St. Matthew Lutheran Church sits on Lovely Street in Avon, Connecticut, in the heart of the Farmington Valley, and worshipers there describe it with a simple motto: "Digging Deep, Reaching Out, Changing Lives." It is an inclusive and loving congregation where people discover, engage, and grow their faith as they experience fulfillment through God's love in Jesus Christ in a thriving community. Part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the New England Synod, St. Matthew serves members who live in Avon, Canton, Simsbury, and Farmington, and reaches out from that base to neighbors in greater Hartford and partners across the country and abroad.
From Collinsville to Avon: A 140-Year Story
St. Matthew began in 1885 as an immigrant church, serving the German laborers who came to work in the Collins Company ax factory in Collinsville, Connecticut. The congregation's first sanctuary was built in Collinsville in 1884, and pieces of that original chancel - its carvings and light fixtures - remain part of the church's heritage today, preserved and now incorporated into the present sanctuary in Avon. In the early 1960s, as the demographics of the Farmington Valley shifted, the congregation made the move to its present location on Lovely Street. The Avon sanctuary was dedicated in September 1963, and an education and fellowship wing was added in 1970 to accommodate a growing Sunday school and youth ministry.
The music program expanded in 1987 when the congregation installed a Casavant pipe organ to enrich a worship life that has long included choral singing, and the church launched a pastoral intern program in 1986 that, over the years, has welcomed more than twenty interns into its ministry. In 2003 the congregation called a second pastor to support its vital education ministries. Youth ministry has remained a particular strength, with annual mission trips that have carried St. Matthewers to inner-city Chicago, rural Appalachia, Romania, and most recently Honduras, where Pastor Brian joined a New England Synod accompaniment team.
Throughout its history, St. Matthew has been a fixture of community life - hosting an annual 5K run, serving those in need in Hartford, and reaching out to families across the Farmington Valley. As Pastor Brian wrote on the eve of the sanctuary's grand reopening, "Generations not yet born will find a spiritual home here, encounter the divine here, hear the call to be light to the world here."
The Refreshing of the Sacred Space
In the spring of 2026 the congregation moved out of the sanctuary and into the Hall of the Evangelists so that the worship space could be renewed. CORE Construction carried out the building work, and M&G Landscaping refreshed the garth. The improvements preserved the building's character while updating comfort, acoustics, and accessibility. The result is a new canted pew layout with cushioned seats, a stone backdrop that highlights the existing Christ the King cross more prominently, an expanded chancel with fewer steps and a new communion rail, new flooring, and enhanced acoustics and lighting.
The project, called "Refreshing Our Sacred Space," was supported by a capital campaign chaired by Jason Lindquist with a committee of Mark Coslett, Elaine Menezes, Doug Peterson, George Reider, and Debbie Steinberg. The Sanctuary Refresh Committee - Anita Mielert, Deb Brodeur, Hal Eberhard, Meg Kraft, Doreen O'Leary, John Pearson, George Reider, Sarah Schiener-Redenz, George Spoering, and Roy Zurell - shepherded the design work, and the Garth Committee - Karen Wright, Deb Brodeur, Myles Brown, Paula Cunningham, Ann Eberhard, Sydnee Goddard, Mike and Stacey Held, Jean Tuve, Ben Wright, and Roy Zurell - oversaw the grounds. Foley Baker Inc. moved the Casavant organ to protect it during construction. The sanctuary was consecrated and reopened on Rally Day, Sunday, September 13, 2026, with a baptism, a blessing, an expanded coffee hour, and a carnival in the backyard.
Throughout the renovation, historic items from the original 1884 Collinsville sanctuary - the chancel carvings and light fixtures - were preserved and reinstalled, giving the present space a tangible link to the congregation's nineteenth-century roots.
Sunday Morning in Avon
Worship at St. Matthew centers on a single Sunday morning service held at 9:00 AM in the sanctuary. Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday of every month, and children's sermons are a regular feature of the liturgy. The service is livestreamed on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person, and bulletins are posted each week so worshipers can follow along at home.
Those who arrive a little early will notice the rhythms of a Lutheran congregation at prayer. As one visitor guide explains: "We gather at St Matthew to grow in our spiritual lives and in our capacity to serve - and scripture is at the heart of that growth. Through reading, discussing, and applying scripture in sermons and education, we are comforted in our struggles and challenged to be more like Jesus." At the peace, someone will likely turn to a guest and say, "Peace be with you," and the custom is to return the greeting and offer a hand. Worshipers may stand or sit for the prayers, and kneel at the rail for communion.
Children are welcomed into the service rather than separated from it. A weekly children's sermon engages young worshipers in the day's readings, and a "Kid's Corner" just outside the worship space lets little ones play while still hearing the service. Holy Communion is open to anyone who wishes to participate; Jesus is the host of the meal, and all are welcome at the table.
At 10:15 AM the building comes alive with a second wave of activity. The Adult Forum gathers in the Gathering Space for an hour of conversation led by pastors and lay leaders on topics that engage the life of faith. Children head to Sunday School, which runs from 10:15 to 11:15 AM for pre-school through sixth grade. The Children's Music Ministry meets briefly at 10:20 AM to learn the hymns and songs that will be sung in worship.
The Pastoral Team
The Rev. Dr. Brian Rajcok, PhD, is St. Matthew's Lead Pastor. A Bethlehem, Connecticut, native and a graduate of Nonnewaug High School, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology at Valparaiso University and a Master of Divinity at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He served his first call in Cherryville, Pennsylvania, and began ministry at St. Matthew in January 2019, focusing on youth ministry, Christian education, and spiritual formation. Pastor Brian recently completed a PhD in pastoral counseling at Neumann University, writing his dissertation on spiritually significant psychedelic experiences, and his interests include mysticism, the study of consciousness, world religions, and the relationship between science and spirituality. He is passionate about centering prayer meditation, nature spirituality, and helping the congregation live in alignment with the divine. He recently returned from a three-month sabbatical that included a cross-country trip to finish visiting all forty-eight contiguous states.
The Rev. Ryan Heckman is the congregation's Associate Pastor. A native of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, he earned a double Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Music from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Nonprofit Management from Hamline University before entering Luther Seminary, where he completed his Master of Divinity. He was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in May 2024 and came to St. Matthew first as Director of Christian Education in 2023 and then as Associate Pastor upon his ordination. He brings a deep passion for the narrative beauty, rich complexity, and wonderful poetry of the Biblical witness to God's grace.
Supporting the pastoral team is Sarah Schiener-Redenz, the Director of Music. She came to St. Matthew from the mountains of western North Carolina, where she earned a Bachelor of Music in organ performance and sacred music from Appalachian State University in Boone. She believes that everyone's voice is worth hearing and seeks to encourage broad participation in worship through music. Paul Martin serves as Church Administrator, and Roy Zurell serves as Sexton while also serving as a lector, lay worship leader, cantor, assisting minister, and chaplain of the Sanctuary Choir.
Music at the Heart of Worship
Music is woven through every part of St. Matthew's life. The Saint Matthew Choir rehearses every Tuesday from 2:30 to 3:30 PM and gathers thirty minutes before worship on Sundays. The choir sings approximately two Sundays per month and on the chief holy days of the church year. The repertoire ranges across classical favorites, gospel arrangements, folk tunes, and modern choral works, and the choir frequently collaborates with instrumentalists. "All are welcome, regardless of musical experience, to join us in song," reads the music page.
The Children's Music Ministry meets on Sunday mornings from 10:20 to 10:30, gathering the youngest singers to learn hymns and songs that will be sung in worship. From time to time, instrumentalists play at the Prelude or Offertory, or join the organ to accompany the choir. Those interested in playing for a service are invited to contact the Director of Music.
Beyond Sunday worship, St. Matthew hosts Music at Greenwood, a concert series held in the sanctuary. Each concert lasts about an hour and is followed by a light reception; donations are accepted (a suggested donation of $10 per person). The 2026 season opened on Saturday, May 16, with "Gems from the Jazz Age," performed by The Modernistics Trio - Ted Powers on vocals, tap-dance, guitar, banjo, and harmonica; Peter H. Bloom on flute; and Dave Zox on double-bass - playing swinging songs, tap-dance numbers, and jazz instrumentals by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, and George Gershwin.
Christian Education from the Atrium to Confirmation
St. Matthew takes seriously the call to form the next generation in faith. Children are described as "gifted and valued members" of the congregation, and the church has invested in a space designed especially for them.
The Sunday School meets throughout the school year from 10:15 to 11:15 AM for pre-school through sixth grade students. In addition, the congregation has built an Atrium, a classroom for pre-K through kindergarten that is set up for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based curriculum that provides differentiated Christian instruction for children between the ages of three and twelve.
Confirmation is a two-year program of service and learning geared for students in seventh and eighth grade. Classes meet on Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 6:00 PM and Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. In recent years, confirmation students have participated in the ancient tradition of catechesis through ConfirCamp at Camp Calumet, where they study the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer, and they take on leadership roles in worship as lectors, ushers, and communion assistants.
The Youth Group welcomes students in grades seven through twelve. Intergenerational events - the Advent Workshop, the Church Picnic, and Mission Sundays - bring the whole congregation together across the generations.
Adults and Young Adults: Learning That Lasts a Lifetime
St. Matthew offers several ongoing opportunities for adults who want to grow in faith and connect with one another.
The Adult Forum meets throughout the school year in the Gathering Space from 10:15 to 11:15 AM. Pastors and lay leaders facilitate discussion on a wide range of topics that engage the life of faith. Recent forums have featured Bishop Nathan Pipho on the New England Synod, Pastor William Carter on the Gospel of John, the Rev. Sara Anderson on Camp Calumet, and Michael Kelly Blanchard on memory and music. "Come once in a while or every week," the program description reads.
The morning Bible Study meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM, except in July and August. The group works at connecting the Bible to everyday living, and no prior experience is necessary. Seasonal educational offerings round out the year.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers volunteers who knit or crochet shawls for members and friends of the congregation. Some needle workers meet once a month to share prayer concerns and work together; others create shawls at home and add them to the inventory, which is stored in the Nursery Room. Shawls are made of machine washable yarns, and pocket prayer shawls - the size of a bookmark - are available for those who want a portable reminder of prayer.
A Spiritual Practice of Centering Prayer
Prayer is central to what St. Matthew does, and the congregation has made centering prayer a distinctive part of its spiritual life. Centering Prayer is a contemporary expression of the ancient Christian practice of contemplative prayer, facilitating a movement toward interior silence and resting in God. The Centering Prayer group meets every Thursday from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, currently on Zoom, and reads together from the latest edition of Thomas Keating's Open Mind, Open Heart.
For members and friends of St. Matthew, centering prayer has become a foundation for other forms of service. As one member wrote in a faith story, "the quiet time during centering prayer and our conversations after have enabled me to listen to God speak through silence." Another, who had practiced centering prayer for years before joining the congregation, said that the reading and the practice "have given me a deeper relationship with our Lord."
Healing prayers are offered during worship on the first Sunday of each month, an opportunity to experience the laying on of hands and a word of prayer directed specifically to an individual or a loved one. Prayer requests are shared with a dedicated group that prays for the needs of others.
Partners and Outreach
St. Matthew joins with several partner ministries to serve neighbors in the Farmington Valley, greater Hartford, and the world.
Congregants cook meals for Grace Lutheran Church in Hartford five times a year and serve the meals monthly at the Friday Night Gatherings, which feed and befriend people who are unhoused or living on the margins of the city. St. Matthew partners with Gifts of Love in Avon and the Canton Food Bank to provide groceries for families in need. The church offers a work placement for a student with developmental disabilities from FAVARH. The congregation supports the development work of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and Disaster Relief and the mission and justice work of the New England Synod, and partners with Mosaic and Canton Senior and Social Services.
Beyond Hartford, members travel with the New England Synod on accompaniment trips that build relationships with companion congregations abroad. Pastor Brian's 2026 trip to Honduras, with Bishop Pipho and five other pastors and ten laypeople from across New England, focused on visiting six Lutheran churches and meeting children who receive scholarships through the synod's outreach program.
Committees and the Life of the Congregation
St. Matthew's ministry is carried forward by a robust set of committees. The Church Council is elected by the congregation. Standing committees include Altar Guild, Christian Education, Endowment, Evangelism, Fellowship, Finance, Insurance, Mutual Ministry, Property, Stewardship, Worship and Music, and Youth.
The congregation also gathers monthly in smaller groups: a Women's Fellowship that meets on the second Tuesday, a Men's Breakfast on the third Saturday at 8:30 AM, and "Tuesdays Together at Ten" at 10:00 AM. A Friday Morning Women's Fellowship gathers occasionally for events that are announced in advance. Members and visitors are invited to contact the pastors to learn more or to become involved.
What to Expect When You Visit
St. Matthew's visitor page is unambiguous: "Come as You Are. You don't need to check your personality at the door; you don't need a special set of clothes. Some people dress up; others wear jeans." The congregation spans the political spectrum, all ages, and all abilities, and includes people who have been coming to worship all their lives and people who are new to the faith. Visitors can be themselves at St. Matthew.
Worship is held at 9:00 AM on Sunday mornings in the sanctuary at 224 Lovely Street, Avon, Connecticut. Holy Communion is celebrated each Sunday, and all who wish to participate are welcome. The service is livestreamed on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person. Office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM; Monday is by email, phone, or appointment. Online giving is available through Vanco, and checks may be mailed to the church office or placed in the offering plate during worship.
Stewardship and Giving
St. Matthew practices what it calls joyful giving. Members are encouraged to grow in generosity as a spiritual practice that leads to greater gratitude and fulfillment. The congregation gives through the Sunday offering plate, by mail, through bank bill pay, and online through Vanco. Recurring gifts can be set to withdraw on either the first or fifteenth of the month to the General Operating Fund. The congregation's stewardship ministry offers a teaching series on what the Bible calls "Biblical Stewardship" - exploring themes such as "God Owns Everything," "God Delegates Responsibility," and "We Steward Resources."
Communications and Staying Connected
The congregation publishes a monthly newsletter called The Voice. Recent issues have included "Pastor Brian's Preponderant Business" - his quarterly column from the lead pastor - and "Rev. Ryan's Reflections" from the associate pastor. The newsletter carries updates on discipleship, education, outreach, and the capital campaign, along with announcements of upcoming events.
Sermons are recorded and posted to the website, with text and video archives stretching back through the liturgical year. A video library on YouTube streams past services and messages. St. Matthew maintains active presences on Facebook and Instagram, and a series of faith stories - written reflections from members such as Margaret Byrne, Perry Hasson, George Reider, and Fred Fenn - offers a window into the spiritual lives of people in the pews.
St. Matthew Lutheran Church sits in the middle of the Farmington Valley with more than a century of story behind it and a freshly renewed sanctuary ahead of it. The Casavant organ, the choir, the Atrium for the youngest children, the confirmation class, the Thursday centering prayer group, the Friday Night Gatherings at Grace Lutheran in Hartford, the Honduras accompaniment trips - all of it is held together by the congregation's stated calling: to dig deep, to reach out, and to change lives in Jesus Christ.