Greetings,
We hope you will enjoy this issue of our weekly e-newsletter. Each week we'll keep you informed on what's happening here at St. Matthew's Cathedral - news from the week, what's coming up, and how  you  can be a part of it. This should reach your inbox by Friday giving you a heads up for the  upcoming  week. We hope this helps you plan your week, and maybe even provides a little inspiration to get you through it! Be sure to "Like" us on Facebook  to stay in the know between emails.

A Message from the Dean...
A Famous Book that Nobody Reads
You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."-Matthew 19:21

More than half of Americans think the Bible has too little influence on American culture which they see in moral decline. However, only one in five Americans reads the Bible on a regular basis. More than three-quarters of Americans (77 percent) think the nation's morality is headed downhill, according to a recent survey from American Bible Society.

The survey showed the Bible is still firmly rooted in American soil: 88 percent of             respondents said they own a Bible, 80 percent think the Bible is sacred, 61 percent wish they read the Bible more, and the average household has 4.4 Bibles.

I remember reading The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. It was not a college reading assignment; I read it because he had won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1970 and because I thought that I ought to read it. The writing style was so dense-of course, Russian writing is dense, even in translation-that I gave up on it halfway through the book. I came to believe that The Gulag Archipelago was one of those famous books that everybody owned and nobody read.

It seems that the Bible is in much the same way as The Gulag Archipelago: lots of people own it but don't necessarily read it. Why is that?

I suspect it is not for a lack of wanting to read the Bible. I suspect that many people don't read the Bible more because they are intimidated. The Bible can be daunting. It has history, poetry, apocalyptic literature, theology; it is full of analogies, metaphors, and figures of speech.

At the heart of the Bible, though, is God communicating to his people. The Bible has been called "God's love letter to his people." Just as the rich young ruler in our Gospel reading  today was fearful of the cost of following Jesus, so we can exhibit that same sort of fear when it comes to reading the Bible.

If you don't know where to start, try the Gospel of Mark. It is the shortest of the four   Gospels. Don't try to take too big a bite at once. Read one story at a time. Read it through three times. Then,

After the first time you read it, ask yourself, "What word or phrase jumps out at me?"

After the second time you read it, ask yourself, "Is something in this story speaking        especially to me?"

After the third time you read it, say, "The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God."

Then, recite the Lord's Prayer.


Blessings,
Neal +
Office Volunteer Opening! 

Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to noon to cover the Volunteer Desk in Garrett Hall. Volunteer primarily answers the phone, welcomes visitors, and accepts FedEx and UPS deliveries. Usually a quiet day of the week with an opportunity to spend time reading your favorite book. If interested, please contact Janet Schoenecker at jib13@sbcglobal.net.
 Coat, Blanket, Hat and Glove 
Drive

St. Monica's Guild is sponsoring a coat, blanket, hat and glove drive for our neighbors in need. Please place these items of any size in the box in the foyer outside the Great Hall. These will be distributed weekly as needed at the food pantry and Caesar Chavez school for children's items. Thanks for your help!

"S'Wonderful" - Friday, Oct 9, 6:30 pm
 
 A fun evening of fabulous food and drink, the music of George and Ira Gershwin, and a silent auction. The evenings proceeds benefit the FREE public art programs of St. Matthew's Cathedral Arts. Seating is limited. Make your reservation following the 8:00 and 10:30am services at the SMCA table in the Great Hall Foyer or by calling 214-887-6552. For more information visit us at: www.cathedralartsdallas.org

Moms Connect, Saturday, October 10th, 3-5pm

We will meet in the Cathedral nursery with a time of Godly Play together with our kids, ages 5 and under. Then the Moms will have a topical lesson on parenting. Each session is stand-alone, so you don't need to have come before to get something out of it. For more information, contact Keeley Chorn at kpchorn@gmail.com or 917.568.8587.
Our next event will be Saturday, Nov 14th
Christian Formation
Adult Christian Formation: Sunday September 6 - October 18, 9:35am
Special speaker Carrie Boren Headington is  leading a new series called "Exploring the Big Questions of Faith." Carrie  is the Missioner for Evangelism in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. 

She has two  graduate degrees in Theology from Oxford University, and is a dynamic speaker who communicates the Gospel locally, nationally, and internationally. You won't want miss this exciting new series!

Children and Youth Sunday School 9:30-10:15 am
There is something for all ages! Come and join us, in Garrett Hall, Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:15am. We have a GREAT line up of trained, experienced teachers this year, ready to show the love of Christ to our Children and Youth.
 
Ages 2-3 Years - Nursery
PreK-1st Grade - Room 212
2nd-3rd Grade - Room 207
4th-5th Grade - Room 210
6th-12th Grade - Room 208
Children's Chapel and Children's Sermon - Starting October 11
Children's Chapel is starting anew. We will have Children's Chapel on the second and fourth Sundays of the month starting October 11th! The children will process out at the Gloria for a time of fun and worship. We will return at The Peace, so your child can join you for Communion. On the first and third Sundays we will have a Children's Sermon during the 10:30 service. The children will be invited to come and sit on the steps at the front of the church for a time just for them!

Explore God Sermon Series
Keeley Chorn joins us today as our guest preacher. Before entering the ministry, Keeley developed software for an investment bank in New York City. She left to pursue her theological studies, earning a Masters of Divinity, concentrated in Urban Missions, from Westminster Theological Seminary and is currently the Program Director for the Cranmer Institute: A Center for Anglican Studies, a ministry of the diocese. Keeley leads various ministries to young moms at the Cathedral and helps with the young adult ministry alongside her husband Fr. David Miller. They have a son, Pierce, and a baby due in December.

This seven week sermon series is designed specifically for those  exploring how Christianity addresses the big questions of life. Please invite your friends, Christian or non-Christian, to hear these challenging and inspiring sermons


Intercessory and Healing Prayers
Intercessory and Healing Prayers are offered at both Sunday morning services every week. This takes place at the Baptismal rail, near the Baptismal Font during the time Communion is being administered. If you have a prayer request on your heart, please go to the Prayer Minister, who will lift your request to our Lord.

Choral Evensong
Sunday, October 25 at 4pm
Join us for Choral Evensong Sunday, October 25th at 4:00pm. The Cathedral Camerata will sing music of Philip Moore, Charles Villiers Stanford and Edgar Bainton.

Mostly unchanged since the first English Prayer Book of 1549, Evensong continues to be one of the most treasured liturgies of the Anglican tradition. Bring a friend!

St. Matthew's Chili Cook-Off
November 1st from Noon - 3pm
Sponsored by St. Matthew's Young Adults, this is a fundraiser for the Young Adult ministry. $5.00 (Red Ticket) - gets you a bowl of chili, cornbread, and a soda or water. $10.00 (Yellow Ticket) - Bowl of chili, cornbread, and a St. Matthew's souvenir cup which gets you 2 beers.
Tickets go on sale this Sunday after the
8am, 10:30am, and 12:30pm services.
Weekly Services
Sunday:
8:00 am - Holy Eucharist
9:00 am - Breakfast in Great Hall
9:35 am - Sunday School
      10:30 am - Holy Eucharist
      12:30 pm - Misa en Espanol

Morning Prayer  
M-F  8:30 am, Oratory

Evening Prayer 
M-Th  6:00 pm, Oratory
          (Excluding Feast Days)

Monday:
      10:00 am - Eucharist, Oratory
6:00 pm - Holy Cross Day Eucharist
7:00 pm - Oracion Vespertina

Wednesday:
      10:00 am - Eucharist, Oratory
7:00 pm - Oracion Vespertina
St. Matthew's Cathedral Staff

The Very Rev'd Dr. Neal Michell
Dean
The Rev'd Canon Tony Munoz,
Canon for Hispanic Ministry
The Rev'd David Miller
Assisting Priest
The Rev'd Betty Barrios ,
Deacon for Hispanic Ministry
The Rev'd Canon George Luck
Assisting Priest
The Ven. Diana Luck ,
Assisting Pastor for Outreach
The Rev'd Mark Hall ,
Deacon for Pastoral Care
Mr. Logan Hurst
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
Mr. Keith Franks
Interim Director of Music and Organist
Mr. Larry Budgewater
Sexton

Happy Birthday!
 
October
11 - Steve Crews
13 - Karen McNamara
17 - Roberto Aguirre

Stay Connected
5100 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75206 - 214.823.8134