Saint Matthew's Church
A Roman Catholic Community
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Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM
Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 AM
Full Schedule of Services
Weekly Bulletins
Ministry Schedule
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Pastor's Message 



In the Second Vatican Council Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy we read: "The Church has always venerated the Body of the Lord, in so far as she never ceases, particularly in the sacred Liturgy, to partake of the bread of life and to offer it to the faithful from the one table of the Word of God and the Body of Christ". God is really present in the bread and the wine and the Word. These two ways of God's presence to us in the Mass, the Word and the Sacrament are one act of worship. All this comes to us from the time of Moses and from the Jewish heritage.
 
In the book of Exodus we read that Taking the book of the covenant (Moses) read it aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the Lord has said, we will heed and do." (Ex. 24: 7). The book of Exodus in verse 8 goes on to say: Then (Moses) took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, "this is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words of his." Then in verses 9 - 11 of Exodus we read that Moses and the gathered elders beheld the God of Israel and after gazing on God, they could still eat and drink. This liturgy celebrated by Moses and the Jewish people preceded Moses call by God to the mountain top where God gave Moses the ten commandments. This pattern is still the structure we use today for our Mass. The Word of God is proclaimed, the sacrifice of Christ is remembered in the words of his last supper, and then we all participate in the meal by going to communion.
 
By understanding our Jewish roots and heritage we see more clearly what we do and why we do it. Our story does not begin with Jesus, it begins with the story of the Jewish people. And so we begin our readings with a text from the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament). Those who put the lectionary (the Book of the readings for the Mass) together tied Old Testament readings to Gospel readings. If you listen carefully to the first reading you will hear that same theme carried through the Gospel reading. It is often but not always the theme that will be used in the homily as well. The Gospel themes from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the themes that form our tradition and set the three year cycle of readings. 
 
Listen carefully to the first reading at Mass and see if you can hear that same theme picked up in the Gospel and the homily.

 
Fr. Chris
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Seasonal Messages

SUPER WEDNESDAYS 
FREE FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Join us at St. Matthew's once a month for the Summer Fun Series of events for the whole family.  Please see our Parish Events page for more information.

AN EVENING WITH MATT MAHER

St. Matthew's Church will host an acoustic performance by Matt Maher on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 7:00 PM.  Please see our Parish Events page for more information.

SOUND OF HOPE - A SINGER/SONGWRITER CONTEST FOR TEENS

St. Matthew's Church is sponsoring a Singer/Songwriter Contest for teens in conjunction with a Dave Pettigrew concert to be held at St. Matthew's Church in November 2019.   Applications to enter the contest must be received by September 15, 2019.  Please see our Parish Events page for more information and for the contest application.

DAVE PETTIGREW - "THERE IS HOPE"

St. Matthew's Church will host Dave Pettigrew in concert on Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 6:00 PM.  Please see our Parish Events page for more information.