Hey Everyone,

I've been posting here for a while now, so I thought it might be time to introduce myself. Happy reading.

If you're a perceptive sort of person, you may have guess that my name is Matt Nightingale. You're right. You can call me Matt.

Who am I? Hmm... Here are some random thoughts:

I have made the amazing discovery that God actually likes me, actually goes as far as *loving* me... and calls me His beloved son. That, more than anything else, defines me.

I am husband (for 10-1/2 years now) to Luanne: my beautiful, gracious, forgiving, talented and loving partner in life.

I am father to four: Joshua is almost 9. Jacob is 6. Emily and Zachary, our biggest surprise in this life so far, are our 2-1/2 year old twins. (I should explain. The "having a baby" part was not a surprise. The TWINS part was. )

I am a musician... I play piano and sing. I have a dream job doing two things that really satisfy me: making music and caring for people. I'm the "pastor of worship" at Peninsula Covenant Church in Redwood City, CA, so I plan and lead all the worship services here every week... choir, bands, singing groups, instrumental ensembles, soloists... all of that. PLUS I get to care for PEOPLE. I'd much rather be a pastor to people than just a music director.

After growing up in northern Indiana, I'm convinced I live in the most beautiful place in the USA. The San Francisco Bay Area is so amazing... We live on the Peninsula, 20 minutes from SF and 20 minutes from the ocean.

NP: Sam Phillips "Now I Can't Find the Door" from Cruel Inventions.

I love Over the Rhine. I guess that why I'm here. Happy to be so.

Matt

Hey Matt!

Nice Intro! Nice to be here with you!

Blessings!

great intro. we've seen your posts. now we meet the man behind the posts
if you added pictures to the request thread, . . . .

Hey Matt,
Nice to hear more about you. I like your avatar and the great picture in your profile (I'm assuming that is you?)
Glad you're among us.

Hey Matt! Nice to get a full bio on you at last.

It is indeed. Surrounded by some of my favorite things... my computer, some CDs, books, drawings by my kids... Thanks for the kind words of welcome, everyone...

Hey Matt,

is that part of the Evangelical Covenant Church based in Chicago?

Jim

Hey Jim,

Yes it is... I have been here at the church for about 4 years. Didn't really know much about the Covenant denomination before that, but I'm really finding a home here. I was in Chicago back in February for our annual Midwinter Conference. (Whose idea was that? Chicago in February?)

Anyway, you can check out the website for a good overview of what the Covenant is all about.

Matt

Oh cool. I was raised in the Covenant church, and it's rare to find a fellow Covenant-er. (Well, I guess that depends on what part of the country, or which country, you are from).

Yeah, I've worked at a Great Lakes conference covenant camp in upstate new york for the past 4 summers - really the best time ever. And I think the denomination is really cool, in general.

Anyways, nice to meet you.

Jim

welcome.

Hi, Matt, you fellow Grace College alum you...

So have you been back to good ol' Winona Lake recently? I have to admit it makes me a little bummed to see how much nicer everything is there compared to when we were there!

I know! I try not to be bitter, I really do, but I think you and I were there at the lowest possible point in the school's history. They call me to contribute (As if I have any money to contribute! I'm still paying off my student loans ten years later!) every year and I just have to bite my tongue so I don't make a perky little freshman volunteer cry...

Welcome to the Orchard Matt. Great intro, it's great to have you here.

I actually hung up on a Gracie phone volunteer just a couple weeks ago. Agh...I'm a horrible person!

Hi matt! Thanks for introducing yourself...glad to have you here!

No you're not!

I actually listen to the shpiel and then just say, "Nope. Not this year. Sorry."

Then they ask how they can be praying for me. I guess that's a nice touch, but it seems a little... impersonal. Actually, a few years back I asked them to pray for something and got a card from a faculty member saying they had prayed for me. That was pretty cool.

It's just weird. I'm a lot different than I was at Grace. Even theologically, I've moved beyond a lot of what I bought into back then. They might even call me a ::gasp:: LIBERAL!

Matt

hello Matt!

nice to see your eye here!
post, post, post!

oh yeah. victoria williams rawks.
d.

Hello and nice to meet you! You sound like a man with many blessings

Welcome, Matt!

: )

Aye, that sounded a little strange, lemme try again ...

Welcome to the Orchard, Matt!