A Year of Lent - St. Matthew Lutheran Church | Stony Plain, Alberta
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St. Matthew Messenger
St. Matthew Lutheran Church & School
5021 - 52 Avenue, Stony Plain
church@st-matthew.com
Phone: 780-963-2416
Volume 24 Issue 2 Fax: 780-963-3800
February 2021
A Year of Lent
It was Sunday, March 15, 2020, when we first got notice
that the provincial lockdown would now include schools.
From that point, until the end of the school year, we would
remain separated from one another and have to continue
our schoolwork in a remote learning situation.
It is hard to believe that almost a year has passed since that day. In some ways it has gone by
quickly, for we have been so busy during that time, adjusting our plans, changing and revising
events and schedules. But in some ways, this year of COVID-19 restrictions has gone so incredibly
slow. We keep looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, but it seems that the break in the
darkness continues to retreat from us.
This has been a long, lonely, somber year, and as I sat down to write this article I was thinking
about talking about the upcoming season of Lent and all that it entails. You know what I mean: the
somber mood, the putting away of the Alleluias, the hymns sung in minor keys describing the
suffering of our Lord. I was thinking about talking about all that, but then it dawned on me that this
entire year has felt like a Lenten season.
Maybe it’s because we never did have a real Easter last year. Do you remember last Easter? You
would be forgiven if you didn’t, because it was very easy to forget. There were no church services
at that time. Many people were not gathering for an Easter feast. I can’t think of one person
proclaiming, “Alleluia, Christ is risen!” so that I could reply, “He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” -By not
having a real Easter it feels as if our Lenten season never came to an end.
It has been a solemn year of isolation and uncertainly. A whole lot of Lent. Almost twelve months
of Lent!
But here’s the thing: we are not a Lenten people. We are an Easter people. Let me explain: While
we realize that in this broken sinful world we will be surrounded by hurt and hardship, we also know
that there is always hope for the people of God.
Page 2 St. Matthew Messenger
… continued from page 1
We live as a people that look beyond this corrupt world to the perfect and holy
world to come. We journey with our eyes to the heavens, knowing that one day
our Lord will take us there. We endure the hardships of this place knowing that
Inside this issue: the crucified Christ has paved the way into the world to come. He has left His
tomb so that he can pull us out of ours. We live in that sure and certain hope.
SMLCA News 3
We are an Easter people.
St. Matthew YouTube 3
Midweek Lent Services 4 This image reminds me of one of my
Stewardship 5
favourite hymns, #633 At the Lamb’s High
Feast We Sing. The second last verse of
LCC Mission Prayers 6 the hymn says this:
2020 Tax Receipts 7
Easter triumph, Easter joy!
Masks Required 7 This alone can sin destroy;
Voters’ Meeting 7 From sin's power,
Lord, set us free,
Kid’s Bible Study 8 Newborn souls in you to be. Alleluia!
Snow Shovelling 8
This verse reminds us that Christ
E-Transfer 9 conquered sin, death, and the devil on the
cross. The victory is won. There is no
Anniversary Cookbooks 9
going back.
Facebook 9
So like the song says, the joy and the
CLS Quest Course 10 triumph of Easter can, at times, be taken
The Lutheran Hour 11 away (temporarily destroyed) by the
troubles of this world, but that doesn’t change the truth: Christ has died. Christ
Serving the Lord’s House 12 has risen. Christ will come again. Alleluia! Nothing can steal this truth away
from you.
So whether we journey through another Lenten season, or simply continue
through the one that started a year ago, whether we celebrate this Easter in a
church with white lilies, powerful organ music, and boisterous Alleluias, or
whether we continue on with the COVID-19 drudgery of the status quo, in the
big scheme of things it is important that you know this: Nothing. Really.
Contact Rev. Buck Changes. The battle is won. Salvation is yours. Heaven awaits.
at
buck@st-matthew.com
COVID-19 cannot take that away from you. Isolation cannot separate you from
Contact Rev. Keith
at your Saviour. Anxiety cannot overcome the certain redemption you have in
keith@st-matthew.com Christ.
Contact Rev. Dressler
at
dressler@smlacademy.ca God bless you,
Contact Ian Lande
at Pastor Dressler
ian@st-matthew.com
St. Matthew Messenger Page 3
Get the Sermons as soon as they
are uploaded to YouTube.
Go to the St. Matthew Lutheran Church
YouTube Channel to find the latest uploads
and/or to subscribe.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/
UCuizsjIs0wQXg8c_p7rF_cQ
You can also find it by doing a search in
YouTube:
St Matthew Lutheran Church Stony Plain
St. Matthew Messenger Page 4
7:00 PM
FEBRUARY 17 - ASH WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 24
MARCH 3, 10, 17, & 24th
St. Matthew Messenger Page 5
“I am not commanding you, but I want to test
the sincerity of your love by comparing it with
the earnestness of others. For you know the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though
he was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, so that you through his poverty might
become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:8-9).
Without commands or even arm-twisting,
St. Paul encourages, even challenges, the
Church in Corinth to demonstrate the
sincerity of their faith by their generosity in
giving. He does this because giving
generously is a gift of the Spirit given to us
through the Gospel.
St. Paul wrote: “But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete ear-
nestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7). In
other words, just as we grow in faith and speech and knowledge of eternal things by the Holy Spirit
through the Word of God, so also do we grow in giving from the same Spirit through the same Word.
The problem is that the grace of generosity often grows cold in us. It’s not so much that we stop
giving, but we don’t put it first. We treat it like all the other bills that must be paid. It becomes a chore,
just one more thing to check off a list of things to do. That empties it of its spiritual power and robs us
of the joy that Christ and the Scriptures assign to it.
On top of that, since this generosity is linked to
faith and knowledge of divine things, a lack of
excelling in giving is sure sign that our faith and
knowledge of God are under attack as well.
Thus St. Paul points to the foundation of
generosity: the generosity of Christ Himself. Even
though He was rich, He became poor so that we
who are poor might become rich. Thus, the
incarnation, suffering, and death of our Lord on
the cross is the reason, source, and driving force
for our generosity in giving to the church.
And since Christ who was rich became poor so that we might be rich in His grace—of which generous
giving is part—so we also who are rich in His grace can excel in pressing His grace into service
toward the gracious work of the church.
Pay attention to what you give to the church so that you may excel at it. And if you find that your heart
has grown cold or indifferent toward it, immerse yourself in God’s Word. Read it at home. Attend Bible
Class. Hear and listen to it preached in the Divine Service. Be reminded of what Christ has done for
you in His incarnation, suffering, and death. For this will strengthen your faith and knowledge. And
where that excels, so will the grace of giving excel also.
LCMS Stewardship Ministry
Page 6 St. Matthew Messenger
February 7, 2021 - CAMBODIA
Rev. Bun Phanna serves the community of Phnom Penh specifically as a
director of theological education at The Luther Institute Southeast Asia.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as Your Son sent forth His Church to make
disciples in all nations, we lift up before You, Rev. Phanna, asking You to
sustain him by Your Spirit and bless his labours for the sake of the Gospel;
Lord in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.
February 14 , 2021 - CAMBODIA
Deaconess Candidate Sopean Da is studying at The Luther Institute
Southeast Asia.
Prayer: : Heavenly Father, since Your Son has saved the world through
His holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death and sent forth His Church to
proclaim the Good News of this salvation to the ends of the earth and to
distribute His saving gifts of grace, we pray that You would sustain
Deaconess Da by Your Spirit and richly bless her labours for the sake of
the Gospel; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.
February 21, 2021 – NICARAGUA
Rev. Carlos Manel Amador is the missionary pastor serving in the
community of Villa Nueva
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as Your Son sent forth His Church to make
disciples of all nations, we lift up before You Rev. Amador, asking You to
sustain him by Your Spirit and bless his labours for the sake of the Gospel;
Lord in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.
FEBRUARY 28, 2020 - NICARAGUA
Deaconess Fatima Lopez serves the Lutheran Church in Matagalpa as an
instructor of the faith with Pastor Pedro Adolfo Quintero.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, since Your Son has saved the world through His
holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death and sent forth His Church to
proclaim the Good News of this salvation to the ends of the earth and to
distribute His saving gifts of grace, we pray that You would sustain
Deaconess Lopes by Your Spirit and richly bless her labours for the sake
of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen
St. Matthew Messenger Page 7
2020 Tax Receipts are now in church mailboxes.
REMEMBER TO
PRE-REGISTER
FOR ALL
WORSHIP SERVICES.
March 16, 2021 @ 7 PM
Page 8 St. Matthew Messenger
Kid’s Bible Study
9:00 - 9:45 am
Sunday Mornings
Downstairs
Volunteers required for snow
shoveling.
Please sign up at
reception desk.
St. Matthew Messenger Page 9
An E-transfer offering can
now be made by using the
following email address:
donation@st-matthew.com
125th Anniversary Cookbooks
If you are interested contact Verna Watson at
ddasmk@shaw.ca or
call her at 780-919-1312.
They are $24.70 each.
St. Matthew Facebook Page
If you are a member of the Church,
find our Facebook Group!
Go to www.facebook.com,
in the search bar at the top left of the page type in
St. Matthew Lutheran Church – Stony Plain
and ask to join our page.
Page 10 St. Matthew Messenger
Spring Quest: The History of the Bible:
From Manuscripts to Modern Translations
Presented by: Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Kloha (LCMS), Chief Curator of Museum
of the Bible, Washington, DC
“Love the Lord, your God” and “love your
neighbour as yourself” are the most-repeated
passages in the Bible. They have been
memorized, copied, recited, translated, and lived
out for over 3000 years. But how was that
passage—indeed the entire Bible—handed down
to us? These sessions will describe the
fascinating journey of the Bible, from prophets and
apostles to manuscripts and modern translations.
Featured will be manuscripts and artifacts from
the collections and exhibits of museum of the Bible in Washington DC.
Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 7 p.m. Mountain
Session 1: What is the Bible?
Session 2: The Hebrew Bible: The Law, The Prophets, and the Psalms
Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 7 p.m. Mountain
Session 3: The Formation of the New Testament: The Apostles and the Gospel Message
Session 4: Copying the Bible (before there was cut-and-paste)
Tuesday, March 16, 2021, 7 p.m. Mountain
Session 5: Let There be Light: Luther, Tyndale and the King James Bible
Session 6: Modern Translations: Bibles for All
Tuesday, March 23, 2021, 7 p.m. Mountain
Session 7: Tour of Museum of the Bible, Part 1
Session 8: Tour of Museum of the Bible, Part 2
Contact the Seminary to register at info@concordiasem.ab.caSt. Matthew Messenger Page 11
The Lutheran Hour Hear these inspirational
messages on AM 1260 CFRN
www.lutheranhour.ca
Program Summaries
radio at 7:30 a.m. or FM 98.5
for February 2021
CFWE radio at 8:30 a.m.
A listing of Canadian stations and broadcast times is Streaming audio and
also available at www.lutheranhour.ca pod-casts at
or from the Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada –
1-800-555-6236 - helpful@lll.ca www.lutheranhour.ca
February 7
"Stories Around the Table"
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler
Dr. Michael Zeigler shares a story about people who had more in common than they
thought.
(Mark 6-8)
February 14
"Shines and Saves"
Guest Speaker: Rev. Cody Cooper, Pastor of Mellowdale,
AB, Canada
Jesus surpasses all expectations as we see Him revealed
on the Mount of Transfiguration.
(Mark 9:2-13)
February 21
"Do You See Anything?”
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler
(Mark 3)
February 28
"TBD"
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler
Did you know St. Matthew has a prayer chain?
If you have a prayer request, our prayer chain is there to
pray for you or your loved one.
Call Judy Kulak at 780-963-6481 to get that name into the
prayer chain or if you wish to join the prayer chain group.
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I
will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12Page 12 St. Matthew Messenger
SERVING IN THE LORD’S HOUSE: FEBRUARY 2021
COMPUTER: ELDERS:
Date 8:00 am/10:30 am
February 7 Rhonda Buck/Gwen Gabel Date 8:00 am/10:30 am
February 14 Noah Keith/Ali Hennig Kevin Burger & Adrian Selles/
February 7
February 17 Rhonda Buck Clay Hennig & Randy Hennig
February 21 Danielle Glubish/Shelley Kulak Trevor Kleijnen & Brent Hennig/
February 14
February 24 Noah Keith Matt Hamilton & Jordan Prefontaine
February 27 Annette Visser/MJ Hennig February 17 Ash Wednesday 7 pm Jordan Prefontaine
Pat Hall & Randy Hennig/
February 21
USHERS: Adrian Selles & Colin Schutz
Date 8:00 am/10:30 am February 24 Lent Midweek 7 pm Trevor Kleijnen
John & Bev Raffa/Bruce Fielhaber
February 7 Matt Hamilton & Glen Schmitke/
& Dirk Rothfos February 28
Brent Hennig & Luke Adam
Norman Baron & Greg Lutz/Cole
February 14
Kleijnen & Carter Kleijnen
February 21
Coralee & Darrel Hennig/ ALTAR GUILD:
Eric Steuber
February Ginny Nernberg
Hunter Visser & Tanner Visser/
February 28
Gord Schoepp & Darius Starreveld
REMEMBER TO
PRE-REGISTER FOR IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO
SERVE ON THE DATE
WORSHIP SERVICES. ATTENTION USHERS
LISTED, PLEASE CONTACT
YOUR ASSISTANCE IS ANOTHER MEMBER OF
REQUIRED. YOUR GROUP, SWITCH WITH
THEM, AND LET THE
Please contact Gerri CHURCH OFFICE KNOW OF
Schram at 780-963-6578 THE CHANGE NO LATER
if you are willing and able to THAN WEDNESDAY OF THAT
CHURCH assist with usher duties on WEEK. THANK YOU!
OFFICE HOURS
Sundays.
As Communion has
returned to Sunday
ARTICLE DEADLINE
MONDAY - THURSDAY services, your assistance is
required in directing the FOR
9:00 AM - NOON congregation during THE MARCH
12:30 PM - 3:00 PM communion so we can
MESSENGER IS
maintain social
distancing. FEBRUARY 22, 2021You can also read
