St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
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The Weekly Link

Dec. 17th-Dec. 23rd, 2017

stmattsrva.org 



IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT UPCOMING SERVICES:  Next Sunday is unique in that it is the 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve.  We will have services focusing on the 4th Sunday of Advent at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. (No Sunday School or Childcare.)  We will have Christmas Eve services at 4:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (Childcare at the 4:00 p.m. service.)  As we look ahead to January, please note that we will celebrate Epiphany on the morning of Sunday, January 7th and not the night of the 6th.  Please contact the clergy with any questions.



RECEPTION FOR MARK Please join us in the Parish Hall following the 10:30 a.m. service. Mark has ably and faithfully served St. Matthew's in so many ways over many years. We would love to have as many members as possible come and thank Mark for his service to all of us. If you would like to give Mark a farewell note there will be cards and a basket at the reception in the Parish Hall. 



THE POINSETTIAS WITH WHICH WE "GREEN" THE CHURCH on Thursday will be delivered by members of the 10:30 a.m. congregation Sunday, December 31st after the 10:30 a.m. service. Recipients will be posted in the board i n the Library hallway. Be sure to check for your name, especially if you've been on the Prayer List this year, or names of people in your neighborhood to whom you might deliver them. Plan today to brighten someone's Christmastide and New Year's!



FAMILY GATHERING Join us this Thursday, December 21st , from 4:00 -7:00 p.m. for the greening of the church, children's activities and dinner - a wonderful tradition of fellowship during the busy season of Advent.  Activities for the children will include shopping in the Fawn Shop, making luminary bags for the Christmas Eve service, filling bags of grace and making care packages for our shut-ins.  We are in need of supplies to fill the bags of grace or you can give a monetary donation to help purchase items.  Please donate any of the following items by tomorrow, December 18th to the church office: small bottles of water, individual sizes of hand sanitizer, hand warmers, hand lotion, soap, deodorant, mouth wash, small packs of tissues, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, gum and Chapstick.  Any questions- contact Megan Lloyd at 306-7834 or mcrmlloyd@gmail.com.



THANKS TO EVERYONE who donated gifts to the C.H.A.T. Christmas store. The store opened Tuesday, December, 12 and was well stocked because of your generosity. 



TUESDAY WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY  Come join us as we study Matthew, using the LifeChange Bible study book. We will begin with the visit of the Magi and end with the Great Commission and in between will see how Jesus has come to redee m His people as the promised Messiah. We will meet on January 9th at 9:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall and begin with a brunch (please bring a dish to pass) and will continue to meet weekly from 9:30-11:30 a.m., with the exception of Holy Week, until the beginning of June. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Ramona Neifeld at 749-3260 or rsneifeld11@gmail.com. Please do this before January 2nd, so enough books can be ordered.



THE STUDY OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION concludes this week by looking at the life and teachings of Thomas Cranmer. Did you know that Cranmer was born in the small village of Aslockton, near the same Sherwood Forrest where Robin Hood hid out three centuries earlier? We will look at the significance of Thomas Cranmer for the Anglican life. He is our Reformer, due to the breadth of his genius and his contribution: his scholarship (Anglican worship); his mind (Anglican doctrine); his ear (Anglican liturgy); his hand (Cranmer's death). 



PRIMETIMERS will meet Monday, December 18th, at noon in the Parish Hall. All over the world, people are drawn to the little town where Jesus was born and so, for the Christmas holidays we will enjoy a wonderful DVD, Bethlehem: Beyond the Christmas Story. Tis the season! Bring a friend and bring your lunch. Dessert and beverage provided.



WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICANTS FOR OUR NEXT RECTOR Our Community Ministry Portfolio can be found on our website or on the Diocesan website:
http://www.thediocese.net/resources/ministries/jobs-and-transitions/open-positions/ Interested applicants should direct any questions or apply with a cover letter, resume, and OTM Profile to stmattsrvarectorsearch@gmail.com.




THANK YOU!  There was and continues to be a gratifying response to last Sunday's Stewardship message.  Several parishioners, who had not done so, made their pledges for 2018.  Several others increased their pledges for 2018. Thanks to all for you kindness and generosity. We urge all who have not pledged to prayerfully consider doing so and, for all who have pledged and who feel blessed by the Lord, to consider increasing their pledge.
As you heard last Sunday: "Jesus gave his all. How can I give less?"  





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About St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

The mission of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church is to know Christ and make Him known through the power of the Holy Spirit by devotion to Christ, fellowship within the church, and revelation of God's nature in word and deed. Members of St. Matthew's consider themselves to be part of a "sent community," commissioned to spread the gospel in our community and beyond. Join us!

                                                     

- Your friends at St. Matthew's

 

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