Matthew 25

Overview

Matthew 25:31–46 calls all of us to actively engage in the world around us, so our faith comes alive and we wake up to new possibilities. Convicted by this passage, both the 222nd and 223rd General Assemblies (2016 and 2018) exhorted the PC(USA) to act boldly and compassionately to serve people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned or poor.
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This Emphasis led to the creation of the Matthew 25 movement.  The movements asks congregations to engage in one or more of the following areas of service:

Focus #1 - Building Congregational Vitality

Focus #2 - Dismantling Structural Racism

Focus #3 - Eradicating Systemic Poverty

in August 2020, the session of our congregation voted for us to become a Matthew 25 congregation.  The session believed that these three focuses are an extension of our current vision, that As Everybody's Church we commit ourselves to serving Christ by cultivating Mission (Eradicating Systemic Poverty), Inclusion (Dismantling Structural Racism) and Community (Building Congregational Vitality).  We are beginning to explore how we will engage these three focuses.  In the meantime you can find out more about the Matthew 25 movement by visiting the PCUSA website via the link below. We hope that you will continue to visit this page as we begin to role out our own congregational initiatives.  If you are interested in being a part of the workgroup and determining how we will engage with the Matthew 25 movement, contact Pastor John Judson by email or text.

P.C.U.S.A. Matthew 25

Matthew 25 Workgroup

In order to discover more about where Matthew 25 ought to lead our congregation, the session authorized the creation of a Matthew 25 Workgroup.  The workgroup met for the first time in November 2020.  They will continue to meet and explore not only the ways in which our community is already living into Matthew 25, but directions in which God may be calling us in the future.

About the Matthew 25 mark: 
​The circular shape represents unity and equality. Like God, a circle has no beginning and no end, and it symbolizes our continuing effort to help one another. The shape also suggests a globe that points to our engagement with the world.

The three interlocking figures represent the equality of all people without gender or race bias. They have their arms around each other, symbolizing friendship, protection and service. The number three suggests the three focus areas of congregational vitality, structural racism and systemic poverty, as well as the Trinity.
The color palette is bright, lively, friendly and energetic — suggestive of our active commitment.

Finally, the legend “Matthew 25” below the symbol is the literal identification of the mark. We use a handwritten font to make the point that active engagement in the world requires human effort.