All Saints Sunday: November 1   

This Sunday we will observe the feast of All Saints.  Our celebration begins with a 10:30 am Dixieland Jazz Eucharist featuring music by Ralph Hepola and Route 3 (see above).  All children are invited to dress as their favorite saint, ancient or contemporary, and join in the procession at the beginning of the service. Please meet downstairs in the parish hall at 10:20 am to line up and receive some brief instructions. 
 
The festivities will continue after the service with dancing, food and music in the parish hall. The Dixieland band will continue to play for about an hour while we celebrate the saints in our lives with a potluck feast of their favorite foods. Please bring a dish to share with others. All Saints will also be celebrated at the 5:30pm service - parishioners are invited to bring a picture of their loved one to place in the side chapel.  This special Sunday is one of the highlights of our life together, a time to celebrate the communion of saints and remember the beloved people who have shaped our faith and St. Matthew's, and graced our lives.
A Communion of Saints
By Katrina Vandenberg

My college boyfriend, Tim, had hemophilia and HIV. We were together for four years, and he died when I was twenty-four; Tim's brother Greg, who also had hemophilia and HIV, died six months later. Tim and Greg were activists, so we were deeply involved with the hemophilia-AIDS community, and over a brief period, we lost dozens of friends. Given the tragic nature of that story, I have trouble figuring out why this four-year period of my life remains among my richest memories. Why do I repeatedly return to these men in my mind, when I need to remember not just what bravery and love can look like, but also joy and hope? I now believe that, in their presence, I witnessed the communion of saints.

They weren't saints as I first understood saints to be, impossibly pious people who have nothing to do with actual life. Nor were they saints in the early Christian definition, meaning any member of the church; not all hemophiliacs were Christians, or even believers. Yet they were saints, I'm sure of it, in the way Thomas Merton is sure of the sainthood of a couple he encounters in Seven Storey Mountain, whom he describes as being "sanctified by living ordinary lives in a completely supernatural manner." A saint is not an otherworldly person, but a person who allows himself to become most fully human. As Merton says, "For me to be a saint means to be myself."  Read More...
-Peg Houck, Marge Alexander & Ruth Donhowe                                              
Celebrating St. Matthew's Art Pioneers

An important group of leaders from the Art Ministry Team are retiring this year.  Peg Houck, Marge Alexander and Ruth Donhowe served as founding members of the Art ministry and were instrumental in the creation of the Undercroft Gallery.  Due to their efforts, St. Matthew's is known as an arts-friendly, creative church, with a tradition of encouraging and supporting the arts by reaching beyond our walls to the surrounding neighborhood and wider world.  All 3 artists have contributed their artwork, expertise and time to this vibrant part of our church community.  We are deeply grateful and appreciative for their guidance and leadership of this life giving ministry.

Their legacy began in the early 1990's, when St. Matthew's expanded the church building with the office, classrooms and library that we enjoy today.  During this time, the parish hall (also known as the Undercroft) received a major facelift.  An inspired group of parishioners, including Peg, Ruth and Alex Alexander (Marge's late husband) brainstormed the idea of using the newly refurbished parish hall as a rotating art gallery to further enhance the space. Thus, the Undercroft Gallery was born!  Countless art exhibitions have graced the walls of our parish hall - with a dizzying variety of artwork.  Their art work is also a permanent part of our building as all three artists created a station of the cross in the church sanctuary.
Several highlights of the Undercroft Gallery under their leadership include:
  • Annual "Celebration of Community" Art Show - welcoming the varied art work of artists in the larger community.
  • Annual Children's Art Shows featuring the work of St. Matthew's children and those from the surrounding community.
  • A wide variety of multicultural shows, including artists from Iraq, China, Mexico, and the Native American community.
  • Installation of the Stations of the Cross in our sanctuary - created by 12 artists from St. Matthew's. 

Read More about each artist and the future of the Art Ministry..... 
November 1 Faith Forum: "A People for God's Name: Believing and Belonging in Luke - Acts"

Dr. Eric Barreto will join the Faith Forum on November 1 and 8 at 9:15am in the parish library. 
Survey after survey demonstrates that ethnic diversity is only increasing in recent days and yet many of our churches remain culturally homogeneous. What might a church that invites diversity look like? We will turn to the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles to wonder together how God's gift of diversity might take root in our lives together. Too often, our tendency has been to imagine that our faith "solves" the "problems" of diversity by making us all one, the same. In contrast, the author of Luke-Acts views our differences as a gift to be treasured not a difficulty to be overcome.

Eric D. Barreto is Associate Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary and an ordained Baptist minister. The author of Ethnic Negotiations: The Function of Race and Ethnicity in Acts 16 (Mohr Siebeck, 2010), the co-author of New Proclamation Year C 2013: Easter through Christ the King (Augsburg Fortress, 2013), and editor of Reading Theologically (Fortress Press, 2014) and Thinking Theologically (Fortress Press, 2015), he is also a regular contributor to ONScripture.org, the Huffington Post, WorkingPreacher.org, and EntertheBible.org.
Behind the Scenes at a Funeral
By Lis & Mike Christenson

Do you know what actually happens at a funeral or memorial service at St. Matthew's?   Most people see a perfectly orchestrated service, with lovely music and a seamless reception.  The true story is a full-out campaign behind the curtain -- with an army of kind and generous volunteers who put it all together.  The loving community of St. Matthew's is a brilliant assortment of thoughtful, talented and caring people.

The memorial service last Saturday for Pearl Christenson (Mike's mother) included a boat load of hard work - Sue Ladehoff handled myriad details while preparing a wonderful program, Liz O'Toole and Ruth Donhowe artistically decorated the parish hall, Elizabeth Hallowell and Paul Steinhagen put up parking signs along Carter Ave, and Birdie Carter took them down, Rosa Uy and Karen Pfeifle of the Brother Lawrence Guild created a beautiful reception with the help of Ray & Karen Gerst, Dan & Kim Glienke, Birdie Carter, Amy Fisher & Terese Lewis. The sanctuary was readied by Kathryn Grambsch and Nancy Alholm,  Blair Pogue crafted the service along with Verger Marilyn Grantham, Acolytes Mollie Jenkins, Jack Kiehne, Crucifer Devene Matthews, Ushers Bruce & Ann Nerland, Dwight & Luke Zscheile, Linda & Paul Brady and Chalice Bearer Valerie Matthews. Beautiful music was offered by Michael Compton, Katie Lowry and Choir members Chris Sibilia, Gail Noble, Lars Christensen, Ruth Donhowe, Cheryl Olman, Lynn Jenkins, Jenny Bach, Dave McKenna AND all those who took time out of their busy schedules to attend the service. It took about 40 of us to send Pearl off to the next life!
We are deeply grateful to you all for helping us celebrate Pearl - she would have loved the care and loving kindness you offered in her memory.  Thank you from the entire Christenson family.
Interment for Chuck Land this Sunday

Chuck Land, the husband of St. Matthew's parishioner Cindy Land will be interred this Sunday following the 10:30am service.  He died several years ago and his ashes will be placed in the Columbarium located to the east of the building. All are welcome to join Rev. Blair Pogue, Cindy and others in the Columbarium garden.
Faith + Learning Resources     
  • Do you have a book, event, opportunity or other resource to share?  Send them to Tidings.
  • An important documentary film - "Raising of America, Minnesota's Early Childhood Challenges and Opportunities" will be shown November 10 at 5:30pm. at the U of M Robert Jones Research, Outreach and Engagement Center in North Minneapolis.  Discussion will follow with  U of M researchers and state policy makers.  Read More Here.  The event is free and open to the public.
  • The next Presiding Bishop of the national Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry (the first African American) will begin his tenure on November 1.  A Vigil Celebration and Eucharist will be celebrated on October 31 with a live webcast.  More information is here.
Looking Ahead: Calendar Highlights
  • November 1: Dr. Eric Barreto from Luther Seminary at Faith Forum, 9:15am
  • November 1: All Saints Sunday - Children's processional & Dixieland Jazz
  • November 9: Book Discussion of The New Jim Crow at 7:00pm
  • November 22: Loaves and Fishes at the Dorothy Day Center, St. Paul
  • November 26: Thanksgiving Service, 10:30am and Feast, 12:00pm
  • November 30: Advent Taize Candlelight Service, 7:00pm
  • December 5-6: Blue House Boutique
 
Please share your news and photos with us: tidings@stmatthewsmn.org 

Visit our website for the prayer list, calendar and sermons