This Week At St. Matthew's
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Mother's Day
Fifth Sunday of Easter
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During the COVID-19 outbreak, St. Matthew's is practicing Social Distancing which means the physical building is closed. However, God's PEOPLE are the Church, and our common life continues. Please join us on Facebook Live (see below for details), and be sure to reach out to others in the community by phone, Skype, FaceTime or email to stay connected, as we navigate this uncertain time together. God is with us; all will be well.
Daily Morning and Evening Worship
Monday through Friday (except Wednesday)
8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Wednesdays
at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Saturdays
at 6:00 p.m. ONLY
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Due to connection issues created by
high online traffic, we are pre-recording Sunday services. All online video services will be posted on the
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This Sunday, May 10
Online Video Service
Fifth Sunday of Easter
10:00 a.m.
Mother's Day
You don't have to belong to Facebook to join the Facebook Live sessions. Come check it out!
(Videos remain posted online if you wish to watch them at a later time.)
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Please don't hesitate to contact either Mother Liz or Fr. Tommy
if you or your family have need of assistance or counsel.
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Sunday School This Sunday
May 10, 2020
9:00 a.m. -
Don't miss it!
Mother's Day
All children in grades K-5 are invited to the special Mother's Day Sunny's Kids session on Sunday, May 10, at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom. We'll finish creating crafts for moms, grandmothers, and other special women in our lives. Please view the links below and select a craft to complete during that time.
Topic: Pre-K - 5 Christian Formation
Time: May 10, 2020 08:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) (Class starts at 9:00 a.m.)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 927 0426 5014
Password: 976956
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,92704265014#,,1#,976956# US (New York)
+13017158592,,92704265014#,,1#,976956# US (Germantown)
Download This Week's Lesson Pages:
Mother's Day Crafts
to do at home:
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NEXT Sunday, May 17th will be Youth Sunday
. As you already know our Youth are compassionate and talented and this service will celebrate and recognize those gifts, as well as their intelligence and their competence. Please make sure that you “tune-in” for Youth Sunday but also make sure that you continue to encourage and support the Youth, especially during this bewildering time.
Grace & Peace,
Fr. Tommy
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Almighty God,
we remember and celebrate today all those who are birth mothers, adoptive mothers, foster mothers, stepmothers, and those who might not have children in the traditional sense, but who are spiritual mothers, nurturing and growing others in the faith. We give thanks for our mothers, for mothers who are here and for mothers who have moved into greater life. We ask your blessing on these women, whose nature is to nurture, and we remember especially today the Virgin Mary, who said yes to God and through her sacrifice, brought salvation into the world. Through Christ our Lord, we pray.
Amen
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Christian Formation - Sundays at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom
Mother's Day -
THIS Sunday, May 10, at 9:00 a.m.
All children in grades K-5 are invited to the special Mother's Day Sunny's Kids session on Sunday, May 10, at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom. We'll finish creating crafts for moms, grandmothers, and other special women in our lives. Please view the links below and select a craft to complete during that time.
Sundae Sunday -
NEXT Sunday, May 17, at 9:00 a.m.
"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!" Join us for
Sundae Sunday on May 17 at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom. Parents, feel free to dish out ice cream and toppings to celebrate our last day of Sunday School for this school year. We'll gather together, enjoy dessert for breakfast, and create a fun craft.
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Special Update from Bishop Wright
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May 7, 2020
Beloved in Christ,
I hope this finds you trusting God. In March I directed that all meetings, pastoral care, and worship of the diocese be moved online until at least May 24th in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After much consultation with our Presiding Bishop and a team of health care professionals from our diocese, I am now directing that all meetings, worship, and pastoral care remain online or by other remote means until further notice, effective today.
In addition, Mikell Leaders, in consultation and agreement with the Bishop and Bishop's staff, have decided that the safest and best course of action is to cancel all summer programs at Camp Mikell for summer 2020. Please read the additional statement from Camp Mikell's leadership here.
Like you, this prolonged absence from one another in worship and the disruption of much of our good work causes me feelings of loss and grief. Still, our loss and grief in this regard is a small price to pay to keep one another healthy and safe. More than that, increasingly and marvelously, individuals and congregations in the diocese are “...hewing out of this mountain of despair a stone of hope.” To them I say, thank you and well done.
As the weeks unfold, know that my team and I will continue to consult with a wide circle of advisers and health care professionals to determine when it is reasonably safe to begin to worship in person. We will continue to provide updates through our twice monthly zoom calls with clergy and wardens and more widely as circumstances evolve.
While I realize that phrases like “until further notice” can and will trigger intense feelings of uncertainty and disorientation in some, my prayer is that this time of uncertainty will produce new certainty about the gift of faith that we enjoy. “Do not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
With all Christian affection,
The Right Rev. Robert C. Wright
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Musings With Mother Liz
May 10, 2020
Beloved,
as you know from the bishop’s note elsewhere in this newsletter, the bishop has determined that church services in the sanctuary remain on hold until further notice. It is a wise decision, given where we are in the timeline of this pandemic, given the little we know about this virus, given the limited options for effective treatment, and given that a vaccine is, at a minimum, seven months away.
I do not think it would be overstating it that to a person, we long to be back in the sanctuary on a Sunday, worshipping together in word, song and sacrament. It is perhaps a lot like the Israelites in the sixth century before Christ, exiled in Babylon, longing to return to Jerusalem. Psalm 137 captures the poignancy in the words, “by the waters of Babylon, we sat down and wept, when we remembered you O Zion….how shall we sing the Lord’s song on alien soil?”
However, we have not stopped singing! The music is just different. We have learned over these past eight weeks to sing a new song, by finding a variety of ways to stay connected. Many of us (including your rector) have been challenged to learn new computer skills around on-line worship and getting on to zoom meetings. We have been determined to stay connected through Facebook, but also through phone calls and sending cards. We have found creative ways to worship, but also to continue Sunday School, committee meetings, Foyer groups, and youth group.
In true St. Matthew’s fashion, we have discovered new ways to serve those both within our church community, and in the greater community. We have helped parishioners who are at risk to stay home, by running errands and grocery shopping for them. A group of talented seamstresses have made over 100 masks that we have given to the Snellville Police Department, Gwinnett County Police and the SE Coop. And last Saturday, we began our May Food Drive for the Co-op by collecting over 300 items in two hours, as donations were dropped off at the church parking lot.
The ONLY aspect of who and what we are as community that is closed is the building.
Please know that I share the longing to return to the sanctuary for worship. I miss the hymns, prayers, and coming together around the altar to share Holy Communion. I miss the way we share the peace, and the hugs we exchange after the service. I miss breakfast and conversation in the Parish Hall. I miss all of you!
It will take time, but we will return, much as Israel did return to Jerusalem. We will rebuild worship to fit our new circumstances, much as Israel rebuilt the Temple. We WILL get through this – together - and when it is possible for us to all come together in one place, we will celebrate!
I give thanks to God for the grace, courage and love you have shown and continue to show during this pandemic. It is my deepest joy to serve as your priest.
With love,
Liz+
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From the Treasurer
The church recently received a SBA loan for $32,377. This is part of the government recovery program which we will use to fund payroll. If we maintain our current staff for eight weeks, the government will forgive the loan and we do not have to pay it back. Although these funds are extremely beneficial, the long term financial support for the church must come from parishioner giving. April was a good month financially considering that the church building was closed the entire time. Giving was close to normal levels and expenses were reduced. Thanks to all of you for your continued support.
Chuck Marsh
Treasurer
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Prayers Requested
Please pray
- For migrant farmworkers, among the most vulnerable of the vulnerable, front line heroes who continue to supply our tables.
- For our shut-ins and infirm, and all those isolated from loved ones during this pandemic.
- For the homeless, and all those experiencing food or shelter insecurity.
- For those who have lost their jobs or are unable to work due to the economic shutdown.
- For students graduating from high school or colleges and universities during this uncertain time, as they make decisions about their future education or careers.
Prayer requests can also always be sent to the DOK at
ruthchapterdoksnellville@groups.io. (Requests sent to this address are confidential and will not be shared elsewhere.)
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Thank You! Keep It Coming!!
St. Matthew's is amazing! Thank you to all who donated to the May Food Drive last week for the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry. Through your generosity we were able to provide
over 300
food items to their food pantry.
Donations will be accepted again this Saturday, May 9, and every Saturday in May, from 9 - 11 a.m. The need is great--thank you for continuing to support this vital ministry. See below for other ways to support the co-op.
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May is our Food Drive Month for the SE Gwinnett Co-Op!
Local food banks need help in a BIG WAY right now and we are ready to show them our support.
The co-op has requested we focus on the following items for our food drive:
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Canned tuna
Canned chicken
Canned pasta (i.e. Spaghetti-os, etc.)
There are 4 ways to participate in the St. Matthew’s food drive this month:
- Drop off food outside St. Matthew’s each Saturday in May from 9am-11am
- Drop off food at the co-op during posted hours - https://www.segwinnettcoop.org/toserve
- Ship food directly to the co-op from Amazon, Costco, Sam’s and other retailers
to 55 Grayson Industrial Parkway Grayson, GA 30017
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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)
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Birthdays and Anniversaries This Week
5/10 - 5/16/2020
Birthdays:
Perry Butler, Vilma Kulis, Dewey Nabors, Herb Coats, Crystal Furman, Don Ulmer, Alexis Gurz
Anniversaries
: Don & Lynne Ulmer, Alexia & William Roney, John & Miriam Kamino, MaryLouise and Tim Richards, Clair & Sandra Hildebrant, Robert & Susan Savage
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FORWARD DAY BY DAY
Miss your
Forward Day By Day
devotional booklets? The church office is currently closed but during this interim time you can find their
daily messages here.
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MORE Easter Season At Home During
COVID
We miss your faces! Please send us some pics.
We need your photos! Online church as a family, SS activities, birthday or anniversary celebrations COVID-style, or How-We-Spent-Our-Time-During COVID!
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Youth Group meeting this Sunday via Zoom Video Conferencing
from 5 – 6 p.m.
Zoom invites will be sent to your e-mail the Saturday before. If you do not receive the Zoom invite on Saturday, or if you have any questions, please contact
NEXT Sunday, May 17th will be Youth Sunday
. As you already know our Youth are compassionate and talented and this service will celebrate and recognize those gifts, as well as their intelligence and their competence. Please make sure that you “tune-in” for Youth Sunday but also make sure that you continue to encourage and support the Youth, especially during this bewildering time.
Grace & Peace,
Fr. Tommy
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Financial Giving in REALM
It's easy! Go to the church website,
www.itsthepeople.org
. Click on the blue Give Online button near the center of the page, and follow the prompts to choose the desired fund designation from the drop-down menu.
If you wish to set up an automatic gift, you can do so by logging into REALM and choosing Giving from the left side of the page. You will have options for credit card information, etc. on the next screens. You can also set up recurring gifts/payments in Realm if you wish.
If you have trouble logging into Realm, please contact
Susan Carson.
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Thriving Spiritually During the Pandemic
NEW!
The
Forward Day By Day meditations
included in the printed booklets made available at the church are also found online. While these printed books are not available due to the closure of the church building, you can find these messages daily by clicking on this link:
https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/
Bookmark this link on your browser so you can find it easily each day.
Books:
“The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century”, by Joan Chittister, O.S.B.
“The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For and Believe”, by Richard Rohr, O.F.M.
"Praying the Psalms", by Thomas Merton, O.S.C. O.
Creating a Sacred Space At Home:
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For Information on the Corona Virus,
COVID-19, go to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) website:
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THE REALM CORNER
Regarding A Parish Directory
Based on the feedback we have received, we have adjusted settings in Realm to allow us to print a directory of active members once the church office is open again. If you are logged into Realm you should be able to access the full directory online now, however. We appreciate your patience while we work to complete the process and hope to run printed copies in the near future.
If you find errors or omissions in the online directory information, please email
registrar@stmatthewssnellville.org
with the details. Thank you!
If do
not
wish to appear in the directory, please Opt Out via email to
registrar@stmatthewssnellville.org
. Thanks.
If you have not yet logged into REALM, please contact
Susan Carson
.
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St. Matthew's Episcopal Church | Ph 770-979-4210 | admin@stmatthewssnellville.org | www.itsthepeople.org
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