A Word of Thanks

As Worship Arts Team Leader, my primary focus is to encourage worship through the arts. During the 2009-10 program season at Saint Matthew, we’ve experienced an incredible amount of music from folks here at Saint Matthew and beyond. And throughout it all, my hope is that the people of Saint Matthew have been encouraged by the musical diversity that is offered in worship through the amazing dedication and hard work of the many, many volunteers who’ve given of their time and talents.

Worship Team (directed by Jason Bendickson) – Thank you for being the workhorse music team of our church! Your dedication, energy, talent and time are tremendously appreciated.

Choir & Men’s Ensemble (directed by Geoff Carter) – Thank you for an amazing season of incredible music! Our community is tremendously blessed by your musical offerings and worship leadership.

Bells (directed by Geoff Carter) – Thank you for all the hard work you put in this year! Every offering of music from the bells this year was absolutely incredible!

Brass (directed by Jason Bendickson) – Thank you for making those Saturday morning rehearsals and offering your talents on Easter Sunday. There is much more for us to do! I’m looking forward to it.

Kids Praise & Cherub Choir (directed by Laurie Van Buskirk and Jason Bendickson) – Thank you all for your enthusiasm and joyful spirit as we sang songs of thankfulness, service and love to God!

There are also many people who volunteer their time behind the scenes on Sunday mornings to help make Saint Matthew the welcoming and friendly place it has become; if you stop to think about it, it’s actually kind of mind boggling.

Prayer Ministers (coordinated by Laura Hoy) – Thank you for your commitment offering up prayers with and for people during communion and following worship. Your openness to the Holy Spirit in prayer is changing this congregation from the inside out!

Communion Assistants (coordinated by Dolores Niccolai) – Thank you for your presence in worship as we receive the good gift of God that is the body and blood of Christ. Hearing the words “…for you” each Sunday reminds us of God’s amazing love for us.

Greeters (coordinated by Grala Warren) – Thank you for offering the first smile and handshake for all who worship at Saint Matthew! Nothing says “you’re very welcome here” like a warm greeting when you first walk in the door.

Ushers (coordinated by Ed Jerome) – Thank you for guiding us in worship from the back of the worship center.

Readers (coordinated by Kathy Frattini) – Thank you for consistently leading our congregation in prayer and the reading of God’s Word.

Acolytes (coordinated by Kathy Frattini) – Thank you for bringing the light of Christ into our worship time each Sunday!

Welcome Center Volunteers (coordinated by Nancy Pierce) – Thank you for being a consistent point of connection for people who are interested in finding out more about Saint Matthew.

Coffee Volunteers (coordinated by Nancy Pierce) – Thank you for masterfully working those coffee pots to ensure that no one will be in want (for coffee, anyway).

Projection Ministry Volunteers (coordinated by Kathy Frattini) – Thank you for what I think is one of the most difficult worship leading roles on Sunday morning. And thank you for your grace as things inevitably get changed spur of the moment. Y’all are rockstars!

Promiseland & Impact Volunteers (coordinated by Angie Kavert, Kristi Carlton, David Dykes and Melinda Armonstrong) – Thank you for ministering to the youth of Saint Matthew with such consistency, grace and love. Growing disciples is a life-long journey and y’all are at the forefront of that road.

For all the volunteers who serve in the areas mentioned above, and even the ones that I left out, THANK YOU! And as the summer heat begins to settle on the valley and we look forward to long lazy evenings, impromptu barbecues and memorable vacations, I want to encourage you to give thanks to God for the amazing gifts we’ve been given as a community here at Saint Matthew.

Blessings,
Jason

He Knows My Name (Song Story)

We sing a lot of music at Saint Matthew but we don’t often get to hear from the folks who write the songs that we sing. Tommy Walker has written many of the songs we sing on Sunday mornings and I wanted to share an excerpt from an interview with Tommy about how the song “He Knows My Name” came to be written.

- Jason

"He Knows My Name" by Tommy Walker

The first time we went to the Philippines we stayed in an orphanage and there was this little boy who came running up to me and he introduced himself as Jerry. About an hour later he ran up to me again and he said, “What’s my name?”

I said, “You’re name is Jerry."

He said, “We’re friends, right?”

An hour later, he comes up to me again and says, “What’s my name?”

“Jerry.”

“We’re friends, right?”

“That’s right buddy, you got it.”

The next morning he runs up to me and says, “What’s my name.”

I said, “Jerry, Jerry, Jerry. You know I know you’re name.” Then I said to him, “We’re friends, right?”

I realized that Jerry, one of the forgotten people, one of the poorest of the poor, was literally abandoned by his parents on the streets as an infant. I don’t think he even knows his last name. He just wanted somebody to know him, to know his name. And it was so important to him that I knew his name. And then I was able to tell him, “Jerry, it’s great that I know your name, but your Heavenly Father, though you have no earthly father, knows your name and He’ll never forget you.”

I get to share that story all over the world because there are so many people who feel so alone. Alone in their marriage and their family and their job…in their life! God just lets me remind people that in this moment He knows your name. He’ll never forget you, He’s seen every tear and every time you call, He hears you.

Visit this URL to hear Tommy tell this story

http://www.theheartofworship.org/stories/Story-301-HeKnowsMyName-Walker.mp3

Songs From The Valley

Join us at 7:00pm on Sunday, January 31st at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church in Walnut Creek for Songs From The Valley.

Featuring Jordan Reed, Art Heckman and Jason Bendickson.
Saint Matthew
399 Wiget Lane
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

OUTFLOW

Starting Sept 6th, we'll be doing a six-week congregation wide study called "Outflow".

Everyone will be encouraged to be part of small group for the duration of the study and make a commitment to being in worship each week. There will be new 6pm worship service that will take place in the Teen Center that also starts on Sept 6th.

You can sign up for a small group here

Songs From The Valley - Aug 21 at 7pm

Hey everyone,

There's a concert coming up called "Songs From The Valley" featuring Art Heckman, Dave Foster and a group of guys who sing a capella together called "Quint-Essential". The purpose of the concert is to serve as an encouraging time of worship for our community. There is no other agenda other than gathering to spend some time hearing some great music and worshiping through song. If we happen to have a good time and are blessed because of it, then that is the great goodness of spending time together and joining our voices as we worship. Come and sing!



What: Songs From The Valley

When: August 21 at 7:00pm

Where: Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Walnut Creek, CA 94518

Contact: 925-932-1955 x117 or jasonb@saintmatthew.org

- Jason

Why We Worship Together

Well, school is out and summer is here! As I write this article, I’m reflecting on a presentation I heard at the men’s Crosswalk retreat. The words I heard that weekend are still ringing in my ears: “Don’t try to do this on your own.” The presenter was highlighting a crucial element in the life of the believer who is striving to follow Jesus – community.

When I heard these words, I immediately thought about why it’s important for us to worship together and make the commitment to attend worship regularly. According to scripture, we have been created to thrive in community. God recognized that it was not good for Adam to be alone and created a help-mate, Eve (Gen. 2:18).

The words of scripture also encourage us to “keep meeting together” (Hebrews 10:25) and to encourage one another through “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19) as we are led by the Spirit. In the second chapter of Acts, we read about the early church and how “they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). This is a good model for us in an age where we are so easily enticed to stay disconnected and distracted from the needs and encouragement of our community. When we meet on Sunday mornings the very act of participating together in worship fosters “glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46). This in turn encourages unity and growth in the Body of Christ(Acts 2:47).

I have heard people say that they will “worship on their own” in the car with a worship music CD or participate in a worship service online at home. There is a time and place for worshiping and praying in solitude and it was modeled for us by Jesus (Luke 6:12). Our busy lives can certainly prevent us from making it to church every Sunday morning, and it is good to have alternatives for when we’re out of town or on vacation. But committing to being at church regularly to worship with the community whenever you are in town has a significant spiritual and unifying impact on the Body of Christ!

May you be blessed as you enjoy this summer!
Peace,
Jason

Thanksgiving Eve - PIE FEST

WEDNESDAY, NOV 26 - 7:30pm
Saint Matthew Lutheran Church
Walnut Creek, CA 94598 (map)

We gather together on Thanksgiving Eve for worship and a pie fest each year. This year we will be joined by the Hills Vineyard and Shelter Covenant Churches from Concord.

Shelter’s worship leader, Justin McRoberts, will be presenting an evening of worship and inspiration. He is an internationally known Christian musician, a highly respected singer, songwriter and speaker who, over the past nine years, has carved out a niche for himself in the independent music scene. Central to Justin’s work is advocacy on behalf of the poor and oppressed through Compassion International, the International Justice Mission and the Blood Water Mission. Compassion International is an international Christian “adoption” group, that connects Christians who want to help poor children and their families throughout the world. One hundred percent of the monthly support given goes to that child and their family! There is no other Christian group who has that type of efficiency. This evening, we will have the opportunity to adopt a child, if we so choose.

Our Pie Fest, which follows worship, is a great time of fellowship as well as a means by which we collect dozens of pies that are passed along to groups that are serving those who cannot afford a Thanksgiving Dinner. We ask you to bring two pies—one to share
that evening and one to give away.

Invite your friends to join us for this unique evening. And don’t forget the pies!

www.justinmcroberts.com

The Guest List

What would Thanksgiving look like if we focused less on the meal (the food and all the trimmings) and more on the guest list? This video can be found Work of the People.com

New Recording (sort of)

This Sunday, Sara (my wife) preached on the value of compassion and how we're shaped and molded by our experiences through the Holy Spirit to be more Christ-like and compassionate. Sara requested that we sing "How Deep How Wide" - a song I wrote for her ordination - following the sermon.

Last fall, Keenan Boswell and I shared a bunch of new music at an evening concert at the church. We got a decent recording of the event and I have since then added some extra layers to the recording. I laid down an extra guitar track, a bass track and took a stab at playing some drums. Turned out good, I think.

New Page Elements ------------------------->

I've discovered, thanks to my friend Art from Clayton Community Church, this great website called www.imeem.com

It's like facebook or myspace for music and musicians. Very fun. I've been posting a few links to songs that I've found on imeem and one that I just recently uploaded. I wrote a song called "Hymn of Praise" for lack of a better title. Check it out just over there on the right.

Jason

Recording "Blessed Be You Name"

A few weeks ago, I set up our portable recording system and spent some time recording our rehearsal. I got a pretty good take of "Blessed Be Your Name" and I mixed it down in GarageBand. I added a couple of instruments (bass and electric guitar), but everything else is a live take. Very fun.

Have a listen. Blessed Be Your Name

World Communion Sunday - Oct 7

Coming up in a couple weeks, many churches all across the Ygnacio Valley will be celebrating world communion Sunday at a community worship service at Todos Santos Square in downtown concord. I'll be playing bass and Pastor Kevin will be preaching at this event. It's at 5pm on Sunday afternoon, Oct 7th. I hope to see y'all there.

The Real Worship War

Mark Labberton is a pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, CA. He's recenlty written a book called The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God's Call to Justice (Zondervan). I heard Mark speak at the National Pastor's Convention in San Diego last February and I was deeply moved by what he had to say.
If you'd like to hear his message from the event, you can download it from the Zondervan podcast here (using iTunes).

Here's an excerpt from his book published in Christianity Today:

The Real Worship War
Forget about choruses versus hymns—what about justice?
by Mark Labberton

At a worship service I attended, my attention was drawn to the enthusiastic worship leader. He opened our time with prayer, asking God to meet us and draw us into the Lord's presence. Then he stood with eyes closed and the band playing. He lifted his hands and offered his joyful praise to God.
That's when I really took notice, for as he sang so rapturously, he kept stepping on the feet of the people behind him. Not just once or twice but repeatedly throughout the singing. No apology. No acknowledgment of his "tromping in the spirit." He was just praising God while oblivious to his neighbor. More

Valerie & Ryan's Song

On July 29th, Valerie and Ryan sang a beautiful duet during the morning worship services AND at Pastor Sara's installation service. "My Prayer" was recorded - take a listen.

Video of their performance on YouTube!