This Week At St. Matthew's April 28, 2019-- Further Associate Rector Search Update; Preschool Silent Auction Extended; VBS Info; and Much More

St. Matthew's Messenger

This Week At St. Matthew's

Sunday, April 28, 2019

The Second Sunday of Easter

Visit our Website

This Sunday:

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

with the Epiphany Choir

followed by Taste of Liberia

in the Parish Hall,

sponsored by LECUSA

All are invited.

READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY

are found here . Year C

TOMORROW, Saturday, April 27

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

A Morning of Spiritual Renewal: The Six Senses of God

Led by: Jan Tobin

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

Everyone invited.

Presents

ANNUAL CONVENTION WORSHIP

At St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

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

Followed by TASTE OF LIBERIA reception

In the Parish Hall. All are invited!

Contact: Wilhelmina Wilson 770-815-9260

Note:

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

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

This Sunday at both services we will welcome our newest members of St. Matthew’s: Dorothy Jordan, Elaine Jackson, Eudora Goodman, Nancy Ryan, Dallas and Lisa Le Duff, and Jim and Deb Stallings. Please extend a warm St. Matthew’s welcome to these folks as they settle into life in the parish.

Welcome to St. Matthew's!

BECAUSE OF THE HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES, the Preschool Silent Auction HAS BEEN EXTENDED through this weekend, and will close Monday,

August 29 at 10:00 a.m.

Please be sure to check out the many items up for bid, displayed down the SS/Preschool hallway. This is the largest fundraiser of the year for the school; funds raised go to provide supplemental materials and learning opportunities for the children. Thank you!

CALLING ALL RUNNERS

St. Matthew's will be a sponsor at the 2019 Grayson Day Road Race TOMORROW, 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 THIS 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

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)

CONTEMPLATIVE OUTREACH OF ATLANTA offers an Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop directed by Carl McColman and Maggie Winfrey at Ignatius House on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. The registration fee is $60 and includes breakfast and lunch. To register online, click ignatiushouse.org. (Six follow-up workshops beginning on Mondays in June, from 7:30 - 9 pm will continue the series.

April 28, 2019 -- A Letter From Your Vestry

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

We made it through Holy Week and were blessed with glorious weather for Easter and a beautiful Easter Service. Once again, we, the Vestry, 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 $24,000. As of Wednesday, April 24th we have raised almost $28,000 and counting. For those of you who have given, we thank you for your generosity and selflessness. We have passed the half way mark to our goal of $50,000. If you are still thinking about giving, we will continue the campaign into May and thank you in advance for your help.

Mother Liz reports that background checks are in process for the two candidates and their interviews with Bishop Wright have been scheduled through the 13th of May. Assuming we hear back with approvals from Bishop Wright once the interviews are completed, we will be in a position to extend a call by mid-May. Your continued prayers are appreciated.

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

Peace,

Your St. Matthews Vestry

ST. MATTHEW'S VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!!

St. Matthew’s VBS offers children Pre-K through rising fifth grade a fun and rewarding week of fellowship, games, crafts and story time, all centered around God’s love for us.

Our 2019 VBS will be held July 8-12, 2019.

9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Cost: Before June 15 — $20 per child

After June 15 — $25 per child

(payable on first day of camp)

Camper Registration coming soon.

School Level: Pre-K through rising 5th Grade (4-11 yrs. old)

Volunteers are needed! More information coming soon!

Information on Special Needs VBS (Tuesday & Thursday, modified hours) coming soon.

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

is sponsoring two events:

MUSIC FESTIVAL- -THIS 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

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?”