WELCOME!
What to Expect in Worship
WELCOME TO THE BODY OF CHRIST AT ST. MATTHEW’S
We are happy to welcome you to worship and hope you find the service to be a blessing and a comfort as you hear the Word, receive the Sacraments, are forgiven and renewed, nourished by God’s grace, and sent forth to love and serve. Welcomed and received just as you are, there is a place for you at St. Matthew’s.
St. Matthew’s celebrates a “traditional” Lutheran worship service. Our service is very similar to Episcopalians and Catholics, but we change up the liturgy seasonally. Formal, but not too formal. You will hear people laughing and children playing. While we take God seriously, we like to have fun here and we celebrate our community together. Please do not let the traditional atmosphere of “church” prevent you from feeling comfortable in worship. Wear what you like, come as you are. Seriously.
Communion Liturgy
This is Christ’s church. This is Christ’s table. All are welcome at Christ’s table. All are invited to come forward to receive communion regardless of age, gender, or denomination. The ushers will open your pew door and direct you down the aisle where you will receive a wafer and are invited to dip it into the cup of wine. This practice is called “intinction.” If you wish to have a gluten-free or alcohol-free option, please indicate this to the wafer server in your line. Also, our church teaches that you may receive just the wafer or the wine and still receive the full wonders of this meal. Finally, if you wish not to commune, you may come forward with your arms crossed for a blessing or remain seated as you are comfortable.
Children are also welcome in worship!
An usher can help you find an activity bag for your little one. Most services include a Children of God Moment, where all children are invited to come forward (with their grownups, if they want) for a time of learning and conversation with the pastor(s). If you wish, there is a nursery located in the other building that is staffed each Sunday. You can find this by exiting the nave through the right-hand side door and proceeding into the other building. The nursery is directly ahead.
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Francis Marion Garage
Camden Garage
Parking / Transportation
On Sundays, complimentary parking is available in either of the two garages shown; there will be a bar code in the worship bulletin to scan when you leave the garage. Parking for handicap worshippers is reserved in front of the church on King Street, as indicated by the blue bags over the parking meters.
We also have a few parking spaces in the Francis Marion Garage open for Handicap worshippers on Sunday – enter the garage and turn immediately to the right to the parking spaces next to the sanctuary (this lot is locked at noon, after worship service). Parking is also available at the Charleston Water System parking lot on Vanderhorst St. And, parking is available most Sunday mornings along Tobacco Street directly across from our sanctuary.
St Matthew’s Lutheran Church is located at 405 King Street, at the corner of King and Vanderhorst Streets. The main sanctuary entrance is off King Street, and the church office entrance is off Vanderhorst Street. St Matthew’s Community Outreach Center is located just south of the sanctuary, sharing a courtyard with the church.
Get Involved
St. Matthew’s is a warm, welcoming, vibrant, inclusive, growing congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). For nearly 200 years, our community of faith has spoken a word of good news through ministries of worship, education, service, care, and koinonia (sacred community). Explore our website, read Our Work Together (a brief but comprehensive catalogue of all of St. Matthew’s ministries), visit and worship with us, and get to know us. We would love to meet you in-person. Oh, and all are welcome. Come as you are…really! There is a place for you at St. Matthew’s. (You get the idea.) From Pastor A.J. Houseman, our staff, leadership teams, and the congregation, welcome to the Body of Christ at St. Matthew’s. – Pastor Eric
