This Week At St. Matthew's April 21, 2019-- Associate Rector Update; Vigil and Easter Services; Easter Eggstravaganza Tomorrow, and Much More

St. Matthew's Messenger

This Week At St. Matthew's

Sunday, April 21, 2019

The Sunday of the Resurrection

Easter Sunday

Visit our Website

Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Lighting of the New Fire

and Festive Holy Eucharist

Bring bells to ring at the Gloria during the first Eucharist of Easter.

Incense will be used at this service.

No nursery--children of all ages are welcome in church.

HOLY WEEK

SCHEDULE

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.

NEW!! GOOD FRIDAY FISH FRY --

April 19 from 4 - 7 p.m. by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, in the rear parking lot by the picnic tables/pavilion. Fish and hush-puppies. Suggested love offering $7 per plate. Help the Brotherhood build the pavilion.

THE SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION

EASTER SUNDAY

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

9:00 a.m. Breakfast

10:30 a.m. Festive Holy Eucharist

with incense

Flowering of the Cross before and after both services–

bring flowers from home or use those provided

This year (weather permitting) we will place the cross in the courtyard.

All are invited to place flowers on the cross before or after either service.

Nursery available for ages 6 mos. - age 4 at the 10:30 service.

No Junior Worship

READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY

are found here . Year C

ANNUAL EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA

(Rain or Shine!!)

TOMORROW , Saturday April 20 – 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon

for children up to age 10

The event starts at 10 a.m. with the Easter story engaging all of the children.

The hunt times are:

Ages 4 and under at 10:15 a.m., followed by

Ages 5, 6 & 7 at 10:45, and ending with

Ages 8, 9 & 10 at 11:15 am.

In the event of rain, the egg hunts will be held inside.

The eggcitement will include:

Balloon clowns, bounce house, games, egg coloring and tattoos.

So bring your children, their basket, and your camera and join in a morning of fun for children up to age 10.

Still looking for some helpers!! If you can help please contact Liz Livermont ASAP at

crazy18smiles@gmail.com

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

A Morning of Spiritual Renewal: The Six Senses of God

Led by: Jan Tobin

NEXT 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

Presents

ANNUAL CONVENTION WORSHIP

At St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

Next 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.

CALLING ALL RUNNERS

St. Matthew's will be a sponsor at the 2019 Grayson Day Road Race next Saturday, April 27th. As a sponsor we still have three free race tickets for parishioners who would like to represent our church community in the race. If you are interested please contact Jennifer Papadatos (message her on Realm or text her at 678-779-4215) to get a registration code and a t-shirt. A limited number of spots are available. This is a great community event that supports local athletes and everyone is welcome to come cheer on the runners and enjoy Grayson Days. For more info on the race go to https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/...

Have YOU Registered / Donated Yet?

The Atlanta Hunger Walk/Run is next week, Sunday April 28 . Last year we raised over $5,000 for the SE Gwinnett Co-Op and right now we still have a long way to go to reach our goal . Donations can be made easily online at http://engage.acfb.org/goto/stmatts and you can register to walk with the St. Matt's team as well! This is a fun, family friendly event and everyone is welcome to come out and walk against hunger in our community.

As always, thank you for supporting St. Matthew's efforts at serving our community in meaningful ways.

Time and Talent Corner

A SINCERE THANK YOU!

Our 2019 St Matthew's Work/Play Day was so successful! Due to the work of about 75 volunteers, look what was accomplished:

pine straw was spread, windows cleaned, the Undercroft painted, weeds pulled, garden beds edged, the kitchen cleaned, mulch added to beds, some tree limbs pruned, a compost bin added and installed, emergency lights tested and fixed... and the list goes on…!

We thank all of you! Saint Matthew's is shiny and smiling, ready for the celebration of Easter! Working together, we accomplish so much! It’s the People!

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

Greeters Needed

We are looking for a few more 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.

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!

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)

A Letter From Your Vestry

UPDATE ON OUR PROGRESS WITH THE ASSOCIATE RECTOR SEARCH AND RESERVE FUND CAMPAIGN

Happy Easter to everyone in our Parish from your Vestry. We wanted to update you on where the search stands for the Associate Rector and how we are doing with our Fund Raising campaign.

We reported to you last week that we had raised over $16,000. As of Wednesday, April 17th we have raised $24,000 and counting. For those of you who have given, we thank you for your generosity and selflessness. We are almost 1/2 way to our goal. If you are still thinking about giving, we will continue the campaign past Easter and thank you in advance for your help.

As reported last week, the Search Committee selected three candidates for Mother Liz to interview. Mother Liz reported to us that one of them has accepted another job offer. She will be moving forward with the other two candidates. The search process in the Diocese of Atlanta requires a background check and an interview with Bishop Wright and his approval of the candidate before a call can be extended. Both candidates have submitted the information for the background check and Mother Liz has requested their interviews with Bishop Wright for next week, depending on his schedule. Once those two items are complete, she can move forward with extending a call. In conversations with the candidates, we should have our new associate in place no later than July 15, in time for the August youth retreat at Camp Tugalo.

Again, we appreciate each and every one of you for your understanding and help in this fund raising campaign.

Peace,

Your St. Matthews Vestry

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 .

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

Youth Group meets Sundays at 6:00 p.m . in the Undercroft. No Youth Group on Easter Sunday, April 21. 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.

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 .

St. Matthew's Preschool Corner

Annual Silent Auction

St. Matthew's Preschool Annual Silent Auction is OPEN NOW, through Friday April 26.

Gift certificates, gift cards, merchandise, and certificates for special services (haircuts, manicures, massages, etc.) will be up for bid. Come check out the bid sheets located in the preschool / Christian Ed wing beginning Wednesday, April 17 at 10:00 a.m. Bids will close on Friday, April 26 at 9:45 a.m.

This is the largest fund raiser of the year for the preschool. Be sure to stop by and support this wonderful school with a bid for items up for auction. Funds raised are used for supplemental classroom materials and enrichment programs for the students. If you have items or services you'd like to donate for bids, please contact Juanita Little, Preschool Director , or call 770-978-1323.

Preschool Summer Camps

We will be holding 3 Camps this summer. Our camps will be available to rising 2 year olds-rising 1st graders. (Children who have not turned two years of age, by the onset of any given camp, may only attend 2 days. Children 3 years of age and older must be fully potty trained to attend.) The Preschool will provide a snack and children will bring a lunch each day.

Western (Cowboys) Camp - June 3-7

Star Spangled Camp - June 17-21

Fun with Books Camp - July 15-19

Time: 9:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.

Cost: $100 per session

A $25 discount will be given on additional camps.

You can register on our website:

www.stmatthewspreschool.org

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 continuing education with our partners at First United Methodist Lawrenceville provided a further look at the book titled “Why?” by Adam Hamilton.

Our discussion centered around Chapter 2, “Why Do My Prayers Go Unanswered?”