Our Mission and Beliefs
Our congregation’s mission since October 6, 1974 is to deepen relationships with the Triune God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one another, and our Easley and surrounding community by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to save the world.
St. Matthias is a congregation of the South Carolina Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). As members of the ELCA, we believe that we are freed by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to love and serve our neighbor, following Christ’s example and the leading of the Holy Spirit. With our hands, God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities is done in Christ’s name throughout the world.
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person--questions, complexities and all. Join us as we do God's work in Christ's name for the life of the world.
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
Learn more at scsynod.com and elca.org.
Our Pastor
The Rev. Sean Miller-Perez
Pastor Sean grew up in Greenville, only a few minutes from Easley. He is a graduate of Berea High School and the University of South Carolina. Pastor Sean completed both a Master of Divinity degree from Gardner-Webb University and a chaplain residency at Greenville Memorial Hospital in 2004. Later that year, he met his wife, Pastor Maria Miller-Perez, who currently serves as Chaplain of Lutheran Hospice in the Upstate, contract pastor for Augsburg Lutheran Church in Union, and Dean of the SC Foothills Conference of ELCA congregations. Together they have one child, Ethan, who is surviving day-to-day as a double "PK" (pastor's kid). Ethan plays several musical instruments, his favorites being french horn and bass guitar. He graduated high school in May 2024 and is enrolled at Valparaiso University in Indiana.
Pastor Sean was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in March 2010. After serving as Associate Pastor at The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour in Greenville, he accepted a call to St. Matthias in December 2013. In his "spare" time, Pastor Sean enjoys time with his family, reading, listening to classical music, and geeking out on Star Wars, Star Trek, and The Orville.
Our Staff
Tabitha Capps
Preschool Director
Tabitha grew up in Easley and is an Easley High School Graduate. She attended Tri County for Early Childhood Education classes. She is married to her husband Russ Capps, they have a son Jake and two precious dogs! For fun, Tabitha loves to garden, paint barn quilts and really just any crafting in general!
In 2003, she started working with a local Child Development Center and never looked back! She has since then spent 19 years working with children. She has worked with several ages, but found her niche in the 4k. She absolutely loves the honor of having that last year before big school and getting them ready! She worked with SMLC Preschool for several years with a small break and returned as the 4k teacher for the 2021-2022 School Year. She has always had the dream of going a step further and stepping into a leadership role. God opened the door for her to be the New Preschool Director here at SMLC! She looks forward to taking on this role with an open heart and mind and desires to make the school all that it can be for our community!
Contact Tabitha at (864) 442-1379 or directorsmlcpreschool@gmail.com
Paul DiCicco
Organist and Choir Director