Today is Pentecost, which is often called the ‘birthday of the church’. On Pentecost, which literally means ‘50 days’, we remember how God’s Holy Spirit came among the disciples 50 days after Christ’s resurrection, and how said disciples then started their mission of sharing the good news of Christ’s life, death and resurrection with folks […]
‘Leaving a Mark’: Sermon Luke 24:44-53; Ascension Sunday – May 24th, 2020
Today, we observe and celebrate the Ascension of our Lord. It’s one of those days of our church year that ranks low on our list of holidays. It’s nothing like Easter or Christmas. It doesn’t help that Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday – 40 days after Easter, and if we didn’t choose to […]
‘You’ve got a friend’: Sermon John 14:15-21; 6th Easter – May 17th, 2020
‘You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running, to see you again Winter, spring, summer or fall All you have to do is call And I’ll be there You’ve got a friend.’ Carole King, You’ve Got a Friend This song by Carole King, which was made famous by […]
‘The Way. Home.’ Sermon John 14:1-14; 5th Sunday of the Easter Season – May 10th, 2020 by the Rev. Dr. Fred Weidmann
‘The Way. Home.” First of all, let me add a greeting, on this mother’s day, to all the mothers who are worshipping with us—including your pastor and my wife, Kerstin—a special greeting and thank you to, and thanks to God for, all mothers and to ALL who have served such a role in the […]
‘In This Together’: Sermon John 10:1-10; 4th Sunday of Easter – May 3rd, 2020
‘Und ob ich schon wanderte im finstern Tal, so fürchte ich kein Unglück – denn du bist bei mir; dein Stecken und Stab trösten mich.’ ‘Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’ I […]
‘On the Road Again’: Sermon Luke 24: 13-32; 3rd Easter – April 26th, 2020
Does is ever happen to you that hearing the name of a certain place triggers some good feelings? Maybe it is the name of a favorite vacation spot, maybe it is the name of your hometown. Memories of places where we experienced good things usually bring a smile to our faces. For me this happens […]
‘Show Me Your Wounds’: Sermon John 20: 19-31; 2nd Easter – April 19th, 2020
Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia! Gnade sei mit euch und FRIEDE von unserem Herrn Jesus Christus. Grace be with you and PEACE from our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. This past week, I have talked to some of you, to some friends, and also to some colleagues. One subject that came […]
“Is Easter Cancelled?” Sermon Matthew 28: 1-10; Easter Sunday – April 12th, 2020
Alleluia! – Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! I have say: this is not where I want to be right now (in my backyard). I want to be with you, in person, at St. Matthew’s, in our beautifully decorated church, singing my heart out with you, sharing the good news of […]
Dancing with Death: Sermon John 11:1-45; 5th Sunday in Lent – March 29th, 2020
You may think it’s creepy, but the lesson from the Book of Ezekiel which we heard as part of our lessons for today is one of my favorite passages of the Bible. What a visual! A whole valley filled with dry bones that rattle as they are restored to life! Of course I also […]
“2020 Vision”: Homily John 9:1-41; 4th Sunday in Lent – March 22nd, 2020
This has been a strange week – to me, it felt downright surreal. Since the order of the county of San Francisco and the other counties in the Bay Area to shelter in place went into effect at midnight last Tuesday, life has changed. Hardly anyone is outside anymore, streets and freeways are empty, […]
Worship Services and Classes CANCELLED until Further Notice
Due to an order of the City and County of San Francisco that stipulates that people shelter in place until at least April 7th, all events and worship services at St. Matthew’s will be cancelled until further notice. God bless you, and stay healthy!
Resounding Water: Sermon John 4: 1-42; 3rd Sunday in Lent – March 15th, 2020 by Seminarian Susanna Hassel
Resounding Water –––– Sermon John 4: 1-42 Move 1: Between the Lines Lonely – apart – anonymous. Today we meet a woman we don’t know, of whom we don’t even know a name. Overall, we don’t know much about her. The information that this story gives us is incomplete. At midday, when the […]
New Chances: Sermon John 3:1-17; 2nd Lent – March 8th, 2020
Sometimes, when I just look at my life, I can’t believe how lucky I’ve been. That I was born at the time I was born, and not during the dark medieval ages, for example. That I was born in Germany, and not a country where there is poverty or constant conflict – or […]
‘Superhuman?’ Sermon Matthew 6:25-34; Family Service 1st Sunday in Lent – March 1st, 2020
Musical Meditation Piece before the sermon: ‘Thus spoke Zarathustra’, movement 1, by Richard Strauss (The gospel for this Sunday veers off lectionary because of a family service on this day.) Our Bible opens with a big bang: the story of how God created the world. We hear, “In the beginning, when God created the heavens […]
125th anniversary celebration POSTPONED
Dear All, In the light of COVID-19, the disease caused by the Corona Virus, the 125th anniversary celebration planned for 3/22 will be postponed. Please stay tuned for the new date! God bless you, and stay healthy!
Daylight Saving Time STARTS this Sunday, 3/8
This coming Sunday, we will LOSE an hour. Don’t be too late for worship! 😉
‘How good, Lord, to be here’: Sermon Matthew 17:1-9 – Transfiguration of our Lord; February 23rd, 2020
Sometimes I’ve just had enough. Sometimes, I need to get away from it all, turn off the TV with all its disconcerting or even frightening news, turn off my computer, turn off my phone, retreat, close the door and put up a ‘do not disturb’ sign, hike a trail in a remote area, take […]
Rules for life: Sermon Matthew 5:21-37 – 6th Sunday after the Epiphany; February 16th, 2020
This past week, I was involved in a car accident. As I was driving home on Highway 24 from San Francisco, traffic was stopped in the lane where I was traveling, so of course I stopped as well. So I was just standing there, waiting for traffic to move again, when all of a sudden […]
‘Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!’ Sermon Matthew 5:13-20 – 5th Epiphany; February 9th, 2020
As many of you know, my husband Fred and I don’t live here in the City – to be honest, we wouldn’t be able to afford it – but in Walnut Creek, about 30 miles east from here. We love our neighborhood – it is not too fancy and has an interesting mix of […]
‘I’ve had enough’: Sermon Luke 2:22-32- Presentation of our Lord, February 2nd, 2020
Sylvia and Andrew just sang and played the beautiful Bach Aria from a larger cantata, ‘Ich habe genug’, which sometimes is translated with ‘I ask for no more’, but quite literally means, ‘I’ve had enough.’ We don’t find these words, ‘I’ve had enough’, in today’s gospel lesson; but Bach puts them into the mouth […]