Have you ever noticed that something seems to be missing in our lives. Something that transcends and brings color to an otherwise grey world. Join us for our Series “Joy” and learn how this gift that is waiting for you can change everything!
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The time of Lent has been kept by Christians for over a thousand years as they prepare their hearts to celebrate and live in the great Easter triumph of Jesus. Lent is the 40 days before Easter - not counting the Sundays. It has always been a time of repentance - a remembering and turning from our sin; But not to be forgotten is to whom we turn as we remember our sin; we turn to the mercy, grace, and power of God finally seen in the cross of Jesus. On this journey, there are six Psalms which have proven to be a great blessing to God’s people through the ages. They have used these Psalms to lead, guide, and grow them in this time of repentance. They are called the Penitential Psalms. These Psalms will be our focus during our Wednesday Lenten worship as they, finally, “lead us to the cross.”
One of my earliest memories of childhood is getting ‘lost’ in a large grocery store with my mother. I’m not sure how it happened - I think I probably just wandered away – but I remember looking up expecting to see ‘mom’ next to the grocery cart, but neither were there! I also remember at first trying to ‘be cool,’ calmly turning first one corner and then another expecting to see her. But gradually the fear started to build. I still remember the lump in my chest as I turned what seemed to me to be corner after corner into aisle after aisle. About this time, still trying to ‘keep my cool,’ I started to calmly - and rather quietly – call our her ‘name.’ “Mom. Mom? Mom…” But still, she wasn’t there…and I couldn’t seem to find her! Finally, the anxiety and fear took full hold of me and a cry – really a quite ‘uncool’ scream – erupted from deep within my soul over and over again. “Mom! MOM!” And wouldn’t you know it, almost immediately she turned a corner and said, “I’m right here. Everything is ok!”
Do you ever feel lost this way toward God? ….especially when you’re struggling with really ‘tough stuff?’ I mean you KNOW He’s there. We all know He’s there! Every single one of us - every single human being – somehow, intuitively KNOW He’s there – right? But where and how exactly, right now, is He there for me – and for you? ….in our failure, guilt, struggle, doubt or pain? Do you ever feel alone even though you KNOW you’re not? Do you ever search for Him and seem to come up empty? How often are we not like me in that grocery store, crying out, “God! GOD!...Help me! Where – and how - are you here for me??
For a thousand years and more, Christians have been taking the 40 days before Easter – a time called ‘Lent” – to reflect on the fact that we feel alone….and why we feel alone. But also reflect on the fact that the message of the cross is that we are NEVER ALONE; that God is always with us, especially in our failures, guilt, struggles, doubts, fears, and pain! In a sense, we take these 40 days to once again cry out to our loving Heavenly Father and to hear His voice in the cross of Jesus as He says, “I’m right here, Everything is ok!
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In Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, when a person speaks he says “hi,” gives his first name and then says, “I’m an alcoholic.” No pretense. No lying. No ‘holier than thou’ attitude. No ‘candy coating’ where someone denies reality. No, each one says right out front, “I’m an alcoholic.” So, here goes. I’m a sinner. I daily am tempted to do evil, evil that will ruin my life, destroy my relationships, and leave me feeling far from God…How about you? Where in your life can you relate? Where do you especially struggle with evil?..with sin? Today, we see that God is right there with us in the midst of our struggle against evil. He does not desert us. We are not alone. Need help?
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As my children have gotten older, once in a while they have wanted to talk about doubts and questions that they have had concerning a variety of things. When they have done this, I have had two emotions. The first was great joy and honor that they wanted to talk to me about these things. The second was great fear because I knew I didn’t have all the ‘answers.’…What doubts and fears do you wrestle with? Which ones are you wrestling with right now? Life is so full of mystery! And walking ‘by faith’ can be so difficult! But, like a loving and concerned father or mother, God never runs away from us in our doubts and questions. Rather, He is honored that we would come to Him!....and He always understands because Jesus was tempted in every way that we are. He knows. He feels for us. He is there for us. And unlike me, He does have all the answers in His perfect wisdom. Today, we come to Him with our doubts and questions. Interested?
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The first dog our family had was a little dachshund. One day he got out and I went to look for him but couldn’t find him. I was almost home when I saw him get ‘run over’ by a car right in front of our house. Luckily, he was not killed, but was ‘rolled’ and badly shaken up, to the point of turning around and around biting at the air until I got him calmed down….Have you ever been blindsided by life? Have you ever been ‘rolled,’ so to speak, so that you feel lost and confused, left to just kind of ‘bite at the air?’ Do you perhaps feel this way right now? Today, we remember – and see that God is there for us, especially at such a time. Interested?
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There is an exercise that I believe every college ‘Psychology 101’ class has done and maybe most High School Psychology classes as well. It is really simple. The class is paired off into groups of two. One of the two is securely blindfolded while the other leads the first by the hand (and sometimes just by their voice) all over campus for maybe 30 minutes. The two then switch places and it is repeated again. What is expected to be experienced/learned? Two things. 1. Each person learns how to trust. 2. By listening and being guided by the other, each person learns that they can ‘see’ even when blindfolded.
Where do you feel blind, alone, hopeless? Today we are shown that Jesus is there and in Him we can really see! Interested?
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“Dad, I don’t want to die.” These words were spoken to me by my son in the second grade after a friend of his in his class died from cancer. It honestly cut me to the heart. Where has death – or the fear of death – touched your life? God does not leave us alone in our fear and sorrow. In fact, He too is ‘cut to the heart” for us. He hurts with us. He weeps with and for us. In Jesus, He is there for us.
Where do you need to hear and to know this anew?
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Does life- and it’s mindless, frantic, pace – ever overwhelm you? Work commitments, responsibilities, children’s activities, and more. And they never seem to stop: “I am busier now than I ever was when I was working.” Where do you feel overwhelmed? Isn’t it interesting that Jesus, on Palm Sunday, chose not to enter a small village but rather the bustling, mindless, frantic pace of the capital city of Jerusalem to plant His peace right in the middle of it? Do you think He was maybe trying to tell us something?
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Ever wondered why this Jesus we celebrate at Christmas is so important? Join us for our new series “That is who You are” and discover who Jesus is in the gospel of Mark & the words of the song Way Maker and why you should follow Him.
Have you ever struggled to find your place in the world? Don’t miss our series, “Family Stories” and hear the familiar stories that have been passed from one generation to the next giving us identity, meaning and connecting us to something bigger than ourselves. As we look at the stories leading up to Christmas, you’ll rediscover the amazing love of the Father and His care for our family.
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If Jesus offers a full and abundant life, then why does it feel as if words like burnout, exhaustion, anger, loneliness, unhappiness, and anxiety are winning the day? Something feels very off.
A full and abundant life results in purpose, meaning, fulfillment, joy, and happiness. What are we missing?
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How are you doing in the“game of life?” Did you know that God wants you to win? Join us for our series,“Winning on Purpose” beginning Sunday, September 10th to learn how to win ON PURPOSE! After all, it was Jesus who said, “I have come that they might have life to the FULL.”
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The stories that we read, watch and hear resonate deeply within us, why is that? Don’t miss our series Life Animated and learn how all the classic stories, the ones that are told over and over again (and are even animated for kids!) are connected to the greatest story ever told. As you explore these stories as retold in Beauty and the Beast, Up, Moana and Tangled you’ll uncover deepest longings of your heart and discover how they are met in Jesus. If you get the opportunity, check out the movie before you come to service.
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Do you ever feel disoriented, like your world is turned upside down? Confused? Bewildered? Afraid? Unsure? Lost? Where do you go to find stability? What do you do? And how is it working for you?
Enter the story of Daniel. His world was torn apart, it was turned upside down with ferocious and frightening speed from the time of his youth and stretching into his old age and beyond. All he knew was destroyed, upended, changed….and constantly changed again. He was seemingly powerless with horrible, dark forces in charge of all around him. The book he wrote in the Old Testament - we call it “Daniel,” after him – is really a story of how God gave him stability, insight, and understanding throughout His life in the upside down, disorienting, frightening world in which he lived… And how He can do the same for you…and for me.
Each Sunday this Summer we will look at a stand-alone episode in the life of Daniel which together paint an amazing tapestry. Each Sunday God would work to bring us stability, insight, and understanding in our upside-down world and lives.
Where do you need this in your life?
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In the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, the prophet is given a vision; There is water trickling from the southside of the Temple flowing into the dead, dry desert. But instead of drying up, the trickle gradually grows becoming a mighty river that was so large that “no one could cross it.” And everywhere the water touched it brought life. This is a picture of the life that Jesus brings in these last days in which we live…a river of life that began to flow from Jesus. Who is himself the temple and continues through us as we participate in His ongoing mission until He returns.
The Gospels tell of the beginning of this river -from Bethlehem through the Resurrection – while in the book of Acts we see the river widen through the work of the followers of Jesus by the power of the Spirit. This river is ever widening- the mission of Jesus continues. Jesus uses us to touch people for whom He died. This series is about living water that brings life to dead things. It flows from Jesus through us into all the world. Certainly, it is about the beginning of the ongoing mission of Jesus as recorded in the book of Acts. But the book of Acts was not meant to be simply a history lesson. It is a picture of what the ongoing mission of Jesus looks like and it helps us find OUR PLACE IN IT knowing that the same Holy Spirit who was at work in those first followers is at work in us. We believe that God, the Holy Spirit, is still at work in our world and our lives. It Continues with us. It is our prayer that through this series and study God will help us embrace our place in the everwidening flood of God’s grace! Welcome to the adventure!
Click the link below to view the small group study guide.
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Coming Soon!
The Via Dolorosa, translated “The Way of Suffering,” is a route which is walked in the Old City of Jerusalem that represents the path that Jesus would have taken on the way to His crucifixion. I actually walked it when I was I Jerusalem some years ago. It is a moving experience to retrace the steps of Jesus as He went the way of the cross for me and for you. Our Wednesday Lenten worship will do much the same thing as we walk with Jesus on “The Way of Suffering” through the book of Matthew.
Good News. We all need it – right? That is what the reality of Jesus is meant to be for us and for all people. In every condition and situation, in every challenge and disappointment, in every tragedy and even in the face of death, the reality of the cross of Jesus is meant to bring Good News. This is our focus in these weeks leading up to Easter. To see, know, and receive the Good News in every situation of our lives….and to see and know how to Good News another!
All of humanity knows deep down that something is not right. Something is broken. We are broken. (After all, have you ever heard anyone say, “Everything is perfect! I wouldn’t change a thing!) Interestingly, the Bible agrees with us. It talks about this thing called sin and the number of ways that it has affected us that is the problem. Then it says that the Gospel – literally the GOOD NEWS- that is Jesus is meant to destroy the power of sin in our lives. Today, God wants to “Good News You” right where we need it…and then He wants you to give it away!
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What makes you afraid? What makes you feel weak a powerless? What is so powerful and so great that when you come face to face with it, you are frozen in fear and inactivity? Where has your weakness made you feel hopeless that anything can change. Where do you defeated and helpless? The “Good News” today is for you!...to receive and to give away!
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Once, when I was in college, I had 7 unpaid and overdue parking tickets. (Long story.) I had forgotten about them but then I saw them in my glove box of my car. For days I carried the burden of being guilty and expecting the hammer to fall. Finally, I was able to get to the courthouse, taking a large sum of money with me. But the women at the window doublechecked and then told me they had no record of them. I was free! How about you? Are you carrying guilt around? If so, today’s Good News is about the freedom Jesus brings!...to receive and to give away!
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Have you ever been “on the outside looking in?” Have you somehow gotten the message that you just don’t belong? That somehow, there is something WRONG WITH YOU? Have you ever done this to another? If so, today’s Good News is for you!...to receive and to give away!
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“Help me, please!” Have you ever been there? Have you ever had the joy of being there for another? Today’s Good News is that Jesus is always there in His overwhelming power and love!...For you to receive and to give away!
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The chosen people of God were conquered, humiliated, and helpless. Then Jesus came as their king. Today, the Good News is that He comes as Your King!...to be received and to be given away!
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My mother, in the most difficult of life’s challenges, would suddenly give this little laugh and say, “God is in His heavens!” What was she saying? “God is still in control…and He has me and all things in His hands. And in Him, I will Overcome, no matter what the situation! This was as true for my mom at her death two days before her 90th birthday as it was from the moment she believed in Jesus and through all the challenges of life that followed. And it is still true for you..and for me. Where do you need to remember and embrace it brand new? In this series we look at three places where perhaps we forget and need to remember anew as God’s Spirit gently touches our souls that in Jesus we can Overcome in every situation!
It can come suddenly or it can be a long “dread” in the same direction. Fear. Where does it tend to grip your heart? Where is it gripping your heart right now? Today, we focus on God meeting us in our fears with His power, grace, and wisdom.
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Have you been here?...in a lonely place. Researchers tell us we are more lonely than we have ever been…..that fully 50% of us don’t have one person to talk to. There are lots of reasons we fall into that place of loneliness being our constant companion. But no matter the reason, the one and only God meets us in that place with His presence and His guidance.
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I was reading an article the other day which stated that one out of every three people in America suffer from depression and anxiety. Whether or not you agree with this statistic, it does seem to be a common struggle. How about you? Where have you struggled with anxiety and worry? It is in this place where God would meet you today in His grace and power.
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Have you ever stopped and asked yourself the question, “why am I doing this?” It is powerfully insightful, isn’t it? And even more powerful is to ask yourself the “whys” that you want to live for BEFORE you spend your work and effort and life on something. Certainly, if we can answer the “why” we can understand ourselves and how we got to where we are now. But it is even more powerful when we wrestle and decide what the “whys” are in our lives (the reasons we do what we do) BEFORE we act. In a sense, the “whys” reflect our Core Values which then can powerfully direct our actions. In this three-week series we are going to hold up three Biblical “whys” and the Core Values they represent for us here at St. Matthew. Our prayer is that these might center and empower our actions. Socrates, an ancient Greek philosopher, said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” The first step is to look at the “whys” of our lives in the grace and wisdom of Jesus.
What guides your life? Where do you look for wisdom?...or even more, where is the authoritative core that directs your life? And how do you know for certain it is true and right? What is the authority that directs the “whys” of your life? And on a scale of one to ten, how much do you trust it? Today, we hold up Jesus as that authority. He is the Lord of all. You can trust Him to guide the “whys” of your life in truth.
There is an old song entitled, “What’s it all about, Alphie?” It was recorded by the artist Dionne Warwick among others. How about you? Have you ever wondered what is supposed to take “center stage” in your life? Today, we look at foudantional “whys” that would, finally, focus our lives on people.
This is a big one. A key guide to establishing our “whys?” Relationship. But what does this mean and what does it look like? How does the all wise authoritative voice of Jesus guide us here? This is what we focus on today.
Christmas is about God becoming one of us, stepping into our reality, and “being there” with us and for us.
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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
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The most important target to hit as a disciple of Jesus is BEING in a relationship with Him. We know what it’s like to have the desire to grow in our relationship with God and yet feel stagnant. Being Challenge leads readers to a stronger relationship with God through simple challenges that focus on the 5 keystone habits of Jesus: community, scripture, prayer, solitude and church.
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Do you have some burning, perhaps troubling questions that you would love to ask and to talk about here at church but think it might be too uncomfortable to do so? An Elephant in the room is a major problem or controversial issue that is obviously present but is avoided in discussion because it is more comfortable to avoid it.
This summer, we want you to ask these questions.
We will address them in our sermon series.
Nothing is off limits.
We live in some challenging times. There are lots of questions in our lives and in our world and we want to hear from you. We don’t have to play it safe as Christians. We have the wisdom of the ages - Jesus – and His Word that reveals His heart, His truth, and His Wisdom.
To submit questions, use the form here or email elephant@stmatthewrocklin.com
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Have you ever longed to be a part of something bigger than yourself?....something that can fill your life with purpose, meaning, and connection? We believe that God brings us together in a specific time and place to find a meaning we never knew we could have as we do life together. Discover what this looks like here at St. Matthew as we explore how we are “Built Together” by God for just such a time as this.
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We know that Easter and the resurrection of Jesus is a big deal, but what does it mean for our daily lives? Join us and discover the implications that the resurrection has for your life as we unpack what it means for you personally, for the world that God loves and for us as a community.
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