St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
Tidings from St. Matthew's
                       March 30, 2014
 
                                                                     "Beached" by Abby Marier 
        "Celebration of Community" Art Show

The Art Ministry at St. Matthew's is pleased to announce its 16th Annual "Celebration of Community" Art Show in the Undercroft Gallery this month.  On Sunday, March 30, they invite everyone to the Opening Reception, from 6:00 - 8:00pm.
  
Artists in the show include parishioners, as well as neighbors from St. Anthony Park and the greater St. Paul area.  This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists, together with families, friends and neighbors.  The reception is timed to coincide with the ending of the Music in the Park concert next door at the UCC church.  All are welcome and warmly invited to attend.

The Community Art show runs through April 26th, and gallery hours are Tuesday - Friday, 9:30am - 2:30pm and Sundays, 9:00am - 12:00pm.

 

                 Lenten Film Night: "Get Low"


Our very first Film Night is Saturday, April 5, featuring "Get Low" starring Robert Duvall and directed by Aaron Schneider.  We will view the film at 4:00pm, followed by a discussion facilitated by Bethel professor and St. Matthew's parishioner Barrett Fisher. Plan to stay and continue the conversation over a potluck dinner following the movie. 

 

Here is a short summary of the film by Barrett Fischer:  

 

Felix Bush (Robert Duvall) is an 80-year old recluse, mysterious and feared, who emerges from his isolated cabin in the woods one day to visit the local funeral director (Bill Murray).  Producing a thick wad of cash, Felix declares his intention to "get low" - that is, to pay for a funeral that he plans to attend in order to hear the various stories that people tell about him!  However, the real question raised by his action is what he thinks of himself.  In conversations with a former girlfriend, Mattie (Sissy Spacek), and Charlie Jackson (Bill Cobbs), a preacher and long-time friend who refuses to conduct the funeral, he struggles with an incident from 40 years before that has cast a dark shadow on his long life.  Exploring sin and redemption, guilt and forgiveness, pride and humility, Get Low is a thought-provoking film that will enrich your reflection on St. Matthew's Lenten theme of reconciliation.

 

                   5 Questions for Jenny Bach

 

 

As St. Matthew's new Senior Warden, you take on a major leadership role in our church. What exactly is a Senior Warden and what do you do?

The senior warden leads the vestry, the church's lay body charged with the care of the church building and budget, or things "temporal."  I work closely with Blair to bring issues on our facilities and financial resources to the vestry for discernment and decisions that will support Blair in her spiritual care of our congregation.

 

With all those responsibilities, what about your day job?

Doing both jobs makes for a full schedule! I work a full time job with a local government association, managing the process for putting city-member governance, management and insurance publications on our website. I coordinate three major departments, but do most of the work myself, which makes my schedule flexible for also attending to senior warden activities.

 

You have been a faithful choir member for many years. Why have you remained with this group for such a long time?

The choir is such a satisfying ministry. Contributing beautiful, joyful, inspirational sounds and encouraging and leading the congregation in its singing is a huge part of the worship service for me; it would be hard to attend a church that doesn't sing. As Music Ministry Director, Michael encourages and brings out the best in every singer and learning about the music also results in lessons on theology, church practice and prayer.

 

What do you like to do in your very spare time, now that you are Senior Warden?

Recently I've taken an interest in visual journaling using "mixed media" - images, paints, inks, pens, ephemera, stickers and words. It gives me permission to be a creative kindergartner again - putting things together without rules just to see what happens and not having to please anyone but myself.

 

Tell us about your recent past as an Irish dancer and your interest in all things Celtic...

I've always loved to dance and the local Irish community was a wonderful experience for me. It made dancing a part of everyday life not just for class practice, competitions or performances. Before the Riverdance phenomenon, I led a performance troupe and ran an Irish dancing school. While my heritage is not Irish, I always said I have Irish in my heart and in my feet!

 

Anything else you'd like to share or good books you'd like to recommend?

Reading is another leisure activity I enjoy and I've surprised myself in the last few years by picking up non-fiction more often. The book I just finished is Rez Life: An Indian's Journey Through Reservation Life.  I'm on the waiting list for Sue Monk Kidd's new novel, The Invention of Wings, and my guilty pleasure is juvenile fiction. I'm re/reading my way through the list of Newberry Medal winners in the children's section.
                 
                        The Women's Retreat 
                              Abby Marier, Rosa Uy and Sarah Sannes

 

by Sarah Sannes

 

Every once in awhile everyone needs to get away from it all for 24 hours. The Women's Retreat affords this pleasure along with many opportunities for laughter, learning, conversation, and relaxation.  The Gainey Retreat Center is in a beautiful setting, just far enough away to let the cares of work and home mellow a bit on the drive down.   Women who have been friends for years and those who just look vaguely familiar to each other visit over fantastic meals, sing together, dwell in scripture, and hang out in their pajamas.

 

What have been some of the highlights of past retreats for me?  Watercolor class with Peg.  Drumming, which I loved, even though music and staying on the beat are challenges for me.  Walking the labyrinth and the peaceful grounds.  Listening to other people's stories.  The food.  It's just plain delicious.  Staying up late talking to my roommate.  Quiet, alone time.  We all know how rare that is.  Getting to know people from church that I hadn't known before.  Relaxing, rejuvenating, and reconnecting with myself, others and God.  

 

Join us for 24 hours of retreat May 2 - 3.
                    Welcome, New Members!                

It is with great joy that we introduce Edward and Elizabeth Chidothe, Christabella and Joseph Shalita, John and Evelynne Thompson, Laura Bathke, John Lawyer, and Diana, Steve and Sydney Dekovich.  We give thanks to God for your presence, and for your desire to journey with us as we live out our faith in community.  In the name of Christ we welcome you

                
                  Social Justice Ministry Update

 

The major conversation at our March 23 Social Justice Ministry meeting was about "relational vs. transactional" approaches to serving people who may need our help. What if we addressed the deeper needs of our neighbors by taking a risk to enter into mutual, vulnerable, two-way relationships where we are not the ones with the power, "fixing people to become more like us," where we are not the ones with the answers, but the ones sharing the questions?  How do we develop meaningful long-term relationships, how do we connect--and who needs our help?  How can we empower those who have been disadvantaged by a sometimes mean and impersonal government and human services bureaucracy? And left behind by racism, generational poverty and disparities in jobs, housing, education and justice?

 

While times and human service programs change, the human condition and what people need to be productive and whole human beings has not: all people need access to knowledge (education, skills and training), resources (time, money, social support and connection), and good health (mental, physical and spiritual).  How can we think differently about how we engage with those who need our help but be thoughtful and more intentional about what we can offer via a relationship, connection and support?

 

We also discussed the importance of going out into our communities and meeting people where they are - rather than expecting them to come to us (and our church).


                 More Prayer Resources...

 

We have several more Lenten Prayer recommendations from parishioners:

  • Karen Gerst likes the Lenten Devotional Series from Christ Church, Frederica, St. Simon's Island, GA and "Crisscrossing Lent - Daily Lenten Devotions"  by Tim Weseman.
  • Rick Kush recommends "God's Promises" - a small, practical book of prayers from scripture, published by Word, Inc. 
  • John Lawyer's recent reflection on prayer in the Tidings, March 16 issue inadvertently left out the last sentence (our apologies!).  The corrected version is as follows: 

My thoughts on prayer boil down to two precepts, or rather one precept and a story.  The precept is simple:  "Pray as you can, don't pray as you can't."  The story concerns a wise old monk who was quietly listening one day as an eager young novice discussed his prayer life.  "I just got back from this great workshop on Celtic prayer," the novice enthused. "Oh, and I'm reading a great book on Ignatian prayer, which I really like.  My novice director says we should all try the Jesus Prayer for a month, which is a great help when I'm going about my daily duties.  And of course we have the Daily Office five times a day, which really speaks to my heart .  .  . "  Then he paused for a minute (at last), nearly out of breath: "Tell me, Father, how do you pray?"  "Well, my son," the senior replied, "I just get down on my knees beside the bed and hope for the best."   Amen. 

             Looking Ahead: Calendar Highlights
  • March 30: Stories of Lent, Faith Forum at 9:15am
  • March 30: Celebration of Community Art Show Opening, 6:00pm
  • March 31: Lenten Taize Candlelight Prayer, 7:00pm
  • April 5: Men's Meeting 8:45am - with breakfast! 
  • April 5: Film Screening of "Get Low" 4:00pm, potluck following 
  • April 5: Spring Cleaning of the church  9:30am - noon in preparation for Easter  
  • April 16: Palm Sunday 

Please share your news and photos with us at:  [email protected]
 
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