St. Matthias will celebrate Scout Sunday next Sunday, Feb 12th. If you are or have been associated with Boy Scouts and/or Girl Scouts please wear your uniform to church. Our own Scouts from Troop 8 will participate in our worship service. This year Boy Scouts are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the highest rank of Eagle Scout; and the Girl Scouts are celebrating their 100th anniversary. Congratulations to both outstanding organizations. Please contact Bill Clewe if you have any questions or comments. 

With great thanks to the donors who underwrote the rehearsal time for our choir, they are back, beginning rehearsal and singing on Sunday, February 12th (today). Terry Newton has undertaken to be the director and will be choosing choir music, directing, and coordinating for the choir; please thank him and join in the celebration of their good music. You're invited to join in praise as a choir member - let Terry know and/or come on Sunday mornings at 8:15am for rehearsal. God is good!

Coming up in just 2 weeks, please join us for a fun night on the 21st to "shrive" our cupboards in preparation for Lent. The Vestry will be serving from 5:30pm - about 7pm; we hope you will make it and bring a friend. Please remember if you bring any toppings that they need to be nut-free. See you there.

Ash Wednesday

The church is called to begin our preparation for Holy Week and Easter by joining together on Ash Wednesday, February 22. We recall our mortality and facility as sinners, and set our hearts right before God by repentance and entering into the season of preparation. St. Matthias offers two services on Ash Wednesday:

• Imposition of Ashes: 7am

• Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion: 7PM

Lent will be quickly upon us and I wanted to make sure you had a heads up on the way well walk through Lent at St. Matthias this year. There are three focus points:

• Small Groups: We are asking each small group to meet weekly during Lent as the primary discipline and time for formation. Weekly gives the groups a chance to build Christian Community and build this life-giving dynamic into one's life. Resources are available through Fr. Scott to support this.
• Daily Lenten Devotions: Via our Website and eBlasts, St. Matthias will provide daily devotions for each day of Lent. The technical pieces are still being fine tuned, but each of us will have access to the devotions prepared by our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Colorado.
• Lenten Sermon Series on Prayer: During Lent Fr. Scott and others will focus on the way of prayer: a place of meeting God and of discovering more of His character.
• Bishop O'Neill will be with us on March 4th as part of his regular pastoral visitations. We'll have a reception and open forum with the Bishop followed by a Vestry meeting; more details to come.

The Vestry will be on retreat February 24th and 25th as part of their team building, to pray, and to continue progress implementing the vision God has given us. We would appreciate a bit of support for our time. Would you or a few of you be willing to help by providing one of the following

¨  Main Course for a dinner on 2/24 (at the Hesses' home); to serve 8, ready at 6pm

¨  Salad and bread for dinner on 2/24

¨  Simple dessert following dinner 2/24

¨  Simple Lunch for 2/25

Please RSVP to Fr. Scott if you are able. We greatly appreciate this in advance.

Are you new to the Episcopal Church? Have you experienced a renewal of Christian Faith? Do you want to recommit yourself to Christ? These and others are good reasons to prepare for and participate in the Sacrament of Confirmation - an adult ownership of one's Christian faith within the Episcopal Church. The 3-session preparation for this and the service of Confirmation/Reception/Renewing of Baptismal Vows with Bishop O'Neill will be held at St. Matthias:

• Saturday mornings, 9am - 11am, February11, and 18 and Sunday, February 26, 11am - 1pm
• Bring your Bible and Book of Common Prayer
• The Confirmation Rite will be held April 21st (with some possibility of that shifting to March 4th, when Bishop O'Neill will be visiting St. Matthias)
• Please RSVP to Fr. Scott at padrescott@gmail.com or in person

St. Matthias' two-session "course" on the life, values, and ministry of our church, designed for those who are considering being part of St. Matthias or have decided to join will be held:

• Mondays 2/6 and 2/13
• 5:30pm - 6:45pm
• At St. Matthias
• Light dinner served
• Childcare provided if needed (please confirm with Fr. Scott)

RSVP to Fr. Scott at padrescott@gmail.com or on the sign up sheet on the Kiosk. See you there!