Annual Meeting and Vestry Election
Set for Sunday, February 19, at 9:00 a.m.

The Annual Meeting of the Parish will take place on Sunday, February 19, at 9:00 a.m. in the church.  At that time, we will elect three new Vestry members to succeed Richard Hicks, Ellen Weig, and Dave Wilson. 

Caring for One Another at St. Matthew’s
An invitation to learn more and become involved 

In the Sundays after the Feast of the Epiphany, we hear many stories from the Gospels about the Jesus’ acts of healing and compassion.  Here at St. Matthew’s, a variety of groups continue such acts.  The Shawl Ministry meets on the first Saturday of each month and creates beautiful hand knit scarves, blankets and shawls to give on occasions, such as baptism or confirmation, and to those in need.  Serve One Another provides meals and logistical support to people in need through an email list of people willing to help.  The Pastoral Care Team supplements such logistical care with visits and ongoing contact.  Lay Eucharistic Visitors are sent on Sundays to take Holy Communion to those who cannot get to church.  We also offer periodically “listening” groups, what we have called in the past Care and Discernment Groups.  These are small groups of five to eight people who meet for as many times as there are people in the group.  Their purpose is to offer spiritual care to one another by listening to each others stories to hear where God might be at work in each others lives.

 

 

 read more ...

Annual Meeting and Vestry Election Set for Sunday, February 19 

The Annual Meeting for St. Matthew’s will take place on Sunday, February 19, at 9:00 a.m. in the church.  This meeting was established by the by-laws of our parish for the purpose of sharing information with the congregation about the work and financial status of our parish, and electing new vestry members to replace the out-going class. 

This year we will elect three new members to replace Richard Hicks, Ellen Weig, and Dave Wilson who complete their three-year terms in May of 2012. 

 read more ...

FeST



Saturday, December 3, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 4, Noon-4:00 p.m.

 The Ordinary Café • Craft Sale 

 Special Activities

· Men’s Trio (Saturday, 10:00 a.m.)

· Youth Skit & Music (Sunday, 12:30 p.m.)

· Candlelight Tour (Sunday, Noon-6:00 p.m.)

· Carol Sing (Sunday, 1:30 & 2:00 p.m.)

Help us celebrate the talents and treasures of St. Matthew’s parishioners.  Craft items and non-perishable items can be dropped off at the office any time now.

Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24

 4:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant & Festival Holy Eucharist

All children of the parish are invited to participate in the telling of the Christmas Story (see article below) Nursery Care Provided

 9:00 p.m.  Festival Holy Eucharist

This service includes choral anthems, congregational hymns, and works for organ.  No Nursery Care Provided

 Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25

 10:30 a.m.  Holy Eucharist: Rite One (with music)

Please note:  10:30 service only on December 25.  No education programs at 9:15 and no Children’s Worship or Nursery at 10:30

 The Holy Name, January 1

 8:00 & 10:30 a.m.  Holy Eucharist

Please note:  No education programs at 9:15 and no Children’s Worship at 10:30.  Nursery Care resumes.

 read more ...

Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set befo)re us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2a)   

In the New Testament sense of the word, all of us are saints by virtue of our baptism, for we share in the sanctity of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is customary for the Church to lift up certain members of the community as exemplary saints, models of piety and devotion.

These members are the “great cloud of witnesses” that surround us and give us courage as we seek to serve Christ.  Their names are enrolled in the calendar of the Church, and we give them special days of observance which we mark at our Wednesday noon Eucharist. We also celebrate their witness on the annual Feast of All Saints on November 1 or the Sunday following.

 read more ...

Parish Visitation with Bishop Gregg on Sunday, October 23

St. Matthew’s to be presented with official designation as a “Living Historic Church” of the Diocese

The visitation of one of our bishops is always a festive day in the life of the parish.  And the visitation of our Assisting Bishop, William Gregg, on October 23 will be no exception . . .

Annual Giving Campaign begins October 2

We will be kicking off the Annual Giving Campaign on Sunday October 2^nd and it will run through October 23^rd.  This year we are starting a little earlier, and compressing the duration of the campaign . . . 

 read more ...

Sunday, September 4 marks the return of our program year schedule, with a full complement of activities during the 9:15 education hour as well as programming for all ages on 1^st and 3^rd Sunday evenings.

 read more ...

NetsforLife®
This summer, we have been focusing on different social ministries each month. In August we will highlight Nets for Life, a diocesan wide initiative to raise money to purchase 40,000 mosquito nets for the prevention of malaria. Every church in the diocese is participating. This is a good reminder of how being part of a larger church offers the opportunity and the means to make real inroads into some of the more intractable challenges of our day, such as malaria. It connects us to something far greater than ourselves and moves us closer towards the kingdom of God. Please read more about what’s planned below and join in the effort.
--Lisa Frost-Phillips read more ...

Get To Know Your Vestry and Enhanced Support of St. Matthew’s Core Values
The annual vestry retreat, held at Joyce Fisher’s home on May 21st, proved, as usual, to be an excellent way of integrating our new vestry members, Phyllis Wright, Rick Brewer, and Ellen McRae into the group of continuing members, Donna Scaggs, David Hays, Suzanne Maupin, Ellen Weig, Dave Wilson, and Richard Hicks, as well as saying a heartfelt “thank you for your service” to retiring members, Lynn Hecht, Bob Quackenbush, and Rob Jackson.
The purpose of the annual retreat is for the clergy and vestry to review the past year, celebrate successes, consider how we can improve for the coming year, and set goals for ourselves and the parish for the future. Two very important goals set for the coming year are:
1.providing opportunities for parishioners to meet their vestry members and to learn more about the internal workings of the vestry, and,
2.for the vestry members to help lead the parish to intentionally live into St. Matthew’s core values as identified by the 2009-2010 vestry. read more ...

Pentecost: Feasting for Everyone
June 12
Pentecost is the Feast Day when we celebrate the outpouring of the spirit upon the disciples as recounted in the second chapter of Acts, which in turn yields the first fruits of the spirit: repentance, joy, fellowship, praise, mutual love, and sharing with others. On Pentecost Sunday, June 12, we will seek to act in the same spirit, through food we will share with each other in Christian fellowship—and food we will freely share with those in need in our community. read more ...

The ‘ripple effects’ of the Resurrection: Celebrating the Easter Season
On Easter Day we celebrate the event of Christ’s resurrection. In the Easter Season which follows, we explore the ‘ripple effects’ of that momentous event. The enduring impact of the resurrection is most clearly evidenced in the life of the church itself: the fact that more than 2,000 years later, there is still a body of faithful people who gather to experience and share the newness of life given in Baptism and Holy Communion. That in turn impels a host of community ministries: from hospitality, to incorporation, nurture, and fellowship. But the community also seeks to extend its care beyond itself, to share the transforming power of God’s love with others and indeed, with all creation. read more ...

In the wisdom of the Church, we do not proceed directly to the Easter Proclamation without first observing the Season of Lent and the Services of Holy Week.  Beginning on Palm Sunday, we observe—in real time—the momentous events of the final week of Jesus’ own life: from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to the Last Supper, to the Garden of Gethsemane, to his passion, crucifixion, and burial, and then—and only then—to the Resurrection. read more ...

At St. Matthew’s, the observance of Lent includes simplification of the nave and sanctuary (no flowers, fewer candles), removal of “Alleluia” from the liturgical texts and hymns, inclusion of the Penitential Order at the beginning of the service, and use of Form IV of the Prayers of the People with its repeated refrain, “Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.”

The solemnity of Lent is also evidenced in the music chosen for worship during this penitential season.  Each week, the anthem we sing will reflect the story of the Gospel.  For the temptation in the wilderness, we will sing Richard Farrant’s Lord, for thy tender mercies’ sake; following the story of the woman at the well, O Savior of the World, by John Goss; and for the healing of the blind man, John Rutter's Open thou mine eyes.  On the fifth Sunday in Lent, we will sing Mary Rocap’s song Valley of Dry Bones, following the Old Testament lesson of Ezekiel.

As we journey through this penitential season, may the words of our songs and the “meditations of our hearts” move us toward a more profound and Holy Lent.

 read more ...

Annual Meeting and Vestry Election Set for Sunday, February 27, at 9:00 a.m. - The Annual Meeting of the Parish will take place on Sunday, February 27, at 9:00 a.m. in the church.  At that time, we will elect three new Vestry members to succeed Rob Jackson, Lynn Hecht, and Bob Quackenbush.  These three individuals plan to present a slate of at least four nominees for consideration by the parish. 

 read more ...

Bearing gifts we traverse afar . . . following yonder star
The Feast of the Epiphany on January 6 celebrates the journey of the Magi to pay homage to the child born in Bethlehem. It symbolizes the movement of God’s people across boundaries of culture and geography to make a common witness to the love of God in Christ. read more ...

FeST Weekend Schedule of Events
Saturday, December 4 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.Sunday, December 5 12:00 noon-4:00 p.m.

• The Ordinary Café
• Craft SaleSpecial Events
• Men’s Group Caroling (Saturday, 11:00 p.m.)
• Junior Choir Caroling (Sunday, 1:00 p.m.)
• Candlelight Tour (Sunday, 1:00-6:00 p.m.)
• CakeWalks:(Saturday, 12:30 p.m.; Sunday 1:30 p.m.)
• Contemplative Service (Sunday, 5:00 p.m.)

 read more ...

“For ALL the Saints …..”
Dear People,
In the New Testament sense of the word, all of us are saints by virtue of our baptism, for we share in the sanctity of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course, it is also customary in the Church to lift up certain members of the community as exemplary saints,... read more ...

“All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee.” I Chronicles 29:14
These familiar words are at the heart of Biblically-based teaching about stewardship, for they remind us that the totality of our life belongs to God—not just a portion; we are stewards—or caretakers―of all that we have, and not just what we give to the church or other charitable purposes. read more ...

The coming of September means the resumption of our program year and a marked increase in parish activities. In
this newsletter, you can read about all the wonderful things in store for education, music, worship, and fellowship. read more ...

Bishop Curry’s Parish Visitation & St. Mary’s Chapel Homecoming Celebration
We welcome our Bishop, Michael Curry, on Sunday, August 29, for our 2010 Parish Visitation and for a special afternoon service culminating the 250th anniversary year for St. Mary’s Chapel. read more ...

For years now, St. Matthew’s has supported the Food Pantry ministry at Orange Congregations in Mission (OCIM) through donations of cold cereal and beef stew, and parishioners have been asked to bring these particular items to church. It is a standing appeal, and every week a reminder about the food pantry appears in the bulletin. read more ...

In our Sunday readings since Easter, we have heard, primarily in Acts, stories of the early church. These stories describe “church,” not as a particular building or place, but rather, as particular people gathered together through their common faith in Jesus Christ. read more ...

“Guys & Dolls and Solemn Vows” Perspectives on marriage and intimacy from popular art and the traditions of the church May 21-23 • On Friday evening, May 21, at 8:00 p.m., Michael Malone & Maureen Quilligan will stage a concert version of the popular musical “Guys and Dolls.” read more ...

Tenebrae Service
On Maundy Thursday at 8:00 p.m., following the soup and bread supper, St. Matthew’s will hold a Tenebrae Service in the church. Tenebrae (Latin for 'shadows,' 'darkness,' or ‘obscurity’) is an ancient monastic Holy Week service to meditate on the events in the life of Christ between the Last Supper and the Resurrection.... read more ...

Sunday Evening Fellowship in March
Dinners with a Difference: Feeding Ourselves and Others
Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for all thy mercies, and make us mindful of the needs of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen [BCP p. 835]
Being ‘mindful of the needs of others’ when we say Grace at meals can sometimes become an abstract concept. At our Lenten fellowship meals this year, we will make a direct connection between the food we sit down and share at table and the food we share with others. read more ...

Annual Meeting and Vestry Election Set for Sunday, February 28, at 9:00 a.m. The Annual Meeting of the Parish will take place on Sunday, February 28, at 9:00 a.m. in the church. At that time, we will elect three new Vestry members to succeed Julia
Workman, Margaret Brill and Jan Boyd Grant. read more ...

Faith and the Arts
In my experience St. Matthew’s has always been a place where the arts have thrived. We are blessed with many creative people within our midst: singers, poets, photographers, painters, writers & playwrights, potters, and musicians. We are blessed with an intellectual curiosity which provides the freedom for art to be  expressed. We have the beautiful setting of our church building to offer for programs,
musical events in particular. read more ...