St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church

06/08/2026

Are you interested in defending creation and learning about the origin of human beings?
The Society of Creation is holding its annual conference at St. Paul Lutheran (LCMS) in Grafton this Friday and Saturday.
Speakers include Drs. Gary Locklair, Angus Menuge, and Michael Young. Mr. Joshua Nelson from Wisconsin Lutheran High school will give two presentations as will Dr. Jeff Tomkins from the Institute for Creation Research.
There is no admission charge. For more information and to sign up, visit https://societyofcreation.org/conferences/

06/02/2026

Jump Back June
If you've fallen behind reading the Bible in a Year with us, or even if you never started, June would be a great time to jump into the daily readings.
The Old Testament readings for June will cover all the kings of Israel and many of the kings of Judah.
The New Testament readings will cover much of the book of Acts.
Jump in and read with us

05/22/2026

The historic church remembers St. Constantine on 21 May. Constantine the Great was the first Christian Emperor of the Roman Empire. He is recognized as the "Thirteenth Apostle" by the Eastern Church.

His Edict of Milan decriminalized Christianity and ended Christian persecution. This dramatic shift from the horrific persecution under Diocletian led to the flourishing and spread of Christianity throughout the Roman empire.

Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 to ensure unity of Christian doctrine. He presided over the council which developed the Nicene Creed and addressed the A***n controversy. Constantine’s leadership

His involvement demonstrated the emperor's commitment to maintaining unity within the Christian Church and establishing sound doctrine.

05/13/2026

One of the first festivals celebrated in the early church was Ascension because it is filled with such comfort and joy. Christ's ascension proves that:
- he is true God, we can trust him
- salvation is complete, we can be certain we're saved
- Jesus is now ruling over all things
- Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven

Come and be blessed
Ascension Worship w/ HC
Thursday, May 14 @ 6:30 PM

Luke 24
44 He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He said to them, “This is what is written and so it must be:[d] The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 Look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
50 He led them out as far as the vicinity of Bethany. He lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 And while he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven. 52 So they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 They were continually in the temple courts, praising and[e] blessing God. Amen.

05/06/2026

Our Bible In One Year readings have begun the book of Ruth in the Old Testament.

The Book of Ruth relates a beautiful story in the history of King David’s family, illustrating how God guides history for the sake of His people. He works through suffering and redemption to preserve His people and to welcome the nations. These aspects of the Book point to the birth of Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, who descends from Ruth and Boaz. Though the Book of Ruth is not a love story, it beautifully illustrates the Lord’s enduring love for you. As you read Ruth, consider how the Lord calls you to show love and faithfulness to your family and your neighbors, for whom Christ lived and gave His life. (Lutheran Study Bible)

God’s grace is symbolized in this book by the truth that participation in the kingdom of God is not determined by blood or birth, but by “the obedience that comes by faith” (Romans 1:5). The position of Ruth, a Moabite woman, as the great-grandmother of David and an ancestress of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) reveals that all nations are represented in the kingdom of God. A key concept in this book is “redemption,” a word that occurs 23 times. (Concordia Study Bible)

04/30/2026

In our Bible In One Year readings, we begin the New Testament book of John today.

Martin Luther said the Gospel of John was crucial for understanding the divinity of Christ. He emphasized that John’s teachings are clear and accessible to all Christians. Luther wrote, “[in] John’s Gospel … you do find depicted in masterly fashion how faith in Christ overcomes sin, death, and hell, and gives life, righteousness, and salvation. This is the real nature of the gospel.”

Even if you haven’t been following along, I encourage you to read through the book of John. “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30,31 ESV)

04/16/2026

WELS daily devotion are a good way to spend a little time with God's Word.

I found this devotion for 15 April especially insightful.

“Unless I see… unless I touch… I will not believe.”...

04/15/2026

If you're having trouble finding the time read through the Bible in One Year, you might consider just reading the New Testament portion of the readings each day. The New Testament is about 1/3 the size of the Old Testament, so the daily readings are much shorter.

We are in the middle of the Gospel of Luke, but begin today and continue reading.

The New Testament Daily Readings from Bible In A Year Online allows you to read through the entire New Testament in as little as 5 minutes each day.

04/05/2026

The Resurrection, Luke 24

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. 3 When they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. 5 The women were terrified and bowed down with their faces to the ground.

The men said to them, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again?” 8 Then they remembered his words.

9 When they returned from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. 11 Yet these words seemed to them like nonsense, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over to look in, he saw only the strips of linen cloth. He went home, amazed at what had happened.

04/04/2026

Jesus’ Burial, from Matthew 27

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock. He rolled a large stone over the tomb’s entrance and left. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there sitting opposite the tomb.

62 On the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered in the presence of Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remembered what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give a command that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise his disciples might steal his body and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead.’ And this last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and posting a guard.