Celebrating Easter: March 27, 2016
 
On Sunday we will joyfully celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the new life it brings with one Easter service at 10:30 am. The church is usually full on Easter, so please make sure to come a little early. Remember to bring your bells to ring on the "alleluias," and perhaps some bells to share with visiting children. There will be no evening service or dinner that day. 

An Easter breakfast/brunch will be held in the Parish Hall from 9:00-10:20 am. Everyone is encouraged to attend, including family, friends, and visitors. Please bring an egg dish, baked goods, fruit, or juice to share, and let Rosa Uy know what you are bringing at rosauy@aol.com.

While families are welcome to use our nursery facilities, the nursery will not be staffed on Easter. All children wishing to play in the nursery need to be accompanied by an adult.  

A New Easter Banner...

St. Matthew's parishioner and artist Ruth Donhowe recently completed a beautiful new banner that will be displayed this Easter Sunday near the high altar and through the Easter season (6 Sundays).

According to Ruth, she began this project 25 years ago by piecing the fabric and was inspired to finish it this winter after sorting through her closets and re-organizing some unused space.  She says, "It is a companion piece to the Advent Star banner - this one features a resurrection image of the sun, bringing forth new light and life."
5 Questions for Eric Selle

Eric and Haidee Selle joined St. Matthew's this past year and regularly attend the 5:30pm evening service.  He has also taken a leadership role in the music for this service and will lead the Maundy Thursday Taize musicians on March 24.

Can you tell us a little more about you and your wife, Haidee?  What are your interests or passions?
My wife Haidee (pronounced "Heidi") and I both enjoy being active outdoors - going for walks or bike rides together, camping, and hiking.  We love ethnic food (there are so many great restaurants here in the Twin Cities to explore!), watching movies, and traveling to visit family.  We also both have a passion for leading worship music - something we did together when we were living in Japan.

You are a relative newcomer to our church - how did you find St. Matthew's? And why did you stay?
My wife and I got married in 2011 and moved to Japan together.  When we returned to Minnesota in 2014 we began to look for a church close to where we live.  I had met Jeff Kidder the summer of 2008 and learned that he was leading worship music for the Sunday evening services at St. Matt's.  So we came and found people to be very friendly, and we enjoyed the Sunday evening worship style and the drop-in dinner.  Our experience last summer with the prayer small group was very meaningful for us as well.  

As a musician in the Sunday Night service, can you share a bit about your experience with this group? What do you appreciate about the Sunday Evening Service?
Jeff Kidder asked me if I was interested in joining the musicians who lead on Sunday evenings.  Once my wife and I felt more settled in, I said, "Sure!"  I find the music that we play to be very satisfying for me:  a diverse mix of styles, relevant to the weekly Scripture themes, and always focused on our relationship with God.  The whole Sunday evening atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming - something that we enjoy very much!

What would you want to tell others about St. Matthew's to encourage them to come and explore our parish?
I think you'll find St. Matthew's to be a place with friendly people, meaningful worship, a focus on prayer and outreach, and great times of food and fellowship.
Financial Peace University Reflection
By Katie White

My husband and I were able to take Financial Peace University at the beginning of the year. A good number of the class participants were from outside of St. Matthew's. Regardless of our different beliefs and stages in life, Dwight and John created a friendly and shame-free space to talk about financial issues.

The class covers manageable goals and a path towards making small changes now, with the intent of having a more secure future. And through the use of scripture throughout the material it becomes apparent that these goals and tools represent how God wants us to live and see us achieve. The class also includes suggestions and guidance on more complicated financial tools, such as insurance and retirement savings solutions. At the risk of sounding like a cliche, my husband and I genuinely feel more confident and empowered in our abilities to plan ahead and make informed decisions.

Since participating in Financial Peace University, my husband and I have had the best conversations about money and what our goals for the future are. I want to thank Dwight and John for taking the time to host the class and giving us the opportunity to make these changes in our lives.
Faith + Learning Resources
  • A recent Q and A in the New York Times with the new Presiding Bishop Michael Curry (of the national Episcopal Church) features a wide ranging discussion of his experiences and views. 
  • Bishop Brian Prior invites us to an event on Tuesday, April 5 from 6-8 p.m. Preventing Gun Violence: Stepping into Action at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral.  According to the organizers, "this event has been shaped with a spirit of respect and is open to all, whether your faith community is just beginning the conversation or already involved in advocacy." For more information or to register for the event, click here.
  • Parishioner Jay Beyer Kropuenske shared an event on April 9 - a 
    Caregiver and Bereavement support group with a talk by Ted Bowman.  It begins at 9:30am at the UCC church (across the alley from us).  The group includes members from all the neighborhood churches in St. Anthony Park and will meet regularly throughout the year.
  • Register now for the Women's Retreat on April 29-30.  The cost is $100 for a double and $150 for a single room.There will be time for individual and group activities, including a workshop on the Enneagram with Kay Vander Vort.  Sign up sheets are in the office and parish hall.
Looking Ahead: Calendar Highlights
  • March 24: Taize Maundy Thursday Service, 7:00pm, Middle Eastern dinner 5:30pm
  • March 25: Good Friday Prayer service at noon & Stations of the Cross, 7:00pm
  • March 27: Easter Service, 10:30am (no evening service)
  • April 3: Way of Jesus for Teachers, Social Workers and others, 12:00
  • April 3: Generosity Team Training, 12:00
  • April 15-16: Middle School Youth Retreat at St. Matthew's
  • April 23: Jazz and Gospel Workshop and Vespers with Andy Barnett and the Theodicy Collective Residence.
  • April 29-30: Women's Retreat at the Riverwood Conference Center
 
Please share your news and photos with us: tidings@stmatthewsmn.org 

Visit our website for the prayer list, calendar and sermons