"For we who are many form one body, that is the church."

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ABOUT US

from Phillip Enderle, pastor of St. Matthew Church

Our Vision and Purpose:

  • We exist to grow in Christ.

  • We exist to share the Good News of Christ with others.

  • We exist to provide a place of refuge for those weary and worn through the drudgeries of life.

Worship/Growth Trends

  • 2004    About 20

  • 2005    About 40

  • 2006    About 50      January - April

  • 2006    About 100    April - December

  • 2007    150 per Sunday

Goals and Purposes of our Congregation

  1. Biblically Based - Our congregation must have a clear understanding of what we believe and why. Our congregation must remain strongly rooted in the purity of God's Word.

  2. Mutually Concerned - Our congregation must continue to care for one another.

  3. Socially Concerned - Fellowship within the church is vital to the health of the congregation as is the formal worship service - in worship we connect with God, in social activities we connect with one another.

  4. Community Minded - We must remain aware of the day-to-day decisions that affect our community.

  5. Financially Stable - The church that is fiscally responsible will be able to weather any situation. Most often crises' occur in a congregation where there is financial insecurity. Every building program a congregation takes always demands an initial "leap of faith." A congregation must also understand the difference between "preaching about money" and "preaching about stewardship." God commands the latter, many times congregations, pastors and leaders demand the former.

  6. Clearly Understood Vision - Every church needs to understand its purpose. If a church does not, no matter what its size, it will simply exist to support itself as an institution. It is the pastor's primary responsibility to set the vision of the congregation.

  7. Positive Outlook - We must never allow strife from within, divisiveness from the outside to mar our mentality. A negative defeatist attitude is contagious. On the other side of the coin, enthusiasm - coming from the Gospel as it touches our hearts - is what spurs us on to growth.

  8. Care of the Workers - Nothing can add to Church excitement like a worker who is well treated.

Growth of our Church

  • At present, our facility is hindering growth. Church planners state that when a church is at 80% capacity, a church is considered "full." even on a "down" or "low" Sunday, we are at 110% capacity.

  • I believe this growth will continue.

  • I believe that in ten years, with a facility expansion, we will be a congregation of 300-400 members.

The Job of the Pastor

  • To preach, teach and instruct the congregation as a shepherd

  • To encourage the members in life and in ministry

  • To set the vision and tone of the congregation

  • To guide the congregation in achieving this vision

The Job of the Council

  • To assist and encourage the pastor in achieving the vision

  • To share their own dreams and visions with the pastor

The Job of the Congregation

  • To share their own dreams and visions with the pastor and the Church Council

  • To move ahead with the plan and vision

WELS gif logo

St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church

is a member of the

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)

 

Click on one of the links below for more information.

If you have any questions, please contact our pastor personally.

 

 GO TO  ABOUT WELS

 

GO TO  THIS WE BELIEVE

 

GO TO  THE BIBLE AND LUTHERANS

 

The meaning of Luther's seal

While Luther was a professor at Wittenberg, he devised a seal which was meant to be expressive of his theology. In a letter to a friend Luther explained the symbolism of his seal.

A black cross rests on a red heart "to put me in mind that faith in Christ crucified saves us." The heart rests on the center of a white rose "to show that faith causes joy, consolation and peace. The rose is white, not red, because white is the ideal color of all angels and blessed spirits."

The rose is fixed in a dark blue sky "to denote that such joy of faith in the spirit is but an earnest and beginning of heavenly joy to come, as anticipated and held by hope, though not yet revealed."

The sky is surrounded by a golden ring "to signify that such bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than all joys and treasures...



Christ, our dear Lord, He will give grace unto eternal life."

from www.wels.net

A Christian Call to Action

Living in Response to God's Grace

Today I state my faith in this assembly before God and all those around me.

I acknowledge everything Christ has done for me;

His sinless life, His painful suffering, His horrible death, and His glorious resurrection are the price and proof of my salvation.

I confess that I am completely unworthy to receive this gift, but the Holy Spirit brought me to faith through the Gospel.

Today, as God gives me strength through the power of the Gospel:

I will strive for love. No occasion justifies hatred, no injustice warrants bitterness.

I will strive for joy. All problems are nothing less than another opportunity from God to follow His guidance.

I will strive for peace. Since I am forgiven through the Blood of Christ, I will forgive others, that I may have peace in my heart.

I will strive for patience. I will overlook the inconveniences of the world and thank God for all trials and tribulations that in the end bring me closer to Him.

I will strive for kindness. I will be kind to the unkind, for this is how God has treated me.

I will strive for goodness. I will pursue that which is noble, pure and upright.

I will strive for faithfulness. I will not give occasion for others to doubt my promises, question my word, nor my loved ones my commitment to them.

I will strive for gentleness. If I raise my hand, may it be done in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be done in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only on myself.

To you, O Lord, I commit my ways. When I fail, and I will, I seek Your grace.

When I succeed, I will give You thanks and praise.

And then, when this day is done, I will rest in Your Almighty Hands, and awake to greet a new day and begin anew my life of service to You.

portions taken from "When God Whispers Your Name" by Max Lucado

A Statement of Faith

as Drawn from The Word

 

I believe:

The LORD is my STRENGTH.   Isaiah  12:2

The LORD is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?   Psalms 27:1

The LORD is my ROCK.   Psalms 18:2

The LORD is my EXCEEDING JOY.   Psalms 43:4

I believe:

The LORD is my SONG.   Isaiah 12:2

The LORD is my SALVATION.   Isaiah 12:2

The LORD is my LIGHT.   Psalms 27:1

The LORD is my RIGHTEOUSNESS.   Jeremiah 23:6

The LORD is my PROVIDER.   Genesis 22:14

The LORD is my FORTRESS and my STRONGHOLD.   Psalms 18:2

The LORD is my DELIVERER.   Psalms 18:2

The LORD is my SHIELD.   Psalms 18:2

The LORD is my HELPER.   Psalms 18:2

The LORD is my SHEPHERD.   Psalms 18:2

The LORD will never leave me nor forsake me.   Hebrews 13:5

The LORD is my banner of victory!   Exodus 17:15

I believe:

Christ Himself is my PEACE.   Ephesians 2:14

And Jesus Christ is my SAVIOR!   Titus 2:13

And I believe:

GREATER is He that is in me than he that is in the world.   1 John 4:4

 

This is my confession.

May God give me strength to live it and apply it.

 

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This website was last updated on Tuesday, July 22, 2008.