All Ages Gathering: Technology and Faith 
 
This Sunday, February 28 from 9:15 to 10:15 in the Library join Dwight Zscheile and Blair Pogue for an all ages discussion of the role of technology, and especially electronic devices, in our lives. How do our devices connect us to one another and God more deeply? How do they get in the way? We are hoping that our discussion groups will include people of many different ages, from digital natives to digital immigrants and exiles.  All children grades 2 and older are welcome to attend.  
 
There will be lots of discussion time, as well as insights from Sherry Turkle's book Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age and Susan Maushart's The Winter of Our Disconnect: How Three Totally Wired Teenagers (and a Mother Who Slept with Her iPhone) Pulled the Plug on Their Technology and Lived to Tell the Tale.
Save the Date! The Women's Retreat is April 29-30 

The 2016 St. Matthew's Women's Retreat will take place at the Riverwood Inn and Conference Center in Otsego, Minnesota on April 29 and 30. The retreat officially begins with dinner at 6 pm, and ends at 5:15 pm Saturday night.

Our focus this year is the Enneagram, a tool that has helped many people learn more about themselves and their spiritual gifts. Kay Vander Vort, a highly-regarded spiritual director from the Loyola Center for Spirituality, will be with us on Saturday to explore the Enneagram and learn more about our gifts and personalities. She will lead three interactive sessions.

Friday night after dinner we will gather for a time of song, prayer, and sharing our stories. Afterwards, we will have a pool party. Hope you can join us for this special yearly opportunity to get away and get to know the women of St. Matthew's more deeply!  Registration forms are available in the parish hall.  If you have questions, contact Sue Ladehoff or Laura Bathke.
Wisdom from the Financial Peace University Class 
By John Tillotson  

Over the last few weeks I have had the pleasure of assisting Dwight Zscheile on the Financial Peace University program being offered at St. Matt's. I think we have a great group and we gather each Sunday to review the week's homework (usually pretty straightforward and uncomplicated). We follow this by watching a video produced by Dave Ramsey for 45-60 minutes and then take 20-30 minutes to discuss the content of the video to clear up any issues anyone may have. We have covered the need for emergency funds, budgeting, debt reduction, insurances, and retirement/education planning. Our next session is on real estate and mortgages and then we will close with a final overview of the entire program. I have been advising families for over 30 years on these issues and I find the videos very strong and entertaining. I wish I had as much laughter in my day to day sessions as comes out of these videos!

The goal is to learn about how to handle one's money and learn about God's way of managing money. Hopefully as we learn how to financially take care of ourselves we will set the table to help others. As Dave Ramsey would say, "if you choose to live like no one else today you can live like no one else tomorrow." Hopefully by being faithful in the little things bigger things will come. My sense is our group has deepened their understanding of their personal situations and have moved to a better place because of their efforts. I believe it is possible that we will have another session in the future - so if this is of interest please see Dwight or myself to see how you may be involved in taking the basic steps to improve your family's financial position. 

Several members of the FPU class from St. Matthew's offered their reflections on what they learned:
  • Katie White's husband Nick Minderman says that "for couples, the class 
    strengthens relationships because you can talk through sometimes tense conversations about money in a more proactive and constructive way.'"
  • Laura Bathke says: "The FPU course suggested single people get an accountability coach.  I meet weekly with my coach and we have looked at everything from the benefits I get from Wells Fargo, to how my 401K is invested, to how much life insurance I have and how much I should have.  It also makes me look at my budget each week and where it needs tweaking.  It is interesting that now that I know my financial picture, finances are not keeping me awake at night."
One of the cornerstones of the course are the 7 Baby Steps to financial independence.
These steps are just a start - Dave Ramsey's website explains this in greater detail. There is also a good introductory video. 

Baby Step 1: Create a $1,000 Emergency Fund
Baby Step 2: Pay Down All Debt but the House
Baby Step 3: Save 3 to 6 Months of Expenses in Savings
Baby Step 4: Invest 15% of Income into Retirement - Roth IRAs or pre-tax retirement
Baby Step 5: Fund College Savings for Children
Baby Step 6: Pay Off Your House Early
Baby Step 7: Build Wealth and Give
 

What's New in Our Nursery?
By Terese Lewis

The children in the nursery are enjoying a collection of new picture books, thanks to the generosity of the St. Matthew's community. Our books were looking tired and outdated, so nursery coordinator Robyn Johnson put together a wonderful list of classic picture books and newer titles that reflect the diversity in our community.  Donors have selected more than half of the titles to sponsor and Robyn has purchased the books at Red Balloon Bookshop, who gave us a generous discount.  If you would like to sponsor a book to honor a child or adult in your life, please visit the display in the parish hall or choose from the list of remaining titles on The City.

The children are enjoying their new nursery space in the large classroom near the back entrance, across from the restrooms.  The new space is warmer, brighter, spacious, and more welcoming than the old location.  Please stop by and see their new digs - it's worth the short hike from the sanctuary!  Many thanks to our loving and knowledgeable nursery staff,  Robyn Johnson, Maclore Christensen, and Heidi Gordon, who welcome our youngest members every week.
Prayer for Listening Candle

In this century and in any century,
Our deepest hope, our most tender prayer,
Is that we learn to listen.
May we listen to one another in openness and mercy
May we listen to plants and animals in wonder and respect
May we listen to our own hearts in love and forgiveness
May we listen to God in quietness and awe.
And in this listening,
Which is boundless in its beauty,
May we find the wisdom to cooperate
With a healing spirit, a divine spirit,
Who beckons us into peace and community and creativity.
We do not ask for a perfect world.
But we do ask for a better world.
We ask for deep listening.

- Jay McDaniel
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Faith + Learning Resources  
  • Summer camps are right around the corner - The Episcopal Diocese of MN offers several opportunities, including the Episcopal Youth Quest Camp July 10-15.  EYQC has two tracks: a Grades 6-8 Camper track, and a Grades 9-12 Peer Ministry leadership track.   More information is on their website. Also, the Episcopal Youth Music Camp (EYMC) will take place July 31-August 6. All camps take place at Camp Heartland in Willow River, MN.
  • The "New Life in Christ" Middle School Episcopal Pre-TEC retreat is April 15 -16 right here at St. Matthew's!  Who will you be in 10 years? 5 years? 1 year? Tomorrow? Our hope in Christ is that the Holy Spirit lives in us, always ready to help us to make the choices that God himself would make. 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. Here is a link to the registration page.  For more information, contact Terese Lewis.
  • Do you have a book, article, class, event or other resource to share with others? Send your ideas to [email protected]
Looking Ahead: Calendar Highlights
  • February 25 and March 3: Race and Reconciliation book discussion and soup suppers. 6:00pm dinner, 6:45pm discussion begins.
  • February 28: All Ages Faith +Technology Faith Forum, 9:15am
  • February 28: Way of Jesus Group for Teachers + Social Workers, 12:00pm
  • February 28: Loaves and Fishes at the Dorothy Day Center
  • March 6: Celtic Sources class with John Lawyer in the Faith Forum, 9:15am
  • March 20: Palm Sunday with palm processional and dramatic gospel reading by Guthrie Theater actor Peter Thomson, 10:30am service
  • March 24: Maundy Thursday service, 7:00pm
  • March 25: Good Friday Stations of the Cross, 7:00pm
  • March 27: Easter!
  • April 29-30: Women's retreat at the Riverwood Center
     
 
Please share your news and photos with us: [email protected] 

Visit our website for the prayer list, calendar and sermons