The glory of God is the human person fully alive. –St. Irenaeus

In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul says, “I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:18-19)  What is “the fullness of God?”  One way to think of it is that Paul is praying that we will be more and more filled with…GOD.   The more we are filled with God, the more we are filled with life (since God is the source of life) and the more we are filled with love (since God is love).  The more we are filled with God, the more we are filled with peace, patience, kindness, compassion, generosity, joy and every gift of the Holy Spirit. To be “fully alive” is to be filled with all the fullness of God.  Jesus came and showed us what being “fully alive” looks like—and our mission is to Live Like Jesus!

Beginning in September, St. Matthew’s began a year of studying, praying, and reflecting in worship about what our Christian faith has to teach us about being and becoming truly, fully alive.  The themes for the year are:

September 8-October 6:

The Meaning of LIFE:  What if the Hokey Pokey IS What it’s All About?

October 13-November 17:

The Life Giving Life Project

December 1-January 5  (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany)

It’s a WONDERful Life

January 12-26

Life Calling

February 9-March 2

Mountain Climbing with the Master

March 9-April 6 (Lent)

Live the Questions

April 20:  Easter!

April 27-June 8

MythBusters: Christian Edition