" clothes, if you wish. I think you will find a greater level of comfort in your "virtual" worship experience just from those little things which can help Sunday mornings seem a bit more normal. And you might even be able to get a few of your family members "to church" without much fuss. God's Work, done with YOUR hands.

Stay Safe. Stay Well. And may God bless and keep you….

Pr. Keith

Check our FaceBook page for more information from Saint Matthew's Church.

Congratulations and Thanksgiving to God for Pastor Keith Banwart's 25 Anniversary of His Ordination and Installation
We thank God for the ministry he shares with us!

St. Matthew's Expresses Examples of Mary and Martha

Mary and Martha, along with their brother Lazarus, were disciples of and even friends with Jesus. One day Jesus was passing through their village and Martha invited him to stop and stay with them. Martha hurriedly made preparations for the meal while Mary sat at Jesus's feet and listened to him teach. Martha got a little huffy over Mary not helping out, but Jesus honored Mary's worship while recognizing the meal that Martha was making.

At St. Matthew's, we try to follow the examples embodied in both Mary and Martha by worshipping and listening to the Word while we use our helping hands to do God's work.

Some of our Marys learn the Word and worship the Word

God's Work--Our Hands
Some of our Marthas clean the kitchen for 2020

We Welcome 73 Years of God's Grace and Blessings on St. Matthew's

The Procession Readies

We Enter to Serve--for Another 73 Years!

Happy Easter Arrives 2019

We Await the Coming Light of Christ

The Procession Readies

Worshippers Face the Cross

Hallelujah! Jesus Lives–He Is Raised From the Dead

Welcome to New Members

On Epiphany Sunday, the Light graced St. Matthew's with a large, new members class. We are pleased to enjoy your smiling faces link with ours in Jesus's ministry at St. Matthew's Church.

St. Matthew's Presents Christmas Gifts to Preschoolers

The Ladies' Bible Study, supported by Thrivent Financial Services for Lutherans, worked a project to give toys from St. Matthew's to the little school children. Here are some pictures of happy kids (who love to receive) and happy adults (who love to give).

Merry Christmas!

St. Matthew's Beautiful Stained Glass

Have you ever wondered how the stained glass wall arrived in St. Matthew's? Who did it? How? When?

Judson Studios in the Garvanza District of Highland Park is the oldest family-run stained glass studio in America; they designed, produced, and installed the beautiful work of art. They have tours once a month on Tuesdays. Contact them to learn about this wonderful artist community "in our backyard."

Fun at St. Matthew's

OctoberFest Celebration
In the early 1800s, a wedding reception for the future King Ludvig of Bavaria and Princess Therese was held in Munich amongst much feasting and beer steins and dancing. Since then, with many breaks and interludes, German people celebrate this folk fest in September-October in Munich and in many places around the world where German settlers emigrated. Most people todayenjoy the party, not realizing it was originally a wedding reception. They celebrate cultural life--and a good party.
At St. Matthew's we gathered together for fellowship and a party!