This Week At St. Matthew's March 31, 2019--Associate Rector Search Update, Letter From Mother Liz and Your Vestry, and More!

St. Matthew's Messenger

This Week At St. Matthew's

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Fourth Sunday In Lent

Visit our Website

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

9:00 a.m. Breakfast

9:30 a.m. Sunday School and Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist

READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY

are found here . Year C

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Sunday we welcome the Reverend Kenya Thompson as guest preacher and celebrant. Reverend Thompson is Curate at Church of the Common Ground. She will preach at the 8 a.m. service, and preach and celebrate at the 10:30 a.m. service, while Mother Liz and a group from St. Matthew’s travels to Atlanta to worship at Church of the Common Ground.

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Baptism --The Sacrament of Baptism will be offered at the Easter Vigil on April 20. If you or your child desires to be baptized, please contact the church office, or fill out the form found here .

Confirmation Classes -- If you have not been confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church and would like to be, this class is for you! Beginning Palm Sunday, April 14, during the SS hour, this class will meet in the Undercroft to prepare for Confirmation when the bishop visits on June 9 . Please contact the church office to register your interest in the class.

Adult Christian Education

My Island, My Community

During this final quarter of the 2018/2019 school year, we are sharing our stories and God’s stories about being alone, homeless, isolated and the need for community. Each week, we will explore, based on your class style, ways that the phrase ‘My Island, My Community’ relates to ‘The Story I Tell’. We will have a special forum with the Church of the Common Ground and even visit one Sunday. Church of the Common Ground is an Episcopal church community on the streets of Atlanta living the Good News that we are all God’s beloved.

Class Styles

Scripture- Making sense of Scripture today

Clay Olbon & Jim Jung

Relevant Tradition- How is affects my life?

Mona Livermont, Crystal Furman, & Elizabeth McGhee

Ages and Stages- Raising children in the church.

Ward Furman and Mary Louise Richards

Newcomer's Classes -- Continued this Sunday The Spring Connections Classes will continue this week and again on April 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. downstairs in the Undercroft. The classes are designed for newcomers but all are welcome. If mobility is an issue let us know so we can provide assistance. The classes will cover Opportunities to Learn about St. Matthew’s Family of Faith, Ministry Opportunities and Communication Tools. RSVP to Linda Newton, 770-354-3499 (cell) or

lindaanewton@comcast.net

Check out other Spring Adult Christian Education Classes and Other Than Sunday Offerings --

Click here for info.

A Letter From Mother Liz and Your Vestry

Beloved in the Community of St. Matthew’s,

To say that we, as a church have gone through a multitude of change over these past twelve months is quite the understatement. With any change comes substantial adjustment. We want to begin by thanking everyone involved with their extraordinary dedication through this phase of change. Words cannot express how blessed and touched we are to be part of such a selfless family. We are truly under God's grace and blessing.

Unlike repairs from the flood and the reorganization, there are also changes that are more subtle, one of which are financial changes in the support of St. Matthew’s. While we have been blessed with the arrival of approximately 30 new families, we have also lost several families due relocations and death. While the pledge giving of the new families has been strong, it is not sufficient to off-set the drop in income resulting from those who are no longer in the area.

In examining financial performance thus far in 2019, and making projections for the year, the vestry believes they cannot, in good faith, make an offer to an assistant priest given our current financial position and forecast. Without a change in finances, it would be too risky to invite a new priest to serve, only to lose them when we are unable to pay them.

Now, the good news... YES there is good news! The vestry has determined that the money required to fund the position is within reach if we come together and take action. The amount needed is $50,000 (one year’s salary) which will go into a reserve fund. If each family donates at least $200 by Easter, we can reach our goal.

The vestry has developed an achievable plan to raise additional funds, with the goal of overcoming this issue for at least two years. I have participated in this work and trust the plan they have proposed. I believe we worship a God of abundance and that with prayer and participation on all our parts, we can make this happen. It is my faith in God that leads me to believe that one year from now, this issue will be but a speed bump in the faith journey of St. Matthew’s and we will be a better parish for having hopped over it.

To serve the membership of St. Matthew’s and support what we anticipate will be future growth, I believe this parish needs another priest. I also believe the vestry and congregation agree with this. A new priest would allow deeper coverage of youth, families and Christian education. In serving these areas and in assisting with the pastoral and liturgical needs of the parish, I would have the much-needed time to focus on the broader parochial needs without being spread too thin.

Simply put, we need each family’s support and commitment to this fund drive. I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the challenge we all face but encourage you to pray about this and discern what kind of response God puts on your heart. We would love to have 100 percent of our families participate in this endeavor because the percentage of participants is a wonderful and powerful measure of the strength and vibrancy of our community, as is, of course, the total sum of money raised.

I ask that you thoughtfully pray about this and strive to give as generously as you can.

Please know that you, the vestry and the search committee will continue to be in my prayers, not only for the success of this campaign, but because of who you are as a community of Christ.

With gratitude,

Mother Liz+

T o make your gift electronically, click here .

To take a survey about this process, click here .

An Update From Your Search Committee

The Search Committee is pleased to inform our parishioners that we have received several applicants for the position of Associate Priest. These applicants, coming in from as far as the mid-West, have experience in leadership within the Episcopal Church, youth and adult education, as well as growing programs.

The selection process had been challenging, but after careful consideration, we have initiated the interview process with our top four candidates.

This is an exciting time in the life of our church and we ask for your continued prayers.

Blessings,

Your Search Committee

LENT AT ST. MATTHEW'S

Every Wednesday in Lent -- Fellowship --A simple soup supper will be served from 5:30 -7:00 p.m. Come and go as your schedule permits. Come join us for fellowship this week!

Every Friday in Lent — Church open for quiet reflection 6:30 - 7:00 p.m.; Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

TONIGHT! Friday, March 29 — Quiet Reflection 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. followed by Stations of the Cross with Musical Meditations at 7:00 p.m., featuring the works of Cesar Franck and freely arranged by Gerard Carter. Cesar Franck (1822-1890) was organist at the Basilica of Saint Clothilde in Paris and a professor at the Paris Conservatory. Franck's organ works are known for melodic inspiration, rich harmonies and deep spirituality. Kyle Osborne, organist.

A special Adult Christian Formation series , 'My Island, My Community', will take place on Sunday mornings during Lent and into the remaining weeks of the CE year. See details about this series in this newsletter, above.

St. Matt’s Outreach —we are supporting The Church of the Common Ground during Lent this year. T his Sunday between services we will be making sandwiches to take to CCG during the afternoon as members of the congregation visit and attend the service at CCG. If you can help with sandwich-making, please join us in the parish hall during the breakfast hour on Sunday . See more about this, and other outreach projects here .

Lenten prayer stations are up in the Narthex and in the Parish Hall. These stations are there for silent prayer and reflection. You can then tie a jute string on the provided branches. The branches will be blessed and burned at the end of the Lenten season.

A Lenten calendar of St. Matt's activities is available in the narthex. Pick one up to stay in the loop! You can also find it here.

HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICES SCHEDULE:

PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 14 -- Blessing of the Palms and Palm Procession starts earlier this year than past years:

7:50 a.m. in the parish hall prior to the 8:00 a.m. service

10:10 a.m. in the courtyard/parking lot prior to the 10:30 service (weather permitting)

Passion Gospel dramatization by our youth at both services

Incense will be used at the 10:30 service.

MA UNDY THURSDAY. April 18 —7:30 p.m . Holy Eucharist with Hand and Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar. Followed by the Overnight Watch/Vigil till 12 noon Friday. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex. There will be someone at the church overnight to provide security for those coming and going during the Watch.

GOOD FRIDAY April 19— Stations of the Cross at 11:30 a.m. & 6:45 p.m., Service at 12 noon and 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary choir at 7:30 service.

EASTER VIGIL— Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. with baptism. Bring bells to ring at the Gloria during the first Eucharist of Easter. Incense will be used at this service. No nursery.

EASTER SUNDAY—April 21 at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Festive Holy Eucharist with Flowering of the Cross before and after both services in the courtyard. Bring flowers from home to adorn the cross, or use the flowers provided. Incense will be used at the 10:30 service. Nursery available at the 10:30 service.

Easter Flowers For the Altar

Flowers adorning the altar on Easter Sunday are provided through your generous donations. Forms are available in the bulletin each Sunday. Please complete your form (please print legibly) and place it in the offering plate along with your check for $12.00 per plant.

You may also pay for the flowers online through REALM, using the Give Now/Miscellaneous designation. Notate Easter Flowers on the Memo line.

The deadline for Easter flower memorials is Monday, April 8. Names received after April 8 may not be printed in the Easter bulletins.

DOK Ruth Chapter Invites the St. Matthew’s Community to

A Morning of Spiritual Renewal: The Six Senses of God

Led by: Jan Tobin

Saturday, April 27

There will be coffee and juice in the Parish Hall at 8:30 a.m.

The Program will start at 9:00 a.m.

concluding with Eucharist and lunch

Mending the Gap

This is the last week to bring in cleaning supplies for Mending the Gap.

Spring Cleaning -- We are collecting specific cleaning supplies: : disinfecting wipes, 1 gallon trash bags, and liquid or pods laundry detergent to be shared with seniors served by this ministry. There is a bin in the old narthex (parish hall entry way) during March. Read more about Mending the Gap's work at www.mending-the-gap.org .

LENTEN OUTREACH PROJECTS

Church of the Common Ground

For our Lenten Outreach project this year we are supporting the Church of the Common Ground (CCG). CCG is a worshiping community of the diocese of Atlanta. You can find more details below. We are now collecting black or white men’s XL athletic socks. There is a basket in the old narthex for the socks. Update: W e have collected 147 bags of sugar, and 332 pairs of socks for Church of the Common Ground! Thank you to all who have donated!

Have YOU Registered / Donated Yet?

Hunger Walk Registration is Open! Join the St. Matt's Team and walk or run for the SE Gwinnett Co-Op on Sunday, 4/28 . Last year the team raised over $5,000 and this year we're setting our goal even higher at $6,000! Can't do the walk? Donate! Thank you!

Around St. Matt's

Prayer For The Parish

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP, p. 817)

Café Theology has begun study of the book, The Anglican Spirit, by former Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey. This book contains introductory lectures on Anglican theology that are informal and conversational in style and offer an overview of Anglican theology, spirituality, and history. The book is available in paperback and on both Kindle and BookNOOK (Barnes & Noble). The class, begun March 9, meets from 10:00-11:30 in the parish library on the following dates: March 23, March 30 (offsite), April 13, April 27, May 11, May 25, June 8, June 22, June 29 and July 23. Since the book is a compilation of lectures, you can miss classes and still be able to participate. Coffee is definitely served, along with a light continental breakfast.

ALL are welcome to join us!

Can You Help?

To the St. Matthew's Family,

By now, most of you have met and gotten to know the Pakistani refugee family St. Matthew’s sponsored. Zeba and her children, Judith, Aaron, and Jason, have been here since June of last year, and they’ve done a remarkable job of adapting to life here. They’re at church every Sunday, the kids are doing well in school, and Zeba got her driver’s license and has been working full-time since November.

Although Zeba has a Master’s Degree in Education, there are many obstacles to getting certified to teach in American schools. As a result, she is packing boxes at a cosmetics distribution company in Stone Mountain for $9.00 per hour. Needless to say, it’s a struggle to support four people on such an income.

Zeba and the kids currently live in a “less-than-ideal” apartment complex in Stone Mountain. One goal we have is to get them relocated to Gwinnett County in a “more ideal” residence, which will also enable the children to attend far better Gwinnett schools. To make this move, Zeba needs to find a job in this area that 1) isn’t temporary, and 2) pays enough to enable them to move.

This is where our St. Matthew's family might be able to help. If you know of an organization that might have a suitable job for Zeba, please let me or Zeba know. Zeba is very hard-working, diligent, and personable. She would be an asset to any organization. You can contact Zeba at 770 203-5424 or me at 678 227-8142. Thank you for your continued support of Zeba, Judith, Aaron, and Jason.

Thank you!

Mark DiGiovanni

Time and Talent Corner

Parish Clean Up, Spruce Up, Fix Up Day

Jobs Large and Small

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Lunch will be served.

Please bring yard and garden tools, brooms, gloves, rakes, spades, etc. (marked with your name)

WE NEED YOU! SAVE THE DATE!

ECW Outreach Sewing Project

ATTENTION ALL SAINT MATTHEW’S WOMEN AND GIRLS;

Our ECW (Episcopal Church Women) is working with other groups in the Atlanta area on a project to help provide personal hygiene kits to women and girls in poor, underdeveloped areas around the world. Hands-on-help with cutting and sewing as well as donations of 100% cotton fabric and money for other supplies is needed.

Our next work day is April 7th at noon, right after the service. Please bring a sack lunch for yourself and your portable sewing machine. Please let Nancy Drury know if you have a serger sewing machine we can use for the afternoon, and bring your accessories, scissors, needles, and thread.

For more information please contact Nancy Drury wnnc@comcast.net or Rebecca Bowen ribowen@yahoo.com

Greeters Needed

We are looking for smiling faces! We need greeters for both the 8:00 and 10:30 services. All you need to do is smile and give a friendly hello! You would serve one Sunday per month (a regular schedule of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Sunday, etc.) before the service and briefly afterward. This is a great starting place to actively serve at St. Matthew’s.

Greeters can often be a visitor's first impression of St. Matthew's, and part of the reason our motto is "It's the People!--come be a part of this important ministry. If you are interested please speak to Diane or John Eberhart, Sam Renfro or Mother Liz.

MEALS NEEDED FOR YOUTH SUPPERS We have such a great group of youth here at St. Matthew's who need your help. On Sunday night our youth come together to grow, learn, and well...they need to eat. It doesn't have to be fancy--team up with others! If you are able to provide dinner please contact Morgan Fletcher for details. Mfletcher0388@gmail.com

404-381-7520

THE EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA is coming!

SATURDAY, APRIL 20 10:00 A.M.-12 NOON

Can you help with this annual tradition at St. Matt’s?

We’ll need volunteers to help set up & clean up, help with crafts and other activities, and with the 3 egg hunts for the varied age groups (through age 10).

We also need plastic eggs and wrapped candy to stuff in them. A basket will be in the narthex for the eggs and candy. If possible, please consider donating gluten free and nut free candies for some of your donations.

If you can help please contact Liz Livermont at

crazy18smiles@gmail.com

READING CAMP VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

week of JUNE 10TH—14TH!

Help 3rd through 5th graders hone their reading skills this summer.

We need volunteers in three categories:

Learning Center Leaders: Adults—you don’t have to have teaching experience—to help campers learn the skills they need to improve their reading abilities. Skills include reading, writing, phonics and comprehension.

Counselors: Teens to help guide campers through morning learning centers and afternoon games, educational projects, and crafts.

Support Staff: Everyone from cooks to prepare breakfasts, lunches and snacks to morning greeters and folks to check campers out at the end of day.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. SIGN UP ON THE READING CAMP BULLETIN BOARD IN THE HALL!

YOUTH CORNER

Atlanta Food Bank Applications for Youth Programs Open

Applications are now available for summer youth programs! This year, there are THREE different programs to choose from for your rising 8th - 12th graders – a Youth Leadership Summit, a Youth Service Summit and a Youth Learn and Serve day. Learn more and apply today! http://www.acfb.org/youth-programs

NO Youth Group This Sunday evening due to Spring Break. Youth Group meets most 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. Bring a friend! For more information, contact Holly Bond or Amanda Livermont.

NO DIVE Bible Study Wednesday, April 3 due to Spring Break. DIVE BIBLE STUDY FOR HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH meets Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in Mother Liz's office. For more information on this dynamic Bible study please contact Mother Liz or Amanda Livermont .

Presents

ANNUAL CONVENTION WORSHIP

At St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

On Sunday, April 28, 2019 At 10:30 a.m.

Followed by TASTE OF LIBERIA

In the Parish Hall. All are invited!

Contact: Wilhelmina Wilson 770-815-9260

Note:

1) Friday, April 26th is the Opening Ceremony at St. Edwards at 7:00 p.m.

2) Saturday, April 27th is a Benefit Dinner and Ball at St. Edwards at 7:00 p.m.

StandUp For Kids, a 501c3 charity working with homeless youth

is sponsoring two events:

MUSIC FESTIVAL- -Sunday, April 28, 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. Music on Main, Lilburn.

"TEE OFF FOR STANDUP" GOLF TOURNAMENT —Monday, April 29

@ Smokerise Country Club

Registration—8:30 a.m., Tee Off 10:00 a.m.

Benefitting Standup for Kids, Atlanta Chapter

For more information about the music festival, tournament or StandUp For Kids, please contact Tina Camden

tinac@standupforkids.org

To go to the StandUp For Kids website, click here .

THE STEPHEN MINISTRY CORNER

As you may know our Stephen ministers of St Matthew’s meet twice a month. The first meeting is at St Matthew’s, our second meeting is with our partners at First United Methodist of Lawrenceville.

This month’s education is on a book called “Why?” by Adam Hamilton. It has four chapters and our goal is to read one chapter per month.