http://stmatthews.episcopalidaho.org/

St Matthews Episcopal Church, 902 6th Street, Rupert, ID (2026)

10/12/2026

Many thanks to Deacon Barbara Ward for sharing the sermon that she prepared for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 23, Year A, based on the scripture lessons for the day - Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4:1-9; and Matthew 22: 1-14:

Have you ever gotten impatient? So impatient that doing something, anything, feels much better than doing nothing at all? I’ve shared with you before about the time in my college years when I was involved in a church student group. We were getting to know one another, so we participated in a trust-building activity. We were paired off as partners, and one of the partners was blind-folded. The other partner was to guide the blind-folded partner around. All movement was non-verbal, and the blindfolded person had to trust the partner to keep oneself safe. Imagine guiding a person around, up and down stairs, around obstacles. Well, while I was blind-folded, my partner stopped at one point and waited. I became impatient for the next cue, so I took a step forward, and walked right into a wall….

That’s something like what Aaron, the brother and advisor to Moses, did in the Exodus reading this morning. It was three months after their release from slavery in Egypt due to God’s power and protection, after the Israelites had escaped through the Red Sea, that the Israelites were camped in the desert at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses went up Mount Sinai to talk with God, and ended up staying for 40 days and 40 nights. The Israelites became impatient and begged Aaron to provide something tangible, something visible for them to worship, to give them comfort. So Aaron ordered the people to bring him their gold, which was melted down and molded into a golden calf. Aaron proclaimed a feast day with burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Needless to say, God was angry at the sight of the people celebrating before the golden calf, and God’s anger threatened to wipe them out. Moses begged God not to destroy his people, and actually asked the Lord to turn from his anger, change his mind, and not bring disaster on his chosen people. The Lord did change his mind, reminding us that God’s justice is tempered by mercy. I wonder what is in the mind of God today, as God watches the people of the Middle East, the people of the world, continuing to wage war.

As I look back at my faith journey, a person who modeled patience for me was one of our former Presiding Bishops, Katharine Jefferts Schori. Presiding Bishop Katharine came to the Diocese of Idaho for the consecration of Bishop Brian many years ago. Before the consecration, she met with the clergy of the Diocese, and she began by leading us in a meditation using God’s pronouncement after Jesus’ baptism, when God said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.” The Presiding Bishop asked us to meditate for 5 to 10 minutes, using that phrase as a guide and substituting ourselves for Jesus. I ask you to do likewise when you have time later today, to see what surfaces for you. “I am beloved of God, and with me, God is well-pleased.” Hopefully, you will find the experience healing, relieving, an affirmation that our beloved-ness is not based on our doing, but on our being. It is not an affirmation from outside ourselves, but from within.

Presiding Bishop Katharine next said to us that Friday morning, “So, what is it that you’d like to talk about this morning?” All of a sudden, there was dead silence. She did not rush to fill the silence, but waited, a non-anxious presence. And sure enough, someone finally asked her a question, then someone else another question, and before we knew it, she had dialogued with us for two hours, all of it non-scripted. We could have gone on, except that we were told it was lunchtime.

One of my favorite questions of her came from a priest who was also a scientist. You see, Presiding Bishop Katharine’s mother had been a microbiologist, her father had been an atomic physicist, and she herself had earned a doctorate in oceanography. The priest asked the Presiding Bishop what it was like for her to transition from being an oceanographer to being a priest. Katharine Jefferts Schori responded, “Well, I still fish. And I still work in the depths.” And when she was asked what it was like being the first female primate at Lambeth, which is the meeting of the Anglican Communion every 10 years in England, and she was surrounded by disapproving bishops from around the world, some of whom didn’t approve of ordaining women as priests, let alone bishops, she said that most people tend not to be rude to one’s face. She said she had wonderful conversations with other bishops, and talked about the daily Bible study group she was a part of with two bishops from Japan, a bishop from Ireland, one from Scotland, one from French Guinea, another from Tanzania in Africa, and one from Massachusetts. After 14 days of dialog, they had formed long-lasting relationships. Her goal within the Episcopal Church of the USA was an appreciation of diversity. She said, “We don’t have to agree in order to worship together and work together.” She is also a firm believer that sometimes it takes only one person to move a system.

When asked about ministering in the midst of financial uncertainty, the Presiding Bishop reminded us that our value is as beloved of God, that our value does not depend on our bank accounts. She encouraged us to look for more Godly ways to do commerce, and to remember, that which endures is not mammon, is not material wealth and possessions.

I could go on about our conversation with the Presiding Bishop that Friday morning. But what is most appropriate here is her example of non-anxious presence. She was firmly rooted in God. She was patient. She did not rush to fill the silence, and she gave us a chance to plumb the depths of ourselves.

As we move into an uncertain future as a church, as a nation, and as the world, do not be impatient. Take time to plumb the depths. Work towards peace rather than war; work towards consensus and dialog rather than confrontation, name-calling, and finger-pointing; and work for the good of all rather than prosperity for the few. Be non-anxious, remembering that each and every one of us is beloved of God. Amen.

10/09/2026

October 11th is the 20th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 23, Year A. Join the people of St. Matthew's as we worship God with service of Morning Prayer beginning at 10:00 a.m. Deacon Barbara Ward will preach and Kori Pavkov will officiate. Children are invited for Sunday School or child care in the Parish Hall during the service, and a coffee hour follows the service. All are welcome - without exception! Todos son bienvenidos - sin excepción!

10/04/2026

Many thanks to Deacon Tammy Jones for sharing the sermon that she prepared for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi:

A poor man asked Buddha, “Why am I so poor?”
Buddha said, “Because you do not learn to give.”
The poor man said, “But I don’t have anything to give.”
Buddha said: “You have a few things…
The Face, which can give a smile;
The Mouth, which can praise or comfort others;
The Heart, which can open up to others;
The Eyes, which can admire others;
The Body, which can be used to help others.”

On October 4 we celebrate the life of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals. Saint Francis of Assisi was a Catholic friar who gave up a life of wealth to live a life of poverty. He established the Franciscan Order of friars and the women's Order of the Poor Ladies.

Francis believed that people had an obligation to see nature as part of God’s family. Saint Francis is also the patron saint of Italy and cloth merchants.

Francis was born in Assisi, Italy, in 1182. He grew up leading a privileged life as the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. Francis loved to learn and sing songs as a boy. His father wanted him to become a businessman and taught him about the French culture.

About the age of nineteen Francis went to battle against the nearby town of Perugia. Francis was captured and taken prisoner. He was held prisoner in a dungeon for a year before his father paid the ransom and he was set free.

Over the next few years Francis began to see visions from God that changed his life. The first vision was when he was sick with a high fever. At first, he thought that God had called him to fight in the Crusades. However, he had another vision that told him to help the sick. Finally, when praying in a church, Francis heard God tell him to "repair my church, which is falling in ruins."

Francis gave all his money to the church. His father became very angry with him. Francis then left his father's home and took a vow of poverty.

As Francis lived his life of poverty and preached to people about the life of Jesus Christ, people began to follow him. By 1209, he had around 11 followers. He had one basic rule which was "to follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps".

Francis was a devoted follower of the Catholic Church. He and his followers traveled to Rome to get the approval for their religious Order from the pope. At first the pope was reluctant. These men were dirty, poor, and smelled bad. However, eventually he understood their vow of poverty and blessed the Order.

The Franciscan Order grew as men joined and made vows of poverty. When a woman named Clare of Assisi wanted to take similar vows, Francis helped her start the Order of the Poor Ladies (Order of Saint Clare). He also started another order (later called the Third Order of Saint Francis) that was for men and women who didn't take vows or leave their jobs, but lived out the principles of the Franciscan Order in their daily lives.

Francis was known for his love of nature and animals. There are many stories about Saint Francis and his preaching to animals. It is said that one day he was talking to some birds when they began to sing together. Then they flew into the sky and formed the sign of a cross.

Francis became ill and spent the last few years of his life mostly blind. He died in 1226 while singing Psalm 141. He was declared a saint of the Catholic Church only two years after his death.

There are several ways St. Francis taught us how to live, but here are three examples:

1. Find Peace in God’s presence. One of his closest companions, Brother Leo, would get discouraged at times. Brother Leo asked Francis to write something for him that would lift up his spirits.

When Brother Leo died, a small parchment was found in his habit and is preserved to this day in Assisi. Francis wrote:

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his face and bring you peace.
The Lord bless you, Leo.

This blessing was so comforting to Leo because it reminded him of God’s presence in his life, and the peace that comes from that presence. This gift is for all of us, too.

2. Embrace Simplicity. Francis was known as the person who most patterned his life after that of Christ’s.

It was his joy to follow the poor and humble Christ. Francis was known to practice the virtue of poverty to a high degree, owning no property, living very simply, begging for his food, living among and caring for those who were ostracized from society. He treasured Holy Poverty and guarded it carefully because he wanted nothing to get in the way of the greatest possession of all – God.
Francis spent his life serving others after the example of Jesus, who said: “I have come to serve, not to be served.” He freely gave to those in need from whatever he had.

A way to honor his memory is to reach out to those in need with the gift of your time or treasure through one of the many service organizations in our communities.

3. Respect the Dignity of all Life. Another way to take on his spirit today is to see each individual you encounter as your brother or sister, with inherent dignity, created by God and deserving of your respect and loving concern.

Every human life is a gift. Each of us is a gift. The world is a gift. To know that we are gifts, makes thanksgiving possible. To recognize that we have been created by the free act of God, is to know that we are LOVED.

This is the legacy of Saint Francis: to recognize that everything we have is a gift from God, and that those gifts are not meant to be held tightly, but shared generously.

That brings us back to the story of the poor man who asked Buddha, “Why am I so poor?”

Buddha reminded him that he had more to give than he realized. He had a face that could smile; a mouth that could praise and comfort; a heart that could love; eyes that could see the goodness in others; and a body that could serve.

Saint Francis would have understood that lesson well.
Perhaps today we can ask ourselves the same question. What do I have to give?

Maybe it is money. Maybe it is time. Maybe it is a listening ear, a kind word, a helping hand, forgiveness, encouragement, or simply the willingness to notice someone who feels forgotten.

We don't have to be wealthy to be generous. We don't have to be important to make a difference. We don't have to have much to give much.

Saint Francis reminds us that every person we meet is a gift from God. Every creature is a gift. The world itself is a gift. And we are gifts, too. May we leave here today with grateful hearts, open hands, and a willingness to serve.

In the words and spirit of Francis, let us pray:
“Praise and bless my Lord,
and give Him thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.” Amen.

09/27/2026

Many thanks to the Ven. Janet King for sharing the sermon that she prepared for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 21, Year A, based on the scripture lessons for the day - Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 78:1-4,12-16; Philippians 2:1-13; and Matthew 21:23-32:

In today's gospel the setting is the temple of Jerusalem. The time is the day after Palm Sunday, Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem and then driving out the money changers from the temple. So, when the chief priests and the elders found Jesus teaching in the temple, you can just see them go after him, puffed up with their own authority. “By what authority are you doing these things?” (Matt 21:23)

Father Marshall Jolly wrote that Jesus asked 307 questions recorded in the gospels, was asked 183 questions by others, and gave direct answers to only three questions (The Rev. Marshall Jolly 9-27-2026).

The chief priests and elders were just setting a trap for Jesus. Jesus deflects the trap and turns it on the leaders, unmasking their major concern which is maintaining their own privilege and power (Feasting on the Word Year A, Vol. 4, p. 119). He asked, “Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” (Matt 21:25) They fell into the trap they had set.

Jesus follows up with the parable of the two sons:
Q. On which of the two sons will judgment fall? Both sons said one thing and did the other.
A. On the second, they answer.
Q. Why?
A. Because he didn't do the will of his father.
Q. What then is the father's will?
A. “This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.” (John 6:40)
(Robert Farrar Capon, Parables of Judgment, p. 105)

True righteousness is in the doing, rather than in the speaking. The purpose of the parable is to make hearers question their own righteousness (FotW p.118). Judgment falls on un-faith alone. Salvation is not by works - physical, intellectual, moral, or spiritual, but by faith in Jesus. The tax collectors and prostitutes are saved because they believed, not because they shaped up (Capon p.107). The repentance of the tax collectors and prostitutes is getting them into heaven before the judgmental, unrepentant, self-righteous religious authorities.

“Which of the two sons did the will of his father? (Matt 21-31) They answer, “The first.” What is it like to answer a question to which you know the right answer, but you don't want to hear it? What is it like to be asked a question that may call you to change your mind? Jesus' questions are seldom about the right answers; instead, they are about calling his hearers, and us, to be transformed (FotW p. 118).

In Philippians, Paul called the people to look to the interests of others. Humility was viewed as a weakness in first-century Mediterranean culture. In our current authoritarian atmosphere, humility is highly counter-cultural. But if Christ can humble himself, we are to learn to imitate his example. Humility is much easier to recognize than it is to practice (FotW p. 113).

During the struggle for India's independence, Mahatma Gandhi said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ” (FotW p. 110). Impersonators take great pains to make people believe they are who they are not. Imitators strive to live up to the challenge of being a reflection of the person they look up to (FotW p. 110).

Be imitators of Christ. Amen.

09/26/2026

It's already been a week since the St. Matthew's Guild gathered for their quarterly luncheon and business meeting. Many thanks to Chris Sept for sharing some of the photos that she took during the pinecone wreath-making activity as we approach the Advent and Christmas seasons.

09/26/2026

September 27th is the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 21, Year A. Join the people of St. Matthew's as we worship God with a service of Morning Prayer beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Ven. Janet King will preach, and Deacon Barbara Ward will officiate. Children are invited for Sunday School or child care in the Parish Hall during the service, and a coffee hour follows the service. All are welcome - without exception! Todos son bienvenidos - sin excepción!

09/20/2026

Many thanks to Deacon Tammy Jones for sharing the sermon that she prepared for the17th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 20, Year A, based on the scripture readings for the day - Exodus 16:2-15; Psalm 105; Philippians 1:21-30; and Matthew 20:1-16:

Today’s Gospel reading of Matthew was written during the first century in Palestine, somewhere around the year 80 AD. Yet it feels like it was written during the 21st century here in America, around the year 2026.

Here in America, there is a tremendous difference between those who have accumulated great wealth and those who are struggling just to make ends meet. Some people have homes that have been passed down through generations, investments and savings that provide security and opportunities that open doors for their children. Others work just as hard and still live paycheck to paycheck.

It is human nature to measure the value of a house, the size of a paycheck, how much someone has in the bank, how many hours they worked, what they contributed, and what they deserve in return.

It is also our human nature to measure fairness. We tend to believe that people should receive according to what they have earned. If I work eight hours, and you work eight hours, we should receive the same pay. If I work all day, and you work one hour, surely, I should receive more.

Seems fair, right?

That's exactly where Jesus takes us in today's Gospel.

A landowner goes out early in the morning and hires workers for his vineyard. He agrees to pay them the usual daily wage. Then, throughout the day, he keeps going back to the marketplace and hiring more workers.

Some work all day in the scorching heat. Some work half the day. Some work only a few hours. And some work for only the last hour.

But when the day is over, the landowner pays them all the same.

And the people who worked all day are angry.

They basically say, “That's not fair.”

And honestly, we understand where they are coming from.

But just like all of Jesus’ parables, there is a lesson to learn in this story, and the lesson isn't really about fairness.

Jesus is giving us a lesson about grace.

The workers who came early weren't cheated. They received exactly what they had agreed to receive. The problem wasn't that they were treated unfairly. The problem was that someone else received generosity that wasn’t deserved in their eyes.

And sometimes that's where we humans struggle.

We can be grateful for God's blessings in our own lives—until we see God blessing someone else.

We can be thankful that we were forgiven—until someone who hurt us is forgiven.

We can rejoice that God has given us another chance—until God gives another chance to someone we don't think deserves it.

The workers who arrived at the end of the day were standing in the marketplace because no one had hired them. They had spent the day waiting. They may have been worried about how they would feed their families, wondering whether they would have anything to take home that night.

So they waited all day in the scorching sun, waiting for someone to notice them. The landowner does. He doesn't ask them to prove that they are worthy. He simply says, “Go into the vineyard.” And at the end of the day, he gives them what they need. Grace.

Grace is not a reward for having worked the longest. Grace is God's generosity toward people who cannot claim that they earned it.

We are all invited to God's vineyard and we all come to the vineyard at a different time.

Some of us spend years serving faithfully in God’s vineyard. Some of us wander away and eventually come back. Some of us come to the vineyard with very little to offer except a willingness to say, “Here I am Lord. Put me to work.”

This may be where the parable becomes personal. Because if we are honest, most of the time we are the workers who arrive early, looking around and wondering why someone else is receiving the same grace we have received. We start measuring: I worked harder, I was here longer, I deserve more.

Jesus reminds us that God's grace was never something we earned in the first place.

Perhaps the question Jesus leaves us in this 21st century, in the year 2026, isn't, “Did everyone get what they deserved?”

The question to us is:

“Can I be grateful for what God has given me and rejoice when God is generous to someone I feel doesn’t deserve it?”

In God's vineyard, we are not competing for God's love. We are not competing for grace. We are not competing for God's generosity. There is enough for all of us.

Jesus tells us: “The last will be first, and the first will be last.” And maybe that is the greatest gift of all.

09/19/2026

September 20th is the 17th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 20, Year A. Join the people of St. Matthew's as we worship God with a service of Holy Eucharist beginning at 10:00 a.m. Deacon Tammy Jones will preach, and Father Rand F**g will officiate. Children are invited for Sunday School or child care in the Parish Hall during the service, and a coffee hour follows the service. All are welcome - without exception! Todos son bienvenidos - sin excepción!

A vestry meeting will follow coffee hour.

09/16/2026

The St. Matthew's Guild invites you to its fall potluck luncheon and quarterly meeting on Saturday, September19th, at noon in the Parish Hall. You are also invited to stay for a pinecone wreath-making activity, with the option to make an Advent wreath.

The Guild will provide wreath forms, Advent candles, and ribbon, and there will be plenty of pinecones to go around. You are welcome to bring your own pinecones too, of course. We request that you do bring your own glue gun.

If you haven't signed up in the Parish Hall for this activity, please let the Guild President, Tammy Young, know that you would would like to join in. It should be fun!

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