In response to God's love, St. Matthew's is a faith community welcoming all to grow in faith, to worship Christ and to reach out to everyone
Since the pandemic, it has been more difficult to connect with our friends and family. To help connect with our church family, you can do that now.
St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Welland, Ontario, Canada 
Thank you to everyone who helped put together another
successful Ladies’ Night Out. The efforts of this committed
team of volunteers are greatly appreciated. Our attendees
were generous, and we are pleased to support Rose City
Kids with almost $2,500.
A Look at Our Green Space Flower Bed
Christ is risen!!
On this great Day of days, I wish all the dear members of my St. Matthew’s Faith Family a lifetime of Easter Joy and Blessing.
Christ is risen indeed!
Our 2023 Church Council
Frt (L-R) Dianne Yungblut(V-chair), Ruth Kiers, Frances McKenzie, Jennifer Rusk(Chair), Pastor Bart Coleman
Back (L-R) Sylvia Tollar, Marilyn Schultz, Inge Poetzinger,
Absent – Melanie Funk Laskaris – (also Treasurer) , Bill Bender
2023 Roast Beef Dinner Photos were just uploaded to the Photo Album page. You can see the rest of the photos by clicking the “Photo Album” link in the menu bar at the top of this page.
A Thank You Card From Linda Funk and Family
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!
Thank you Bill Bender, Kam and Norm Mcleod for getting this giant wreath hung up today.
Christmas Dinner Notice
Christmas Eve and Day Services’ Notice
The calm after the storm
Lest We Forget
National Truth and Reconciliation Day
Wow so great to see. I really loved the Chaple at Edgewood and the services there so very many years ago.
Our front garden is now full of summery colour! Thank you Frances for looking after it this summer.
Recently donated items to St. Matthew’s museum from the Boyd Family (Janice) , formerly from Fonthill
To Pastor Bart and members of St. Matthew’s.
Your concern, thoughts and prayers gave me added strength and faith as I… get back to normal activities. Vera and I will be spending what’s left of summer resting at our family cottage. Looking forward to in-person worship at St. Matthew’s this fall. God bless all of you for your concern, prayer and thoughts. Pastor Jukka
Steve Olson says:
August 24, 2022 at 10:44 am (Edit)
Greetings to Pastor Bart Coleman. It’s been a long time (1984) since we worked together in Billings MT. Blessings to you in your ministry, Bart. Lots of good memories of experiences we shared together.
Our back garden today
Did you know you can sign up for the weekly ELCIC Newsletters at this link
https://mailchi.mp/elcic/elcic-news-4743400?e=7d185dec88
What a celebration we had and how gratifying to see the congregations gather to worship and feast together! We continue to figure out together what shared ministry looks like and events like Sunday’s barbecue give us a hint about one of the key ingredients.
In a sermon a while back, the preacher said something like “you work well together and seem to like each other.” I think I’m sticking to my story there:)
Thank you for your dedication, hard work and enthusiasm—and for adapting when the rains came.
It will be illuminating (and I bet inspiring) to hear stories about the next two Sundays when you share Service of the Word and rotate locations. Blessings on your planning and preparation.
Pastor Bart
Have you checked our front sign lately?
looking beautiful. Are you game for the back garden?
Happy 90th Inge! Click HERE for more photos
Finally, some signs of spring around the church!
Dear Faith Family,
🎶 God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He’s so good to me.🎶
These familiar words from a favourite song keep echoing in my mind lately as I think of all the wonderful, supportive people in my Faith Family at St. Matthew’s.
Thank you to each and every one of you who have upheld me in prayer, sent beautiful e-cards and spoken words of comfort for my family and me during the recent loss of my son, Terry. I feel that God is sending me a message, too, in the discovery that the last place Terry went was the Palm Sunday worship service in your midst. Thank you for making him feel welcome.
It pleases me to realize God has brought the faithful members of St. Matthew’s an excellent new Shepherd who will continue to strengthen our congregation making sure St. Matthew’s remains an excellent example of people who, in response to God’s love, welcome all to grow in faith, to worship Christ and to reach out to everyone.
Bless you all,
~Beth Armitage
To my ever-faithful and caring St, Matthew’s Family-
I wish you and those you love a joyous celebration of the hope and promise of this holy season. May our Risen Lord, who has promised to be with us always, bless all your Easter days!
Pastor Jukka and Vera send their Easter blessings to everyone at St. Matthew’s
A project for the congregation. Brian holding up next Sunday for the camera.
A sincere thank you to all the members of St. Matthews for all the accolades upon my retirement from council. Thank you also for the apt gifts. I will enjoy them all. I have enjoyed working with all the various council members over the years . St Matthew`s is blessed with so many willing and dedicated people. Brian and I have worked as a team and we are both grateful for all the support and love St. Matthew`s has given us. See you in church!
A very fitting prayer for these days.
A Prayer for Peace
How do we pray for peace from half a world away?
How can words salve and soothe real wounds,
Assuage real fears, Wipe tears from real eyes?
God of endless compassion, transform our prayers
From words into bridges, that span the distances
Between us, uniting our hearts in yours.
Every time we turn our keys in a lock,
May we remember all who are losing their homes.
Every time we step into our cars,
May we remember all who are having to flee.
Every time we embrace our children,
May we remember all who are trying to shield theirs from war.
May our besieged sisters and brothers
Be drawn into the arms of the suffering Christ,
And may our cry be heard as one voice,
Ringing out from every corner of the earth:
God of endless mercy, grant us peace.
Amen. — Cameron Bellm, a writer of prayers, poems, and devotionals.
Thought this might be of interest – Ukraine Vigil: Spoken Words, Silent Reflection, Peace Lyrics
https://fromareportersnotebook.wordpress.com/
Two years ago today things were quite different, weren’t they? https://stmatthewswelland.com/2020-roast-beef-dinner-photos-february-15
Back when we were still able to attend church, I asked Dianne Yungblut if there were any more crosses made from our previous church doors. She assured me there were and then provided me with one. It is for my new grandson, Leo. The cross has been hung up on his bedroom wall, and it looks fantastic. Thank you Dianne for providing one for me, it was greatly appreciated.
For those who may not know what Bev was referring to in her comment, here’s a picture of one of the crosses that was made by Morley, Norm, Brian and Cliff Schultz from the damaged doors. The crosses were handed out at the 130th Anniversary reception at St. Matthew’s in 2006.
What appears to be instant success, has taken over 10 years. Kathryn attended and graduated (2011) from the London School of Fashion Design in London, UK before directly entering the market there. When the UK decided to exit the European Common Market, she was unable to have her work permit renewed. Kathryn then returned to Toronto, 5 years ago, establishing her own Studio.
Kathryn was interviewed recently on ET Canada about this recent success. The interview was aired Thursday, January 27thand can be viewed at this link – https://etcanada.com/video/82855642-7fbf-11ec-b219-0242ac110005/canadian-designer-kathryn-bowen-on-creating-looks-worn-by-kim-kardashian/
Similarly, a newspaper article appeared in the Saturday, January 29th edition of the Toronto Star about Kathryn’s success story. An online version can be read here (a paywall may block the article if you don’t have a subscription) https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/01/25/a-new-frangrance-line-and-a-hurried-text-from-a-friend-how-an-emerging-canadian-fashion-designer-landed-kim-kardashian-west.html
Interesting article – How COVID could change religion in Canada forever: ‘There is no going back’. Here is the link to the article: https://tinyurl.com/2p9y2h9y
…from the ELCIC Twitter feed, an excellent informational resource – “The Lutheran World Federation Newsletter” https://www.lutheranworld.org/
Thanks to all for your time and talent which have made this Sunday morning message possible.
According to Walt Disney there are 3 kinds of people in the world. There are ” well-poisoners”, those who discourage you; “lawn mowers”, the folks who mow their own lawns and never leave their yards to help another person and finally ” life enhancers”, the people who reach out to enrich the lives of others. Let’s keep on being life enrichers.
Event Calendar Updated – http://pub23.bravenet.com/calendar/show.php?usernum=1971946043
Thanks Bob for setting up the board. I enjoyed seeing the pink sky when I brought the paper in this morning. Wishing everyone a day filled with smiles.
Pink sky over Niagara Falls today at sunrise
Thank you for thinking of us at Christmas time with a generous gift. It does make the season cheery to receive such kindness. We will have fond memories of our first Christmas in Welland. As we settle in now, as we navigate this part of the pandemic, we give thanks for your friendship, kindness and commitment to showing Christ in love in the world. Blessings