Twice per school-year month, families from congregations across Chicagoland gather at Ascension, Niles for home-school Matins. They gather for fellowship, but, most of all, united in their deeply rooted faiths, they gather for worship: time to pause and praise the Lord together while growing their children up to love to do the same.
How They Got Started
Several years ago, a mom from St. John, Montrose desired an opportunity for her children to have a midweek service which reflected the Divine Service service they attend as a family on Sundays. Seeing a community of Lutheran families who also home-school their children in both her congregation and others nearby, she began conversations to see if anyone else would be interested in a weekday service for Lutheran home-school families. After talking with many other home-school families. including Pastor Matt Gunia of Ascension, Niles, it was decided that they would begin a bimonthly service.
What It Looks Like
The second and fourth Tuesday of each month during the school year, families from congregations in north Chicago and the near west suburbs gather at Ascension, Niles around 10 a.m. The twenty to thirty children who attend each week excitedly greet one another as they gather in the front pews. Opening with a bell toll, Pastor Gunia leads the children, their parents, and a few other congregation members in Matins. They sing hymns which remain consistent from week to week, so the children can learn them by heart. They pray. They praise the Lord.
Following the three-year lectionary, in order to allow children another opportunity to connect with scripture they hear in church, Pastor Gunia preaches an interactive sermon, asking the children questions throughout. As they giggle at jokes and eagerly raise their hands to answer questions, the children are attentive, thirsting to learn more.
After the service, the families move upstairs to the gym where the children run and play while their parents set out lunch and enjoy fellowship with one another.
How They Are In This Together
This community of families from various congregations has grown to be a group of close friends over the years. As they’ve watched new babies be born, friends move away, and their children grow, the Matins service has been a wonderful time for them to come together and connect through their faiths and their care for their children.
Not only are the families “in this together,” the pastors and congregations are as well. On Tuesdays when Pastor Gunia is unavailable, he contacts a pastor from one of the families’ congregations asking if he would be available to preach at the Matins service. This allows children from every congregation to connect with their pastor during the week while also allowing the pastors to connect with one another, sharing in ministry.
Where You Can Learn More
If you and your family are interested in joining these families for Matins or if you are interested in learning more about how you can begin a Matins service for home-school families at your own congregation, please contact the church via email at secretary@ascension-lutheran.org or via phone at (847) 647-9867.
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