St. Matthews Church - Ministries

Thank you to The Rev. Janice Schuyler for your presence with us during Mother Nancy's sabbatical.

Thank you to all parishioners and friends of St. Matthew's who have made a donation or pledge to the Parish Restoration & Renewal Fund!

Thank you to the hardworking men of our Property Committee who continue to keep our sacred space in good repair.

Thank you to all of you for all you do to help out at St. Matthew's and in witness to the Gospel in your Daily Lives. God Bless you all!

There is now available an online Bible Study that you can participate in from the comfort of your own home. The Episcopal Church has begun such an online study group, that includes study questions, the Sunday lessons and opportunity to post and read comments and thoughts. To go to the Bible Study: www.episcopalchurch.org/107902_116094_ENG_HTM.htm

Join us for "First Friday Night Knitters" and help knit scarves, mittens and hats for our South Worcester neighbors. If you don't knit or crochet but would like to learn, please join us. We have needles and yarn aplenty! Knitters gather every first Friday of every month at 6:30 pm.

Prayer Shawl ministry - Thank you to all who rose to the call for MORE prayer shawls for our neighbors in Wilbraham and Monson. Through the Church of the Epiphany, Wilbraham, some of St. Matthew's knitters were able to pass along prayer shawls with messages of prayers, comfort and encouragement to survivors of the June 1st tornadoes. Eight prayer shawls were blessed onAugust 21st.

If you know of someone who is ill, grieving or in other crisis, consider giving them a prayer shawl. Those who have received these beautiful, soft and warm shawls, knit by women of our church, report that they have found and received great comfort from the thought that each shawl is created prayerfully, with care, concern and love for those who suffer. If you would like to give a shawl, please speak with Patti or the Rector.

The Interfaith Coalition to Prevent Family Homelessness invites you to help prevent homelessness in our community. Food cards for local supermarkets will be available for purchases beginning in August right at St. Matthew's. 5% of all proceeds will assist families at risk. Food cards can be used while shopping at all Big Y, Shaw's and Stop & Shop Supermarkets. These cards can make a huge difference and don't cost you anything! Please see Patti for more information.

The emergency food pantry at the South Worcester Neighborhood Center receives the non-perishable food items that are contributed to the Saint Matthew’s weekly Food Offering. Cereals and canned soup are most needed, as well as personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies and other nonperishable/nutritious foods.

We have been learning that need for emergency food is increasing in our neighborhood and the area served by our Neighborhood Center: more individuals and families are applying, and qualifying, for assistance, and our gifts matter!

Please consider making a weekly food donation to the Food Offering. If that will create a strain on your own household’s food budget, please consider offering something once or twice a month. Watch for the sales at your grocery store: a can of soup, a box of pasta, a carton of cereal can help one of our neighborhood families a lot! Thanks for your faithfulness and generosity.

Saint Matthew’s Reading Group will be meeting on Wednesday, September 21st at 7 pm to discuss Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks.

Next book, Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff will be discussed on Wednesday, December 7th at 7 pm.

Recent book club choices have included: The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. The Help, Forgiving Ararat, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion, Peace Like a River, Velva Jean Learns to Drive, The Good Earth, The Shack, Three Cups of Tea, A Thousand Splendid Suns.

All are welcome to come join us! Speak with the Rector, Wendy Piscitelli or Cathy Goodwin if you are interested or need more info.

The Women will be holding their next meeting on September 15th. If you are willing to make a basket for the fair please let Millie Cummings know. Thank you!

All women who are members of St. Matthew's are members and are encouraged to attend meetings held on the third Thursday of the month in the Ladies Parlor.

Annual events include the Mother and Daughter banquet, church fair, helping families in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas and providing camp scholarships to Summer Camp.

The Scholarship Committee offers scholarships every year to our young people to attend Bement Summer Camp and Colleges and Universities.

Are you "Counting Your Blessings?" Watch for news about Saint Matthew's 2011 Stewardship Program - and cultivate "an attitude of gratitude".

We've all heard "Give until it hurts" but we want you to think this way..."Give until it feels good" for the LORD loves a cheerful giver. Most of us have all we need (maybe not all we want) so it shouldn't be too hard to think about sharing what we have with those who have less. Commitment Sunday will be here before you know it, so please think and pray about what you can pledge to help St. Matthew's continue to do God's work in the coming year.

A Cat's Meow of our church is now available for purchase at $15 each making them an ideal gift. You've probably seen these little wooden buildings that some people collect of landmarks and other places of interest.

It was almost two years ago that we embarked upon our New Capital Campaign here at Saint Matthews, “Parish Restoration and Renewal Fund”. This consisted of a proposal to complete certain repairs to the church, for funds to be set aside for the repair or replacement of our organ, and for monies to be allocated toward the eventual replacement of the boiler.

On April 25, 2010, we celebrated the progress made thus far. It included an afternoon of self-guided tours and reconnecting with friends of Saint Matthews. Also, we enjoyed the Remembrances of Saint Matthew’s by Mr. Donald Hall. On that day, special recognition was given to the late Timothy J. McAuliffe, sculptor of Saint Matthew’s Baptismal Font and Gargoyle. Who could ever forget the glorious music performed by Mr. Donald Irving and the Worcester Academy Advanced Chorus. And, true to Saint Matthew’s reputation, we enjoyed partaking in the festive reception afterwards.

· Replacement of Tudor-style wall finish on the north and south Clerestory walls.

· Church basement windows replaced with new pressure treated wood frames and thermo pane windows.

· Repainted exterior doors, new safety glass protection of stained glass windows.

· Masonry repairs of the stone roof of the stone tower on the northeast corner of the building.

During 2010, the Rodger’s Organ which was installed in the church during the early 1970’s became unusable and beyond repair. Music during worship was provided by the choir and keyboard. In October we were given the opportunity to purchase a Rodgers Trillium 838 digital-pipe instrument. It is the present generation’s equivalent of the previous organ. At the time we received this information, we had raised $13,000 for the organ which included $11,500 donation from the Fuller Foundation. To completely install the instrument, cost was quoted at $50,700. This information was presented to the Parish. Many stepped forward with donations and several significant donations were made in Memory of Shirley J. Rowse, Ernest Brown, Sr., G. Vivian Berg and The Vestry voted to move forward with the purchase and Thanksgiving week the new organ was installed in the sanctuary. Members of St. Matthew’s can once again enjoy the beautiful music during worship services. A dedication service with organ recital was held on June 23rd.

Final item on the Capital Expense Forecast/Phase III is replacement of the boiler at $75,000. This is not an immediate need at the time.

Funds raised to date (May 2009 – present): $104,608. Pledged to date: $108,466.

We feel thankful and blessed to be part of Saint Matthew’s community. We are grateful to God for all of the gifts that our parishioners, donors and friends provide to our wonderful church. God is present in our lives and in all we do.

Robin Chenarak and Paula Buonomo, CoChairs, The Rev. Nancy Baillie Strong,Audrey Brown, Festus Konneh, Stephen Smith, and Dennis Wilson.

Fair for All Seasons

Pam Wilson, Linda Albinson, and Patti Cummings Co-Chairs

Thank you to all who helped make this year's Fair a huge success!!

Next year's Fair is scheduled for October 14-15, 2011.