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+: Wings of Steel

To start you off on your Summer, consider this reflection entitled “wings of steel”. You may have seen it before; but it bears repeating.

Wings of Steel: A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.

So, the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required to get through the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings. It would then be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. We could never fly! This is true for us as individuals and true for us as a community of faith. This interim period is somewhat like the struggle of the emerging butterfly from the cocoon. It is a process which cannot be rushed; and it is a time when it feels like a struggle just to gain a bit of what we might think of as progress. However, I can assure you that the work of this interim period is important work; which, when done patiently and prayerfully will yield a wonderful partnership between the parish and the new rector. Over and over in the life of a parish there are periods where we cocoon in safety and times when we must work to emerge and fly with strong wings always guided by the Holy Spirit.

In this interim period, the parish has also faced a number of losses. These losses have been both a loss of community as many people have yet to return to in-person gatherings and the loss of long-time members of the congregation due to death. Perhaps it is also helpful to remember the cocoon and butterfly when we think of these changes; because these losses force us to face the pain of grief and the struggle to look forward to a future which builds on the gifts of those who have died. As a parish, you are now struggling, working and growing to prepare to finish breaking out of the cocoon so that once again the metamorphosis will allow for flight on strong wings of steel.

May the desires of your heart come true, and may you experience God’s presence everyday as you work for God’s kingdom.. May Goodness, Kindness, and Mercy come your way. And, may you gain Wisdom and grow in your faith every day.

Have a blessed day.  Mother Pat+



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A Word from Mother Pat+: Canoe

I hope you find these short reflections meaningful and helpful. The focus during this interim time has been on our baptismal vows and our common life together; because that is our call as Christians. In this interim time (this transition time), you and I journey together toward a common goal. What is that goal, you might ask? The goal of a vibrant worshiping community at St. Matthew’s who come together to be equipped in order to go out and make Christ known in the world. During this interim time, you as a parish seek to discern your core values and to honestly evaluate your gifts and your challenges; and then you build a profile (a story) of who you are and who you seek as a permanent Rector. As I have said to many of you, this is a time which feels unsettled and uncertain in many ways because you are being invited into a period of change and change always feel uncomfortable even when it is change that we want.

Layered on top of this leadership transition has been the recent losses of long-time active members of this parish. These deaths have reminded us of the ever-changing nature of our common life together and of our need to share in community giving support to each other. In addition, we likely will face increased economic uncertainty which often adds to our sense of anxiety and challenge.

I came across a metaphor the other day and I thought that perhaps this imagery might help as we continue to journey in a time of change and in a world which often feels unstable to us. The metaphor is that of paddling a multi-person canoe through rapids. Think about it – in a canoe you have a few objectives. First, keep the canoe pointed in the right direction. Second, avoid immovable objects like rocks and trees in the water. Third, synchronize with others in the canoe.  And lastly, Keep paddling. Those steps can help us as we continue this journey together.

The Vestry and I help the parish stay pointed in the right direction and avoiding those obstacles which could take us off course. And of course all of us are in the same canoe – paddling together toward St. Matthew’s common goal to continue the incarnation of Jesus by serving, caring and witnessing to the presence of  Christ. We also focus and paddle together in the Diocese to create an ever-widening group of joyful committed Christians who seek to know Christ through worship and service. In addition, the search committee seeks to take an open and honest look at the successes and challenges St. Matthew’s has encountered and to help point to a place where the rapids end and the river moves smoothly again. But in the interim, we all have to work together to achieve the goal.

Come and join in worship, study and service so that you are equipped to make Christ known in the world where you live; and contribute your voice and your ministry to St. Matthew’s now and in the smooth waters to come.

May God’s joy be yours this day, Mother Pat+



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A Word from Mother Pat+: Growing in our Faith

We are now officially in the Season AFTER Pentecost.  This year the season is 24 weeks long and ends with the start of Advent.  The season after Pentecost is focused on our spiritual growth and maturity.  Many of the readings over the course of the summer and fall will nudge us and challenge us to assess our readiness and willingness to grow and change.

What does this time ask of us as individual members of Christ’s body, the Church?  You may notice that you feel the nudging of the Holy Spirit to spark your passion for ministry or you may hear a sense of call to service in a new way or a nagging persistent push to re-engage in worship, prayer and ministry.  Whatever you sense, feel, hear or see – pray about it and respond with an action.

Here are a few ideas which may help in your spiritual journey and refine your call to ministry:

LISTEN to those around you in an active way and listen to God.

GO see a friend or someone who needs your presence – if you can’t go in person then call them.

GIVE your full attention to whatever you engage in doing.

REST – physical rest is important and so is spiritual rest, a Sabbath day to restore our souls.

SLOW DOWN – not everything is a high priority, let some things lie fallow for a season.

GIVE praise to God and to others who you see doing God’s work

USE common sense

EDUCATE and allow yourself to be educated in the faith of the Church

BLESS someone’s work with your words of recognition and accept others blessings on your work.

ENCOURAGE someone everyday.

CHALLENGE yourself to stop, listen and mindfully respond to those nudges and see what happens.  Think of those feelings, longings, frustrations or thoughts as the Holy Spirit gently, or not so gently, drawing you to someone or something needing your special gifts and presence.  If you need to clarify what God might be asking of you, then seek the counsel of another Christian or come talk with me to explore where God is inviting you to use your gifts.

God’s peace, Mother Pat+



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VBS 2022 – Surf Shack! Registration is OPEN for Campers and Volunteers

St. Matt’s VBS!

Surf Shack is back!

July 11-15
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
rising Pre-k (age 4) through rising 5th grade (age 10)
$20/first child per family, $15/each add’l, $50/max per family
CAMPER REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
YOUTH AND ADULT HELPERS NEEDED
Call the office for details,
Calling all helping hands –We Need YOU!
Contact Terri Hurst for questions or more info.
**If you have trouble registering, please contact the church office for assistance. Thank you.



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A Word from Mother Pat+: Ascension

This week we celebrate a major event in the life of the church, on Thursday May 26th, we are reminded of Jesus’ Ascension. The Readings for this major feast day:  Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:49-53. The Ascension is such an important event that we also have special readings for this Sunday which follows the Ascension. By the time you get this newsletter and reflection, the feast of the Ascension will have already occurred, so I thought it was appropriate to remind each of us about this event in Jesus’ life and how it can connect us to our ministries and to one another in new ways.

Jesus ascends back to the Godhead and the disciples will have to learn to walk by faith alone – no more surprise visits by the risen Jesus in the upper room, on the road to Emmaus or for breakfast on the beach. Jesus will ascend and will send the Holy Spirit to serve as that constant reminder of God’s presence – nothing will ever be the same again and the disciples are just beginning to discover that reality as they search for Jesus and wait for the power from on high which Jesus promises them.

We, as individuals, and as a community of faith have been experiencing stress and upheaval in our lives over the past few years as this pandemic spread and impacted the whole world. It seems like all we hear is how this disease is causing suffering and death; yet God has provided scientists with knowledge to create treatments and vaccines. As we continue to protect others by practicing acts of love, we also protect ourselves with the gifts of vaccines and masks and lots of cleaning products. As the course of this pandemic seems to be improving, maybe this is the time for us to stop and reflect on how we might take the lessons of Easter, Ascension and Pentecost into our new model of life.

Jesus’ ascension in whatever manner it happened; is not so much about the actual facts of the event as it is about what the event means to us. Jesus is not really absent, but he is now present in a different way than he was. In fact, the command Jesus gave the disciples was to wait, to stay in Jerusalem and wait for God’s power to “clothe” them.

Jesus desire for the disciples to wait had to do with their listening to each other and to God for clarity of purpose. The 10 days between Ascension and Pentecost are days to wait, days to listen, days to anticipate God’s Spirit anew in our lives. The first disciples did not know what to expect. However, they trusted Jesus even after he disappeared from them in mid-blessing. They returned to the city and waited.

The disciples waited unsure of what to expect; but it was a waiting filled with purpose – the purpose was to hear and see what God would call them to do next.  We too are called to spend this time of interim ministry waiting and working for God’s kingdom:  Purposefully waiting to be filled anew and refreshed by the power from on high; Waiting to hear God’s plan for us; Waiting for the pandemic to really end and a return to “normal”;  Waiting to see what new ministries emerge out of this pandemic; Waiting for the selection of a new rector; Waiting in order to find Jesus in our midst in new and different ways. So the ascension is not about Jesus’ leaving – it is about his very real presence with us.

We all know that the Spirit which Jesus had promised – came to them. Now instead of being confined to one physical place and time, Jesus can be everywhere in all time through the power of the Spirit. That holiness, which was once concentrated just in him, at that first Pentecost filled the early disciples as it now fills all of us who call Jesus, Lord.  Each of us has the powerful Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives.

St. Matthew’s is not a building or simply a place of worship. St. Matthew’s is all of you.  Each person filled with God’s Holy Presence becomes an apostle, a representative of Christ. We have begun to re-gather, we will recover, we will find a new rector, and we will continue to be God’s presence in this time and place. Now is the time to purposely wait, listen, pray and discern how God is inviting you to a new opportunity. Keep searching for what God wants you to see and to do. Be open to God’s surprises in the people you meet and in the work God calls you to undertake. God’s Holy Spirit will guide the nominating committee, the vestry, and those God will lead to this place. Searching is a part of how God reveals God’s self to us – God continues to seek us out and we continue to seek God. May your waiting be filled with Godly surprises. Mother Pat+



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A Word from Mother Pat+: The Search

Here we are in the 5th week of the Easter season, and we find ourselves searching. In this season many of our readings have Jesus searching for us and in other Sunday readings we are searching for Jesus. As a parish, St. Matthew’s is in the midst of the search for a new rector, so I thought perhaps we should reflect on what it means to search and what happens when we find what we seek.

When we search for something, we have some idea of what we are looking for, but often in the very process of searching we discover that we really need something else. For example, the early disciples sought the risen Jesus because they still wanted the familiar companionship of his presence at the table and on the road. The disciples wanted it to be like it was before the crucifixion, but that was not to be. Jesus clearly tells Mary Magdalene in the garden that she is not to cling to him or try to hold onto him, because things are different now. Jesus is no longer bound by temporal time or earthly boundaries; and yet the disciples would like things to return to the way they were. We all like things to return to whatever we think is “normal” or the way they were before the disruption or change; but that is not how it works.

Jesus will soon ascend back to the Godhead forever and the disciples will have to learn to walk in faith in a different way – no more surprise visits by the risen Jesus in the upper room or for breakfast on the beach. Jesus will ascend and will send the Holy Spirit to serve as that constant reminder of God’s presence in their lives – nothing will ever be the same again and the disciples are just beginning to discover that reality as they search for Jesus and wait for the power from on high which Jesus promises them.

St. Matthew’s is also searching and in the discernment process, you as a parish have discovered that what you thought you wanted and needed might indeed be different than the familiar things of the past. In your searching for a new rector, St. Matthew’s may discover new ways to work for God’s kingdom. You have been praying for God to lead you to the person whom God has also called to look for you. Through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, you will find new ways to share ministry and leadership and to build God’s kingdom in this place.

So keep searching for what God wants you to see and to do. Be open to God’s surprises in the people you meet and in the work God calls you to do. God’s Holy Spirit will guide the nominating committee, the vestry, and those God will lead to this place. Searching is a part of how God reveals God’s self to us – God continues to seek us out and we continue to seek God. May your life and the life of this parish be filled with Godly surprises. Mother Pat+



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A Word from Mother Pat+: Holy Week – a week like no other week….

Finally, we see the end coming near. Holy Week is that time when we journey with Jesus through the final days of his earthly life and we witness at the end of our journey the most amazing event – the death and resurrection of our Lord – the Paschal mystery which is the very core of Christian belief. This year will be unlike any other Holy Week you might have experienced as we will match Jesus’ movements as closely as we can and that means changes in our readings and in our worship.

We begin Holy Week with the blessing of palms this Sunday. At St. Matthew’s, this joyous celebration, commemorating the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, is capped by a procession around the church campus so be careful as you come “flying in on Sunday not to hit people gathered outside for the procession of the palms. Then we continue to hear readings of Jesus’ day in Jerusalem before he heads to Bethany to stay at Mary, Martha and Lazarus’ house for a few days. There is no reading of the passion narrative on Palm Sunday this year – instead the passion narrative will be enacted by our youth on Good Friday when we believe the actual events occurred.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week tell us of how Jesus continued to surround himself with his close disciples and friends – each night at 7 p.m. we have a special liturgy with Holy Eucharist to share in this journey with Jesus. The readings for these services give us the background for what will quickly happen on Thursday and Friday. You may not have ever heard these readings and you are invited to come and find out how Jesus and his friends spent the first part of this week.

On Maundy Thursday we will gather for a final Eucharist. One aspect of this service is the (Mandatum which is Latin for command). Jesus washes the disciples feet and commands us to love one another as he has loved us. We join in this rite of Foot Washing to signal our readiness to serve others as Christ served. At the end of the Maundy Thursday liturgy we enact one of the most solemn rites of the Church year, the stripping of the Altar. The Altar and Sanctuary (tabernacle) light are symbols of Christ’s presence. In this ancient rite we commemorate the abandonment of Jesus by his followers and the stripping of Jesus by the soldiers prior to his crucifixion. To signify Jesus’ arrest and later crucifixion we extinguish the sanctuary light to remind us that the light of Christ has gone out of the world. Temporarily darkness seems to have the final word.

At noon on Good Friday when we assume the crucifixion might have occurred, we gather to walk the stations of the cross which remind us in graphic ways of the agony of Jesus in his walk to Golgotha and his death. In walking the stations of the cross, we stand symbolically with those who stood at the foot of the cross with Jesus in those final hours.

The 7 p.m. Friday evening the liturgy of Good Friday is divided into four parts. It begins in silence followed by the Liturgy of the Word which includes the Passion narrative from Mark’s Gospel which is lead by the youth of the parish. The second part is a solemn form of the prayers of the people. These bidding prayers and collects date as far back as the 3rd Century CE. It is traditional to kneel in prayer during the bidding and to stand during the collect. The third part, the Veneration of the Cross is a time to reflect on the cross as both an instrument of death and a symbol of the resurrection. ((For a bit of historical trivia, the veneration of the cross was first described in detail by Egeria (an early Christian): a fragment of the true Cross was processed to Calvary and, while the deacons stood guard, the bishop would lift it up for all to venerate. All would then come forward to kiss the cross. The deacons were in place to guard the relic because some particularly fervent pilgrims would try to bite off pieces of the cross to take home. The rite, minus the guards, remains much the same in our liturgy today.))  After anthems and silent veneration of the cross, then all depart in silence remembering the great sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Jesus has died and been placed in the tomb just before sunset.

Holy Saturday at 10 a.m. we continue the liturgy which began on Maundy Thursday – no dismissal of the gathered faith community occurs from Maundy Thursday until Easter. This brief Saturday service of prayer and scripture is intended to mirror the disciples gathered in the upper room trying to hide from the authorities and praying for God’s guidance as Jesus, their friend and leader, has been killed and they are in mourning.

Then when evening arrives on Saturday, the Great Vigil of Easter begins with the lighting of a new fire outside and the recounting of the history of salvation. Vigils have a long history in the Church; frequently they lasted all night and culminated with the celebration of Eucharist at dawn. Our Great Vigil is not an all-night vigil, only about two hours. It is time well spent as this is the beginning of our move toward Easter and the recounting of salvation history is one of the most beautiful and ancient liturgies of the church. It begins with the blessing of a fire kindled outside about dusk. From this fire our Paschal candle is lit. This large candle will burn at all services during the fifty days of Easter and also burns at any baptisms and funerals. This candle reminds us that Christ, the Light of the World can overcome even the darkness of sin and death. We will process behind this candle into the dark church where we will gather in the light of this candle around the Baptismal font. At this point a cantor will chant the ancient hymn known as the Exultet. This hymn begins to tell the history of God’s tremendous love for creation and humankind. Following the readings from Scripture, water is blessed and if there are candidates for baptism they receive the sacrament at this time. We renew our baptismal vows and all are sprinkled with the blessed water. At this point in the Liturgy, we end our recounting of God’s actions in creation and we return at dawn to discover what God has done in the darkness of the night.

On Easter Sunday morning Alleluias, grand music and incense fill the air as we conclude our Holy Week celebrations with the festive Eucharists at 7 a.m. sunrise and 10:45 a.m. These beautiful celebrations are the apex of our liturgical life. In these liturgies, commemorating the Paschal mystery, we are connected with Christians from all over the world in our time, from the past, and those yet to come. We celebrate as resurrection people the victory of Jesus Christ over death and the grave, and we are reminded that we too have eternal life.

On Easter morning, bring bells and cut flowers, if you have them, as we celebrate with joy the gift of God’s love. Egg hunt to follow the 10:45 service for those 5th grade and younger.

 Come and journey with Jesus through Holy Week.  Don’t miss out on this most mysterious and wonderful spiritual journey – 7 p.m. each evening.



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Spotlight on Ministry: Flower Guild

Have you ever wondered about the beautiful flowers on the altar? Did you know that there is a small group that arranges them each week? At one time in St. Matthew’s history the flowers were purchased from local florists in Snellville and the altar guild would place them on the altar. The guild was formed by Ildy Mezey in 2015 and continues now under Janis Williams and Beth DiGiovanni. The guild purchases some flowers, in addition to using greenery & flowers right from the St. Matthew’s campus.
There are times in the liturgical season that dictate the color of the flowers – Red for Pentecost, White for Easter, funerals, Bishop visit, Bare Branches for Lent, Greenery for Advent. Then there are the other times where the Flower Guild members have an open pallet for colors!
We are looking for members for the guild. You do not have to be a floral expert! We have a group of members now who are shadowing members a week a month. If you are interested in finding out more about the Flower Guild please contact Janis Williams or Beth DiGiovanni.
Flowers for the altar are supported by donations from the St. Matthew’s members. Since we are now fully open and in person after the pandemic closure in 2021, we currently have many weeks open on the Sunday Flower chart outside the church office. If you have a special week to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, memory of a family member, or just a Thanksgiving, please consider adding their name (and yours) to our flower chart or contact the office to help. The suggested amount of the donation is $65, but any contribution you are able to make is appreciated.



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A Word from Mother Pat+: Lent is drawing to a close…

Lent is drawing to a close….

So here we are nearing the end of the season of Lent and we know that the crucifixion of Jesus is just ahead of us. But we also know that God takes the sorrow and pain of death and turns it into the joy of eternal life. So this season forces us to acknowledge our dependence on God for our very existence. We are reminded that God does not insulate us from pain and difficulty, but God does walk with us, support us, encourage us and challenge us to live faithful lives of service and love.

It takes a day of clouds for us to rejoice in the sunshine. It takes a day of hunger for us to appreciate the abundance of food which we have. It takes a power outage for us to remember how much we like lights and television and heat. It takes a disciplined Lent for us to celebrate the joy of Easter. And it takes us a lifetime to realize the vastness of God’s love for us and the magnitude of the support God gives us, even when we don’t think that God is present with us.

Remember the story entitled “footprints” about the man who looked back on his life only to discover that in the most difficult times there was only one set of footprints. He responded as many of us do and yelled at God for abandoning him in his times of greatest need. In the quiet voice which answered the man’s angry outburst, God simply said, “it was then that I carried you”. The cross of Christ carries our sins so that we don’t have to be burdened with them. The cross of Christ assures us of victory over death. And the cross of Christ calls us to new lives of love and service in this life and the next.

Use the remaining weeks of Lent to gain a renewed perspective of God’s grace and mercy in your life and how you might share that joy with others. Remember everyone leaves a legacy, whether they are intentional about it or not. Be intentional in your life’s work and leave a legacy of faith and hope for those who walk this journey with you and those who will follow in our footsteps.

Have a blessed and holy Lent, Mother Pat+



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A Word from Mother Pat+: Spiritual Weightlifting

In Lent, we are encouraged to practice our faith in ways which produce lasting results. Much like we might take on a new exercise routine to tone our muscles and increase our endurance, Lenten practices help us tone up our spiritual lives and provide us with tools to persevere through life’s ups and downs.

In your holy and sacred space “bag” – tool kit, you have items designed to help you develop a practice of spiritual exercise. Sometimes, it is just a glimpse of an item that makes us mindful of God’s presence; but often we need to be more intentional. Somewhat like developing an exercise or walking routine, our spiritual practices must be done regularly and with an intentionality which helps us grow in our Christian journey.

Consider adding or changing your daily routine to include a few minutes intentionally focused on God’s presence in your life. Select a spiritual discipline which helps you recognize Christ in yourself and in others. To start, remember that you are the beloved of God and believe it. Practice self-care and self-respect. If we love ourselves then we can more easily express our love for others. Second, look for Christ in others – listening to the opinions, needs and concerns of another person allow us to treat them with love, for they too are God’s beloved and they can be a reflection of God’s love to us. Lastly, remember that our lives are gifts from God. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son….” Love is the basis of God’s gifts to us and we are God’s beloved.

Live this Lent as the holy person you were created to be. And remember, we are not called to perfection, we are simply called to love God, love ourselves and love others. We will in this life miss the mark; but God takes our imperfect actions and turns them into loving gifts which help bridge the gap between what is and what can be. Blessings, Mother Pat+



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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.