"Agility" in the Sunday Evening Ministry
By The Rev. Lisa Wiens Heinsohn

Dear friends of St. Matthew's,
You may be interested to know that this summer, our Sunday evening ministry decided that instead of seeing the summer as a "hiatus" from worshiping and having dinner on Sunday evenings, we would use the opportunity to experiment--along the lines of Dwight's book, The Agile Church -- with lots of small ways to do community in Christ differently.  We wanted to empower each member of the community to discern what kind of gathering might be life-giving for him or her, and to invite that person to initiate exactly that kind of activity. Here are some of the things we tried:
  • Home potlucks, singing and eucharist
  • Outdoor Taize service at a parishioner's home
  • Southside-Abbey-style eucharist at the dinner table in Jeff Kidder's yard in Frogtown
  • Bible study at Groundswell Coffee in St. Paul
  • Eight weeks of daily prayer as a group, checking in regularly via email and meeting in person several times throughout the eight week period
  • Initiating a sing-along with church members and guests of Project Home
  • Volunteering at Project Home as a group
Some of the things we discovered or experienced were that we had a hunger to go deeper with each other spiritually, but also in terms of our capacity for authentic connection, even vulnerability, in our lives of faith; that we are a "big tent"-encompassing a wide range of theological perspectives and life experiences; and most of all, that God's Spirit is active and alive among us. Instead of experiencing the summer as a time of "losing momentum," we experienced an increased affection, respect, and connection with each other--which made coming together again on September 13 in our "normal" way even better.  We learned that we value collaborative ministry; that God's Spirit has truly given each of us gifts we yearn to share with one another and with the world God so loves; and that we want to continue that spirit of experimentation, connection, exploring, and creativity during the "program" year.
5 Questions for Lloyd Latty         
  • You are a relative newcomer to our church - what brought you to St. Matthew's? And why did you stay? My spouse and I decided we wanted to find a Christian community in which to worship, grow, and serve. I longed for a community that, without shame or arrogance, embraced both the person and message of Jesus. It was also vital that this community see itself as part of the universal Body of Christ. My spouse was drawn to the Episcopal tradition through some novels and online message boards. As she shared with me, it seemed that the Episcopal Church may offer meaningful responses to our spiritual longings. We located St. Matthew's via an online search and came to a 5:30 service in February 2015. The songs, prayers, reflections, and Eucharist immediately spoke to our whole being. The community embraced us in a genuinely welcoming way. The evidence thus far suggests that St. Matthew's is God's surprising and amazing gift to us.
  • For those of us who have been here awhile, can you give us any feedback about what it is like to be a newcomer?  It was refreshing to have low key opportunities to participate in the community without feeling compelled to "sign on the dotted line." The coffee hour and drop in dinner were two effective means for getting to know the community. The people of St. Matthew's appear to have mastered the art of enfolding newcomers without overwhelming them.
  •  What do you like the most about the Sunday Evening Service?
    It is impossible to give a one word answer. I love the mixture of contemplative and energetic, ancient and modern, critical thinking and emotional expression, structure and spontaneity. And, I can't even begin to speak of Blair's and Lisa's leadership punctuated by a tangible passion for Jesus.
  • Can you tell us a little more about you and your wife, Sherry and your family?
    I was born in Freeport, Bahamas to Jamaican parents. We moved to the States in 1971. I grew up in Yonkers, NY. Sherry grew up in Wisconsin. We met in Southern California in 1993 and lived in the Bay Area (San Francisco, Berkeley) from 1994 to Fall 2004 when we moved to Minnesota. Our children are Micah (20), Iesha (18), and Meraiah (15).
  • What are your interests or passions?
    All things theological, especially matters related to Ancient Near East cultures in understanding the background for scripture, God as community and incarnational, Jesus as the definitive revelation of God, and arguments pertaining to the veracity of the early church's witness of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension. And of course, His glorious return. I enjoy learning about and helping others using the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I also love to read and take silent walks in nature.
  • Is there anything more you would like to add?
    Simply, thank you, St. Matthew's for embracing my family even before you really knew us. Thank you for giving us valued opportunities to love and be loved, to serve and be served. I praise God for you all.

Blessing of the Animals: Sunday, October 4

All are welcome to bring your animal companions to a very special and short service in College Park - right across the street from St. Matthew's in St. Anthony Park on Sunday, October 4 at 4:00 pm.  We will celebrate our animal friends and offer blessings (and an optional treat) to all creatures who want a blessing.  Though this service is conducted in honor of St. Francis, who loved animals and all creation, people from all faiths and no faith are very welcome.  Hopefully, it will be a warmer day than this time last year!
Retreat for Middle School Students: November 13-14 
The next Pre-TEC Middle School Retreat is coming up soon. Titled, "Made in God's Image" it will be held Nov.13-14 at St. Luke's in Rochester, MN.  Over thirty five middle school students from eight Episcopal churches participated last April and eight of them were from St. Matthew's! It is our hope that more and more churches will join in creating a unifying opportunity for episcopal middle school students from around the state.  the retreat is open to students in grades 6,7 and 8.

Made in God's Image: You are amazing. Nobody in the past or the future will ever get to be exactly where you are right now. Each of us is uniquely made in God's image with a unique role to play in our world. Come hear from your peers about how they are discovering who they are, what's important to them, and how they see their faith in God as a daily guide. Come expecting lots of fun, games, snacks, videos, and more!
Here is the online registration page 
City Tips: "Email Notifications"   

You can configure your email to receive the right amount through your individual settings -- this determines when and how often you will receive email alerts for things that happen in your groups.  Choosing the right settings help you stay on top of all the latest happenings in the circle you most intimately connect to.  There are four options: Nothing, Daily Digest, New Things, and Everything.  In the upper right hand corner of any City page, hover over the "gear box" and click Account Settings.  Select the Email tab.  Click on the appropriate circle for the desired setting.  The recommended setting is Daily Digest which will give you one email per day.  
Faith + Learning Resources     
  • MN Faith Summit to Prevent Gun Violence, November 12, 6-9:00pm at St. Mark's Cathedral, 519 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis.  Calling on leaders of all faiths across Minnesota to learn, discuss, pray and act to prevent bloodshed.  Dinner will be provided. RSVP Here 
  • Creation Care Conference, November 6-8 at St. Mark's Cathedral featuring lecturer Dr. Benjamin Santer - a world famous climatologist with  luncheon, workshop and eucharist.  Register at  the ECMN website.
  • A class at Wisdom Ways: Writing the Sacred Journey: The Art and Practice of Spiritual Memoir will take place this Saturday, Sept. 26, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Join Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew for an introduction to the art and spiritual practice of writing memoir. What is memoir, and how is it different from autobiography?
    What makes memoir spiritual?  This class is for writers of all levels.
  • The Benedictine Center at St. Paul's Monastery offers "Celebrate What's Right in the World" on Tues., Oct. 6, 7-9p with Sam Rahberg.  DeWitt Jones, a celebrated photographer for The National Geographic has created a brief and stunning film which enables viewers to recognize the options and opportunities before us, while helping to unleash our energy and creativity. After a viewing, participants will engage in dialogue and exercises which take seriously the difficulties in the world and help us embrace God's invitation to approach our days with an attitude of abundance and possibility.
Looking Ahead: Calendar Highlights
  • September 27: Adult Faith Forum: Overview of "We Make the Road by Walking" 9:15am in the library.
  • September 27: Celtic Liturgy begins, 10:30am service
  • October 4: Rodney King at the Penumbra Theater, 2:00pm
  • October 4: Blessing of the Animals, 4:00pm in College Park
  • October 10-11: Used Book Sale to benefit St. Matthew's library
  • October 18: 60th Wedding Anniversary Celebration of Keith & Iris Ringold at the 10:30am service and afterward in the parish hall.
  • October 25: Commitment Sunday: Dedication of Pledges and luncheon.
 
Please share your news and photos with us: tidings@stmatthewsmn.org 

Visit our website for the prayer list, calendar and sermons