St. Matthews Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church in Snellville, GA

 “Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord..” Psalm 119:19

A Word From Mother Pat+: Invitation

The Invitation

I think we all have immediate reactions to an invitation we may receive. Perhaps it is a dinner invitation or an invitation to go to a movie, or even an invitation as we recently received to attend a virtual ordination last month for Karen. Some invitations we are able to accept, and others we may have to decline. Some invitations evoke a sense of joy and surprise while others give us a feeling of concern or regret.

When we accept an invitation it is an opportunity to celebrate or to deepen a relationship by spending time in the company of another person. In scripture Jesus seemed to extend invitations all the time to people on the street, in the synagogue, and almost any place you can think of. It is interesting that Jesus does not seem to judge the response. Some people asked questions; others hesitated; and still others decided to decline the invitation; but Jesus simply invited people to be part of God’s work. In John’s gospel (Chapters 1-6) you will find at least five invitations that Jesus makes, and perhaps you can see yourself in some of those responses. Jesus accepted more than a few invitations himself, like the Cana wedding feast, dinner with new friends, and of course Jesus accepted the invitation to engage in the work God called him to do. Invitations, when accepted, invite us into relationship.

Epiphany is that season where we encounter the mystery and the wonder of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry, and this is the season that we are invited to participate with God in the work of God’s kingdom. Recently I read that Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry said, “We’re all invited to throw ourselves into the arms of Jesus”. Now that is quite an invitation! I imagine that for those of us introverts, the idea of throwing ourselves into the arms of Jesus might be more than we want. However, I do believe that God continually invites us into relationship, and each day we make a decision to join God in the work of ministry and service, or we find other invitations more compelling.

In your quiet time and in your prayers, listen and watch for the invitation to engage with God, using spiritual disciplines of prayer, study and worship to grow in God’s love and grace.  May your life be filled with Godly invitations.  Mother Pat+



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Epiphany Meditation: Searching For Joy, by Jay Sidebotham+

If I could meet the magi, the question on my mind: What made them take that road trip? What did they hope to find?

Assume their lives were comfortable. It paid well to be wise. They spent their days at camel chase. At night they scanned the skies.

They knew the stars like back of hand. They’d studied well and hard. Advanced degreed astrology, In school they got gold stars

Another way to ask it: What was it they were lacking? Was there some royal restlessness that sent them westward packing?

One eastern night when moon was hid and stars were shining bright, They wisely cast a glance above and spied a different light.

Next night the same, but brighter. Where did that star come from? How could they have been missing it? And had it been there long?

Mounting camels, off they went following that light. No need to go to mapquest. The star would steer them right.

I’m sure you’ve heard the gender jokes, how men can’t ask directions. Not so for these astrologers: They made a course correction.

By calling on a colleague. King Herod, deemed much wiser. They asked if he would point the way. He called in his advisers.

Who searched the scripture for a text to pass along to them They told the Magi where to go “Head straight for Bethlehem”

We each are like the magi. I wonder if you know it. (Though you may think it less than wise for priest to pose as poet)

Our lives become predictable. We live out our routines. But then a light makes us look up and restlessness creeps in.

We realize then we’re seekers for things that fill the bill. Will money make us happier? Relationships fulfill?

We sometimes shop at Herod’s (the king, and not the store) To see if power fills that place. We’re always after more.

If we could just work harder. The next promotion reach. If we could just act better. And practice what we preach.

We each are on a journey to find joy in our lives. In many ways, we try to fill the gaps that life supplies.

What are you seeking in your life? Is search for joy your quest? Have you a clue where it is found? Or where it’s best expressed?

A search for joy can lose its way when clouds obscure the star. And pain of life can hide the light and then we don’t get far.

Our search for joy can get bogged down, get gridlocked spiritually Our lives get in a traffic jam. There’s no green light to see.

We focus on what others have. But what we fail to do Is seek for joy by looking up, by looking for what’s new.

What’s new is represented in Bethlehem’s young boy. That’s where we find an answer if we’re really seeking joy.

Like those kings who made that trip and left their status quoing. There’s new life to be found by all if we will start let going.

Let go. Let God. Our travel tip. Let star become the guide. And know that when we take a step we go with God beside.

We each are on a journey that’s guided by the Spirit. It sometimes is a bumpy road. It’s sometimes hard to steer it.

But the journey is a gift itself when made by me and you. When traveling with other folks we come on something new.

A life we’d not expected. Grace that helps us cope. A light that shines in darkness. Amid the cold night: Hope.

Community in loneliness. A place to bring our gifts. A common spirit traveling. A star that spirits lifts.

It’s possible to travel far and never leave this place. A journey of the spirit starts with one small step toward grace.

The biggest trek can be one step of welcoming God’s love. Of worshipping with eyes raised up. That is the way we move.

Our world sure needs us magi. Needs wise folk seeking love Who look beyond the glitter to see a star above.

So let’s head back 2000 years to what these magi teach us. Across the miles, across the years their witnesses still reach us.

We find the magi traveling. The Exit: Bethlehem They’re slouching in their camel seats. The next step’s up to them.

They’ve traveled far. They’re tired. They’ve quarreled just a bit. Go right. Go left. Head north. Head south. But it was worth the trip.

For when they met the infant king, entitlement surrendered. They offered gold, incense and myrrh, the best they had to tender.

The star they followed led them to the child they now adore. The one they flood with presents has given them back more.

It all made sense, so quickly clear, the reason for those miles The search for joy now ended with holy family smiles.

It all made sense in worship. They found it filled their needs And when we worship Christ child king, our search for joy succeeds.

This ending a beginning. Move ahead they must They headed home another way, left Herod in the dust.

Their story teaches lessons still, through years more than 2k It teaches us to move ahead. Go home another way.

Go forward from the place you offered gift on bended knee. Go forward to the journey next based on Epiphany

Go forward based on glimpse of light that guides when dark surrounds. Go forward on your journey. There’s more joy to be found.

-Jay Sidebotham



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A Word From Mother Pat+: The Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath is a circular ring symbolizing the unbroken and unending love of God. The green symbolizes life everlasting and the four blue candles mark our earthly time of waiting and anticipating the coming of Christ.

In the last 20 years, the Church has elected to use sarum blue in Advent instead of purple to mark the difference between the purple of Lenten penitence and the Advent season of waiting and preparation. The tall white center candle focuses our attention on the light of the world, Jesus, whose presence is central to our lives. The white center Christ Candle is not lit until all the other candles are burning, so in a way it reminds us how important our own lives are in helping bring light to the world while we wait on Christ’s return. The Advent wreath continues to be used through the Feast of the Epiphany, with all the candles blazing to mark the light of God in the world during the season of revelation – Epiphany.

The four blue candles can symbolize many things; however the themes of each week tend to reflect the lectionary readings – Week 1: Anticipation of the coming Messiah – Christ child; Week 2: Preparation for the Light of Christ coming into the world; Week 3: Rejoicing for God is near us; and Week 4: Hope for the Prince of Peace comes into the world. Others see the four candles as reminders of the four gospels or the ever brightening light of Christ coming into the world to banish sin and darkness. When purple and pink candles were used, the purple was for penitence and the third week pink candle was a “lighter” purple to allow for Joy to lessen the penitential nature of the season.

Since the change to Sarum Blue for the Advent season, the focus has been one of anticipation, preparation, joy and hope that we might wait expectantly for God to act in our lives and in the world. May this Advent provide you a quiet space so you can prepare your heart and mind for the gifts God has for you. In this first week of Advent simply take time to wait in prayer for God to guide you – Anticipate with joy the days to come.
Have a blessed and holy Advent. Mo Pat+



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Tenth Annual St. Matthew’s Car Show WrapUp

Our 10th Annual St. Matthews Car Show turned out to be a great success this year.  Some of the best vintage classic cars, trucks and motorcycles in Georgia were in attendance to the tune of over ninety cars.  We had a fantastic Silent Auction with over 30 items and we had bidders on every single one of them.  We had several new arts and craft vendors and, last but not least, we had Tipsy Pig who brought us great ribs, chicken, and barbeque.

Family Promise of Gwinnett County, who works to help homeless families in the area, was the recipient of a whopping $20,000 donation. We couldn’t have done it without our sponsorships, our volunteers, our Bake Sale, Knit Pearl and Pray, our Kids Zone, the car registrations, vendor fees and the monies raised from our silent auction.  Plus Bishop Rob was here with us to pick the Bishop’s Choice trophy recipient and stayed with us through the trophy presentations.

A great big Thank you to all that helped to make this show such a great Outreach and Fellowship event.  The Car Show Committee, our volunteers, all of our sponsors, those who supported us with your prayers and encouragement and all of St. Matthews , we thank you all!!

Check out the photos here! 



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A Word From Mother Pat: Seek and Serve, Baptismal Promise #4

Week 4 Baptismal Promise – Seek and Serve

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?  Will you, Jesus asks us again this week.

If we look closely at scripture we see that there is a lot of going & coming, sending and being sent.  Some of the classics are Abram and Sarai being sent by God into the desert to find a new home;  Moses and the Hebrew people going on a journey with God to a land of milk and honey, escaping Pharaoh, and finding a way to live as God’s holy people;  Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem and from there taking a long journey into Egypt and then back to Nazareth, all guided by God’s plan.

Then we start to encounter Jesus traveling with his disciples back and forth across the sea of Galilee and into Gentile towns.  Next thing we know, Jesus is sending the disciples out two by two on mission trips to spread the good news.  And of course, the story of Paul who, while persecuting the early Christians, encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus–and we know how that turned out.  Paul, blinded by the presence of the risen Christ, is led to a home where he hears the truth about God’s love for all people; and he learns that he is called to seek and serve Christ in all the people, even those that he once considered worthless sinners.  Paul’s call to discipleship sends him to seek and serve Christ in the pagan gentile world of his time.  Paul finds out that it is only when he can see Christ in himself that he can see Christ in others.

It is likely that we will not have such a profound encounter with the risen Christ, but we are still called to seek and serve Christ in ourselves and in all persons, expressing the love of God to everyone.

This week we are invited to see ourselves as God’s beloved and to show the love of Christ to all persons.  What ministries might God be asking you to undertake in this coming year which express God’s love to your neighbor and to yourself.? What spiritual disciplines might help you find joy and wonder in God’s glorious creation?

Again this week, Jesus asks us through the power of the Holy Spirit, “Will you be my hands and feet?  Will you speak my words of love and support to those in need?  Will you give of your resources to serve others?  Will you prayerfully engage in listening for the needs of the community?”  I pray that you answer will be, “I will with God’s help”.  Amen.

 



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Baptismal Promise # 3

Rooted in Christ and carrying the cross of cross we are to Proclaim the good news.

In case you have not taken a good look at the prayer card that you got in the mail with your ministry commitment form. I invite you to take a deeper look. Rooted in Christ – what does that really mean to you?

The cross reminds us of Christ’s saving act, but it also reminds us that in our humanity we are capable of great sin. But Jesus doesn’t leave us in that sinful place – he offers grace and forgiveness. Jesus came among us in order to show us how to live and he came to share God’s forgiveness and grace with us. The Church is Christ’s body – that means that we are to live in such a way that people meet Jesus when they meet us. That is how we live out our third baptismal promise which is to PROCLAIM by word and example the good news.

That is what we are supposed to be about. We are to be that compassionate and caring place, the church, where Christ is proclaimed, lives are transformed and people’s needs are met through word, sacrament, service and community.

We, as the committed disciples of Christ at St. Matthew’s, are to be that place which centers and grounds all who come to us. We are the place where people do not have to be ashamed of their sins but rather find and experience God’s abundant love and forgiveness in our midst

In our third baptismal promise, God asks “Will you Proclaim by word and example the good news?” “Will you”, Jesus asks us again and again everyday. Will you be my eyes and ears to see and hear the needs of the world? Will you take action by your words and deeds to bring the love of God to those who have not yet found their way?

Will you, Jesus asks us. And we prayerfully and faithfully say, “I will with God’s help”.

I invite you to continue your prayerful discernment about how you are called to live into your discipleship. Rooted in Christ, supported by worship, education, community & service we grow in our spiritual maturity and in our faith. As we fix our focus on the cross gazing toward God, we see the outstretched arms of Christ which form the crossbeams of the cross – we are invited and challenged to reach out in evangelism and social outreach. As we journey with Christ we find ourselves more and more opening our arms in a wide embrace proclaiming by word and deed the good news of God’s love for all creation. Blessings, Mother Pat+



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A Word From Mother Pat: Fidelity

We don’t often think of fidelity when we think of our Christian journey. But fidelity is the basis of our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. Fidelity is a word which means loyalty or faithfulness to a promise. We make many promises to be faithful in our walk with Christ. Do you remember your baptismal vows–those promises made at your baptism and affirmed over and over in our worship? In response to each baptismal question, we answer that we will with God’s help.

The first vow we make is to the question, “Will you continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?” So we say, “I will with God’s help”. Our response is one of fidelity lived out not just in the words we use to answer the question, but also in the actions we take every day.

We show our fidelity or loyalty to Christ by the choices we make to live honest, truthful lives. We show our fidelity by our participation in worship week after week when it would be easier to sleep late or watch the worship broadcast at a more convenient time. We show our fidelity by giving our first gifts to God when we receive each paycheck and trusting God to provide what we need. We show fidelity by daily prayer patterns and teaching our children about God’s grace and love.
A monk at a monastery once told me that fidelity was the hardest thing he ever had to do, because sometimes he did not want to be there or to do that ministry; but he had promised and so he continued on. Fidelity in marriage is often the hardest part of living into that sacrament because we sometimes don’t feel like we want to continue; but usually we do continue because we promised. When we live into our promises we find that our desire to be faithful, to remain in relationship becomes a joy; and fidelity to our promises is what gets us through the times when we are not sure what we want to do.

I will with God’s help. I will be faithful to the one who claims me as His own. I will by my life and choices show my fidelity to God. I will intentionally live in a way which invites others to find the strength to join in this journey with Christ. Will you join me, as we at St. Matthew’s continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers? Will you be faithful to your baptismal promises and continue to be Christ to one another? Faithfulness to our baptismal vows can be difficult at times. Fidelity to community is hard. Faithfulness to Christ and fidelity to the Church which represents Christ to the world are the ministry to which we are each called. I invite your prayers this week to focus on the first baptismal promise and to discern how you are called to faithfulness. “Will you continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?” So we say, “I will with God’s help”.
See you Sunday.
Mo Pat+



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History Minute: St. Matthew’s Pavilion

Have you ever wondered about our beautiful pavilion, and how it came to be? Check out the new display at the pavilion chronicling the history of this structure and the important role it’s had in the fellowship events at St. Matt’s. To see the display, click here. (Note: the old plaque did not photograph well and is missing in the graphic. To see the full display, check it out in the in the current pavilion, located next to the rear parking lot.

Our thanks to all those instrumental in the planning, funding, building, and completion of our St. Matt’s pavilion since its inception. Special thanks to the Oren Morris Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew at St. Matt’s, those Boy Scouts from our Scout Troop 533, whose Eagle projects centered on the pavilion, and to Phil Morgan for his work in putting together and erecting the history display.

 



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At St. Matthew’s, our MISSION is to continue the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, by serving the greater community through loving its children, caring for the unfortunate and witnessing to the healing power of God’s love.