St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
YOU are Welcome!
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Greetings!
FALL WORK DAY
On SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3rd, we hope you'll join with some other Saints of St. Matthew's for our Fall Work Day - outside on our grounds. If you have a rake, and some work gloves, bring them along.
We will need to keep safe distance, and wear masks, but we're hoping to get the leaves raked up, the picnic tables put away, and our beautiful grounds readied for winter.
If you can help, meet us in the Church Parking Lot at 10:00am!
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Friends, we are happy to announce that for the St. Matthew's winter fundraiser, we will be offering wreaths, a door swag and/or metal deer decorations for sale. We have partnered with Sherwood Forest Farms out of Washington State to bring you fresh evergreens for the holiday season. We will be taking orders starting this Monday through the end of October. The wreaths will be delivered to us the first week of December and we will coordinate pickup/delivery with you. If you are interested in purchasing or more information contact Jessica in the office. If you would be willing to take orders and help us sell, we have wonderful materials to help! Just give Jessica a call! |
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Mark your calendars, our first drive thru communion has been scheduled for Sunday, October 18th. Watch the service from the comfort of your home and then drive to the Church between 11:30AM-12:30 PM for communion. Enter through the 2nd Ave parking lot, there will be people to help guide you to the clergy who will offer communion. Please stay in your vehicle and wear a mask. For those on foot we will have a communion station set up. |
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As the leaves start to change colors we would like to have pictures to post of your goings and comings!! Even though our ability to travel might be a bit different this year, if you are out enjoying nature, or driving down the road, and come upon some of the beauty that we are treated to in this area...we'd love to 'see' what you see! Send pictures to Jessica in the office (coordinator@stmatthewschurch.org) and you may see your pic in a future edition of an eBlast!
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It has been a tradition at St. Matthew’s for parishioners to offer a candle in memory of someone, or the altar flowers in thanksgiving for special people or events. Since we have begun offering all of our services on-line, it has been difficult for parishioners to ‘sign up’. But we are still purchasing and displaying flowers when we have our services. We want to make it easier, so that this ministry is self-supporting.
We have few dates taken for the rest of the year. If you would like to sponsor the Sanctuary Candle, or the Altar Flowers, please give Jessica a call in the office (456-5235), or send her an email (coordinator@stmatthewschurch.org) and she can sign you up! We print the names of the ones for whom the Candle or Flowers are given, as well as the names of the donors, in the Order of Service each week.
Costs are $5.00 for the Sanctuary Candle, and $20.00 for the flowers (the cost of flowers has decreased with a change in the way we obtain them).
Thank you for your prayerful consideration!
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Worship Services In a Time of Challenge
Do Not Panic ... God is With US ... You are Loved
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October 2, 2020
Friends,
It’s been almost seven months since we have begun offering all of our services on-line. Although we had been offering Compline, on FB Live for well over a year before March 15, with the recognition of the threat of COVID-19 we closed the doors of the church building, and began offering all of our services by live-streaming on Facebook. Although there was something of a learning curve that we have had to navigate, we have gotten some new equipment that has allowed us to continue to improve the quality of our sound and video.
Please know that I am so grateful for your continued worshiping with the community of St. Matthew’s. I read every comment and prayer request left in the ‘comments’ section of every virtual service we offer – and your prayers are prayed … your comments are appreciated. This is a challenging time for all of us, but we are strong as a community of faith – even in these changed circumstances.
You may know that we have offered several Memorial/Prayer Services on our front lawn. These have been fairly small services, and allowed a way for loved ones to be remembered and prayed for.
As the numbers of residents in this area continue to rise, we feel it is safest to continue offering services streamed on-line, and our building closed. Jessica continues to work in the office, and I work both from the office and from home. We continue to ask that if there is something we can help you with, to please call us. Both Jessica and I can be reached by phone: 907-456-5235…just follow the prompts. If we do not answer, please leave a message and will return your call. Please know that we want to hear from you! Especially in regards to prayer needs, or other concerns, we can support each other by reaching out.
I have been able to meet with some of you, by appointment, to talk, offer support or discuss other concerns. Please do call if I can be helpful to you! If you want to meet in person, please do call for an appointment with Jessica or me. We do require that masks are worn in the building, and safe distance is kept. This is for your protection and ours.
While this isn’t at all what we had hoped that ‘life’ at St. Matthew’s would like 9 months ago, we have in the last couple of weeks had some concerns raised by how ‘close’ the virus has come to our doors. This is the reason that we are being so careful now about access to the building/church.
Please know that as a Vestry we continue to meet via Zoom to talk about our ministry, and the safety of both parishioners and staff. We continue to follow the best information we have from national and diocesan sources.
We have restarted our Wednesday night Compline services at 8:00p, and continue our daily Noonday Prayer services (Monday – Friday). I would like to hear your ideas for other ways we can stay in connection/community.
Even given all of the above, my friends, please know that through the promises of our faith, I know that this all shall pass – and ‘all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.’ God is always with us – Jesus walks always beside us – the Holy Spirit guides us.
I will continue to keep you in my prayers – please keep Jessica and me in yours.
Grace and Peace,
Mother Betty+
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We are aware that these are difficult, unpredictable times for everyone, and we know that for some there is financial and job insecurity. Please let us know if there is a way for us to help you.
We are committed to continuing our work and ministry here at St. Matthew’s, and the staff is watching our expenses carefully. Even in this time of challenge, we hope that, if you are able, you will continue your financial donations to the church, as our costs go on.
Several parishioners have asked how they can get their offerings to the church, since we are not having our usual in-person services. There are several ways to donate now: 1) through snail-mail: 1030 2nd Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701; or 2) you can drop your donation in our locked, secure mailbox at the office door on 2nd Avenue; or 3) you can use the ‘Donate Now’ button just below, (that is our on-line option). Know that we remain so grateful for your support of St. Matthew’s!
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Daily Devotion Books Available for August, September & October |
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Forward Day by Day booklets are available in the large brown box/bin outside the 2nd Street entrance! The daily devotions go from August through October. Note: If you would like a large print version, please ring the office doorbell and Jessica will be happy to give you one.
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Wednesdays at St. Matthew's are Wonderful, even as we change the way we worship temporarily.
Please join us for Compline LIVE service at 8:00pm -- just tune in to our FB Page at 8:00 on Wednesdays.
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Sunday, October 4 - Feast of St. Francis
10:30 AM - Holy Eucharist Rite II on Facebook Live
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Blessing of the Animals on the Lawn
Monday, October 5
12:00 PM - Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live
Tuesday, October 6
12:00 Noon - Noonday Prayers on Facebook Live
Wednesday, October 7
12:00 PM - Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live
8:00 PM - Compline
Thursday, October 8
12:00 PM - Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live
Friday, October 9
12:00 PM - Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live
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God speaks to those who take time to listen, and He listens to those who take time to pray. |
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St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
1030 Second Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(907) 456-5235
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