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Quoted from the History of St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church book (link below)
150th Anniversary Service and Luncheon Photos – February 22, 2026
City of Welland Presentation – February 22, 2026
FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT February 22, 2026
Prayer of the Day
Lord God, our strength, the struggle between good and evil rages within and around us, and the devil and all the forces that defy you tempt us with empty promises. Keep us steadfast in your word, and when we fall, raise us again and restore us through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11
1 Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ”
11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
SERMON
Over the last two weeks, many of us have sat nestled into our recliners and couches thrilling at the sight of Olympians putting their bodies through seemingly superhuman feats.
From these same couches and recliners, we watch in real time as big and heavily armed bodies, and rich influential bodies subjugate weaker bodies, children’s bodies, black and brown bodies, poor bodies, and gender diverse bodies. And since always we’ve been told, “that’s just the way it is.”
Well… God isn’t having it. Jesus embodies God’s response right there in the wilderness and in everything that follows.
You might be seeing this year’s Lenten devotions curated by Lutherans Connect— we post links on the church’s facebook page. Deacon Sherry Coman focuses her reflections upon bodies: our bodies, other people’s bodies and Jesus’ body. Such a provocative perspective gives us another way to enter into the account of Jesus facing temptation in the wilderness.
The Spirit literally launches Jesus’s body into hostile environs. Jesus’ body becomes weak and vulnerable from extreme hunger and thirst and from heat and cold. As if on cue, the tempter trots out his elevator speech aimed at inducing Jesus to sell out God’s plan to bless and save the world. “If you are who you say you are, use your power to your own advantage…Create bread from stones— not only daily bread but so much bread you could be set for life”. Life is more than daily bread, the scriptures say—God’s life giving word aims toward the restoration of all things.
True Jesus would work wonders, multiplying loaves— not to show off, but to feed bodies reeling from hunger. Later Jesus breaks bread with his followers and tells them that in the same way he will give his own body for the life of the world. And today, we receive bread along with Jesus’ words, “This is my body, given for you.”
One gambit failing him, the tempter yanks Jesus body up to the pinnacle of the Temple and tries to goad him into throwing his body off the precipice— tempter twists scripture to justify his treachery. Alas, God is not to be manipulated into doing parlour tricks for the tempter’s amusement. But God does hear the cry of the oppressed and sends liberators, prophets and redeemers.
Next, the tempter frog marches Jesus to a high mountain—there he offers him absolute power if only he would throw his body to the ground and swear allegiance to the tempter. Jesus invokes the Creator, the Most Holy as being the only one… not the Tempter, Not Rome, not Pilate… as worthy of allegiance.
From that allegiance to the one who creates and restores, Jesus climbs another mountain, and meets the crowds to spell out God’s design for the world: those who grieve find comfort, the poor are blessed, and lives of mercy, authenticity, and empathy are God-blessed lives.
Jesus’ life and even his death shouts an emphatic NO to tempter and the sort of power that keeps others down.
God’s last word is spoken when Jesus is raised from the dead—God’s last word is YES—yes to humanity, yes the planet, and yes to God’s mending of all creation.
TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD February 15, 2026
Introduction to the Day:
We have shared a season emphasizing ways Jesus is revealed to us…the season of epiphany’s name connotes clarity, enlightenment even a “shining upon”. Now we use a far from every day word, “transfiguration” to describe another way in which Jesus is revealed…and maybe we’re a bit like Peter James and John….the experience leaves us flummoxed and afraid—so we listen to what Jesus says next….
Prayer of the Day
O God, in the transfiguration of your Son you confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the witness of Moses and Elijah, and in the voice from the bright cloud declaring Jesus your beloved Son, you foreshadowed our adoption as your children. Make us heirs with Christ of your glory, and bring us to enjoy its fullness, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
“This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him! Matthew 17:5
Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9
1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Sermon:
We need to know what happened six days before Peter, James and John travel with Jesus up a mountain. Jesus has told his followers that who he is, what he stands for and all he is about will soon get him killed. The empire and some in religious circles will find common cause to end him. Maybe the followers didn’t hear the next part about him rising from the dead. Can you blame them?
Do we expect Peter, James and John’s trek up the mountain with Jesus to clarify everything? At the summit, Jesus’ appearance might have reminded them of the story of Moses shimmering with the glory of God—and as if on cue, Moses and Elijah appear! Why? For whose benefit?
We might connect the dots because we have the advantage of time, distance and centuries of reflection—Moses and Elijah are liberators. They are also people who had to run for their lives because the powers that be wanted them dead…figuring that if you kill the messenger, you kill the message.
We know the effect all this has on Peter, James and John—those who might have known Jesus best are flummoxed over how to handle what they are witnessing. In the moment, Peter for reasons still debated (even between Matthew, Luke and other Gospel writers) begins to speak of building structures to house the holiness they are encountering.
And in mid-sentence, a voice from heaven interrupts. “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him.” Perched where we are this is no surprise to us…we overhear the Gospel story when Jesus is baptized—the words reverberating from heaven are nearly identical. Not likely Peter, James or John were on hand the day Jesus was baptized and the Spirit descended like a dove. This time, the heavenly voice also says, “listen to him.”
Now the disciples go from twitter-pated to terrified! From here, the story is not one Peter, James and John are ready to tell. In the moment Jesus lays a hand on them and says, “get up and do not be afraid.” It could be that at this point in today’s Gospel reading we have the most in common with Jesus’ companions. We might think we know who Jesus is, yet we’re often confounded. We might wish he would intervene in our world on our terms. We might be afraid; not of God’s glory but of the enormity of human cruelty. We might fear for the future of the planet because those in power treat creation like a bargaining chip. We might fear for the safety and livelihoods of our children and their children.
Now the Son of Man has been raised from the dead. We call tell the story of Jesus radiant with God’s glory and standing in the company of Moses and Elijah— Each and every day we recall our baptism into the life of Christ, crucified and risen. Each day we live in anticipation of Jesus’ empowering touch and reassuring words to us and to the community of his followers in all places—“Do not be afraid. Get up. I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
More information HERE
Fr. Rob and Pastor Bart will share in leading the service and all, from both congregations and the community, are invited.
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY- February 8, 2026
Prayer of the Day Lord God, with endless mercy you receive the prayers of all who call upon you. By your Spirit show us the things we ought to do, and give us the grace and power to do them, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
“This is my Son, my Beloved with whom I am well pleased” Matthew 3:17 Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20 [Jesus said:]
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Sermon: Jesus—the Beloved in whom God is well pleased—lives on the fringes of society. It’s a good bet that the church has followed him there sometimes. In each generation we’re called to follow him there again.
Jesus grammar matters when he speaks to a gathering of everyday people who also live on the margins—“All you all” ….are ALREADY light in and for the world.”
No picking and choosing who might qualify. No stipulation about getting your act together.
Many who hear Jesus declare that they are light for the world more likely felt like they were invisible. Or worse, that they are targeted as prey for a greedy empire.
People who first hear Matthew’s retelling of Jesus’ words are displaced people. The occupiers have destroyed their centre of worship and locus of community life. In the Beatitudes and in this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks to those for whom the system either doesn’t work, or it actively works against them. Jesus tells them ‘you are seen, you are known, and you are loved…by God!
What’s more….we aren’t defined by the power brokers who seek to brand us as loyal subjects or target audiences with credit cards at the ready. Jesus announces God’s rule and realm of justice and mercy is breaking through like pin points of light in a night sky. Except the light is here….as Jesus tells a crowd of everyday people—You…all of you ARE the light of the world.
Most of today’s church around the world lives on the margins. In many places it always has. “On the margins” may well be exactly where we need to be because that’s where “the beloved Son” chooses to live his life.
Some forty years ago, a woman from a church group I was part of returned from a mission trip to Central America. She met Christians who gathered in house churches and open air spaces. Anne recalls “I thought I was going as a missionary but these people, the poorest of the poor, were so generous and joyous. They made the Gospel real for me.” Anne concluded places wealthy and powerful as North America are actually a mission field.
These days some who identify as Christian believe that God intends for them to be the primary if not the sole light bearers—You might have read about the “Seven Mountains of Dominion” or about the New Apostolic Order calling for Christians to occupy and control society’s major institutions including media, courts, government, schools, and medicine.
These so-called “Dominionists” take offense at the Beatitudes and ridicule anyone who strives to live by them as “woke” and “weak”.
Clearly the agenda insisting that religion dominates society collides with the Beatitudes. Unexpectedly, if not palpably, such a clash connects Jesus’ words announcing that everyday people are light of the world to His warnings about people breaking commandments and teaching others to do the same.
We shine our light not by cranking up klieg lights and blasting them into peoples’ faces. Instead as one writer about Good News Sharing, the Dutch scholar Stefan Paas expresses it “. . . only if people do not feel threatened by an institutional grasp for power by Christians will they feel free to appreciate what Christians have to tell.”
Jesus calls us out to the margins and we see God’s light there. And as our baptism vows remind us, We let our light shine so others might see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Welland, Ontario, Canada 
A thank you letter from Community Christmas Toys, for the Gift cards given to them by St.Matthew’s Lutheran Women