St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
Tidings from St. Matthew's
February 23, 2014
   
                                                                                   The serving line at a recent L & F dinner

Loaves and Fishes this Sunday, February 23   

 

by Dave McKenna

 

This Sunday, February 23rd, members of the St. Matthew's community will once again participate in Loaves and Fishes, an event in which we serve a nutritious meal at the Dorothy Day Center in downtown Saint Paul to any and all who are either homeless, poor, or just in need of a good hot meal after all the bills have left them short at the end of the month.  Those who have helped out in the past have found this to be a humbling experience in living out our faith by helping to serve the neediest neighbors in our community. 

 

I'm very gratified and thankful by the response that we have had for individuals volunteering to help prepare the meal, serve the meal, and bake cookies.  This is one project where many hands make light work, so if you are still interested in helping out, please talk to me or any of the other members of the Loaves and Fishes team - Ed Lotterman, John Tillotson, Jeff Larsen, Mike Christenson, Paul Kiehne, Erik Johnson, or Marilyn Grantham. 

 

To prepare for the Loaves and Fishes dinner this Sunday, the children and youth of St. Matthew's spent a recent Sunday morning making  28 dozen cookies!   Their work is captured here:

   



         Warden's Report: Vestry Year Begins

 

    by Jenny Bach, Senior Warden

 

 The new vestry met together for the first time February 13. Our election of an alternate at the annual meeting turned out to be fortunate, since in the final year of his term, Dan Johnson has resigned due to competing work pressures. The vestry welcomed our alternate, Ron Matross to fill out Dan's term.

 

 We had some fun getting to know each other with introductions and answering the question: "What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? Some adamantly insist their policy is to eat nothing weird, but others shared about eating a chunk of wood (an accident), or rat food (standard procedure in a research setting).

 

As we prepare for going deeper into following the Way of Jesus together this year, the rector made a presentation she has given elsewhere about St. Matthews' and what we've learned about missional spiritual practices these last nine years. We left energized for the March 1st vestry retreat where we will dedicate some significant time to sabbatical planning and preparation.

 

 

                                Tobin and Andrew
Ash Wednesday Musicians: Tobin Deen & Andrew Carr

 

On March 5, the 5:30 pm Ash Wednesday service will include music by Tobin Deen and Andrew Carr on acoustic guitar.  Tobin has been an integral part of the music team at the 7:00pm evening service at St. Matthew's in the last several years.  He also leads the music once a month.

 

 Tobin and Andrew play stripped down alternative folk around Saint Paul, venturing to cross the river now and again into Minneapolis. They both sing, play guitar, tread lightly on a drum set, and occasionally introduce a bit of banjo, bass, or keys. They've led services at Messiah, St. Matthews, and St. Martin's-by-the-Lake, playing a mix of American folk music, gospel, and Anglican hymns from all periods.

 

Ash Wednesday at St. Matthew's will feature two services, a noonday service (12:00pm) in the side chapel and the 5:30 evening service, with a soup supper following.  Please join us!

  

 

State funding for homeless youth goes to YouthLink

 

The Dayton administration is distributing $4.2 million in new state funding for organizations serving homeless youth, including our own YouthLink, located in downtown Minneapolis.

 

YouthLink will receive $144,000 over two years in state money. It will be used to help fund their drop-in center where youth can find a meal and clean clothes, take a shower, use laundry facilities or connect up with Youth Opportunity Center partners - 30 different community agencies offering medical, educational, housing and employment services.

 

Read more about this effort in a recent Minn Post article.

 


 Columbarium Update

 

Last week, Ann Nerland shared some exciting developments about our Columbarium garden and the purchase of new stone benches.  If you are interested in donating a bench in memory of a loved one, her revised email is: [email protected] 

 

Looking Ahead: Calendar Highlights
  • February 23: Blue House update with Karen Lilley, 9:15am
  • February 23: Loaves and Fishes at the Dorothy Day Center, 2:00 - 6:00pm
  • March 5: Ash Wednesday Services at 12:00 and 5:30pm
  • March 10, 17 & 24, East Metro Lenten Soup Supper Series
  • March 30: Opening Reception, "Celebration of Community" Art Show
  • March 31: Lenten Taize Candelight Prayer, 7:00pm

 


Please share your news and photos with us at:  [email protected]
 
Visit our website for the prayer list, calendar and sermons:
St. Matthew's Website

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