st-matthews-lutheran-church

Doing Theology

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:35:23 GMT

We all are doing theology...

Beloved Community,

This week, as I prepare my sermon on John 10, I’ve been wrestling with some questions.

How do I invite people to go deeper into their own understanding of God?

How do I explain God to others, when honestly, sometimes, the world makes me doubt my own understanding of God too.

So I did what I tend to do when I’m stuck. I dig deep into rabbit holes, which more often than not, lead me back to my old notes.

Tonight, I found myself buried in my old seminarian materials, reading up on a call that focused on Eucharist and Baptist. It was there that I stumbled upon a framework I hadn’t used in a while. It is a structure for the different ways we might wrestle with theology.

I wanted to share my notes with you all.

The word theology comes from the Greek.

Theos = God

Logos = Word, Meaning

Theology is not just something pastors, deacons, and scholars do in classrooms and churches. Theology is something all of us do, all the time. Every time we ask, where is God in this. Every time we try to make meaning out of hardships and difficult situations. Every time we pray, every time doubt creeps up within us, every time we show up because we’re listening to the nudge of something beyond us. That is theology.

It is us humans, doing the deeply holy work of trying to understand God.

Even though it feels messy. We can’t fully understand everything. And yet, we are still participating in theology. And faith, faith is what moves us to keep doin it, to keep digging deeper, even when we want to give up and the times we do give up.

My old notes reminded me of three ways we might relate to the theology we’re carrying.

The first is what my professor described as home theology.

Home theology is the place in your faith where you feel most yourself. Where you feel at home, at ease, where things click and you think, yes, I know this place. I feel comfortable and my heart feels at rest here.

Maybe it’s an image of God you hold close to your heart. Maybe it is a particular way you pray, that the rhythm feels comfortable to return to. A passage of scripture you return over and over throughout different seasons of your life.

Home theology feels like a gift, for it is where you feel comforted and alive in your faith.

The second is growth theology.

Growth theology is a space within your faith where some things may unsettle you. Where you might feel resistance within you. Especially when you feel the tug to go deeper and part of you isn’t sure you want to. And as you venture deeper into this space of faith, it is where God keeps meeting in your discomfort.

Growth theology might trouble us, it is the places, thoughts, and parts of our lives we might try our best to hold at arms length. ANd yet, it is in these liminal spaces that God is quietly stirring up an expansion within us we didn’t know was possible.

Then the third is journey theology.

Journey theology, this is where theology has shifted and changed over time. Where your image and understanding of God has been reshaped as time has passed.

Journey theology continually asks us over time, what has shaped who I am in God? How has my understanding of God changed? And how does that change my relationship with God now?

And as I sit with the passage John 10:1-10 this week, I let it ask me the same questions. Jesus says, my sheep hear my voice . And I find myself wondering, what does this mean for me, right now, at this moment. Where am I hearing God's voice? Where am I not?

And so, I also invite you to discern these same questions. To notice where God is already showing up in your home, in your growth, in the stories of your journey.

Where is your faith most alive right now?

Where is God inviting you into waters that feel unfamiliar and challenging?

And as you move into unknown holy waters, perhaps you might look back on your own journey and remember what has already carried you.

What does your life journey tell you about how God has been present, even in times that you felt most alone?

Together, let us pray.

God of the open gates.

You know each of our names.

This week, meet us where we are, calling us by name,

In our homes, in the places where we are growing even when the stretching feels uncomfortable. Remind us, again and again, because it is easy for us to forget. That you journey with us, wherever we might find ourselves.

Help us to see your thread of grace and love woven throughout our lives.

Lead us, O God, so that we may recognize your voice.

Amen.

In the hope of the One Who Calls Us by Name,

Pastor Rachel

Salt and Light

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:20:18 GMT

Beloved Community... Stay Salty

Jesus said:

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled underfoot.

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13–15 NRSVUE

Jesus speaks to us in the language of you are.

Salt. Light. A city on a hill.

Jesus fuses our identity with our public witness. Who we are and how we show up in the world belong together.

Imagine Jesus holding you by the shoulders, drawing you close, looking so deeply into your eyes that it feels like your soul is being embraced. And Jesus says your name.

(insert your name) You are the salt of the earth.

(Insert your name) You are the light of the world.

You are a precious spice that shapes the course of history.

You are radiant, dripping with divine color that helps others shine.

Salt is everywhere. In the sea. In the soil. In our food. In our tears. We need salt to live. Across cultures, there are thousands of kinds of salt. The earliest roads were built to transport it. The earliest taxes were levied on it. Revolutions were sparked by its misuse. Roman soldiers were paid with salt, which is where we get the word "salary". Venice rose as a trading empire because of salt. Gandhi used salt to move a nation toward freedom.

In ancient times, salt healed wounds. Salt preserved food. Salt accompanied offerings. In scripture, salt symbolized a binding relationship between God and God’s people. Eating together was called salt sharing. Salt draws out flavor. It helps things taste as they should.

Salt does not exist for itself. It exists to promote life.

When Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth,” he reminds his disciples that they are precious and holy and that their presence matters to the flourishing of others. Salt only loses its saltiness when it is contaminated or diluted. Staying salty matters.

Salt preserves.

Salt heals.

Salt transforms.

Salt promotes life.

So too, the calling of the disciples and for us is to preserve, heal, transform, and promote life all around us. Even a small amount makes a difference.

Jesus is saying, You are God’s presence, compassion, and mercy in the world.

all?

Jesus also says, “You are the light of the world.”

Light helps things be seen. Light spills outward. This light is already within you, given by the grace and love of God. You cannot manufacture it. You carry it.

“This Little Light of Mine” became a song of courage during the Civil Rights Movement. When Fannie Lou Hamer sang it at the 1964 Democratic National Convention, she was naming her commitment out loud. In mass meetings across the Jim Crow South, when sheriffs showed up to intimidate, people sang to reclaim the space. Their voices, joined together, served as a glowing reminder of God's promised presence in each of them who were resisting the forces of violence, hatred, and cruelty. [A Little History of this Little Light of Mine - NPR - All Things Considered]

Being salt and light shapes our identity and also illuminates our calling.

We hear this blessing as we emerge from the waters of baptism.

Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to God in heaven.

Beloveds...

You already carry what the world needs.

Stay salty.

Let your light shine.

Pastor Kacey

We Belong To One Another

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:56:57 GMT

Though we bring different gifts, it is the same Spirit who makes them alive in us...

Beloved Community,

On Sunday, during our workshop, "Following God in a Fearful World," and on Monday morning at our staff retreat, we read a powerful remix of 1 Corinthians 12:4-26 by M. Jade Kaiser. Here is her creative interpretation:

Though we bring different gifts, it is the same Spirit who makes them alive in us. There are so many ways to serve the call of Love. None of us are without something to bring to the work of the common good.

To one, the Spirit gives discerning wisdom

and to another, the strength to weep for all that is being lost,

to another, an unshakable belief in the potential of transformation,

to another, a soft presence that holds space for healing,

to another, a fire that inspires and compels,

to another, the courage to name and unveil,

to another, humor that upholds us,

to another, a curiosity that bridges,

to another still, the gift for telling stories – ancient, fresh, intimate, and collective.

For just as the body is one and has many members,

and just as all the members of the body, though many, are one body,

so it is with Christ.

For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – we are different in culture, social location, backgrounds, bodies, and beliefs – but we were all made to drink of one Spirit who calls us to collapse power-over among us.

Our baptism does not condone hierarchies. It calls upon us to bring about the dreams of God on earth – where all is held in rightful balance, none oppressed or confined, and all with access to what is needed to flourish.

Indeed, the body does not consist of one part but of many. If the artist would say, “because I am not a bridge-builder, I do not belong to the work of the common good,” that would not make them any less needed. And if the one who bears witness and holds stories would say, “because I am not a dynamic speaker, I do not belong to the work of the common good,” that would not make them any less needed.

If the whole body were listeners, where would the ones who tell the truth be? If the only ones who are valued in the work of Love are those with money to give, who will be the ones to practice civil disobedience for us when evil will not budge? Who will teach our children in the ways of justice and compassion? Who will nourish our bodies – feed us, offer us touch, tend to our wounds? Who will provide us with music, that our labor may be accompanied with dancing? Will we find laughter anywhere, to sustain our spirits?

Each of us are needed and each of us have offerings to bring. If we were all the same, what could we achieve? How would we survive? What a dull endeavor this would be.

The business person cannot say to the activist, I have no need of you.

Nor can the doctor say to the poet, I need you not.

On the contrary, the members of the body that society deems least significant are those most needed. We respect the disrespected. We recognize the value of the quiet ones, the strange ones, the misunderstood, misrepresented, and under-resourced ones. We lift them up and honor them, that the whole body might thrive.

If any of us suffer, we all suffer.

If any of us have cause to rejoice, we all celebrate.

In these days of uncertainty, fear, and unrest, the vision of Christ’s body reminds us of this truth. We belong to one another. Our lives are bound together by the Spirit who breathes life into every gift, every act of care, every quiet offering of presence. Love holds us even when the world feels fragmented. When one part of the body aches, the ache touches all of us all. When one part of the body dares to hope, the hope flows through our collective veins. To remember our belonging is holy, yet hard work. It keeps us grounded when fear closes in and lures us to isolate or believe the illusion that we are separate.

On Saturday morning, I attended a class with Kazu Haga who was one of the guest panelists. He has written two exceptional books, Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm , and Fierce Vulnerability: Meeting Trauma in a Time of Collapse . In class, he offered this wisdom: healing from collective trauma begins when we recognize our deep interconnection, because transformation happens through relationship, shared practice, and the steady work of learning to belong to one another, even amid harm and rupture. If you would like to learn more about Kazu Haga, you can visit his website at https://www.kazuhaga.com/. I have decided to join his Fierce Vulnerability Kinship Lab (3-month journey to inspire collective action rooted in healing, emergence, and deep care) in mid-March. Feel free to join me.

As a congregation, we continue to ask questions. What does deeper belonging look like? How can we build enriching relationships with the schools, social service organizations, churches, and our neighbors? How can we lead with a deep sense that we, as a faith community, are intricately tethered to all of our neighbors?

We are continuing to take steps to live out this belonging and invite you to join us in the holy work. You are warmly invited to the Community Meal on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Come to help prepare the meal, lend a hand with clean up, or simply arrive ready to share a table and receive nourishment. These moments remind us that we are entangled, intertwined, and interdependent, sustained by one another’s presence. You are also invited to join the Renton Community Prayer Vigil this Sunday at 1 PM outside Renton City Hall. At this multi-faith gathering, prayers and words will be shared for healing, peace, and the protection of all our neighbors. This is a chance to re-member that the body of Christ extends far beyond our walls and our expectations. As we open ourselves to the love of Christ, we also open ourselves to the needs, grief, and hopes of the world God loves.

May we remember,

If any of us suffer, we all suffer.

If any of us have cause to rejoice, we all celebrate.

In God’s love and hope,

Pastor Kacey

New Children, Youth, and Family Coordinator

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 01:59:14 GMT

Hello St. Matthew's Family and Friends!

My name is Charis Wirtley, and I am the new Children, Youth, & Family Coordinator! Words cannot begin to express how excited I am to start this new journey here with such a loving and welcoming congregation! It has been a long journey to get to this point, and I am absolutely ecstatic to get to call St. Matthew's and Washington my new home!

I am no stranger to the ELCA, as I grew up as a pastor's daughter! I got to live in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Texas, so I have lived all over! While we lived in Texas, I attended Blinn College to get my Associate of Arts in Music. After graduating from Blinn College, I transferred to Texas Lutheran University where I received dual degrees in Vocal Performance and Theology (with a pre-counseling concentration)!

I'm not sure what y'all would like to know about me, so I decided to make a random paragraph of things I like to do and things I care about (so if this paragraph feels all over the place, that's why). Outside of work, I love to play the Sims 4 on my laptop, play guitar, read, and write poetry! I have a deep love for my family: my dad Jerry, my mom Krista, and my two younger sisters Carina and Calea! I love the colors pastel yellow and pastel green! I have a deep commitment to radical love and the knowledge that all people are created in the image of God and nothing will separate us from the unconditional love of God, no matter what the world may say!

I am so ready to begin the amazing life of Children, Youth, & Family Coordinator and I hope to just uplift the incredible work already happening to new levels where we can continue to build and grow such an amazing program for children & youth here at St. Matthew's! If you have any questions for me, or any ideas or suggestions, please feel free to find me Sunday mornings or email me! I would love to hear from you! Thank you for such a warm welcome!

Grateful and Ready,

Charis Wirtley

Children, Youth, & Family Coordinator

Insisting on Hope this Advent

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 17:42:48 GMT

You are invited to enter this sacred season of Advent waiting....

This Advent, we are invited to insist on hope.

Not a shallow hope that looks away from reality, but a hope that truthfully speaks about what it is up against. A hope that discerns. Pulling and tugging at our hearts as we trust God again and again. We do this wrestling together as a community, as a reminder that we are not alone.

Our fears and worries are not failures, nor something to be ashamed or feel guilty about. When we truthfully name together what we’re experiencing. That fear is a real companion present with many of us.

And yet… God’s hope persists.

Every Advent, we light candles. We sing carols. We pray for Christ’s coming. Because we believe God entered a broken world to bring good news. That we are not alone. This Advent, we are reminded not to pretend the world is safe or easy. Instead, let us together dare to say that even here. Especially here. God draws near. God holds us. God suffers with us. Immanuel, God is with us, always.

This Advent, let us insist on hope believing that Christ came and that Christ will come again. Because that’s the promise of the season.

This hope. Our hope. It is gritty. Resilient. An honest hope. A hope that breathes the Spirit of life. A hope that does NOT deny our fear but refuses, refuses to bow down to it. This Advent, let us insist on hope . Trusting that Christ’s good news is greater than any fear. That we are God’s Beloved, loved through and through by God. That through our compassion, our resilience, our hope in God anything is possible.

That to lean into God’s call is to step into the unknown, carrying all of our doubts and insecurities alongside our gifts. Every single yes to God’s call invites us not into a perfect world, but into a deeper truth, a deeper trust, a deeper way of showing up for ourselves and for one another. We are reminded that courage and bravery is not the absence of fear. It is when we choose to show up even when we are quaking in our boots, when our voices tremble and we’d rather turn back. But instead we continue. We listen when we’re tired, we share compassion when we feel stretched, we hold space when our hearts are full and fragile.

Let us, together this Advent season, insist on hope .

During Advent we will gather every Sunday for Advent worship. Following the 10am worship we will host Advent Conversation from 11:30-12:30, by gathering around a warm meal, sharing stories, and reflecting on Advent together. There are several options for daily devotionals (online and printed) that are available on the St. Matthew’s website, in this Advent mailer, or published at the church.

Alongside our neighbors, we will also gather together for three Mid-Week Advent Dinner and Worships (in-person) on Wednesday, December 3, 10, 17, from 5:30-7:00 PM. Which will take place during our community meal where all are invited. You are invited to bring a salad or dessert to share at our weekly community meals. These community gatherings will be filled with Holy Spirit, mutual nourishment, and joy.

Potluck and Caroling to our homebound members on Sunday, December 14, 2024, at 11:15 AM.

For families of all ages and sizes, we will have a Cozy Christmas on Friday, December 5th, 2024, from 5:30-7:30 PM. On December 6th, from 5-8pm all are invited to a Holiday Pride and Pot Luck hosted by the Pride Team. Then on December 12th our youth are invited to a Christmas Youth Lockout from 7pm-Midnight an evening filled with surprises and laughter.

You are also invited to participate in the Christmas Giving Tree program for this year! This past Sunday we launched the Christmas Giving Tree to support the Youth of Ubumwe and Youth of our community. At this time the needs have grown so deeply and we are continually looking for more creative ways to support our community members. If you are looking to compassionately share of your heart please let us know.

Together, let us be reminded that God holds us through all of our experiences, and that together we’re building God’s kindom here and now.

Faithfully following Christ together in hope,

Pastor Rachel and Pastor Kacey

ADVENT EVENTS

How Do We Embody Love

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 23:12:33 GMT

Beloved Community, We Are Called to Love

Breath Prayer:

Inhale: "Send me, Lord."

Exhale: "To love as you love."

This past Monday, St. Matthew's and Sustainable Renton submitted a significant grant application to the Washington State Department of Commerce to install solar panels on our church building and upgrade all of our single-pane windows to energy-efficient ones. As I worked through the grant application, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude as I reflected upon the fact that St. Matthew's hosts over 15 nonprofits who use our building to care for our neighborhood. In the grant, we were able to lift up that St. Matthew's is truly a community hub where people receive direct care, nourishment, healing, connection, social services, mental health care, and numerous opportunities for spiritual growth. An additional 17 nonprofits depend upon food that Sustainable Renton gleans on a regular basis. Our partnerships and our intentional care for our neighbors speak volumes about how we long to embody Jesus' mission from Luke 4, "to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

For St. Matthew's, embodying love looks like hosting a Dia de los Muertos celebration (thank you Aidé and Gabe Gutierrez!) where everyone is invited to share stories of loved ones and delight in a culturally rich feast of food and connection. Embodying love looks like providing weekly food boxes to vulnerable families. Embodying love looks like attending to grieving families and offering compassionate care whether they are a members of the community or not. Embodying love looks like middle school students at the after school program getting a home cooked meal. Embodying love looks like a young man walking into our narthex, seeing the rainbow banner and saying, "I think I am home."

And embodying love also means using our voices when our siblings are under attack. That's why Pastor Rachel and I joined 48 other rostered leaders in the Northwest Washington Synod to read a letter speaking out against hate, the weaponization of religion, and increased violence against vulnerable members of our communities. Just as our building becomes a place of refuge and care, our voices and bodies can be instruments of protection and solidarity.

Here is the video you can watch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLiasl1QLEc

The letter that follows is the manuscript of the video. It is one more way we seek to embody Christ's love, not just within our walls, but in the public square, standing with and for those whom society seeks to exclude or erase. As you read or watch this witness, I invite you to consider: How is God calling you to embody love today?

_________________________________

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As ministers serving in the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we affirm the words of 49 of our Synod bishops throughout the United States of America. Those bishops wrote in this moment of national and global tension with clarity and conviction. Their faith, and our faith, compels us to stand where Jesus stands—with and for those whom society often seeks to exclude, erase, or diminish. Here are their words, which we affirm, support and echo:

Our shared confession that every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) grounds us in the conviction that all people possess inherent dignity. The incarnation of Jesus Christ reveals God’s profound solidarity with humanity—especially with those who are marginalized or oppressed. The gospel we proclaim insists that our neighbor’s need is the occasion for our love and that our public life is shaped by justice, mercy, and a commitment to the common good.

Further, we have a shared tradition in our social teachings which grounds us. The ELCA’s Social Message on Immigration reminds us:

“We are to respond to newcomers as we would to Christ—welcoming them, meeting their immediate needs, and advocating for justice in our laws and policies.”

Likewise, our recently adopted Social Statement Faith and Civic Life affirms that Christians are called to be “a public witness, holding leaders accountable when they fail to protect the vulnerable.”

We are living through a time when vulnerable communities are being scapegoated and attacked. Immigrants and refugees are vilified, though Scripture commands us to welcome the stranger. People of color continue to bear the devastating weight of racism woven into the fabric of our society. Transgender people, beloved by God, are being targeted with laws and rhetoric that deny their dignity and even their right to exist. These assaults on our siblings are not political abstractions—they are deep wounds in the body of Christ.

In this time of division and fear, we, as people grounded in our faith, insist on love.

This commitment flows from our faith in Christ crucified and risen—the One whose love breaks down barriers, confronts hatred, and transforms hearts.

Love insists on the dignity of every human being.

Love insists on justice for the marginalized and oppressed.

Love insists that the church must reflect God’s diverse, life-giving community.

Love insists that we listen, speak, and act with respect, even in disagreement.

Love insists on hope, trusting that God’s kingdom of justice and peace will prevail.

This love also compels us to speak clearly against Christian Nationalism, which our Churchwide Assembly named as a distortion of the Christian faith and an unhealthy form of patriotism. Christian Nationalism confuses the Gospel with political power, turns God into a mascot for the state, and privileges some people over others based on race, religion, or birthplace. This is not the way of Jesus. The kingdom of God is not a nation, not a culture, not a political ideology—it is God’s reign of love, justice, and mercy for all people.

Therefore, as pastors, deacons and rostered leaders of this church, we declare that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and all people of faith cannot be silent. Our call is clear:

• To proclaim the God-given dignity of every human being.

• To resist systems and ideologies, including Christian Nationalism, that oppress, dehumanize, or erase.

• To stand shoulder to shoulder with those who are targeted or harmed.

• To bear public witness that the love of Christ is stronger than fear, stronger than hatred, and stronger than death.

We call on all members of the ELCA to join us in prayer, advocacy, and action:

• Pray for those who are vulnerable and for all who work for justice.

• Advocate in your communities, legislatures, and Congress for laws that protect migrants, advance racial justice, and safeguard LGBTQIA+ people.

• Engage in the holy work of hospitality, creating spaces of safety, affirmation, and belonging for all God’s children.

• Model respectful dialogue in a polarized world, seeking understanding rooted in love.

• Hold fast to hope, trusting that the Spirit is still at work renewing creation and reconciling the world to God.

In baptism, we are marked with the cross of Christ forever. That cross is not only a sign of our hope—it is also a summons to follow Jesus into solidarity with those who suffer.

In the power of the Spirit, let us be bold. Let us be faithful.

Let us Insist on Love—in our words, our actions, our public witness, and our life together. Amen.

In God's Peace and Embodied Love,

Pastor Kacey

Practices of Hope

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 22:13:56 GMT

Mid-Week Devotional

Isaiah 58:10–11

If you offer your food to the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

then your light shall rise in the shadows

and your gloom be like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you continually,

and satisfy your needs in parched places,

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

Good morning Beloveds,

May the words of the prophet Isaiah remind us that hope is not a far away abstract feeling. Hope is lived out in our everyday faithfulness, even at times when we feel unfaithful. Hope looks like sharing food, deeply listening to the person in front of you, loving yourself when it's hard, and striving towards justice in meaningful ways.

This week, A Sanctified Art shared a reflection that resonated deeply during this time when many families across the country are worried about rising costs of living and the pause in SNAP benefits. A Sanctified Art gathered hundreds of pastors, creators, and artists who, in a time of prayer together wrestled with these wonderings:

What fears, laments, or longings do you offer to God?
What are some tangible ways you are practicing hope right now?
Where do you see glimmers of hope in the world?”

They wrote:

"In the midst of many overlapping fears, we also named the glimmers of hope emerging: in the changing seasons, in the laughter of children, in new connections, in people dialoguing and serving together beyond political and socioeconomic boundaries.

Perhaps what was most striking were the many ways people are practicing hope right now. Through monthly community dinners for neighbors, integrating silliness and play into acts of resistance, holding space for political grief support, dancing at home, gardening with hands in the earth, doing small things with great love and care, crafting and creating art together, lighting a candle.”

Liberation theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez wrote “to hope is to begin to create what does not yet exist.”

Imagine that, every small act of care a shared meal, a donated bag of groceries, a moment of listening, draws us into participation with Christ in creating what does not exist yet. Through these moments and choices, we are building hope within ourselves and amongst others, at time when it is easier to feel hopeless.

Theologian Dorothee Sölle called this kind of hope “suffering turned toward the future.” This hope, this precious hope is not born out of denial, it is shaped out of being in solidarity with those suffering. It accepts the reality of the pain of the situation and uses that truth to propel us into prayerful, sacred action. Our refusal to give into despair, allows for Christ's kindom to break in, to be present even amidst suffering.

And Howard Thurman reminded us that “the work of love is the quietest work in the world, yet it changes everything.” It even changes us, especially changes us.

I invite you to lean into that same hope of Christ, a hope that draws you into solidarity with those enduring hardships. Name aloud your fears and laments. Then wonder aloud, what are some tangible ways I can practice hope this week?

And if you're looking for ways, this week, Pr. Kacey and myself sent out a letter reminding people of WHAT WE CAN DO at this time.

St. Matthew’s Community Meal Team

1) St. Matthew's is launching a weekly community meal on Wednesday or Thursday evenings. We are in need of people to help cook, serve, and clean up. SIGN-UP HERE

Give Financially

2) Donate directly to a local food bank or our partners on the front lines of suffering: Sustainable Renton, Feeding Feasible Feasts, or you can contribute to St. Matthew’s Community Outreach Fund . For every can of soup you buy, a local food bank can purchase three. Your gift multiples in miraculous ways.

Connect Hungry Neighbors to Resources

4) If you know someone who is struggling to afford food, please send them to the resource page provided by Sustainable Renton.

SPREAD THE WORD

5) We are in search of a volunteer chef and are in the process of seeking grant funding to hire a chef who has the ability to make a meal for 50-80 people. If you know of someone or you might be interested, join us here.

May these practices of tangible hope remind us that through us, Christ is on the move, breaking and making all things new.

God of the hopeful,

You dwell among those who hunger and thirst for justice.

Plant your courage within us to share what we have,

to stand alongside those who suffer,

and to believe that love

can remake the world.

Turn our fear into compassion,

our scarcity into generosity,

and our waiting into the work of hope.

Amen.

With courage and compassion,

Pr. Rachel

Read A Sanctified Art’s reflection here:

Practices of Hope – A Sanctified Art Blog

For Such a Time as This

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 22:01:43 GMT

an emergency devotional

The story of Esther stands as one of Scripture's most powerful testimonies to courage in the face of overwhelming odds.

Esther was a Jewish woman from the tribe of Benjamin (Esther 2:5), part of the exiled community living in Persia after the Babylonian captivity. As an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, she understood in her bones what it meant to be vulnerable and displaced. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah, meaning "myrtle," but she took the Persian name Esther, likely meaning "star," a woman living between two worlds, carrying both her heritage and the reality of her foreign context. When she was taken into King Xerxes' harem and eventually chosen as queen (Esther 2:17), she concealed her Jewish identity on Mordecai's counsel, understanding the precarious position of her people.

Years later, when Haman's genocidal decree threatened to annihilate all Jews throughout the Persian Empire, Mordecai challenged her with these words: "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this ?" (Esther 4:14). Esther's response reveals her transformation from a woman hiding her identity to one willing to claim it fully: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:16). Her courage to act, even as she was filled with fear and did not know the outcome, reveals a faithful trust in in all times and places.

In our current moment, many of us find ourselves feeling like Esther, caught between the safety of silence and the risk of stepping forward and speaking out. It is hard to know how to navigate forces that feel beyond our control. A couple of weeks ago, David Hahn, introduced me to a new publication by Dr. Hanna Reichel's entitled, For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional. It is exceptional and I recommend buying it for all of your friends and family who are in need of encouragement right now. Drawing deeply from Scripture and theological wisdom, Dr. Reichel offers a framework for discerning God's voice amid chaos and anxiety. The book is not filled with easy answers or simplistic platitudes; instead, it provides grounding in God's character, practical spiritual disciplines for maintaining clarity, and thoughtful guidance for taking meaningful action when the path forward feels unclear. Each devotion helps readers distinguish between reactive fear and Spirit led discernment, equipping us to respond rather than merely react to the challenges before us.

Here is a thick description of the devotional:

A guide for ordinary Christians seeking to live faithfully in extraordinary times

“This is not the first end of the world. Many worlds have ended.”

In an era of political polarization, eroding democratic norms, and rising authoritarianism, many Christians find themselves disoriented, wondering how their faith should inform myriad daily decisions. Drawing upon both scholarship and pastoral wisdom, theologian Hanna Reichel offers a timely resource for believers seeking spiritual grounding amid societal upheaval.

For Such a Time as This provides a thoughtful framework for discernment rooted in scripture, historical wisdom, and the core commitments of Christian faith. Through meditations on scripture, reflections on historical precedents including the Confessing Church’s resistance to Nazi Germany, and portraits of inspiring figures who maintained their integrity in the face of oppression, Reichel guides readers toward their own Christian response to the present moment.

Written specifically for ordinary believers, this accessible volume acknowledges that while some are called to dramatic public witness, all must face the daily challenge of living faithfully as long-established institutions and systems reveal their fragility. Neither alarmist nor complacent, Reichel reminds readers that Christians throughout history have faced the collapse of worlds they once took for granted—and have discovered unexpected liberation in the process.

For anyone troubled by current political trends and searching for ways to disentangle faith in God from misplaced trust in political systems, For Such a Time as This offers both challenge and comfort. Readers will come away with practical wisdom for navigating our uncertain times, a deeper understanding of Christianity’s resources for resistance, and renewed energy for the urgent tasks that faithful discipleship demands today.

“None of this is unprecedented; what is unprecedented is that today it is we who have to do the hard work of seeing idols smashed, grieving and picking up the pieces, holding them into the sun, and seeing new refractions of light in their edges.”

We will be offering intentional conversations about For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional very soon, dates and times coming soon!

May God hold you in a grip of grace,

Pastor Kacey

You can purchase this devotional from the publisher: FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Blessings Abound: Baccalaureate Celebration

cyf@stmatthewsrenton.org (Mark Bedsaul) — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 20:28:52 GMT

Congratulations, class of 2025!

During the 10 AM service on Holy Trinity Sunday, the St. Matthew's community celebrated the graduating class of 2025 with a special blessing, the gifting of hand-crafted prayer shawls, and a celebratory reception that included many pieces of delicious cake, cookies, and brownies!

The photo above includes the graduates that celebrated in-person during the celebration service. David, Ava, Chimene, and Mark marked their educational milestones during the laying on of hands as each person was blessed in their heart, mind, and spirit as they prepare to take the next steps in their educational and vocational journeys.

As they look forward, David will attend the University of Washington - Seattle to pursue a degree in political science and international studies. Ava will attend Seattle Pacific University on either a biology or physiology track. Chimene has completed a certification program to teach Career and Technical education and looks forward to continuing to teach when school resumes this fall. Mark graduated college with a degree in secondary education - social studies broadfield and is excitedly entering the application process to teach in the near future.

In addition to the graduates that celebrated in-person, community members Kieren and Andy also celebrated educational milestones. Kieren graduated high school and looks forward to taking a gap year to explore possibilities for the future. Andy graduated from Western Washington University with a History Master of Arts and has found a teaching position this fall.

Blessings abound and the future looks bright as these amazing people from all walks of life begin to make their mark on the world. The community wishes these individuals and all graduates within the life of the community the best and looks forward to supporting them as they continue to experience changes and success.

May they live out the words shared during the sending blessing, the "Prayer of Good Courage."

O God, you have called your servants to ventures

of which we cannot see the ending,

by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.

Give us faith to go out with good courage,

not knowing where we go,

but only that your hand is leading us

and your love supporting us;

through Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Love Leads Us To Be Brave

pastorkacey@stmatthewsrenton.org (Kacey Hahn) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:20:33 GMT

SUMMER EXPLORATION - LOVE LEADS US TO BE BRAVE

This summer, you’re invited to join a series of meaningful conversations centered around the book How We Learn to Be Brave by Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde. Whether you read the book cover to cover or simply come with an open heart, these casual gatherings are a chance to reflect, connect, and lean into what it means to be courageous people of faith in these uncertain and polarized times.

Rev. Budde serves as the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Washington and is the Dean of Washington National Cathedral. In her book, she draws on decades of leadership and personal experience to explore how courage is not something we’re born with, but something we learn through practice, struggle, and community. She writes with honesty, humility, and hope, guiding readers through practices of discernment, trust, and action.

Her own bravery was tested earlier this year, when she preached at the 2025 Presidential Inauguration Worship Service, pleading for mercy and justice for our most vulnerable neighbors. In response to her sermon, she received threats, yet remained steadfast in her call to prophetic love and gospel truth. Her story reminds us why intentional discernment is essential in every season of life, especially in times that ask us to speak up and step forward with courage.

The first conversation will be held on Wednesday, July 9 at 6:30 PM at my house (Pastor Kacey and David's home) Please register so we can send you directions and additional details.

Bring a friend, bring your questions, and come ready for an evening of honest conversation and soulful connection. We look forward to learning and growing with you.

In Christ's Love, Pastor Kacey

New Website!

pastorkacey@stmatthewsrenton.org (Kacey Hahn) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 23:50:48 GMT

Guided By the Holy Spirit, St. Matthew's has a new website!

A New Look. A Renewed Welcome. Explore Our New Website!

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news. St. Matthew’s has a brand new website! This fresh and beautifully designed space is not only a digital upgrade; it is also an open invitation into the heart of our community. Thanks to the creativity, dedication, and deep love of Andrea Simpson, the St. Matthew's webmaster, our new site reflects our mission to share the ridiculous love of God with the world.

Andrea has poured countless hours into this project with care, imagination, and purpose. From integrating online registrations to creating dynamic pages that highlight our ministries, community partners, and events, her thoughtful design invites both longtime members and new visitors to explore, engage, and connect. With the help of staff and volunteers, she has crafted something that mirrors the spirit of St. Matthew’s—welcoming, bold, and full of contagious love.

This website launch is part of a year-long effort to strengthen how we communicate and care for one another. Alongside the website, we have updated our church database, thanks to Jill Larson, Kate Brenden and Sonia Gunderson. We are also preparing to launch a mobile app that will help everyone stay informed and connected with ease.

The new wesite site also features content that reflects our core commitments as a congregation. You can now read about our designation as a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) church and explore our Land and Labor Acknowledgment, which are both vital expressions of our journey toward justice and inclusion.

We warmly invite you to visit the new website, stmatthewsrenton.org and explore its offerings, and celebrate this milestone with us. If you notice anything missing or have suggestions for what might be helpful, please let us know.

A heartfelt thank you to Andrea for her extraordinary labor of love. This new website is a gift and a doorway for many to encounter the Spirit alive at St. Matthew’s.

Love Louder

pastorkacey@stmatthewsrenton.org (Kacey Hahn) — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 21:39:42 GMT

Love Louder - Why Pride Matters

Last night, I had the honor of attending the Renton Pride Flag Raising at City Hall. It was a joy-filled and powerful gathering, with so many from our wider community showing up to stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA siblings. As the Pride flag rose against the evening sky, I found myself humbled and deeplt thankful for the city’s public commitment to inclusion, belonging, and keeping all people safe, especially those in the LGBTQIA community.

After the uplifting event, I stopped by Safeway to grab a few things for dinner. As I was walking the aisles, a community member I’ve known for years approached me. We shared a huge hug. It was so good to see them! They also noticed my "Love Louder" T-shirt and commented that it always suprises them to meet a pastor who wears a rainbow T-shirt. We spoke only for a few minutes, but the conversation stayed with me. They shared that, as a member of the LGBTQIA community, they’ve been feeling increasingly unsafe. On top of that, they’re navigating cuts to their SNAP and SSI benefits. Life for them is feeling overhleming and hard.

Their words were a holy reminder: joy and fear often walk together. We cannot stop at rainbow flags and celebrations, love also needs to be backed by action and community care.

This is why it matters that St. Matthew’s continues to be bold in our welcome. Why our inclusion must lead to justice. Why our prayers must move our feet. As the prophet Isaiah reminds us, “You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in” (Isaiah 58:12).

I pray we continue to be a church where joy is not hollow, but grounded in a deep, embodied love.

Where all our neighbors are seen, included, valued and supported.

Let us keep praying with our legs.