By Blair Pogue

The St. Matthew's High Commitment Team (HCDT) has been working hard this past April setting up meetings with groups who work in the following communally-discerned priority areas:

*    Education/mentoring
*    Children/youth
*    Two-way, reciprocal relationships with those in need
*    Lessening the opportunity gap and homelessness
*    Racial reconciliation
*    Upstream solutions

In March the HCDT asked the people of St. Matthew's to recommend organizations and individuals they should talk to in order to learn more about the best ways to engage in ministry and make a difference in our priority areas. From all the suggestions submitted by the congregation, the HCDT came up with a list of fourteen organizations and groups to talk to. They include Youthlink, the St. Paul Promise Neighborhood (Wilder Foundation), Redeemer Lutheran Church in North Minneapolis, the Crossroads Community in Frogtown, City House, Project Spirit (the St. Paul Area Council of Churches), the St. Paul Public Tutoring Partnership, and the Sisters of the Visitation in North Minneapolis. 

 

Teams of at least three HCDT members are meeting with all priority organizations and groups, to learn more about their work and mission, and to explore possibilities for partnership. We had hoped to meet in early May to pray together, dwell in scripture, and share our site visit learnings, but the visits are taking longer than we thought they would. We will meet next on May 30, and hope to present a couple of ministry possibilities to the congregation in June or July. 

 

While we have met many wonderful people and learned more about what is going on in our Cities through these visits, they have also made us feel incredibly hopeful. It is encouraging and exciting to see the dedicated and excellent work that is going on in the Cities to help neighbors who are struggling. 

 

Thank you for your prayers and support,
The Members of the St. Matthew's High Commitment Discernment Team:
Valerie Matthews, Tina Maynor, Birdie Carter, Judy Johnson, Cecelia Caspram, Arun Caspram, Elaine Tarone, Joseph Shalita, Christabella Shalita, Lisa Wiens Heinsohn, Laura Bathke, Terese Lewis, Blair Pogue

 

The Art Ministry of St. Matthew's invites you to an opening reception for an exhibition of Art by Community Children and Youth in the Undercroft Gallery.  The reception is right after church in the parish hall, from 11:30am - 12:30pm.  A wide variety of art is displayed by children ages 4 through 18.  These artists are from our church, but also the surrounding neighborhood of St. Anthony Park.  Please join the artists to ask them about their work!