St. Matthews Church - Ministries

Thank you to all who contributed to the Parish Hall Renewal project – we believe that we have more than made our goal! Work has begun and the results are amazing. The Parish Hall is brightened up with a fresh coat of paint working continues on refinishing the wood paneling and the hardwood floors. Thanks to our crew of dedicated workers, especially Ben Albinson, Paula Buonomo, Robin Chenarak, Joe Chilton, Bob Townsend, Rick Townsend, Sherm & Betsey Wetherbee, and Dennis Wilson!

Thank you once again to Bob Townsend and crew for the delicious breakfast and a chance to raise much needed funds for the Camp Bement Kitchen. We raised $270 for our favorite summer camp!

Thank you to all for your generous contributions to the South Worcester Neighborhood Center - the need is greater than ever for those in our neighborhood.

Thank you to our Youth Group for their dedication to end world hunger and to our Sunday School students for their enthusiasm in helping others.

Thank you to Cathy Goodwin, Festus Konneh and all who made the Liberian Cultural Fellowship luncheon such a wonderful experience! It was a chance to share delicious food and fellowship with one another.

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!

A six-session study of the Parables of Jesus will began on Thursday, April 10^th, at 7 PM. All are welcome to join us for this exploration of these familiar – and not-so-familiar! – teaching stories of Jesus! The study will continue through April and May, meeting on April 10^th and 24^th, May 1^st, 8^th, 22^nd and 29^th. For additional information, please see the Rector.

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.

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.

Looking Ahead to Summer in the Neighborhood

We have almost two bins filled with arts and crafts supplies for the kids at the South Worcester Neighborhood Center’s Summer Program – thanks! If you can contribute anything that might be useful, please bring it to church with you – the bins are in the Common Room. Last summer, the Neighborhood Center served over 1100 children at the site on Camp Street, so every little bit we can give will be helpful!

A collection bin for your contribution of arts and crafts supplies (paper, gluesticks, markers, yarn, stickers, craft kits, and anything else you can think of!) is in the Common Room near the Food Baskets. Thank you for your support! If you have questions, please speak with Patti Cummings or the Rector.

Thank you to everyone who responded with donations Christmas gifts for the kids at the South Worcester Neighborhood Center. All were received with much thanks and appreciation!

The Outreach Committee's recommendations to the Vestry were approved and donations have been made to Jeremiah's Inn, Worcester County Food Bank, and Episcopal Relief & Development. Lenten offerings will be donated to South Worcester Neighborhood Center and Heifer Project.

Prayer Shawl ministry - 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.

This time we are trying something different. We will all read different books on a single theme: Biographies or Autobiographies of Women (your choice). So get yourself a book and start reading! All welcome - even those who haven't read a book!

News from previous book club gatherings: Following a truly wonderful evening of discussion on October 3^rd with Saint Matthew’s own Shirley Carter, the author of the memoir “Colored, Of Course!,” Saint Matthew’s Reading Group gathered on November 28^th to discuss a recent best-seller, “Eat, Pray, Love,” by New Jersey author, Elizabeth Gilbert followed by discussion on January 30th on the next book, “On a Wing and a Prayer,” by the Most Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

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

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 Bement Summer Camp.

Next meeting: Mother & Daughter Banquet on Saturday, May 10th at 6 PM. Please bring your donation of jarred and dry baby food to help our smallest and youngest neighbors in need. thanks!

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

IT’S OFFICIAL! Mark your calendars for Friday, October 24^th, 4 PM to 8 PM, and Saturday, October 25^th, 8:30 AM to 4 PM: that’s when the 2008 Saint Matthew’s “Fair for All Seasons” will be open for business, fun and fellowship. Every member of Saint Matthew’s can help make this year’s Fair a great success: help with set-up, bake things for the various food venues, volunteer to staff a booth for some time during the day, or help with clean-up!

Craft Corner

Patti Cummings

Spring is here and Summer is approaching! As prices seem to keep rising I'm sure many people are beginning to wonder how to make ends meet. This is the time when we need each other the most! And we need St. Matthew's more than ever. As you know the "Fair for All Seasons" is St. Matthew's major parish fund raiser.

So what can you do to help?

Donate jewelry. We will have it appraised and get it ready for sale.

(Leave at office with note for Fair)

· Donate wooden coat hangers. We'll crochet around them so they can be used for delicate items. Or can you crochet some for us to sell?

· Help on the Attic Treasure Table. (day of the Fair). Can you offer several hours or the entire day?

· Donate supplies for the Fair or money for them to be purchased. The cost of sugar has gone up. Just a dollar (or several dollars) donation to buy the materials to make the baked goods would be much appreciated!

· Offer a service to put on the Silent Auction table. For example….

rake a yard, clean a room, make a meal.

Join us at Craft Night!! May's date is Friday, May 23^rd at 6pm at Patti Cummings’- down the street from the church. Bring a project to do, help someone with their project or just join us for the pizza.

For more info or directions contact Patti Cummings at patticummings@msn.com or call 508-755-0357 or contact Linda Albinson or Pam Wilson.