St. Matthew's Messenger
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This Week At St. Matthew's
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Third Sunday After the Epiphany

THIS SUNDAY, January 27, 2019 
Annual Parish Meeting **

* *Nursery/Childcare for children aged 6 mos - 5th grade in the CE wing during the meeting

9:00 a.m.: Coffee & donuts & Sign In  
9:30 a.m.: Annual Meeting:
Election of four vestry members
Parish business
Forum discussions
REALM Sign Up Help
40th Anniversary Display--Check it out!

followed by one combined Service
(nursery provided 6 mos - 4 years) .  
12:30 p.m (time approx.) : Annual Brotherhood Fish Fry!


I
BROTHERHOOD OF ST. ANDREW
ANNUAL FISH FRY
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SERVICE
THIS Sunday, January 27, 2019
Children 3 & under - free
3-10 - $7
Adults - $10
Family - $25

ANNUAL CHILI COOK-OFF
Sponsored by the ECW
THIS Monday, January 28
6:30 p.m.
In the Parish Hall

How does YOUR chili stack up??


ECW invites all members of Saint Matthew's to join us for our Annual Chili Competition. We ask you to either make a pot of chili (any kind) to enter the competition, or join us to sample, taste and judge the chilies. A condiment bar and drinks will be provided along with spoons, bowls and even Tums.

Trophies will be awarded to the top three entries. We will meet in the Parish Hall on Monday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 and finish up by 8:00 after we eat as much chili as we like. See you there!

See Rebecca Bowen or Nancy Drury for more details.
40 Years of Ministry: 1979 - 2019 And Counting

Did you know --? St. Matthew's Episcopal Church is turning 40 this year! See below to read how our story began:

"On April 5, 1979, 58 people met with Bishop Child to discuss the organization of an Episcopal church in Snellville. Two weeks later, 35 of those 58 people met at Dr. Ed Bowen’s office on Lenora Church Rd, Snellville, to celebrate Holy Communion with Bishop Child. A formal organizational meeting was held in July of that year, at which time St. Matthew’s was given a name and became a Mission Station.

Regular Sunday services began on August 5 at Centerville Elementary School, with Father Gene Ruyle serving as Priest-in-Charge. In January 1980 Father Franklin Thomas was appointed as full-time Vicar, and St. Matthew’s received full Mission status.

Worship services were moved to the Snellville Civic Center in June of 1980, and land at the current site on Oak Road was purchased in August of that year. A building fund drive launched in April of 1981 resulted in the completion of the new church building one year later; 592 people, representing 130 families, joyfully celebrated Palm Sunday in the new church on April 4, 1982.

In November, 1982, Father Thomas departed as Father Paul Gerlock became interim Vicar.

On September 4, 1983 Father Edward Hanson was called as full-time Vicar. During Father Hanson’s tenure, the church grew in membership to approximately 300 families and the budget increased from $60,000 to $195,000. The church facilities were enlarged by an addition to house the offices, music room, and classrooms. St. Matthew’s attained full Parish status during this period."

Watch for more newsletter articles and interviews of members who have been a part of the developing story of St. Matt's. What part are YOU playing in our story?

JANUARY FOOD DRIVE

January is the month in which St. Matthew's focuses on collecting additional items for the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministries. 
 
This month the Co-op is especially low on the following four items and has asked that we center our January donations on them. They are; shampoo, dried beans, canned mandarin oranges, and dried pasta.

Beginning on Sunday, January 13, the Outreach Committee will be handing out bags with attached food list after both services, so please fill bag and return to barrel outside of the Parish Hall. All items will be promptly delivered to the Co-op.

"For I was hungry and you gave me food,
 I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me,”
 Matthew 25:35
THE GO! SUMMIT
RACIAL HEALING IN A CHANGING WORLD 
The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta
Saturday, February 16, 2019
8:30 a.m.—4:00 p.m. 
Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, ph.D, 
Sr Pastor, Ebenezer Bapt. Church, Keynote 
and featuring
The Rt. Rev. Robert C Wright, D.D. 


All are invited to a Celebration of the life and witness
of the first African American ordained priest in the Episcopal Church at 
The Feast of Absalom Jones
Sunday, February 10, 2019
3:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
Church of the Incarnation
2407 Cascade Rd SW
Atlanta, GA 30311
The Reverend Naomi Tutu, Daughter of  Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Preacher
Around St. Matt's
THANK YOU FROM THE OFFICE STAFF

DEAR MEMBERS OF ST. MATTHEW’S ,
Another year has come to a close, and as we embark on a new year, we would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to you for your Christmas gift and how much we appreciate it. 
We wish you all the best for the new year and always.

 - Mother Liz, Kyle, Susan & Charmaine.

IMPORTANT -- REALM / ACS UPDATE

We are in the process of migrating all our parish member records to the newer ACS cloud-based records system called REALM. Thank you to all who have logged into the new system! In order for REALM to be fully functional, it is important for ALL members to begin using this new system.

If you have received an email inviting you to REALM, please take a few moments to follow the instructions in the email and log into REALM. This will allow you to view your family's records in the new system. If you have not yet received an invitation email to this new system , or if you have any problems logging into REALM, please contact Susan Carson

REALM offers many ways to stay in touch with your ministry and group activities, look up other members’ contact information, and track your own record of giving. You have privacy options settings, and will be able to change your address and  contact information and upload a photo to the directory, among other things. If you have any problems logging into REALM, please contact Susan Carson at registrar@stmatthewssnellville.org in the parish office.

Because we converted from ACS to REALM in mid 2018, your record of giving in the old system (Members Connect/Church Life) is no longer updated with giving past May 30 2018. All gifts made after that date are recorded in REALM and are merged with those earlier 2018 gifts. Should you find any discrepancy in your record of giving, either online or in your end of year statement, please contact Charmaine Warmington at stmatts@bellsouth.net in the parish office.

End-of-Year Pledge Statements
2018 End of year Pledge and gift statements have been sent out by mail. Please check the statements carefully against your records, and call the office 770-979-4210 or email to  admin@stmatthewssnellville.org with questions or concerns. Thanks. 


THE STEPHEN MINISTRY CORNER



St. Matthews’ Stephen Ministers Attend Annual Retreat at First United Methodist Church Lawrenceville Jan. 11-12, 2019

This month the St. Matthew’s Stephen Ministers attended the retreat provided by the Stephen Ministers at First United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville. The purpose of the retreat is to participate in fellowship, supervision, and obtain regular continuing education that will enable us to be better care givers in our ministry.
On Friday evening, we separated into groups and received a booklet with life questions. The purpose of this exercise was to help us understand and be ready to answer any question that might arise with our care receiver.
On Saturday a representative from UGA Extension Service presented a session on good nutrition (see below).
Good food, fun, and spiritual connection was enjoyed by all.

For more information on Stephen Ministry,

"Other Than Sunday" Offerings During the Week

Click the Icons below for more info:

Wednesdays With the Word

YOUTH GROUP meets Sundays at 6:00 p.m . in the Undercroft. ALL youth of the parish 6th - 12th grades are invited to be a part of this exciting year. For more information, contact Holly Bond or Amanda Livermont.

DIVE BIBLE STUDY FOR HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH meets Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in Mother Liz's office. For more information on this dynamic Bible study please contac t Mother Liz or Amanda Livermont ..
Snellville Police Officers January Birthdays:

  • Officer Bill Namer, January 4
  • Officer Dinh Tran, January 16
  • Officer Russ Mayfield, January 16
  • Lt. Trey Downs, January 18
  • Officer Marc Thomason, January 27
  • Lt. Charles Coats, January 31

We are in need of $10.00 gift cards from Subway, Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread, or Race-Trac for the officers Birthday cards. Please contact Becky at beckyolbon@yahoo.com .

Prayers for Police Officers

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women in law enforcement in our neighborhoods, cities, and on our highways. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; protect their families; strengthen them in their trials; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Adapted, BCP p.823)

Almighty God we pray to you in Heaven up above
Watch over our dear police officers and protect them with your love.
Please guide them as they keep us safe both day and night
And hold them firmly in your care should danger come their way.
Give them true strength and courage as they serve til duty's end
And one more thing to ask dear Lord protect their family and Friends. Amen.
(Anonymous)

Events and Serving Schedules
SERMON ON THE AMOUNT
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St.Matthew's Episcopal Church | Ph 770-979-4210 | stmatts@bellsouth.net | www.itsthepeople.org