This Week At St. Matthew's
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
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Mondays - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesdays & Thursdays - 8:00 a.m.
Wednesday - 10:00 a.m. – Healing Service
Fridays - 6:00 p.m. - Compline
Important!: We are using Realm for more and more group and event scheduling as we move through this time of online worship and meeting, and will be using it for registration to attend in-person worship when we begin those worship services, and for other groups and meetings. Are YOU signed into Realm yet? If not, contact registrar@stmatthewssnellville.org to stay abreast of all that's happening at St. Matthew's.
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Scroll Down For:
Musings -- Fall 2020
Outdoor Sunday Worship Planned For October 11
Outreach -- Mending the Gap Donation Drive FINAL WEEK!
New! Blessing Of the Animals -- October 4 at 2:00 p.m.
September 28 Walking Group With Fr. Tommy - Rabbit Hill Park
And More!
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The Seventeenth Sunday
After Pentecost
Morning Prayer
This Sunday, September 27
10:00 a.m.
Online Video Service
Filmed in the Sanctuary
Click This Link to go to the Sunday Online service:
Sunday Worship Live Stream - St. Matthews Episcopal Church
(Please note: Last week's service will be available until the next Sunday's service begins)
or find the service on
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Zoom Coffee Hour and SS/CE
Start Sunday School HERE!
Come join the fun every Sunday
at 9:00 a.m.! Reconnect with your friends and our St. Matthew's Community and go on to your Sunday School or CE class from here in breakout sessions.
Meeting ID: 955 2587 5450
Passcode: StMatts20
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SUNDAY SCHOOL &
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
We are offering Sunday School and Christian Education through Zoom this fall until we are able to meet face to face when it is safe for everyone. The level of break out rooms by grade level will be dependent on attendance and registration. We will closely monitor and make adjustments to best suit the needs of the children.
On Sunday morning, log into the Coffee Hour Zoom and break out into classes from that Zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 955 2587 5450
Passcode: StMatts20
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Musings by Mother Liz -- Fall 2020
It’s Fall!! Can you imagine! Without much fanfare, the 22nd of the month came and went and suddenly, we are no longer in Summer…we have arrived at Fall. Have you ever noticed that there is nothing that can stop the seasons from changing? There may be snow in Minnesota, but April is still spring. A little over a week ago, Beth Still send pictures showing snow in Colorado, but it was still summer. I think one of the messages I take from that is that the “signs” that often lead us to conclusions may be accurate, or they can mislead us. However, some things are constant.
• What is constant is that the seasons of the year change at defined times, even if the names of the seasons vary depending on which hemisphere you are in.
• What is constant is that the seasons WILL change. Time does march on, and eventually December 21 arrives and fall passes into winter; March 21 arrives and winter passes into spring, and so it goes.
We too are in a season. Our season has not been defined by a calendar; more it has been a series of events. Those events caused us to change some of our key practices as a worshiping community. Those practices did not stop – they were done in a different way. Now, as time passes and the circumstances around us change, how we worship changes again.
Providing there is not a dramatic change in the number of COVID cases in this part of Georgia, St. Matthew’s will offer outdoor worship beginning October 11. This service will take place under the pavilion and will be different from what we normally do in the sanctuary and from what we do on-line. However, it will allow up to 40 parishioners to gather and worship together, and the service will be live streamed to our Facebook page so that the rest of the community can worship with those under the pavilion.
That is not our only change. On October 11, we will be changing the time of the main service from 10am to 10:45am. This change will remain in place, even when we are back in the sanctuary. The extra 15 minutes from our usual start time of 10:30 allows us to take care of new responsibilities that come with using the church buildings in this time of COVID.
We will also begin an 8am service which will take place via Zoom. It will be spoken Morning Prayer and we will not be able to provide music at this juncture, but it will give us the option of worshipping early, and we will be able to see, talk and pray with each other.
Please check elsewhere in this newsletter to find more details around these changes in our Sunday worship.
Yes, nothing can stop the change in seasons. But nothing can stop the movement of the Holy Spirit either. And the Spirit is moving at St. Matthew’s. Thanks be to God.
Mother Liz+
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Outdoor Sunday Worship Service Planned Beginning October 11
As you may know, a group of folks have been working hard to get ready for returning to on-campus worship when it is feasible to do so. Working within the guidelines of Bishop Wright and the Diocese of Atlanta and pending approval by the vestry next week, St. Matthew’s will offer an on-campus outdoor Morning Prayer service beginning Sunday October 11 at 10:45 a.m. and lasting no more than an hour; This service will be live streamed to our FB page. The pre-recorded service we now use on FB will be replaced by the livestream.
Things To Know
- You must register to attend in Realm.
- The service will take place under the pavilion, with additional tents set up to accommodate all worshipers.
- We ask that your bring a lawn chair or other seating for each family member
- Paper bulletins will not be provided, but the service bulletin will be available via tablet or your phone online. You may bring your own copy printed out from home or bring your own copy of the Book of Common Prayer.
- Handicapped seating will be available under the pavilion.
- Masks and social distancing will be required, and restroom facilities will be restricted to emergency only.
- Health screening questions will be asked at check-in.
- In the event the service must be canceled due to of inclement weather or for any reason, we will send a cancelation notice out via TEXT.
Reserving Seats:
Due to diocesan requirements and social distancing we must limit the number of worshipers to 40. We will be using Realm to register to attend the service, The Sunday service Event Registration will be available in Realm on Tuesday prior to Sunday. Using Realm is required for contact tracing purposes. If you are not yet signed into Realm, please take a moment to do so. Contact Susan Carson if you need assistance.
Verifying Your Contact Data In Realm
It is very important that we have your correct address, phone number (cell phone is preferred), and email address on file for contact tracing purposes. Your cell phone number is needed so that we could notify you immediately via text message in case the service is canceled for any reason. You have the ability to make changes to this data yourself by choosing Profile/Edit Profile in your Realm record. Please contact Susan Carson if you need assistance.
NEW! Beginning October 11, we will add an 8:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer service using Zoom. This will be a spoken service, without music and will be approximately 45 minutes long. You do not need to register for this online 8:00 a.m. service; the Zoom link will be in The Messenger
We will continue to offer on-line devotions during the week.
Watch for a separate email containing final details coming sometime next week, providing we have received vestry approval. We are excited about the prospect of worshiping together soon!
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Habitat for Humanity
Lunch Volunteers Needed
Saturday 10/10
On Saturday, October 10th, the Outreach Committee will be sponsoring lunch for a Habitat for Humanity build in Snellville. A few volunteers are needed to help deliver, set up and clean up. The time will be approximately 10:45 a.m. -12:30pm. If you would like to help out, contact Jennifer Papadatos at jenniday1229@yahoo.com or Cheryl Wheeler at cherly756@yahoo.com.
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MENDING THE GAP
DONATION DRIVE
FINAL WEEK!
The Outreach committee is collecting much needed supplies for Mending the Gap during the month of September. Mending the Gap Inc. provides seniors with one-on-one supportive services that will meet their basic needs and alleviate isolation while creating healthy and fulfilling relationships.
Items Needed:
- Laundry Detergent
- Toilet Paper
- Canned Chicken
You can drop off donations at St. Matthew’s on Sundays in September between 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
If you would like to order and ship your donations directly, please send to:
Fay Josephs, Mending the Gap
15 Kentshire Pl
Lawrenceville, GA 30044
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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
9/27 - 10/3/2020
Birthdays: Donna Waller, Saima Chavenet, Elizabeth Livermont, John Madajewski, Karen Wilson, Christine Clippinger, Ben Hansen
Anniversaries: Dominic & Leah Hervis, Alan & Marie Rybczynski
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YOUTH GROUP SUNDAYS AT 4:00 P.M.
Zoom Link below
Youth Ministries at St. Matt’s invites us to “Turn Around,” or make a “U” Turn, “from fear towards faith.”
Children/Youth in grades 6 - 12th grade are encouraged to be a part of the St. Matthew’s Youth Group. This group goes beyond Christian Formation to nurture the needs of the youth of the church. Youth members are encouraged to take an active leadership role while participating and growing in their faith.
So please join us Sundays on Zoom Sundays at 4 p.m. for the voyage.
Here's the ZOOM link info:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 927 9585 6469
Passcode: 311504
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All Are Invited!!
St. Francis Day
Blessing of the Animals
October 4, 2020 at 2:00 PM
We will bless cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, horses, goats, sheep, fish (preferably in water), stuffed animals, including stuffed elephants, and pictures of animals. There will be animal treats available and treats for people too!
Come join us!
Register on Realm beginning Monday, September 28
so we can have a head count.
(Limit 45 humans, no limit on furry friends)
Masks and social distancing required
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SUNDAY SCHOOL
TEACHER TRAINING
We will be hosting a Zoom teachers training on September 29 at 10:00 a.m., which will include information about using the curriculum and on using the technology, with plenty of time for answering any question you may have.
If you are interested please let one of the members of the Christian Education committee know as soon as possible.
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BEGINNING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
Wednesday with the Word is changing to: Thursday with the Text!!
In this time of COVID challenge, the study of scripture and looking to God for encouragement in his Holy Word is needed more than ever! So, since we are unable to guarantee access to the campus for our usual Wednesday morning study, and to allow those who work during the week but would love a bible study at night, we are moving WWW to Thursday evenings, from 7-8 p.m. This year, we will begin our studies by looking at the good advice James gives his community about how to give thanks and thrive when times are tough (sound familiar???). All you will need to bring is a Bible, as we begin the study of the Letter of James. Class begins on October 1 and we will continue our scripture study through December 10.
Passcode: 642622
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Café Theology
Saturday, October 3 at 10:30 a.m.
via Zoom! (meeting link below)
We are going into our fifth year of offering Café Theology, a book study and conversation group for those who want to go deeper into theological discussion or for those who cannot make weekday bible studies.
Café Theology meets on alternate Saturdays, from 10am-11:30am. We normally share coffee and breakfast, but that will have to be offered virtually this year. We will be meeting via Zoom until more access is available at the church.
Our first book for this year is Almost Everything: Note on Hope, by Anne Lamott. This book is available on Amazon, on the Barnes and Noble website, through used book dealers, in electronic format and there are copies available through Gwinnett library. All are welcome to join for coffee and conversation.
Meeting dates for 2020 are September 19, October 3, October 17, October 31, November 7, November 21, December 5 and December 19.
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 921 0276 6542
Passcode: 069834
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,92102766542#,,,,,,0#,,069834# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,92102766542#,,,,,,0#,,069834# US (New York)
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Tea and Conversation Group
Thursday, September 24 at 2:00 p.m. All are invited to bring their tea (or beverage) and join Mother Liz for a zoom conversation group about how we are managing our lives during this time of creative challenge.
Come, connect and converse.
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Monday Morning Walking Group Sept 21 at 8:00 a.m. (time change)
The Monday Morning Walking Group will meet at Rabbit Hill Park at 400 Rabbit Hill Rd, Dacula, GA 30019
Wanting exercise and some conversation? Join us every Monday morning at various parks around the Gwinnett County area.
If you are interested please contact
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NEW! Hiking Group Coming in October
Are you looking to enjoy nature and spend some time hiking on our beautiful trails? But don’t want to hike alone? Well, here is your chance. I will be starting up the Hiking Group beginning in October.
The plan is to meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month. The idea is to hike some trails which are close by and will only take up half the day.
Our first hike will take place on Wednesday, October 7th at Harbins Park in Dacula. The hike is under 6 miles long and will take under 3 hours.
If you are not able to make October’s hike make sure that you put November 4th on your calendar.
If you are interested in joining please contact Fr. Tommy.
“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees”― Henry David Thoreau
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CENTERING PRAYER
Centering Prayer meets online every Tuesday from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. If you are interested in trying this ancient form of prayer, please contact Vicki Conway for more information.
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Providing Assistance To Areas
Affected By National Disasters
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News Articles:
The Episcopal Church Responds to Hurricane Laura (And Sally)
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DISMANTLING RACISM TRAINING ONLINE
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dismantling Racism Training classes are now ONLINE* for the remainder of 2020. All classes will be held on Zoom until in-person classes are allowed to reconvene sometime next year.
This class is required for all parish clergy and all lay leaders, including vestry members. Click the link below for the online training class schedule.
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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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Financial Giving in REALM
stmatthewssnellville.org/give or
Text Stmattsnell to 73256
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 have trouble logging 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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