St. Matthews Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church in Snellville, GA

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. John 13:34

May Food Drive Wrap Up

The May Food Drive for the Southeast Gwinnett Co-Op wrapped up last Saturday and the numbers are in! With 5 Saturday drop off days and cash donations through the co-op and the Outreach Committee, the food drive provided more than 5,300 items for neighbors in need during this difficult time, smashing our goal of 5,000 items!

The Outreach Committee would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who was able to participate, including dropping off items, volunteering to collect on Saturday mornings, and donating so that we could purchase the most urgent items the co-op requested. It was so wonderful to come together, to see familiar faces, and to see all the love and support the St. Matthew’s parish has for our community.

Stay tuned for news on more ways to help this summer!

If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. – Isaiah 58:10

For photos from the Saturday collections and deliveries to the co-op, please check them out on out our Facebook page.



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Letter of Farewell From Karen Anderson, Our Seminarian (and A Note From Mother Liz+)

Dear  St. Matthew’s Family,

I have been reflecting recently on the last two and a half years and the work I was blessed enough to be able to experience while in this parish. Back in January of 2018 I arrived in the middle of the school year, which is an odd time to try and start a ministry as a seminarian. You did not blink, but instead you accepted me readily and happily, incorporating me into the life of the parish.

I think the best part of any seminary education is the field work placement. For me, my time at St. Matthew’s has kept me grounded in reality. The headiness of theology can run away with me sometimes, but being able to come back week after week to discuss the reality of what it means to be a follower of Jesus, and how to make that matter in our everyday lives – that is what kept me focused for three years through this degree.

The relationships I have formed through my time at St. Matthew’s have been invaluable, and that is what I will carry forward into my next placement. This parish values each other deeply and individually, and you choose to invest your time, whether it is in person at breakfast, a mid-week event, or online through our prayer services.

This may not be the goodbye any of us envisioned, but please know that as I go, I leave with the full knowledge of your love and care for me. I leave behind my own love and care. I was taught a tradition in New Zealand, that everywhere you go, and everyone you love becomes a part of yourself. And you carry it for the rest of your life. I will carry St. Matthews with me for the rest of my life because of the love we have shared.

I always sign my letters  with one of two phrases: “arohanui” which means “big love”. Or ngā mihi mahana”. Ngā mihi is an acknowledgement, and mahana means warm. It’s a way of giving your highest respect or of greeting someone with respect. So that is how I will close this farewell:

Ngā mihi mahana St. Matthew’s. I will miss you greatly.

Arohanui,

Karen

From Mother Liz+:

Saying Good-Bye to Karen

As all of you know, the corona virus pandemic has caused a major upheaval in calendars, at a time of the year usually filled with celebrations.  This is the time of school proms, of graduation celebrations, and a time when a lot of weddings take place.  Our collective moments of celebration and joy have been cancelled in the need for safety, leaving very little closure for those individuals who will be moving on to the next phase of their journey.

One of these people is our seminarian, Karen Anderson.  Karen came to us in February of 2017, in the middle of her first year in seminary.  It did not take her long to fit in to the rhythm of life at St. Matthew’s.  In her two and a half years with us, Karen has contributed much, and she has said she has received much in her time with the community.

Karen completed her time at St. Matthew’s and received her Master of Divinity degree from Emory.  Like all of our graduates, we were not able to celebrate Karen’s success, but the good news is that she will remain local for the next year, so we will schedule a celebration sometime in the future.  I would ask that you keep her in your prayers, as she begins her first course in hospital chaplaincy and continues her discernment with the diocese on her call to Holy Orders.

Karen, we were blessed to have you with us!  We wish you God-speed and best of luck as you begin your summer of Clinical Pastoral Education, and we look forward to a time when you can return so that we can celebrate your time with us in our warm, St. Matthew’s style.



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Final Week For May Food Drive Collections!

We look forward to seeing everyone dropping off donations this Saturday May 30, from 9-11 a.m.  All items go immediately to the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry. Thank you for your generosity–It’s the People!
Most needed items this week include: Diced tomatoes (canned), Pasta Sauce, Canned Pasta, (Ravioli, SpaghettiOs etc.), Toothpaste, Bar Soap, Toilet Paper



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Letter To the Parish From Mother Liz+

5/23/2020
To the St. Matthew’s Community:
I pray this note finds you safe and well and enjoying the fine weather of this Memorial Day weekend. I am writing to clarify some information that has come my way.
Last week, the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta announced that, with recommended safeguards in place, their churches would be able to hold in-person daily masses beginning Monday, May 25, with Sunday masses available on the following weekend (Pentecost). Some folks reported to me that in the new announcement they heard about this, the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta was included.
Below is a note sent out by Bishop Wright and posted on his Facebook page yesterday (5-22-20):
Brothers and Sisters, at this time let us remember that worship has both a vertical and horizontal component. To gather and say the words of faith without caring for our neighbors is not worship that pleases God, according to the Bible. Instead, let us say our prayers and meditate on God’s word in the safety of our homes until such time as it is safe and smart to resume in person worship. Therefore this means our worship, meeting and teaching in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta will remain online. I look forward to the day that we can reconnect in person but until then let us ask the Holy Spirit to make us the liberated and courageous church Jesus sought to start.
While I am grateful that technology and the commitment of St. Matthew’s clergy and staff have allowed us to continue worshiping together on-line, many of us are anxious to be back in the sanctuary on Sunday. Your rector is one of those people. However, I trust the bishop, and I trust the advice he is receiving from his advisors. If he feels the time is not yet, I am going to trust that as well.
A soon as we have clearance to return, we will send out a dedicated note like this one. And please also know that, even though we are not yet allowed to return, work is going on in the background to determine what church worship will look like in Phase 1 of the opening (and there will be phases; we will not initially return to what church worship was like in February). Whenever we are given permission to return, we want to be ready.
I ask that you continue to pray for the healing of sick, the medical community and first responders who take care of them, and the scientists who are working non-stop to find treatments and a vaccine. And I humbly ask your prayers for your St. Matthew’s clergy and staff, as we strive to keep you updated with the latest information, and as we work to find creative ways to keep members of St. Matthew’s connected one to another.
God’s Peace,
Liz+



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Summer Online Weekday Worship Schedule Effective June 2

Monday, June 1, Designated as a Day of Mourning and Lament

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has joined other faith leaders in calling for a national day of mourning and lament on June 1 as the United States exceeds 100,000 documented deaths from COVID-19. In response to this, St. Matthew’s WILL NOT begin the summer schedule on Monday June 1, but will hold special services of mourning and lament at 8am and 6pm. The summer schedule will start on Tuesday, June 2, with a single service at 8am.

SUMMER ONLINE WEEKDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Father Tommy and I are thrilled with the constant presence of 30+ worships each day when we gather for morning and evening devotions.  Your presence makes our preparation and sharing of worship such a joy!  As we move into summer, it’s time to modify things a bit, so that Father Tommy and I can plan for some time off without leaving the other of us to carry this on-line worship alone.  So, we are changing two things:  we are modifying the schedule of service for summer, effective June 1, AND we are inviting some of you who feel called to this ministry, to help lead worship.

The new schedule, effective June 2nd is as follows:

Monday 6:00 p.m. – Father Tommy

Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. – volunteer needed

Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. – Healing Service, Mother Liz and Father Tommy will alternate

Thursday at 8:00 a.m. – Mother Liz

Friday at 6:00 p.m. – Family Compline

(Sunday Online worship continues to be at 10:00 a.m.)

If you are interested in leading one of the Tuesday morning services, please let Father Tommy or Mother Liz know, and we will get you on the schedule.  We are also looking for families who would lead Family Compline on Friday nights at 6:00 p.m.



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Musings By Mother Liz — May 2020

As we move towards Memorial Day and into June, we see more and more businesses and offices opening around the state and around the country. I am sure that many of you are like me – as much as I love attending church service in my PJs with a cup of coffee next to me, I miss the St. Matthew’s community and I miss worship in the sanctuary.

Every other Wednesday the clergy of the diocese have a Zoom conference call with the bishop, and the question of when we will reopen always comes up. The bishop’s latest answer is “not yet”. He bases his decision on advice of medical and scientific experts both here in Atlanta, as well as representatives from Episcopal Relief and Development. While it is difficult to wait, I know his decisions are based on maintaining the safety and well-being of all of us.

However, I am very happy to report we have received permission to return to the sanctuary to either livestream or record services. At St. Matthew’s, we do not have the ability to live-stream from the church sanctuary, but we will start recording the main part of the service from the sanctuary, beginning with our service on Pentecost on May 31. And at some point, we will receive the clearance to move back into the church. It will not be a return to church as we knew it in February, but will happen in phases, much as opening the country has been done in phases.

What that means is that when we are able to hold worship in the church, it will come with restrictions, much as there are restrictions for other businesses that have opened. And whatever we are able to do, we will want to do it as safely as possible for all concerned.

With that in mind, I am forming an Advisory Committee, whose work will be to advise the clergy, vestry and various church and preschool committees of best practices regarding safe use of the space and precautions we must take before, during and after worship, classes or meetings. The development of this committee is still in process, but as soon as the committee is complete, I will send more information on this out to the parish using the weekly Messenger.

Beloved I have felt your prayers during this challenging time, and I am sure Father Tommy, Charmaine, Kyle and Susan feel the same way. We are all blessed by your phone calls, emails, text messages and chats on Facebook. As I mentioned in another announcement, Father Tommy and I are humbled by the success of daily worship – the numbers of those watching live have not diminished over the past ten weeks, and the numbers of those who have watched later have grown.

Father Tommy and I are both available to talk with you anytime. Please do not think we are too busy! Walking this part of the journey with you is what our ministry is all about.

God’s Peace, Liz+



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May Food Drive Update — We’re Halfway There!

With 2 weeks left in the May Food Drive we are currently just over halfway to our goal of 5,000 items donated to the Co-Op! So far, through food and cash donations, 2,551 items have been received by the co-op and the Outreach Committee has an additional $1,127 from donations to purchase high need items.

We look forward to seeing everyone dropping off donations this Saturday from 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.

Most needed items this week include: Canned tuna, Macaroni and Cheese, Canned Pasta (Ravioli, SpaghettiOs), Pasta Sauce, Toothpaste, Bar Soap, Diapers (size 2,3,4), Baby Wipes

If you can’t make it to drop off food on Saturdays, you can:
If you have any questions please contact Jennifer Papadatos at jenniday1229@yahoo.com Thank you!

Check out all the photos from the food drive–it’s the People!!



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Musings With Mother Liz+

Striving to be a church community when the “church” is closed.

Dear beloved, as I write this, I am quarantining-in-place at home. I was seated very close to some friends last Friday only to discover that they in turn had been close to someone who was presumptively diagnosed with COVID-19. So, out of precaution, I am at home through next Thursday. I would imagine that some of you receiving this email are in the same position.
It is a stressful and scary time right now in our country and throughout the world. A virus over which we have little control is having its way with us. I noticed this week that it feels a lot like the days following 9-11, and then realized it’s because I don’t hear any planes. Travel has been cut back so much that I don’t have the constant noise of jets on their way to ATL passing over my house.
As we were able to do after 9-11, we are able to do now – we may not have much control over this virus, but we do have control over how we respond. With that in mind, your clergy and vestry have decided that “church” is not a building, but a people, and, as such, “church” will continue.
The Greek word for church is εκκλησία – otherwise spelled, ecclesia. The word is a combination of ‘ek’, meaning ‘out’, and kaleo, meaning ‘called’. It refers to a people, not a building. Therefore, I am pleased to say that life at St. Matthew’s continues, perhaps in a different “building”, but with the same ‘ecclesia’. Make sense?
Members of the Christian Ed and Communications committees, along with clergy and members of the vestry, are developing programs that allow us to stay connected during this time. Many of you have participated in the daily devotions we lead on our Facebook page at 8am and 6pm, Monday through Saturday, and many others attended worship using Facebook Live last Sunday. We are exploring the addition of Christian Ed programs, youth programs, Wednesday with the Word, Café Theology and the Brotherhood lectionary study using Zoom software. And of course, we will continue with Sunday worship.
This Sunday, at 10:30 from the Coil Chapel, join us as we celebrate EUCHARIST-IN-PLACE!
To do this, you will need bread or crackers (gluten free for those who need that), and either wine or grape juice, or another clear juice. If you have them, a tablecloth or small cloth to go on your table, a set of candles, a plate for the bread/crackers and goblet or wine glass for the liquid. Set up your altar as you would like – you can even invite your children to decorate it!
Bring your family and your computer, tablet or mobile phone to the table. Log on to Facebook on Sunday, go to the St. Matthew’s page and wait for the Facebook Live video to start. As I am home through next Thursday, our celebrant will be Father Tommy and his on-site congregation will be Debbie; I will be with you next week.
When Father Tommy gets to the Eucharistic Prayer, pay close attention as he begins the Words of Institution (where he talks about the bread and the wine). When Father Tommy lifts the bread, you are to lift up your plate. When he lifts the wine, you are to do likewise. When he blesses the bread and wine by asking the Holy Spirit to make them the Body and Blood of our Lord, hold up your plate and glass for the same blessing. The Holy Spirit, who knows no boundaries, will consecrate your offering at the same time as the bread and wine that Father Tommy holds up. Then share the holy bread and wine around your table with the words we use on Sunday:
This is the body of Christ, the bread of heaven.
This is the blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.
Share this sacrament with one another. If you live alone, partake of this sacrament, knowing that the rest of the “body” is doing the same thing, so you are not having Holy Communion by yourself, but with your church community. We will then close our service with the Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Blessing and Dismissal.
Beloved, even in uncertainty, we are blessed to be a worshipping community. I look forward to celebrating the Eucharist with you on Sunday. I pray you and your family will be able to join Father Tommy, Debbie and me as we celebrate the promise of the resurrection together.
In God’s Love, Mother Liz+



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Update on the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Letter Concerning Worship

Please read this important information regarding worship services and other activities during the next few weeks, and watch the website and our Facebook page for updated information in the coming days.

Update 7:06 p.m.:

Worship

    1. Tomorrow, Sunday, 3/15/2020, we will have worship at 10:30 a.m., but it will be delivered using our St. Matthew’s Facebook page. Members of our communications team are working with Father Tommy to set up a digital connection for using Facebook Live.  To go to the St. Matthew’s Facebook page,  click here. Be sure to Like the page and Follow it if you’re visiting for the first time! You’ll be able to find it easily that way next time you visit and you’ll see new posts when they’re first published on the page. Here’s the bulletin prepared for Sunday in case you’d like to follow along.  March 15, 2020 – Third Sunday in Lent 8.00 a.m. and 10.30 a.m.
    2. We will also try to use Facebook Live to offer daily prayer. You are invited to dig out your Book of Common Prayer and join us for daily prayer.  The Office of Morning Prayer will take place at 8 a.m.; Evening Prayer will take place at 6 p.m.  Please join us on Facebook Live as you are able.  If you do not have a prayer book at home, you can download a pdf copy here:  https://episcopalchurch.org/files/book_of_common_prayer.pdf

 

 

 



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Lent At St. Matthew’s

Lent is a time of stepping back and being thoughtful about deepening our relationship with God, mindful of what God has done for us, the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and the ways we fall short of what God asks of u. s.  At St. Matthew’s we have many opportunities to step closer to God in relationship and service, reaching out for reconciliation and God’s healing presence in our lives.

 

Sunday Services in Lent  beginning 3/15/2020 — Due to the COVID-19 virus, we are suspending services and all activities at the church through the end of March. Please see the letter to this effect regarding worship and activities at St. Matthew’s here.

St. Matthew’s will be offering online services on Facebook Live at the following times during the next few weeks:

  • Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
  • Monday through Saturday:  Morning Devotional at 8:00 a.m.
  •                                                                Evening Devotional at 6:00 p.m.

You can find our Facebook page here.

 

 

 

 

 

 



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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.

The St. Matthew's campus is closed, but you can find us on Facebook.Click for details