Salt and Light: St. Matthew’s

God is beginning a new thing at St. Matthew’s in National City, and we need your help!  A blessing to the city since its founding in 1887, the congregation has known its share of glorious visions and heartbreaks these past many decades.  For the previous thirty years, its congregation has proudly served as a trusted cultural center for Filipino Americans with an Igorot ethnic identity, distinguishing them as a unique and proud people group with a complex relationship with both the Philippines and this country.  St. Matthew’s has also enjoyed a significant Latino membership over the years.

Bishop Susan identified our church as a top priority for investment in the time ahead.  With such attention will, with God’s help, come change and growth, and the leaders of St. Matthew’s are ready for it!  Would you consider signing up for our email list to witness the renewal ahead and making an online donation in support of God’s good work in National City?

While we rejoice to be in this season of Epiphany, when the Good News of God in Christ is made known to all God’s many people, we recognize that COVID’s hold on our world is not yet loosened.  We have been worshipping outside as safely as we can, and staying connected to the rest of our congregation over Zoom.  And we’re excited to announce that we will be hiring a part-time Children, Youth, and Family Minister in preparation for the growth soon coming. (If you know the right person for this position, please be in touch!  We’re accepting applications until the end of January.)

My optimism for the exciting adventure St Matthew’s is now embarking on stems from the strength of our leadership.  Rachel Ambasing, who grew up at St Matthew’s and has been serving as our Music Director, has also started serving as our Ministry Coordinator.  Her writing, design, and organizing skills have launched a beautiful new website, compelling Facebook and Instagram channels (we hope you’ll follow us!), and a weekday discipleship group.  Our wardens, Julian Sanchez and Leo Baroy, are providing the calm, steady presence needed during these turbulent times.  Read more about our leaders here.

For my part, I’m grateful to be serving as a part-time Supervising Priest at St. Matthew’s while continuing as a co-pastor with my wife Laurel at St. Luke’s in North Park.  I am delighting in the chance to get to know the congregation and support this next season of growth, and we have plans in the works to hire a bicultural assisting priest to develop further the ministry team that will take us where God invites us now.

Please keep St. Matthew’s in your prayers, please consider signing up for our email list to witness the renewal ahead, and please make an online donation in support of God’s good work in National City.

With gratitude,

The Rev. Colin Mathewson