May 10th Message from your Rector

Message from your Rector:

Today is Rogation Wednesday and Thursday is Ascension Day.
The word rogation comes from the Latin verb rogare, meaning "to ask".

Today I ask God to saturate and bless the planted fields with soaking rain. I ask Lord, that you would pour into our hearts such love for you that we might be a witness to our community by encouraging everyone to choose Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life - instead of choosing weapons of the devil who seeks to kill and destroy.

Tomorrow is Ascension Day when we remember the risen Lord Jesus bodily ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. "Jesus ascended into heaven so that, through him, his Father might send us the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Christians together are united to Christ, the living Head of his Body, the Church. (John 14:15-17, 25-26; 16:7-15; Acts 2:33-36; Ephesians 4:7-16; To Be A Christian p.43)

Once again we lift up our hearts because the dwelling place of humanity is with God. Knowing that life in the Spirit is our ongoing journey and one day, Jesus will fulfill his promise to return and gather in his kingdom harvest. May Saint Matthew's Church continue to grow in his grace and bear fruit for his harvest to come.

Beloved, your Vestry, Wardens, and Clergy joined together in an offsite Retreat May 7-8th. In addition to much needed fellowship, we rekindled an understanding within ourselves and each other on Friday evening.

On Saturday morning we had worship and prayer followed by Sam Dargan, Sr. Warden, who led a Bible Study about Leadership in the Church. Next, we were tasked with reviewing a helpful book by Thom Rainer: The Post Quarantine Church.

Finally, we conducted some broad visioning into key areas we feel God is calling us to focus on in the near future, specifically in our reach into the community through the Purple Fish.

The purpose of the Retreat was to grow in our understanding of how Christ leads us from the inside out, one heart at time. Life in Christ at Saint Matthew's will grow into His image as we continue to Love, Learn, and Serve together.

My heart is full of joy as I write this message, thinking about how many opportunities God is signaling into the hearts of those who love him. Let us join together in thanksgiving, joy, and praise of His goodness and everlasting mercy.

Faithfully and in His love always,
Rags+