Word from Father Tom

Since my arrival, I have repeatedly highlighted the importance of “organic evangelism”. It is an approach to living and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ which takes a long-term relational view to being light and salt in the world. However, we can’t be light to others if we are never around people who are unchurched or uninterested in Christianity. The question for we followers of Christ, then, is how can we “get in the way” so that we are bumping into, serving, and developing relationships with people who are not Christians? Sounds uncomfortable and inconvenient, doesn’t it?

Of course, the starting place for a genuine approach to evangelism is our own motivations: Do we truly love or want to love people who don’t know Christ? I suggest that, in time, people can tell if we truly care about them or if we are more interested in our own benefit (or the benefit of our church). There is no love for others without sacrifice: time, effort, money…but mainly, comfort. Love has eternal resonance. Selfishness and greed: not so much.

It is risky to love other people when we have no control over their responses to our love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But therein lies our power! Through consistent prayer and a reliance on the Spirit of God, we become potent conduits of his love through our feeble efforts and our growing actions of servanthood to others. We actively get out of the Holy Spirit’s way while being “in the way” as a light while loving others. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can release and prepare our church to receive others who will undoubtedly cause us discomfort and inconvenience. If we think that the Kingdom of God grows without sacrifice and discomfort, we have not been paying much attention to the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles.

This Saturday, February 4th, beginning at 5:30 pm, we will be hosting a “Souper Saturday” as a precursor to the Super Bowl the following weekend (see the below announcement for more information). If you have an established relationship with someone (or know someone who might enjoy an activity like this), this could be an opportunity to introduce them to us. There will be no Bible study, no pressure, just a good time where someone can meet and be around us. It could be a small start for someone trying to “be in the way”.

Low-key events like this (and other future outreach efforts of service and beyond) will be planned and predicated on the idea that people in our parish have relationships with and exposure to people in this community who need to see, experience, and hear about redemption in Christ. If we, the people at St. Matthew’s, do not engage in relationships at various levels with others outside of our walls, our outreach will be stalled where it starts. However, the more we engage, generously serving and embracing the process, the more we encourage hope, joy, and unity to flourish among us.

Fr. Tom

Upcoming Schedule

Worship

Adult Christian Ed Class Sunday, 9 AM.

Saturday Feb 4, 2023, 5:30 PM Souper Saturday