- The Rev. Dwight Zscheile, Senior Warden-elect John Lawyer                                  
Circles of Trust Ministry  
By The Rev. Blair Pogue

Have you ever had someone listen to you, really listen, without any interruptions? Have you ever made an important decision with the help of wise people who knew how to create a safe place for you to explore your options?
If you have had those experiences, or want to learn how to create them for other people, you are encouraged to come to the Circles of Trust information sessions
January 17 at noon in the Library and over dinner after the 5:30 pm service.  At these sessions Shannon Livingston-Harris and I will give a brief overview of the Circles of Trust ministry, especially what it is and why we think it is important for St. Matthew's to offer it.

The training sessions for this ministry are Monday January 25 and Monday February 8, from 6:30 - 9:00pm in the library. They will be led by spiritual directors from the Christos Center for Spiritual Formation. Anyone interested is welcome to go through the training, regardless of whether or not you are interested in serving in the ministry. Those who want to serve will then be a part of a monthly spiritual direction group where they will experience what it is like to be a listener, as well as the person seeking guidance. When the group of listeners are ready, we will officially launch this ministry.
January 17: Baptism of Rose Rasmussen   

St. Matthew's joyfully celebrates the baptism of Rose Rasmussen at the 5:30pm service this Sunday, January 17th.  Monica Rasmussen writes:

Rose is the first daughter of Monica and David Rasmussen and was born July 15, 2015.  The Rasmussens have been attending the evening service at St Matthew's for a little over 2 years. Monica works as an occupational therapist at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. David is a stay-at-home dad and has many interests, including Toastmasters International and the district council in the Union Park neighborhood where the Rasmussens reside.
Faith Forum: Celtic Sources Class - St. Brigit & St. Columba, February 7, 14, 21 & March 6 

By John Lawyer
All medieval saints work miracles; it's their job, in much the same way as all barbers give haircuts and all doctors prescribe pills.  What makes Brigit and Columba interesting is the specifically Celtic nature of their miracles  -- cauldron magic, special ties with animals, love potions, cornucopias of milk, cheese and beer, finding broaches in fish.  There are also instances of copyright infringement and animal liberation, so not everything is ancient.

St. Brigit of Kildare (451-523) founded and ran the great Abbey of Kildare, some 40 miles west of present-day Dublin, where a sacred fire was kept burning for centuries, surrounded by a circular hedge beyond which no man was permitted.  In her biography she is also shown as dashing across Ireland in her chariot dispensing mercy to the poor and rough judgment to errant kings. St. Columba of Iona (521-590) was born into the nobility in the north of the island.  He was a scholar, a priest and a bard.  He also had a hot temper; and in penance for starting a war he accepted exile to Iona in 563, off the Scottish coast.  There he founded Iona Abbey, which became a center of piety, learning, missionary activity, and arts and crafts across the next three centuries.  

Guided by John Lawyer, we will be reading in two early sources, the Life of St. Brigit the Virgin  by Cogitosus, and the Life of St. Columba by Adomnan of Iona, as well as several shorter poems and hymns from the period.  Classes will meet in the Church Library at 9:15a.m.  Spoiler Alert: The Loch Ness Monster will make a surprise guest appearance at some point in the series.
Annual Meeting January 24  

 At our annual "state of the church" gathering we will celebrate and reflect on where we have been in the last year and where we are headed.  Beginning at 9:00am, the agenda includes a presentation of our yearly budget, already approved by the Vestry.  
 
We will also elect new members to our governing board, the Vestry, recognize church and ministry leaders and offer time for individual blessings and thanksgivings.  The meeting will be led by Senior Warden Katie White. Our Treasurer, Dan Glienke will provide an overview of the yearly budget. Together, we will remember and celebrate what God has been up to at St. Matthew's!
Faith + Learning Resources 

Do you have a resource, book, class or event to share with others?  Send them to [email protected]
  •  Registration is open in Luther Seminary's Lay School - a program of informal, non-credit classes for people  who want to learn more about their Christian faith and life.  This includes a webcast by Dr. Eric Barreto on "Believing and Belonging in Luke and Acts." Winter classes are scheduled Mondays, Feb. 8  - March 7.  Here is a link to their website.
  •  The Rev. Blair Pogue recommends Parker Palmer's A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life.  This is the book from which the "Circles of Trust" idea came - and he talks about the Circles of Trust - why they are important as well as what is involved in forming them.
Drum Circle at St. Matthew's

Celebrate the ancient human passion for percussion!  Join Duke Addicks every third Tuesday of the month at 5:00pm in the parish hall for a drum circle.  The first gathering is Tuesday, January 19.

 Bring a drum or use one of theirs.  All ages are welcome.  For more information, contact Duke at 651 643-0633 or Deb at [email protected]
 
Looking Ahead: Calendar Highlights
  • January 17: Baptism of Rose Rasmussen, 5:30pm
  • January 17: Circles of Trust information session, 12:00pm and 6:30pm
  • January 24: Annual Meeting: 9:00am in the parish hall
  • January 25: Circles of Trust training session, 6:30pm
  • January 30: Community Art Show - Day for Artists to drop off their artwork, 10am - 1pm at church.
  • January 30: Northside Achievement Zone Tour, 10:00am
  • February 7: Celtic Sources class begins in the Faith Forum, 9:15am
  • February 7: Opening Reception for The Celebration of Community Art Show
 
Please share your news and photos with us: [email protected] 

Visit our website for the prayer list, calendar and sermons