St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church marks 7 years

The congregation of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church recently celebrated its pastor’s fifth anniversary and the seventh anniversary of the founding of the church.

As the only Missouri Synod Lutheran Church (LCMS) on Kaua‘i, St. Matthew’s congregants strive to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within their lives and their communities throughout Kaua‘i, states a news release.

The LCMS is a mission-oriented, Bible-based, confessional Christian denomination focused on God’s grace, mercy and salvation through Christ Jesus, according to the release.

St. Matthew’s started as a prayer group in 2005, meeting in the homes of Christians who were interested in sharing the Gospel of the Lord and the values and traditions practiced in a Bible-based, liturgical form of worship.

The Rev. John Bombaro shepherded the new congregation until March 2007 when he accepted a call to pastoral duties at Grace Lutheran Church in San Diego.

Members of the congregation called Frank Ranger, a commissioned deacon and member of the congregation who had previously served on the pastoral staff of Lamb Of God Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, to serve as pastor.

Since leading the congregation, Ranger has strengthened the unity of the congregation through his leadership, the release states.

St. Matthew’s worship service of confession and absolution, word and sacrament is celebrated each Sunday at 9 a.m. at the Koloa Elementary School Library, Humanities Room on Po‘ipu Road in Koloa.

Fellowship following the service is followed by a Bible class. The public is welcome.

For more information, visit www.StMathewsofKauai.org,  send an email to stmatthewslutheranchurch@hawaii.rr.com or call the office at 346-8040.