• 1983    240th Anniversary was celebrated on April 10, 1983. Church service celebration was at 10:30 a.m. with Bishop Howard McCarney as speaker. Special music, displays and church school program highlighted the long years of worship, witness and ministry of the congregation. The music department added one hand bell choir with anticipation of two more hand bell choirs being formed. St. Matthew, in cooperation with other churches under the direction of Hanover Area Council of Churches, began participating in the PAL (Provide-A-Lunch) program on April 28, 1983.
• 1985    In the fall a big step was taken by the congregation involving the introduction and use of the Lutheran Book of Worship. Changing to a new hymnal is traumatic for many, but after months of discussions it was decided to change to LBW. The congregation adjusted very well to the new hymnal.
• 1986    Pastor Arthur L. Ruths retired. Pastor Eric Wogan accepted the position of senior pastor.
• 1987    Rev. John W. Mocko was called as associate pastor. St. Matthew became a part of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Senior high youth are going to the first ELCA National Youth Gathering in San Antonio, Texas. The Welcome Place was formed to provide an opportunity for fellowship between Sunday Church School and worship.
• 1988    Pastor Mocko’s ministry among us was short, and we called Pastor Robert N. Maddox, Jr. to be associate pastor. We received our new Maas – Rowe Carillon. The 198-bell carillon plays hymns everyday and is a witness to the community.
• 1989    Our stained glass windows were refurbished. The St. Matthew congregation gave financial support to secure 44 acres at the corner of Fairview and Sunset Drive in south Hanover for a Lutheran Retirement Center.
• 1993    Pastor David Rispoli was called as associate pastor in June. This was the year of our 250th Anniversary. We had anniversary activities throughout the year. Stephen Ministry was added to our ministry. A Saturday night contemporary service was added.
• 1995    Pastor Wogan’s 25th Anniversary of Ordination celebration was a highlight of the year.
• 1996    The congregation voted to hire an architect to develop a master plan.
• 1997    We called Pastor James F. Young as Associate Pastor to replace Pastor Rispole who left to accept a new call. St. Matthew provided many needs to the Bosnian refuge resettlement family, helping to find jobs, a home and many needs for housekeeping, clothing and prayers for the family.
• 1998    Construction began on the Our Faith, Our Future Building Project. Groundbreaking began on June 14, 1998. Our worship services and other programs were temporarily shifted until work was completed. A celebration of Pastor Maddox’s 25th Anniversary of Ordination provided a fitting recognition for the faithful steady ministry this servant of God brought to our congregation.
• 1999    Pastor James F. Young submitted his letter indicating he has accepted a call to St. Thomas, PA. At a special congregational meeting the congregation voted to remove the Bechtel house and the Annex house to create more parking spaces. 1999 saw the long awaited conclusion of the Our Faith, Our Future building program.
• 2000    We dedicated our newly renovated and expanded facilities. Pastor Wogan announced his resignation effective April 13, 2000 to go to St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, Sarasota, Florida. Pastor Maddox, Pastor Kenneth Senft and Pastor Frederick Weiser served as interim pastors along with the help of many members of the congregation while the Call Committee was searching for a senior pastor.
• 2001    Extended a call to Pastor David Cox. St. Matthew played an important role in the founding of Lutheran Counseling Services of Hanover which opened its office at St. Mark Lutheran Church on September 12, 2000.
• 2002    Voted to refurbish and reconstruct the traceries of the Tiffany Resurrection window given by Mrs. Moul. The window was removed and taken for repair. Karen Buckwalter joined our music staff as Associate Minister of Music.
• 2003    Rev. Dr. David E. Cox resigned to join his wife who accepted a call in the state of Washington. Rev. Robert Maddox was named Interim Senior Pastor. Three visitation pastors joined the staff: Pastor Jack Hoffman, Pastor E. Edward Keyser and Pastor Ken Senft. Janice Davis accepted the call to the position of Director of Christian Education and Youth at St. Matthew. Faye Snyder received her ordination.
• 2004    Rev. Dr. Daniel M. Yeiser was called as our Senior Pastor.
• 2006    Matthew Pensinger was called as Associate Pastor. We established a mid week service to also include a meal and time for fellowship, titled S.A.W. for Supper, Activities and Worship. Pastor Maddox retired after 18 years of faithful service.
• 2007    We purchased and introduced the new hymnal (Evangelical Lutheran Worship).
• 2008   The honorary title of “Pastor Emeritus” to Rev. Dr. Arthur L. Ruths who faithfully served as senior pastor from 1967-1987.
• 2010    The Lounge was renovated and a playground in the rear of the Administration/
• 2011    The congregation began a $1.3 million organ renovation. 2012 – Rev. Kathryn A. Schroeder was voted in as Associate Pastor of St. Matthew. Pastor Faye Snyder became Visitation Pastor for St. Matthew. Council unanimously voted to proceed with repair of the Rose Window and the North and West elevators of the church.
• 2013    Pastor Kate Schroeder initiated a program known as “Ruth’s Harvest” to provide meals on weekends to needy children in Hanover area schools.
• 2014    Members helped complete a Habitat for Humanity Home. We held our first Christmas Cookie Walk with proceeds going to support future mission trips and missionaries.
• 2015    A community garden was planted at the church.
• 2016    Our updated Constitution was ratified and approved.
• 2017    We celebrated the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. We also honored Pastor Emeritus Arthur L. Ruths on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of his Ordination to the ministry. The church library was named in his honor, the “Pastor Emeritus Arthur L. Ruths Library.” The organ project was completed and also, a landscaping project around the Administration/Education building and the church building was completed.
• 2018    This year we celebrated our 275th Anniversary as a continuously worshiping community of faith since 1743.Recognized Pastor Yeiser’s 35th and Pastor Snyder’s 15th Ordination anniversaries. Bade farewell to Pastor Yeiser as he resigned after 14 years of service. As the interim senior pastor, we called Pastor Rob Moore from St. Paul Lutheran Church, Carlisle, PA. Monte Maxwell offered a colorful and heartfelt organ concert, the first since the renovation project. Pastor Kate Schroeder decided to take a call near her daughter in Michigan. Pastor M. David Kiel is our Interim Associate Pastor. A new slate roof was installed on the church replacing the 100 year old roof.
• 2020    A special service was held and the congregation voted in Pastor Kathryn Vitalis Hoffman as the Lead Pastor of St. Matthew. After word from our Bishop, St. Matthew closed our doors due to a pandemic of Covid-19. We worshipped online until Pentecost weekendwhen we began worshipping in cars from the parking lot. The service was broadcast live over radio. Many events were cancelled due to the pandemic.
• 2021    During 2021, Covid-19 was still persistent but we maintained weekly worship through the whole year. Our drive-in service survived the winter of 2020-21. Meetings were moved to larger spaces for proper distancing, continued Zoom classes, and began visiting hospitals and care facilities depending on their protocols. Jan Davis, our Minister of Christian Education, and our Interim Associate Pastor M. David Kiel departed St. Matthew. Our congregation called Taylor Berdahl to be Associate Pastor. Pastor Taylor was Ordained in her home congregation of Christ Lutheran Church in Georgetown, Texas. Pastor Kathy Vitalis Hoffman and Pastor Taylor Berdahl were installed on November 21, 2021. Tim Peck was hired part-time as the Youth Leader. Stacy Parsons was hired part-time as Children’s Ministry Leader.

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