Glad you're here
Not everyone who finds their way to St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, much less to our web site, is a Christian.  We know this... and we're glad you're here.

You are not alone
We live in a lonely, fast-paced world.  It is a world that leaves us hungry for things that matter.  It is a world that leaves the great questions of life unanswered.  Questions like:  Why was I born?  Why is there suffering?   If there is an "all-knowing God", how could he love me?  What is the meaning of life?... and the list goes on.
Maybe you're a college student who grew up in a church only to find that, now that you're away from home, you're not so sure who your friends are, and you're not so sure what you really believe. 
Maybe you're a single mom who puts in a full day at the office; regretting that you have little time  for your children; regretting that you have no time for yourself. 
Maybe you're recently married, thinking about your new responsibilities and wondering if the church is a good place to raise a family.
Maybe you're lonely because you've hit rock bottom, or maybe you're lonely because you find yourself  more outwardly and visibly successful then you ever dreamed.

The bottom line is, life can be painful, but you are not alone.

How are Christians different
Christians live in that same lonely, fast-paced world.  Christians are also hungry and dissatisfied, they too look inwardly for the answers to life's great questions.  The only difference between you and a Christian, is that Christians ultimately know that by turning inward they will only find more hunger.  We all try to fill up the holes in our lives with more of the stuff of life.  We try to deaden the pain of not knowing the answers, with the pleasures that make us forget the questions (for a little while).   In the end, however, we are right back where we started.

What Christians believe
Christians believe that the answers to life's great questions are found, not by looking inwardly at our own abilities to appease our hunger, or even outwardly in the realm of religion or philosophy, but by looking in that place where the inward and the outward meet... the realm of relationship.  We're not talking about relationship with our co-workers, our friends, or even our family, although these relationships are important.  We're actually talking about the one relationship that makes all other relationships possible.  Christians believe that meaning, purpose, and true joy are found in relationship with God.  Christians believe that the world changes, and things become clearer, when we realize in a personal way, that there is a God, He loves us, and He wants an ongoing relationship with us.  To put it in "churchy language", Christians believe that all of us can have relationship with God the Father, and that this awesome relationship is uniquely possible through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Join us
If you have some questions about the Christian faith, please make an appointment to talk to one of our clergy by calling the office at (512) 345-8314 or sending an email to Office@StMattsAustin.org. We are conveniently located in northwest Austin at the corner of Steck and Mesa. To find us, take a look at the map.  Perhaps you'd like to search this web site to see what interests you at St. Matthew's. No matter what your religious background is, please come and visit us (be sure to get a visitor gift bag) and let us know how we can serve you

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