Aaron came run-ning into thekitchen, “Mom,come and see!”Aaron’s motheri m m e d i a t e l ydropped what shewas doing to witness Joey’s latest discov-ery in his backyard safari.Monique rushed back on the trail to herwaiting father, “Dad, the waterfall is amaz-ing. Come and see!” Her dad breatheddeeply and chuckled, “Give me a minute.Let me catch my breath. I’m not as youngas I used to be.” Monique sat beside herfather and waited patiently. Finally, he tookher by the hand and nodded. She dancedwith joy and shouted, “Yes! Come andsee!”From childhood days, we have invited oth-ers to celebrate the discoveries of life.Come and see! Come and enjoy!It’s just that simple. In our story, Jesusinvites Philip. Then, Philip invitesNathanael. Each invites because there is adeep desire to share good news with others.In this case, the good news is Jesus Christhimself. This is the one whom Philip andNathanael have been waiting for since theybegan studying and understanding thescriptures.In this passage there are several invitations.Jesus invites Philip to follow him. Philipresponds favorably and extends an invita-tion to Nathanael. But Philip’s invitation ismet with doubt and suspicion. Nathanael ishesitant to respond to the invitation tocome and see Jesus, so Jesus goes toNathanael. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to havean attitude of inviting others to “come andsee” just as we have received the invitation. PrayerChrist, thank you for inviting me to know,love, and follow you. Send me to invite oth-ers to come and see you. Amen.

ConnectionsS t . M a t t h e w L u t h e ra n C h u rc h – C o n n e c t i n g Fa i t h W i t h L i fe !

CALENDAR of EVENTSSAT., JANUARY 13

10am-12pm Concord RoomReserved/Al-Anon Mtg.

10am-1pm ECIRMAC 5:00 pm Worship

SUN., JANUARY 14 8:30 am Worship 9:45 am Coffee Fellowship 9:45 am Sunday School 9:50 am Adult Forum10:45 am Worship

MON., JANUARY 15

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAYOFFICE CLOSEDNo Morning

Prayer Group or Pastors’ Text Study

7:00 pm Girl ScoutsPastor Maggie on vacation thru Jan. 19th

TUES., JANUARY 1610:00 am Men’s Coffee

at Harvest Market 3:00 pm Worship Team Meeting 7:00 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm Boy Scouts

WED., JANUARY 17 9:30 am Prayer Shawl Ministry 6:00 pm Bible Study 6:30 pm STM Choir Rehearsal 6:30 pm Adult Forum Repeat Session/

Understanding Budget and Stewardship

No Youth Huddle This Evening

FRI., JANUARY 19 9:00 am February Insight

Newsletter Deadline 7:00 pm ReLit Discussion of

Beneath a Scarlet SkyPastor Bob at Synod Council today & Saturday

Salt & Light Volunteers DaysToday & Saturday

SAT., JANUARY 2010am-12pm Concord Room

Reserved/Al-Anon Mtg.10am-1pm ECIRMAC 5:00 pm Worship

SUN., JANUARY 21 8:30 am Worship 9:45 am Coffee Fellowship 9:45 am Sunday School 9:50 am Adult Forum10:45 am Worship12:00 pm Music Directors Meeting6:30-8 pm H. S.Youth Yoga

at Good Shepherd

STAFF OF ST. MATTHEW LUTHERAN CHURCHPHONE: 367-1189 www.stmatthewurbana.org

Pastor Robert J. RasmusAssociate Pastor Maggie FalenschekOffice Manager Gayla PellumNursery Ruby Splittstoesser & Emma LacefieldParish Nurses Aziza Awate, Kathie Pound, and Beth Riddle

Connections Deadline: Submit announcements in writing to the church office or by e-mailto gayla.stm@stmatthewurbana.org no later than 9:00 a.m. Wednesday. Thank you!

Please note: Names on the list for prayers will be posted for one month unless otherwise requested.Please contact the church office with any updates or extensions. Thank you.

Msgr. Greg Ketchum, friend of Vickie HartAndrew Rogers, friend of Jill QuisenberryLaurie Padjen, friend of the Deck familySpecialist Sean Splittstoesser,

grandson of Ruby & Dan SplittstoesserBrody Welshofer, friend of Danielle DeckJulie, colleague of Sarah LoftusNic Brandon and family,

friends of the Daly familyDonna Gehrt, aunt of Jill DalyChris Galvin, friend of Morgan JohnsonMacy Slade Tester,

friend of Liz SchwartzRita, sister of Diane DurbinTerry Green & family,

friends of John & Peg WarrinerVickie Fitzsimmons,

sister-in-law of Shirley ShawRita, niece of Liz SchwartzVirginia & Meghan,

friends of Chris BedfordBarb Frantz, friend of Diana Marshall****************Audrey Sperandeo,

grandmother of Sarah Loftus****************Diana Ebeling-Roy,

daughter of Elaine & Rudy Ebeling****************

Sharon Hedrick John GantzIsabella Gonzalez Muryl OhmsRita Vanier Mandi GillilandSuzanne Ross Danielle DeckBruce Carroll Hervin BuhrGerald Smith Garris GrahamRod Warfield Lana WegengDan Splittstoesser Cherylin StiversGary Hedge Norm MaskePr. Bill & Kathryn Harum****************Remember our shut-ins:Vivian Larson Elaine EbelingLeona Saathoff

PrayerRequests

Welcome!St. Matthew Lutheran Church

is a fellowship of Christian believers

called to: grow in Christ, share the Gospel, serve God’s people.

Do come again to St. Matthew Lutheran Churchwhere you are always welcome.

Worship ServicesSaturday, 5:00pm A relaxed and informal worship held in our Christ Chapel.

Sunday, 8:30 am Spirited traditional worship that focuses on participation through theliturgy, the great hymns of the Church, & corporate confession of ourfaith.

Sunday, 10:45 amPraise & worship in an open & accessible style.

Stephen MinistryJanuary is the month when we look at our life’s journeyand rejoice over the gift of another year given to us. Theperception of life that enables us to walk into a new yearwith this hope and confidence is the perception that wecan begin anew, that we are constantly being offeredfresh beginnings by God.Imagine clean, white fluffy snow falling, covering allthe drab spots of deadness on the earth. See that samesoft, clean whiteness fall into your heart. Feel it heal thewounds, making clean your dreams and your hopes.Hear the God of new beginnings speak to you about the fresh start being offered.Here is a prayer to start the New Year:Loving God, it is time to turn again to you. It is time to realize anew that I am nottotally self-reliant. This is a moment full of grace that invites me to lift up my spiritto you, the one who gives freshness, the one who moves across my heart like a newsnowfall and erases all the drab, brown memories of a year gone by.Come to meet me, God of life, reach into the mystery of my self. Take me into theheart of this year and give me the confidence to journey freely, lovingly, with risk,wonder and laughter. Amen.

From the book: Fresh Bread And Other Gifts of Spiritual Nourishment by Joyce Rupp.If you would like to meet with a Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor Bob, PastorMaggie or Mike Krumwiede, STM Stephen Minister coordinator.

January Adult Forum Series THIS WeekThe Adult Forums in January are designed to get your inputon the pending question of launching a capital campaign forbuilding improvements and financial stability, in turn, grow-ing and expanding our mission and ministry. Four uniqueforums are designed to present information and listen to yourinterests and concerns as it relates to a potential campaign.

Please consider attending the forums to learn and share yourthoughts. The Adult Forums follow the 8:30am service andare held in the Augsburg Room.

Understanding Budget and StewardshipSunday, January 14, 2018Wednesday, January 17, 2018 / 6:30PM (repeat session)

in the Fellowship HallThis session will present an overview of the church budgetand the results of the annual stewardship campaign in an easyto understand format. Attendees will have a chance to see theconnection between giving, executing the mission, and bal-ancing the books.

Our Church MissionSunday, January 21, 2018Grow, Share, Serve. This session will explore what this mis-sion means and highlight the different ways it is carried out.Discussion will also focus on how this mission relates to thephysical needs of our church facility.

Recap and PrioritiesSunday, January 28, 2018This session recaps the perspectives heard in the first threeforums and begins to make priorities. This discussion willprovide a structure for the Church Council, and ultimately thecongregation, to consider the question of launching a capitalcampaign.

ALTAR FLOWERSThe flowers on the altar this weekend are in celebration of the wonderful members ofSt. Matthew Lutheran Church. We are a great church family!Help make our altar beautiful! Celebrate a birthday, anniversary, someone’s life orjust because. The sign up sheet is located on the bulletin board in the narthex. Thereare many open dates still available this year.

OUR STM FOOD PANTRY IS RUNNING VERY LOW!We are very low on food for our food pantry. Please help by donat-ing food for families who are in need. Please pick up a grocery liston the table in the narthex & take it with you the next time you’reat or your favorite store & pick up some items for our food pantry.God bless you for your support of this ministry.

Thank you, The STM Social Ministry TeamMEN’S COFFEE THIS WEEK!– NEW LOCATION! Our Men’s Coffee group meets twice a month. All available STM men areinvited to gather for a cup of coffee & conversation on the first and thirdTuesday of every month. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, January 16,2018 at 10:00am in the Harvest Market on South Neil St. in Champaign.Men of all ages are welcome & encouraged to join our discussions.PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY THIS WEEK!The next meeting of the Prayer Shawl Ministry will be Wednesday,January 17th at 9:30 a.m. in the Concord Room at church. We wel-come all who knit. If you know of someone who would be comfortedby a prayer shawl, please contact Joan Peterson (384-7415), MaryAnderson (898-0350), Pastor Bob, Pastor Maggie or the church office (367-1189).The stories from the recipients are beautiful & filled with gratitude for the prayers& love that goes into making them. SALT & LIGHT VOLUNTEER DAYS Salt & Light, a local ministry that connects families in need with commu-nity resources, has a new location right down the street! On Friday, January19 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 20 from 1:00 p.m.to 4:00 p.m., we’ll be visiting this new location to learn more about theirservices (including how they’ll work with Sola Gratia) and volunteer intheir store. Members can sign up on the Social Ministry bulletin boardlocated in the narthex. If you have any questions, email Laura Podeschi atlepodeschi@gmail.com or call her at 217-417-7188. Let’s give Salt & Light a warm wel-come to the neighborhood!RELIT THIS WEEK! In January, the Religion and Literature Book Club will be readingBeneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan. This WWII story is seenthrough the eyes of an 18 year old Italian boy, Pino Lella. After hishome in Milan is destroyed, Pino helps Italian Jews escape over theAlps. He falls in love and is forced to enlist in the German Army. Thisis all I will tell you. Read the book and join us on Friday, January 19 at7pm in the Concord Room for discussion and dessert..STM QUILTERSCome and join STM Quilters: Nancy, Stephanie and Peg at 9:00 amon the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. We are making quilts forour graduating high school seniors and Project Linus quilts for chil-dren who are hospitalized. Also, if you know someone withAlzheimer's or Autism we have several fidget blankets on hand. With our many projectswe could use a few more hands to help us. Monetary donations are helpful to purchasefabric and supplies. Everyone is welcome to join us!WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDYThe WELCA Bible Study will meet at Prairie Winds of Urbana...like last year we will meet on the same day (last Thursday of themonth) and at the same time (9:30am). If you would like to join thewomen's Bible studies based on the Gathermagazine Bible studies (& we would wel-come any other Bible study ideas) pick up one of the complimentary copies of themagazine today in the narthex & join us on January 25th for fellowship & coffee.Hope to see you then! Thanks ladies, Mary Anderson, Bible Study coordinator

STM

Please check on your friends & neighbors

during this frigid weather!

LADIES... LET’S PLAY BUNCOPlay a fast paced game, win great prizes, and have a lot of fun.Please bring a snack to share and your drink of choice. The nextBUNCO Night will be Thursday, January 25th starting at 6:30pmin the Augsburg Room. No need to sign up... everyone is welcome.We have a great time! Join the fun & bring a friend!!!

NEW OFFERING ENVELOPESYour 2018 offering envelopes are available for pick up in the narthexnow. They are arranged alphabetically. Please recycle any 2017envelopes you had left at the end of the year. Also, if you give through SimplyGiving you still have envelope packets to be picked up. Envelope packets not pickedup will soon be mailed out at an expense to the church. Please get yours today!

JUST A REMINDER…If you have made changes to your pledge to St. Matthew’s for 2018and generously give through our Simply Giving program please besure to update your Simply Giving by completing a new form thatwas included in your acknowledgment letter & returning it tochurch. Forms are also available in the back of the sanctuary and in the church office.Thank you for your support of the ministries and programs of St. Matthew LutheranChurch. Randy Alumbaugh, Financial Secretary

SOLA GRATIA FARM 2018 SHARES ARE AVAILABLE NOW!Shares for the 2018 season of Sola Gratia Farm are currently for sale.Some shareholders purchase a share for their own family, while otherspurchase a share to be donated to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank.Shareholder agreements are available in the narthex or in the farmoffice. If you would like more information, please ask a member of theSola Gratia Farm board.Please consider giving the gift of food to those who are hungry. Donate one of ourCSA shares to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank and you'll be giving healthy, fresh veg-etables to those who need it most. In 2017, nearly 16,000 pounds of high quality, nat-urally grown, fresh-picked, good food was donated into our community our partnersworking on community food security - let's do it again!

STM GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE COLUMBARIUMTake a brisk walk around the STM Garden of Remembrance andenjoy the winter grasses. Plants are dormant for the winter. Twonew trees were planted recently to replace ones that did not sur-vive. Many thanks to Diane Durbin & Dave Tjaden. Consider it aplace of celebration of life and important people in our lives,because it is. Memorial pavers may be ordered for any family member. The form ison the table by the coffee bar. Niches are available for $1200 which includes twourns and engraving. The form is available in the office.

FAMILY SUNDAYOur next Family Sunday for Sunday School students and families is on January 28th.

Students will begin with music time, then jointheir families for a service project. Together we will be assembling

and packaging emergency relief kits forLutheran World Relief or a similar program.