Last month, my family and I took a trip to the Sierra Nevadas for our summer break. We spent some time in Lake Tahoe and then headed to Pinecrest, where we stayed at the University of California family camp, the Lair of the Bear. I worked at this camp during college, and now several of the friends I staffed with—and their families—return each summer to camp together. I find this annual trip incredibly restorative. I’ve learned to call it a “trip” rather than a “vacation” because when you are traveling with small children, they’re not the most restful experiences, but they’re still a ton of fun. And one of the things that I love about being up in the Sierras is the wild, untamable nature of the mountains.

It’s in this wildness of the mountains where I experience God’s presence: watching the sun sink low after an evening of fly-fishing with my dad, seeing my boys collapse well before bedtime after spending the entire day running around in the dirt, and laughing so hard with old friends under a starry sky that I find tears in my eyes.  These kinds of trips into the mountains help my concerns and fears melt away.  They set me free in a sense—they connect me with what matters.

In church a few weeks ago, we heard the story from Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 14:22-33) of Jesus walking on water – and how the disciples recognize Jesus, the son of God, in the wildness of a storm.  We heard that Jesus sent his disciples in a boat out on the Sea of Galilee, how their boat got pushed further and further away from land as they’re battered by waves and wind, and then in the early morning hours they saw this figure walking towards them on water.  At this moment the disciples were afraid—they thought they were seeing a ghost!

We are given more insight into the disciples’ reaction when we understand that in Jewish thought during Jesus’ time, water symbolized danger and chaos.  As the theologian Karl Barth explains, water in the first biblical creation story was “representative of all the… powers which oppress and resist the salvation intended for the people of Israel.”¹  When you think about the depths of the sea, sea storms and crashing waves, raging rivers, floods, and hurricanes, water can be pretty scary stuff.  So the disciples had every right to be freaked out as they’re pushed further from shore and swamped by the wind and waves.

Yet, throughout the Old Testament there are stories of how God is at work even in water.  Consider God creating the world out of a formless, watery chaos in Genesis, or the covenant made with Noah after the flood, or God parting the Red Sea for the Israelites to escape Pharaoh’s army.²  Throughout the Old Testament, water is portrayed not only as wild and dangerous, but also as something God uses to bring about God’s intended purposes.

When the disciples saw Jesus stride across the chaotic waters, they witnessed something only God can do—something both awe-inspiring and terrifying. In that moment, they recognized Jesus’ divinity, making the confession, “Truly you are the son of God.”

Another piece of this story worth paying attention to is when Jesus invites Peter to join him out on the Sea of Galilee. Peter gets out of the boat and starts walking toward Jesus. He actually walks on water for a while! But when he notices the strong wind, he becomes frightened, starts to sink, and cries out, “Lord, save me!” Peter flounders not because he takes his eyes off Jesus, but because he becomes afraid—and understandably so!  He’s walking on water, and it’s not calm water. 

It’s important to recognize that Jesus is the one who calls Peter to come and join him. “Come,” he says. Jesus has confidence in Peter; he wants him to join. But Peter’s fear prevents him from fully participating in Jesus’ call. Fear is a major theme in this story.  The disciples were afraid as their boat was swamped by waves and wind and when they first saw Jesus walking on water.  Peter’s fear caused him to sink.  As much as we may want to avoid our fear, it is a natural human response.

When I was a kid in the early ’90s, there was a popular T-shirt brand called “No Fear”—you may remember the logos. The brand celebrated extreme sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing. I owned a few shirts and thought they were pretty cool. Looking back, though, I realize how silly they must have seemed because, of course, I had fears.  One of my biggest fears when I was little was riding roller coasters. I still have a friend who gives me grief because I wore a “No Fear” shirt to a theme park with him but was too scared to ride the roller coasters.

Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, writes that, “this and this alone is God’s ‘agenda’: the world he has made is designed to become a reconciled world, a world in which diverse human communities come to share a life together because they share the conviction that God has acted to set them free from fear and guilt.”³  What would it take for us to be freed from fear and guilt so that we might become reconciled—a people who share life together across our differences in praise and celebration of God’s goodness?

The story of Jesus walking on water reminds us that Jesus has confidence in us, calls us towards him, and is always with us—working even to catch us when we sink.  Jesus never gives up on us.  This can transcend our fear.  It allows us to live with courage knowing that even in the storms of the world and of our lives God is calling us to something more—that there is more to us than we are even aware of.  God desires for us to be set free. Will we listen to his invitation and step out of the boat?

Peace,
Stephen+

1  Iwan Russell-Jones, “Theological Perspective” Matthew 14:22-33 in Feasting on the Word, Year A, Vo. 3 (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011), 334.

2 Iwan Russell-Jones, “Theological Perspective” Matthew 14:22-33 in Feasting on the Word, 334. 

3 Rowan Williams, Tokens of Trust: An Introduction to Christian Belief, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007), 8.

Nestled between the church and the meadow, the Columbarium of St. Matthew’s has long been a place of remembrance, prayer and hope. More than a resting place, it is an extension of our Parish home, where generations of families have honored loved ones and found comfort in the promise of resurrection.

Thanks to the generosity of friends and parishioners who supported our 2018 Capital Campaign, the redevelopment of St. Matthew’s Columbarium is now underway. Construction is expected to be completed by fall!

As plans were developed, we listened carefully to our congregation. Parishioners asked us to preserve the beauty, peace, and familiar character of the Columbarium they know and love. The redevelopment honors that vision by keeping the existing Columbarium largely unchanged while significantly expanding capacity and enhancing this cherished place of remembrance.

Expanding a Place of Remembrance

The redevelopment includes:

Columbarium Niches and Memorial Garden Opportunities

If you are currently on our waitlist, we will begin contacting you as the project nears completion to offer contracts and the opportunity to select your niche or Memorial Garden space. 

Contracts will be administered through the church office. Parish Administrator Shawn Silletti will assist families throughout the process. Payment is due upon signing.

Our niches will be offered at $10,000 for all on our waitlist. Memorial Garden spaces are currently $2,500. Revenue will support the ongoing care and preservation of the Columbarium. Pricing may change in the future. Engraved name plaques are purchased at the time of interment.

Niches and Memorial Garden spaces are available to current and former members of the Parish of St. Matthew and their immediate family members, including spouses, parents, and children. 

Join the Waitlist

If you are interested in purchasing a Columbarium niche or a place in the Memorial Garden, please contact us no later than August 31 to be added to our waitlist. 

Please email connect@stmatthews.com and include:

Frequently Asked Questions

May I choose the location of my niche?
Yes. During the contract process, you will have an opportunity to select from the available niches. Your chosen location will be identified in your purchase agreement.

May I change the location of my existing niche?
If you have previously purchased a niche in the current Columbarium and would like to explore relocating to one of the new Memorial Walls, please contact the church office to discuss available options.

How are inurnments and Memorial Garden interments arranged?
Families will work with clergy to schedule a committal service. Loved ones will be honored with an engraved memorial plaque, whether they are interred in a Columbarium niche or in the Memorial Garden. 

Additional questions?
Please email giving@stmatthews.com.

St. Matthew’s Outreach Ministries support a wide range of projects, organizations and activities in Los Angeles and around the world. Parish members continue to give generously of their time, talent and treasure to support them — and the effort makes a huge difference in the lives of others. Please find some notes of thanks from just a few of these amazing organizations.

* * *

“With the help of supporters like you, GAIA has been able to honor its commitments to nearly 100 Malawian nursing students whose scholarships were temporarily rescinded due to the demise of USAID. At the same time, our Mobile Health Clinic program – essential for delivering primary healthcare in rural Malawi – continued its critical work without interruption. It is not hyperbole to say that St. Matthew’s generosity has saved scores of lives in the far corners of the globe. The fact that you did so without interruption in your own time of need speaks volumes to your ideals.” — Todd Schafer, GAIA Global Health

“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your grant. St. Matthew’s generosity reflects a shared commitment to ensuring our most vulnerable neighbors receive compassionate care and the support they need to move toward stability and permanent housing. Your support helps us respond to the complex and evolving needs of those we serve. Our Interim Housing programs served 1,630 people last year. And your contribution to the Palisades Outreach Team sustains day-to-day operations, providing participants with intensive case management, essential resources, and supportive services that promote long-term stability.” — John Maceri, The People Concern

“On behalf of Safe Place for Youth, I would like to thank the Parish of St. Matthew for its most generous gift. Thanks to your gift, we are able to continue empowering young individuals not just to survive, but to truly thrive. Your generosity opens doors for young people by providing the essential resources and personalized support they need to build brighter futures. Your support provides critical necessities like food, hygiene kits, emergency supplies, and clothing while connecting youth with one-on-one guidance to overcome barriers such as housing instability, legal challenges, and unexpected financial setbacks. Because of St. Matthew’s, hope becomes possible for young people experiencing housing instability. Your generosity provides the support they need to find safety, build stability, and create brighter futures. Thank you for standing with us as a valued partner in ending youth homelessness and helping youth realize their full potential. We are eternally grateful for your collaboration in 2026 and beyond!” — Erika Hartman, Safe Place for Youth

1026 Bienveneda Ave.
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

www.stmatthews.com
connect@stmatthews.com