St. Matthews/Bethany in Evan and Rural Morgan

St. Matthews/Bethany in Evan and Rural Morgan A faith community of Lutheran Christians in southern Minnesota who worship and serve the Lord. St. Matthew's church services at 8:30 a.m. Thank you, friends!

the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, and 10:30 a.m. the 2nd and 4th. 5th Sunday is at 10:30 a.m. Online offerings can be given to St. Matthew's at https://tithe.ly/give?c=1329969 or mailed to St. Matthew's at 124 Knudsen St, Evan, MN 56266. Bethany church services are at 10:30 a.m. the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, and 8:30 a.m. the 2nd and 4th. 5th Sunday is at 8:30 a.m. Online offerings c

an be given to Bethany at https://tithe.ly/give?c=1330188 or mailed to Bethany at 27220 County Highway 13, Morgan, MN 56266. Your gifts make a big difference!

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today“I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever;with my mouth I will proclaim yo...
06/23/2026

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today
“I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to my servant David:
‘I will establish your descendants forever
and build your throne for all generations.’”~ Psalm 89:1-4
1) For what reasons does the Psalmist praise the Lord in these verses? For what reasons do you praise the Lord today? How often do you remember to stop and count your blessings and return your praise? How can you make this a daily practice? What difference will that make in your faith life?
2) What are your favorite ways to praise the Lord? Are there any favorite songs you particularly turn to during times of praise? What are some other ways that you might praise the Lord?

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today“Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the pries...
06/22/2026

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today
“Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord, and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill the words that you have prophesied and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord and all the exiles. But listen now to this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.” ~ Jeremiah 28:5-9
1) The prophet Jeremiah was sent to proclaim a hard word of truth to the Israelites, which made him deeply unpopular. The false prophet Hananiah, however, proclaimed false promises of good news and was highly regarded. Why is it so hard to avoid blaming the messenger who brings bad news? Why is it so hard for some people to believe bad news? What happens when we refuse to accept bad news?
2) How do you know when you can trust someone? Is it easier to figure out which of the individuals you know personally are trustworthy versus people you see on the news, politicians, or other public figures? Why or why not? Do you think that others consider you to be trustworthy?

What a beautiful community service we all enjoyed today! We were blessed to have the service lead by Becca and Lowell. W...
06/21/2026

What a beautiful community service we all enjoyed today! We were blessed to have the service lead by Becca and Lowell. We honored their service to our community with donuts and coffee before service. These two will surely be missed!
Thank you again Becca and Lowell for the endless love and support the last 22 years!

We will worship together with our neighbors this morning at Vernon Park in Morgan beginning at 9:00 a.m. with cinnamon r...
06/21/2026

We will worship together with our neighbors this morning at Vernon Park in Morgan beginning at 9:00 a.m. with cinnamon rolls served beginning at 8:00 a.m. This will be the only worship service in our parish today. Feel free to bring a lawn chair for more comfortable seating and join us!

We will worship together with our neighbors tomorrow morning at Vernon Park in Morgan beginning at 9:00 a.m. with cinnam...
06/20/2026

We will worship together with our neighbors tomorrow morning at Vernon Park in Morgan beginning at 9:00 a.m. with cinnamon rolls served beginning at 8:00 a.m. This will be the only worship service in our parish tomorrow. Feel free to bring a lawn chair for more comfortable seating and join us!

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today“Everyone, therefore, who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge befo...
06/20/2026

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today
“Everyone, therefore, who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven, but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” ~ Matthew 10:32-39
1) Where do you find good news in these verses? In what ways does Jesus challenge you with these words? What might he be calling you to change? How do you feel about this passage? Why?
2) What does it mean to you to “take up your cross?” Since this sermon was given prior to the crucifixion, what do you think the disciples might have thought that it meant? In what ways might Jesus be working to help you to let go of what holds you back from following him more closely?

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and no...
06/19/2026

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”~ Matthew 10:26-31
1) What is the mood or tone of these verses? How do you think the disciples might have felt when Jesus said these things to them? How do these verses make you feel? In what ways are these verses especially well-suited to your life right now?
2) Where do you look for encouragement when you need it? Who are some of the most encouraging people in your life? How can you offer encouragement to someone else today? To whom might God be sending you with a reminder that even the hairs on their heads are all counted and they are deeply loved by God?

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today“A disciple is not above the teacher nor a slave above the master; it is enough for t...
06/18/2026

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today
“A disciple is not above the teacher nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!” ~ Matthew 10:24-25
1) What do you think these verses mean? What point do you believe Jesus was trying to get across to his disciples? Why would that have been important?
2) Do you get the sense that Jesus’ disciples respected him and revered him as one who was “above” them as their teacher? Can you think of times in his ministry when the disciples were disrespectful or doubtful of his authority or his mission? How often do you question what Jesus is doing in the world or in your own life? How often do you forget that you are his student and you are to pattern your life after his?

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today“What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may increase?...
06/17/2026

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today
“What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may increase? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, so we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” ~ Romans 6:1-11
1) Some of these verses are used at the beginning of our funeral liturgy. Why do you think that is? How might these verses be especially powerful for someone who is grieving? How do they seem to speak to your own life and circumstances today?
2) Paul reminds us that we have been set free from sin’s power over us. How often do you contemplate the gift of freedom that Christ has won for you on the cross? How should you use that freedom? What does it mean to you to be “alive to God in Christ Jesus?” (v.11)

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today“It is for your sake that I have borne reproach,that shame has covered my face.I have...
06/16/2026

Sunday-Weekday Connection for Today
“It is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
that shame has covered my face.
I have become a stranger to my kindred,
an alien to my mother’s children.
It is zeal for your house that has consumed me;
the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
When I humbled my soul with fasting,
they insulted me for doing so.
When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate,
and the drunkards make songs about me.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful help rescue me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
Do not let the flood sweep over me
or the deep swallow me up
or the Pit close its mouth over me.
Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Do not hide your face from your servant,
for I am in distress—make haste to answer me.
Draw near to me; redeem me;
set me free because of my enemies.” ~ Psalm 69:7-18
1) What are some of the hardest decisions you have had to make in your life? Did you intentionally seek the Lord’s help in making those decisions? Why or why not? When have you experienced the challenges of doing the right thing in the face of opposition (i.e. “having to go against the crowd”)? How often have you gone along with the crowd and chosen the easier, but ultimately wrong path? What were the consequences?
2) Under what types of circumstances might this Psalm have been written? Under what types of circumstances might it be especially helpful and/or meaningful to hear? How does it speak to you today?

Address

124 Knudsen Street
Evan, MN
56266

Telephone

+15077942456

Website

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