eNews and Messenger
SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020
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St. Matthew Family and Friends,
Happy Father’s Day weekend! Fathers make an impact on the next generation. It is our prayer that God impacts each of us this week!
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- REGATHERING FOR WORSHIP - JULY 5TH - Per Elders approval, St. Matthew in-person worship will resume on July 5th.
- PLEASE WATCH YOUR EMAIL FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING DETAILS AND PROTOCOLS. Before returning for worship, please make sure to watch for the email, and read it carefully to understand the safety protocols that leadership and staff have worked very hard to discern and implement to help ensure a safe worship experience for all. Starting July 5, the planned worship schedule will be:
- Walled Lake
- 8:15am Sunday Blended worship style
- 9:30am Sunday Blended worship style online
- No 9:40am Sunday or 7pm Monday Blended worship gatherings
- 11am Sunday Prayer & Praise
- Wixom
- 9am Sunday New Vintage worship style
- Again, please watch for additional information!
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Here's what else is going on at St. Matthew!
- NEW DETAILS - Austin's Ordination and Installation - We praise God that our Wixom campus Associate Pastor to be, Austin and wife Claire, were able to find a home in the Wixom area. They will move to Michigan in July. His ordination and installation is scheduled for Saturday, July 11 at 1pm at the Wixom campus.
- Because of the need to provide safe, “social distanced” worship, it will be a private ordination and installation, which will be recorded and posted online. Austin’s first sermon will be July 26 at the Wixom campus. A reception will be held following that worship service.
- Gift Card Shower for Dawn Rupe July 1 - Join us as we welcome our new Minister of Children and Families Dawn Rupe and her family as part of the July 1 Drive-thru Communion Service at 7 PM at the Walled Lake Campus. We will have a gift card shower for Dawn and her family as you enter, and you will be able to greet and welcome Dawn and her family as you leave. If you can’t make it that night you may mail a gift card to the main church office, care of John Welte. We are blessed to have Dawn as part of our St. Matthew family, and look forward to her serving!
- Help STILL Needed - Flex Your Muscles, Fellowship with Friends, Fortify God's House!
- During the COVID shutdown, we are trying to get a lot of physical projects completed at our Walled Lake and Wixom campuses. We could definitely use some help to get this completed. These are one-time projects as you will see below.
- New flooring is being installed in classroom 301, the 300 wing hallway and main lobby. We need help moving furniture out of classroom 301 and then moving it back when flooring is done. Week of June 29th.
- New flooring in lobby restrooms. Need someone to remove the 6 toilets (on June 15th) so that flooring can be installed under them. Then re-install them after flooring is installed.
- The church offices are 'finally' getting new carpet (like we did in the school office last year). Remediation by an outside company to remove the existing carpet and asbestos tile occurs on July 13 and 14. Before they start we need lots of help moving furniture out of the offices (sometime July 8-12)
- We have budget to purchase mulch for the berm area on the north side of the pond to dress that area up. Before we order the mulch we need to make sure that we have volunteers to spread it, otherwise the Minda court neighbors may complain about a pile of mulch just sitting there. ~June 18th - 30th.
- If you can help with the WL projects, please contact Bryan Davis ASAP so that we can make plans or cancel them (Bryan.Davis@st-matthew.org or 248.935.6399)
- WIXOM
- The parking lot islands, playground need mulch and sand. We need volunteers to spread both by July 11 when our new Wixom Associate Pastor arrives on Campus. Delivery date TBD.
- If you can help, please contact Nancy Cushman (nancy.cushman@st-matthew.org or 248.624.9525)
- As you can see, the world has stopped but your staff continues to work to make St Matthew a nice place to worship. The improvements that have been planned for several years at WL due to the age of the facility and now is the time to complete these when the building is empty.
- All volunteers are expected to follow appropriate PPE and self distancing requirements during these projects. We will provide masks as needed. Hand sanitizers will be on-site.
- Thank you very much for helping out where you can. Please make a commitment as soon as possible so that we are assured that we have volunteers to complete these projects.
Dale Schnepp, St Matthew Properties Director
daleschnepp@gmail.com | 248.697.7384
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (NIV)
Blessings,
Gail Adams
Office & Communications Manager
gail.adams@st-matthew.org
P.S.
Again, please
consider helping with the Properties projects listed above! We are very close to completing some very exciting projects and your assistance will make it possible to finish them up. There really has been an overwhelming amount of work during this time, and our staff and Properties Team need your help!
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- Online Worship - Sundays at 9:30am Online - Chat begins at 9:20!
- Live Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/799892892
- Phone in Live:
- 1-877-853-5257
- Webinar ID: 799-892-892 (followed by the "#" key)
- Facebook Live - we always try to send the stream to FB Live, but Zoom is always more reliable. You do not need a Facebook account to watch live streams.
- Recordings will be placed on our YouTube channel.
- New Sermon Series: Who is Jesus?
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School
8th Grade Graduation
Part One of the 2020 St. Matthew Lutheran School Graduation! This was not how any of us envisioned the conclusion of this school year, but history was made as St. Matthew hosted its very first virtual graduation in our 63 years of existence! Part One of this graduation celebration occurred through ZOOM on June 15; students wore the traditional St. Matthew class T-shirt, which is generously gifted each year from our PTL, and their graduation caps and tassels. During this service, every student had an opportunity to share words from Scripture, memories, prayers, and more that edified and honored God for their years at St. Matthew. Students also were gifted with a cross made by Mr. Gaylen McDonald, a Class of 2020 cookie, and a Class of 2020 face mask given by Mrs. Heiden and Mrs. Delnick, as well as a gift certificate for a 2021 Class Reunion trip to Cedar Point.
Part 2 of this celebration will occur in-person once mandates allow in the future. We praise God for these graduates!
Registration for 2020/2021 School Year
Email:
admissions@st-matthew.org
A great way to stay updated on all the great things happening is to Like our
Facebook page
.
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Hearts & Hands
Happy to be open!
Staff and children are back at Hearts & Hands! Please continue to keep them in prayer!
See photos from the first week back
HERE
.
Praise God for these opportunities to learn and grow as children of God in His amazing world!
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International Ministry
Our International Ministry Staff is Preparing for Fall
There are still so many unknowns for what ministry will look like in the fall. However, our staff is busy evaluating the situation and making preparations for classes and ministry in the fall. Please pray for this process!
Praise God that we are able to continue providing support and showing God's love through various means, including Zoom and other technology! Please pray that the seeds of God's love are planted in the hearts of these families.
Pray for the International Ministry as they discern what ministry will look like in the fall.
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Children's Ministry
dawn.rupe@st-matthew.org
MORE
Fun Facts About
Miss Dawn!
Miss Dawn started her ministry at St. Matthew in the middle of a pandemic, and it's been hard for you to get to know her! So, we asked her to share some "Fun Facts" about herself to get to know her better! Here's a few
MORE
fun facts!:
"In my "free time" I like to read and cook."
"I am a hugger! A good hug can make your day. (I completely respect the space and opinion of people who aren't though.)"
"Although I am more of an extrovert now, I wasn't always. I was the "shy one" growing up."
-Miss Dawn
Stay tuned for more next week!
If you haven't done so yet, please send Dawn an email and/or a picture that will help her get to know you better too! Share some fun facts about yourself!
dawn.rupe@st-matthew.org
Devotions
These devotions are great for adults as well as kids!
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Middle School
Youth Ministry
Calling all
Future Sixth Graders
you are invited to join us for all Middle School Events.
Middle School Bible Class
“Greater Than"
by Francis Chan
This week watch “Day
2
".
Sign up for a free RightNow Media account
HERE
.
Water Wars
Wednesday, July 15 at 7 PM
Walled Lake campus in front of the HOME
Come prepared to get soaked and bring a water gun that can be filled from a pool.
Middle School Fall Retreat
Camp Ohiyesa
October 2-4
For registration forms and adults interested in serving as a chaperone, contact John. Sign up early to get the best pricing.
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PLEASE NOTE:
In accordance with current local, state and federal guidelines St. Matthew is beginning an intentional approach to start planning Youth Group and College Age Activities that allow us to meet together outside but still keep social distancing. If you should have any questions please contact John Welte at
john.welte@st-matthew.org
.
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High School
Youth Ministry
Calling all
Future Freshman
you are welcome to join us for both Middle and High School events as you begin the transition into High School.
High School Bible Class
“Greater Than"
by Francis Chan
This week watch “Day
2
".
Sign up for a free RightNow Media account
HERE
.
Bonfire at Wixom Campus
Sunday, June 28
, 7-8:30pm
Join us for some outdoor adventure on the Wixom campus. Snacks and beverages will be provided.
High School Fall Retreat
Camp Ohiyesa
Sept. 18-20
Registration forms are available by contacting John. Sign up early to get the best pricing.
High School Ohio Mission Trip
UPDATE
Friends in Christ,
The entire Youth Ministry Team of St. Matthew, David Cater our host in Caldwell, and Holy Trinity our Host Congregation in Pleasant City, are heartbroken to see the effects of Covid-19 is having on our communities and on the lives of those we serve. There is a great need to serve others but in order to protect the health of those we serve who are predominantly in the high risk category and each of you we have made the difficult prayer led decision to cancel the 2020 Ohio Mission Trips.
This was by no means a decision we made lightly and we are all saddened to tell you this news knowing it is just one more disappointment you have to deal with in an already disappointment filled year. There is simply no way to follow current local, state, and federal guidelines to safely protect the health of those we serve and each of you in the current pandemic.
Those of you who have served previously know that we have always said the physical work we do is secondary and the most important work we do is building Christ Centered relationships with those we serve. We would be devastated if in the course of our building a relationship someone would contract Covid-19.
Please join us in praying for our communities and asking God to send His healing power to end this pandemic. We are moving forward with making plans to return in 2021 to Caldwell and having the opportunity to share Christ’s love.
In Christ Service, John Welte
David Cater, Youth Ministry Team
Holy Trinity
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Other Ministry Events and Updates
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Wixom Community Garden Ministry
One of our greatest local outreach ministries is our Wixom Campus Community Garden Ministry.
There are 40 people that have plots in the garden this year, about 5 or 6 of them are St. Matthew members. Most are from the apartments and surrounding homes of Wixom. This is a huge outreach to our community!!!! Everyone has been social distancing and following protocols. Let it Grow!!!! If you have any questions regarding the Community Garden or would like to assist, please call or text Phil Masters at
248-946-1019. Take a look at some recent drone pictures
HERE
.
College Group Bonfire
at our Wixom Campus on Sunday, June 28 at 9 PM. Snacks and beverages will be provided.
Motorcycle Riders!
Join us Saturday, June 27 at 9 AM at the WL campus for a leisurely back roads ride up towards Fenton and down by the GM Proving Grounds ending at the WX campus around 10:30ish. Questions contact John Welte.
Celebrate Recovery
at St. Matthew now has open share groups available
online
. They are gender specific groups. For more information, email us at
CR@st-matthew.org
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Prayers - Week of June 21
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Thanks
:
- For wedding of Jessica Main and Austin Klotz
Ministry
:
- For our new Wixom campus Pastor Austin Wellhousen’s conclusion of classes
- For the protection of St. Matthew staff who are working hard to maintain essential ministry
- For persecuted Christians in Morocco
Homebound Member of the Week
:
Government, Country and World:
- God’s protection and will to be done in the corona virus situation
- For our government leaders to make wise decisions
- Thanks for father and God’s help for them in their important role
Sick or Hospitalized:
- Dylan Findling
- Marcia Merithew
- Richard Arteaga
- Laurie Echols
- Don Bielat
- Don, Christina
- Father of Pastor Paul
- Newborn of Shanna Driscoll’s cousin
- Friend of Marilyn McCallum
- Zachery
- Chris
Grief
:
- For the family and friends of Marilyn McCallum’s friend who can’t attend her son’s funeral
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Attendance
Estimated number of people,
based on households watching live.
Recordings watched are even greater.
Sunday, June
14: 700-800 p
eople estimated
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Financial Stewardship
Thank you for your support of ministry!
Your generosity continues, even during these difficult times, and we are so thankful and blessed!
Walled Lake and Wixom Campuses
July 1, 2019 through June 17, 2020
Actual year to date Offerings $1,811,143
Budget year to date Offerings $1,898,098
Year to date ($86,955)
Please consider online giving:
or mail your check to the church.
Thanks to all of our NEW online givers! Your gifts are so appreciated!
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- RightNowMedia is a great resource for video Bible Studies! Sign up FREE through our website www.st-matthew.org/RightNowMedia . There are some great new Bible studies being added.
- The Bible Project is a great free resource to learn about God's Word! Take a look at the website HERE to see the short videos, listen to podcasts, and start seeing how the pieces of the Bible all fit together.
- Lutheran Hour Ministries has daily radio broadcasts, podcasts, devotions, and many other resources! See everything at www.lhm.org
- Portals of Prayer Digital Versions are available for personal purchase from the CPH website HERE. Portals of Prayer are also available in the plastic bin outside the main entrance of the Walled Lake Campus, if you would like to pick one up.
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Reminders
Did you miss it?
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If you missed our previous eNews, here are a few reminders:
- Balloting Results - After a new Zoom format of Open Forum and Congregational Assembly, we held balloting online for the first time. (It's been quite a learning experience for all of us!) Thank you for all who expressed an interest in serving in leadership roles! We are blessed to have your servant hearts. Thank you to all who voted. The results of the recent balloting are as follows: President - Gaylen McDonald; Treasurer - Ken Palka; Executive Board At Large Member - Laurie Schwandt; Foundation Ministry - Deandra Reinhart, Karen Storck, Andrew Whitaker; Budget - Passed
- Flood Relief Efforts - Praise Report - We praise and thank God for everyone who donated items, time and money to the recent flood relief efforts! We collected 220 hygiene kits and 10 flood buckets and delivered them to Lutheran Early Response Teams. We had members receive Thrivent Action Team grants to put kits together. One family reached into the community and personally coordinated donations to put together 140 hygiene kits! We had small groups and individuals contribute in so many ways. I am humbled and honored to have been a part of collecting and delivering these kits to LERT. I know there have been others who actually went into the flooding area and physically helped with clean up efforts. Others contributed monetarily to the relief. Your hearts to serve and give back in such a difficult time brings me joy and tears, and I thank you all for how God has led you help those in need. God bless! -Gail
- Portals of Prayer Available - The new Portals of Prayer are available in the plastic bin outside the Main Sanctuary Entrance of the Walled Lake Campus. You may pick one up at any time. Hard copies of the eNews are also placed in there every Sunday. Stop by and see the beautiful flowers in our entry gardens!
- Communications Requests As we continue to modify our Communications tools to serve our St. Matthew community better (eNews, website, etc.), please connect with the appropriate Ministry Leader to request to have information communicated out. They will then ensure that information is directed to the appropriate channels for communication. The Messenger on the website is no longer an effective communication tool. Please contact Ministry Leaders directly to discuss your needs. Thank you for your patience as we create a more effective process for Communications Requests, and the tools to make it happen.
- Phone Calls! The church staff is continuing to check in on our members. Thank you for taking time to chat with us or respond to emails. We are going through our records and making phone calls. Thank you Denise denise.fannon@st-matthew.org and Natalie natalie.yanosy@st-matthew.org for caring for our people! Send them a note if you'd like to receive a call. We love hearing from you! If you are needing to get in touch with another member, or one of our Homebound members, they can help you do that as well. Please continue to care for one another, friends!
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St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Walled Lake & Wixom
2040 S. Commerce Road, Walled Lake, MI 48390
48380 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, MI 48393
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