- Vestry member Joe Shalita, Armel Mwanatambwe, Luke Zscheile, the Rev. Blair Pogue             
Notes from The Vestry: Our Building's Future  
By Judy Niemi Johnson, Jr. Warden

The Vestry has been in discussion concerning the use of the building, recent repairs, budget reserves and upcoming maintenance requirements. We wanted to share with you a summary of our conversation so far and the next steps in the process.

The building discussion began with the congregation at the Annual meeting last January. We presented the facts concerning the current budget and estimated costs for maintaining our beautiful church building. There was great conversation and brainstorming around the topic including going green, fundraising campaigns, historical classification and mission focus. Over the course of the next 10 years maintenance needs are estimated to be $180K. These include replacing the two boilers, the roofs, repairing the front entry wall, in additional to annual maintenance and repairs. The Management team suggested a goal of raising $35K designated building funds each year to cover these costs.

The Vestry captured these ideas and has been doing investigative work into the areas of going green, funding sources, historical classification and current building use. We also gathered all available information concerning the repairs completed over the last few years, the current problems and the most urgent replacement needs. We are astounded by the dedication of our community members who have stepped up to make repairs, tear up old carpet, paint walls, build cabinetry, reroute drain pipes, inspect the roof and countless other tasks. Thank you for these great acts of service for the whole community! Our building is in good shape due to these tireless volunteers. But the impending replacement needs will require professional resources in heating/cooling systems and roof replacement. 
Here are our current findings:
  • Volunteers currently maintain many critical building needs including our sound system, kitchen equipment and heating systems.
  • Volunteers have handled most of our building repairs including flat roof leaks, drainage issues, and replacing everything in our new Nursery and Community rooms.
  • We currently have $7K in our designated Building fund. The latest expense was $3K to restring the piano in the choir room.
  • The roofs are in good shape, but the flat roof will need to be replaced within 10 years.
  • The HVAC systems on the roof were replaced last year and cost $20K.
  • The wall in the front entrance will require a professional inspection to determine the cause for the water damage. An estimate on the repairs can then be determined.
  • Of the two boilers, the one supporting the sanctuary is precarious and needs to be replaced. Currently, volunteers must come in 4x's a week to attend to it. Without this constant attention the system will fail. Estimated cost is $40K-50K.
The Vestry wants to engage with the congregation in a discernment process to determine how the building use aligns with our practice of following the way of Jesus. We believe this is an important first conversation that will happen this summer. Based on this conversation, we can determine the next steps that will take place in the fall, including priorities in the budget, building use (ministries and community) and fundraising. The Vestry feels it is vital to have the whole faith community involved in discerning and understanding the needs and the next steps. We have very smart people here who want to be led by the Holy Spirit. Please participate in these discernment conversations this summer. The meeting dates include this Sunday, June 26 at 11:00am, Wed. June 29 at 1:15pm and Mon. July 18 at 7:00pm. 
Here is a link to the Building Use document on our website.
5 Questions for Mike Bartsch
Mike Bartsch is the new Operations and Building Manager for St. Matthew's.  We are so pleased to have him join us in this important staff position.  He has recently worked for the MN Women's Club and with a Minneapolis catering company. Please take a moment to drop by the office and introduce yourself to Mike.

What are you looking forward to in this new role?  I am looking forward to joining the St. Matthew's community and becoming part of its continuing change and growth in the coming years.

Why were you interested in working for an Episcopal church? Spirituality is central to my life.  I am very excited to make it a part of my work life.

You are trained as an artist - particularly in sculpture.  Can you share with us a little more about this interest? I am always working on a few projects at the same time.  Previously I made sculptures out of plastic. This time around I am learning how to make my own lights and am working with Arduino boards - all things I haven't done before. 
As our most recent newcomer, what are your first impressions of St. Matthew's? 
I attended mass last Wednesday and was pleased to witness an engaged, thoughtful and vibrant service. I have never seen such hearty laughter in reaction to a reading in all my years of attending mass, and the discussion during the sermon was intelligent and heartfelt. It was a delightful experience.   

Is there anything else you would like to share?  Please do not hesitate to ask me anything and I will do all I can to help. I look forward to serving the parish in the coming years. 
 
Share, Save, Spend: A Way Forward

According to a national study, the most stressful issue in people's lives is money and finances.  No surprise there.  Many of us are well acquainted with worry, fear and unhealthy amounts of time devoted to whether we have enough to support ourselves and our families.  As the Rev. Blair Pogue has noted, money fears are so prevalent among us, that church leaders should  approach this issue as a pastoral care priority. Let's face it - we all need help here!

At St. Matthew's, we understand the importance of these issues, especially as they bump up against the spiritual practice of generosity.  Under the leadership of a team of parishioners, we recently started a year-round approach to generosity - to spur greater attention to our relationship with money and how we can participate in God's generosity more fully.  According to our own Way of Jesus, we "trust in God's abundance and share what God has entrusted to us."  This community statement offers an alternative path, namely Jesus' view of a generous way of life. If we are to abide by this trust, then how should we approach these innate fears?  What can we do as a congregation and in our families to step away from money and anxiety?  One possible baby step is to begin conversations with our families and friends about money and our day to day decision making around financial matters.

Share Save Spend, an organization led by Nathan Dungan shows a positive way forward.  Their mission is to help individuals and families develop healthy money habits to honor their values and enhance their financial well being.  Children are introduced to three containers and  encouraged to divide their money into the categories of spending, saving and sharing.  This simple idea has great power; allowing children to see the value of each, how their choices inform reality and a clear visual reminder of where their money goes.

The organization has many other ideas and resources to spur conversation and build money skills.  Many are geared to children and families, but they are useful at any age.
One of the most engaging ideas is 101 Questions (click here for the full list) which offers conversation-starters to encourage greater communication among family members.  Here are a few examples:
  • What is your most treasured possession? Why does it bring you so much happiness?
  • What is "immediate gratification"? How does that get in the way of saving money?
  • How do your friends encourage you to make poor spending decisions...or not?
  • What's the difference between long-term savings and short-term savings?
  • How much does a vacation cost?
  • Why is the stock market a wise place to invest money...or not?
  • What's a credit score? Why do credit scores matter?
  • Whom do you know who has experienced major financial difficulties? What was the cause and what did it take for that person to recover?
  • Do you know a person who's a good role model for sharing?
  • Youth: How does your school encourage you to make poor spending decisions...or not?  Read More Here...
Hunt - Poole Wedding July 9 

Tony Hunt and Nora Poole will be married at St. Matthew's on Saturday, July 9 at 11:00am. They invite anyone in the congregation who is interested to attend their wedding.  
  
"We, Tony Hunt and Nora Poole, met several years ago as co-workers at Wise Acre Eatery in South Minneapolis, and struck up a friendship over our shared love of classical music, bicycles, and David Foster Wallace, to name just a few things. Nora considers herself so lucky to be welcomed into Tony's life and introduced to his daughters Amelie and Margot. Tony has been deeply grateful to have such a supportive and caring partner in his life. 
 
Over the last year, I, Nora, have been able to experience the inclusive, inviting community that is St. Matthews. I am excited to continue exploring the faith and all St. Matthew's has to offer as Tony and I begin our married life together."
Faith + Learning Resources
  • Sondra Samuels wrote an Op Ed piece on the work of the NAZ collaborative in last week's Star Tribune.
  • Learn more about healthy money habits on the Share Save Spend blog 
  • The Summer Book Discussion Group is reading Living Without Enemies: Being Present in the Midst of Violence by Samuel Wells and Marcia Owen.  Meeting dates include June 29, July 13 and 20 at 7:00pm in the library.
  • The Sunday Morning Book Group is reading Anne Lamont's Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair.  
  • What are you reading this summer? Send your summer reading suggestions to Tidings. Gary Johnson recommends 2 books: Not In God's Name, Confronting Religious Violence  and The Great Partnership: Science, Religion, and the Search for Meaning - both by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.  Lis Christenson recommends A Tour of Bones: Facing Fear and Looking for Life, by Denise Inge  - a memoir on living and dying.
Looking Ahead: Calendar Highlights
  • June 25: Potluck Dinner + Eucharist at Jeff & Kristen Kidder's backyard, 5:30pm  RSVP on The City.
  • June 25: Joe Shalita's band Marimba Afrika, is playing at 9:00pm at Tuttle's in Hopkins
  • Building Discernment sessions: June 26 at 11:00am, June 29 at 1:15pm and July 18 at 7:00pm.
  • June 29, July 13 and 20: Book Discussion of Living Without Enemies, 7:00pm in the parish library.
  • July 9: Hunt - Poole Wedding at St. Matthew's, 11:00am
  • July 10: the Rev. Reed Carlson is preaching at St. Matthew's at 9:30am
  • Project Home begins at St. Matthew's in August - Sign Up Online!
  • Tidings e-news summer schedule:  July 10, 24, August 14, 28 
 
Please share your news and photos with us: tidings@stmatthewsmn.org 

Visit our website for the prayer list, calendar and sermons