This summer I was blessed with a three month sabbatical. I want to express my tremendous gratitude to you all for this opportunity! Being a pastor is a challenging career but one of the few careers where one is provided the opportunity to take sabbatical leave to focus on rest, spiritual renewal, and personal projects. I want to thank Rev Ryan and our staff who stepped up during my time away, and also to thank all the people of St. Matthew for supporting by providing this tim

“… ‘You will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” (Luke 2:12b-14). In this season of twinkling lights and cold evenings, these words from Luke’s gospel are heard in shops, malls, and our own living rooms as we begin listening to Christmas carols. The words ring so familia

In this summer newsletter, I want to focus on my hope that what we see and hear as “wall-to-wall coverage” on our TVs and social media is not the full truth. I also call upon you to have hope. Our hope is found in Christ Jesus. The one we acknowledge as savior of the world.

As I write this I am preparing for my first pastoral sabbatical, a gift that some congregations provide their pastors once every seven years...