Following worship on Sunday, April 26, we will gather for a Congregational Family Business Meeting. This will be a time to share updates on the life of our church, reflect on where we are, and look ahead to the opportunities before us.
We will also discuss ways to serve and participate in the ministries of Saint Matthew, including opportunities for committee involvement and volunteer support.
We invite you to join us as you are able, as we continue to move forward together in faith.
To watch the full service online, click here.
In the days after the resurrection, we find the disciples gathered behind closed doors, holding both hope and uncertainty. Thomas, who was not present when Jesus first appeared, longs for something more than secondhand testimony. He wants to see, to touch, to know for himself. In this familiar story from John’s Gospel, we are reminded that faith often grows in the space between doubt and encounter. Jesus meets Thomas where he is, not with judgment, but with peace, inviting him into belief through relationship.
Rev. Mike Love invites us to consider how we see Christ, not only as risen, but as the one still marked by the wounds of the cross. Thomas does not simply seek proof of life. He seeks the crucified Christ, the one who bears the marks of suffering and love. In the same way, we are called to recognize that our faith is shaped by the full story of Jesus. The wounds are not erased in the resurrection. They remain as a witness to God’s redeeming love, reminding us that healing and new life often come through places of brokenness.
As we reflect on this encounter, we are invited to consider how our own experiences shape the way we see and follow Christ. Like the disciples, we gather in spaces of comfort and community, yet we are also sent beyond them. The Spirit breathes life into us, calling us to carry the presence of Christ into the world. In our own wounds and in our shared life together, we become witnesses to the grace we have received. Even when we have not seen, we are blessed as we continue to believe and live out that faith each day.
Take Time to Reflect
John 20:24-29 New International Version
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Have you ever had to wait for something really important? Maybe it was a big day you were excited about, or something you hoped would happen soon. Waiting can feel hard, especially when we don’t know what’s coming next.
After Jesus died on the cross, one of his followers, a man named Joseph, took care of him. He wrapped Jesus in cloth and placed him in a tomb carved out of rock (Matthew 27:57–60). A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance. Mary Magdalene and another Mary stayed nearby, sitting quietly across from the tomb. Even though they were sad, they stayed close, trusting God even before they understood what would happen next.
This part of the story reminds us that even in quiet moments, God is still near. The women didn’t know it yet, but something amazing was about to happen. In our own lives, there are times when we are waiting and don’t understand what God is doing. But we can trust that God is with us, and that His love is always working—even when we cannot see it yet.
What We Learned
In this season of Easter joy, we give thanks for the many ways God’s love is shared through the life of our church.
We give thanks for each person who shares their gifts so faithfully, helping us experience the joy and presence of Christ together.
