St. Matthews Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church in Snellville, GA

“I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” Acts 2:17

Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd McGregor To Speak At St. Matthew’s

Sunday, October 14, St. Matthew’s welcomes the Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd McGregor as Guest Preacher at both the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd McGregor and the Rev. Dr. Patsy McGregor have been serving in the mission field since 1991 in church planting, health care, theological education, managing a retreat and conference center, building churches, schools and a Cathedral, providing educational scholarships and leadership development in both Kenya and Madagascar.

Currently, Todd and Patsy live in the coastal city of Toliara in southwestern Madagascar, where Todd serves as the first Anglican Bishop in the Diocese of Toliara and plays a significant role in the Province as the Chair of Mission and Evangelism for the Anglican Church of the Indian Ocean. Patsy serves as a Diocesan priest, hosts pilgrimages and missionary teams to Madagascar, leads local ministries focusing on children’s education and empowering women’s development. She is the author of many books and has co-written a Christian musical, Miaraka: A Time to Dance which has been performed internationally and has also been translated and performed in Malagasy.

In conjunction with People Reaching People, Inc. (PRP), Patsy and Todd serve the people of the Diocese of Toliara through engaging partners in evangelism, education, and economic development. (PRP was formed by the McGregors and several of their supporters in 2007.) The Diocese of Toliara, is one of the poorest areas in one of the poorest countries in the world. Even though the population faces chronic poverty, famine, malnutrition and has limited infrastructure, health care and economic opportunity, the Diocese of Toliara experiences steady growth. In 2007, only 11 churches and 300 Anglican worshippers were in the area. Now there are over 80 churches and 8,000 parishioners in the Diocese. The work of the McGregors and PRP in the name of Christ provides transformation and hope, all to the Glory of God.

To learn more or to provide support for this work, please visit: http://www.peoplereaching.org/
https://www.facebook.com/People-Reaching-People-398417923648889



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St. Matthew’s Parish Retreat — “Connecting Through Stories” Storytelling Workshops

CONNECTING THROUGH STORIES

St Matthew’s Episcopal Church

Storytelling Workshops

Stone Mountain, GA

October 19, 20, 21, 2018

 

Storytelling is one of the earliest forms of folk art.  They vary from simple chants praising the dawn to epic tales of heroism and adventure.  Through stories we can experience love, honor, courage, fear, and doubt. They pass on accumulated wisdom, beliefs, and values: they explain how things are, whey they are, and our roles and purpose.

This weekend we are going to explore the creation of stories and what our stories tell us about our lives and beliefs. How they have shaped our lives in the past and how they can shape our futures.

On Friday Night I’ll give you an overview of the workshops and storytelling and share a few stories around the bonfire.

At the two Saturday workshops we will explore storytelling and why it is important to our lives.  Why Fairy Tales are important; the role of folk tales; and how inspirational stories shape our world view.

We will also look at some Bible stories from different points of view and explore crafting our personal stories and how we each, as individuals, can use our life experiences to communicate, heal, and inspire.

There will be time for each of us to write our own stories of healing, teaching, and inspiration. Stories that have made us who we are.

At the Saturday night bonfire there will be a chance to share our stories with the larger group, if anyone would like to do so.

Looking forward to seeing and meeting you all and sharing stories.

Terri Ingalls

Potluck Storyteller



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What A Stephen Minister Is Equipped To Do

While much has been written about a Stephen Minister’s role, and additional info is available on the St. Matts website or from stephenmisistries.org, many people do not get the whole picture of what a Stephen Minister is equipped to do.

The following is an adaptation of an illustration from Julie McGlory, St. Matthew Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Burleson, TX.  Consider the Stephen Minister’s body and what it can provide:

FRONT

  • Head:  Thinking about God’s will
  • Eyes:    Looking out for your best interest; also, crying is allowed
  • Ears:    Ready to listen
  • Mouth: Mum is the word (confidentiality)
  • Heart:   Christ is at the heart and center of care
  • Arms:   Available for hugs
  • Hands:  A hand to help or hold
  • Legs:     Stand by you all the way
  • Feet:     Willing to go the extra mile

BACK

  • Shoulders:  Always available to lean on
  • Back:    Will bend over backwards to serve you
  • Hips:     Not to push, not to pull…but to be at your side

BEHIND YOU 100%

I believe these physical images are an excellent way to remember all that a Stephen Minister is equipped to do.  For further inquiries, or if you feel the need for support, please contact a Stephen Minister, Stephen Leader or Mother Liz.

Ted Sawyer



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God’s Blessings…St. Matthew’s Preschool

 

God’s Blessings

By Juanita Little, Preschool Director

God continues to bless St. Matthew’s Preschool in so many ways. Not only did we come into the school on the Tuesday after Labor Day to a dry preschool (as opposed to last year’s flooding), but we have been blessed to start our school year at almost full capacity! Out of 100 spots, 94 are filled, leaving just six toddler spots open. While we welcomed five new teachers this year, we love that more than half of our staff of 19 have been here for ten years or more – two have been teaching here for more than twenty years. All five of the new staff have recently had or currently have children that attend St. Matthew’s Preschool.

St. Matthew’s Preschool is dear to our hearts, as each one of our children have attended this school. We know the difference we make in the children’s lives because we see their growth each year. We want them to be successful in their future school endeavors, and we love providing the atmosphere, love and learning that can help them accomplish that. We hope that when they leave St. Matthew’s Preschool they will take a piece of our loving, patient, nourishing hearts with them, and that they will love school. God has definitely put us in a place where we can share His love and pay forward the blessings He provides.

Matthew 28:19 tells us to go out and make disciples of all the nations.  Since we as a school can’t go out and do so, God has brought the nations to us! We love and appreciate our school’s diversity. If you haven’t seen the map in the preschool hallway (on the wall on the right), be sure to check it out. The world map shows where our student’s families have come from. Our families really enjoyed adding their family to the St. Matthew’s Preschool family via the map. They even made a few connections knowing there were others from their home countries there at school together. As part of the church’s outreach ministry, we are blessed to be able to touch so many lives from so many places, from around the US to all around this country and the world—twenty-one different countries and eleven US states! Here is how far this outreach ministry reaches: Mexico, Guatemala, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Curacao, Guyana, Canada, Belgrade, Spain, Lebanon, Romania, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Iran, India, Pakistan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam; and—besides Georgia—Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, New Mexico, Kansas, Nevada, California, and Alabama.

In God’s timing, He has blessed us with the ability for the preschool to purchase a new playground. This has been a long-term dream of the preschool’s executive board, and God has helped bring that dream to fruition. We eagerly wait for the new playground to be delivered and installed sometime in October. The new playground will include a new layout with new equipment, new timbers (plastic fun timbers will replace the existing wooden ones) and mulch. We are so elated – and that’s just the staff! We can’t wait to see the excitement of the children when they get to see it and play on it for the first time.

Last, but not least, we want to thank the St. Matt’s community for continuing to support our school with your financial, spatial and supplies donations.  Our supply bucket wish list was 90 percent filled this summer!  We’d also like to thank Mother Liz for holding chapel for our little ones, and the Sunday School teachers for making sure the classrooms are ready on Monday mornings for the children to arrive and get their day started. Thank you for allowing us to use the Parish Hall when needed too. We just used the hall to have our first annual Grandparent’s Dance and it was a great night with music, dancing, and refreshments. We had 100 people in attendance. We loved providing the opportunity for the grandparents to have some dancing fun with their grandchildren.

We are looking forward to a successful school year and can’t wait to see all the ways God is going to use us in the children’s lives this year. Remember: the church is always invited to attend our Christmas program and graduation ceremony.

Many blessings to you!



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Eighth Annual St. Matthew’s Car Show – How You Can Help

8th Annual St. Matthew’s Car Show

Saturday, October 13th 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM

How YOU Can Help!

As you know, the 8th Annual St. Matthew’s Car Show will be held this year on October 13th, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, rain or shine.  We are again excited to donate much of the proceeds from the show to The Place of Seven Springs.   This year, a portion of the proceeds will go to our Youth Ministry at St. Matthew’s to be used to refurnish the classrooms affected by the flood last year.

Seven Springs is part of the Gwinnett Coalition of Health and Human services.  Families and individuals are referred to them for assistance with emergency housing, utilities and non-narcotic prescription medication. They have a food co-op and operate a Summer Lunch Program for homeless children.  We encourage you all to learn more about Seven Springs and we invite you to visit their facility on Hwy. 78.

As always, the Car Show needs your help. There are many ways to do that. We will need volunteers on the day of the show, sponsors for trophies and t-shirts, raffle items, silent auction items, arts and crafts vendors for our vendor area and cars, cars, cars!!

You can also be a sponsor for the show. Sponsorship levels start at $200 and go up to $1500 and beyond.

We are also in need of Corporate Sponsorship.  Corporate Sponsorship levels would begin at $2000.  The Corporate Sponsor name would be added to all banners, our website and offered show space the day of show.  Their name would be announced throughout the day of show and a sponsor plaque would be awarded to the Corporate Sponsor the day of show.

We are looking forward to a very successful show this year, not only in raising money for two very worthy causes, but for a great fellowship event again. So please consider helping in any way you can to make this one of our best years yet.

Thanks and God Bless,

Jack Denton

St. Matt’s Car Show Chair

 



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St. Matthew’s Annual Car Show

October 13, 2018

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Rain or Shine

A judged show for all CARS, TRUCKS AND MOTORCYCLES

to be held at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

Proceeds benefit Place of Seven Springs Ministries, Snellville, GA

Door Prizes All Day — 50/50 Raffle — KidsZone! — Concessions — Vendors

To Register A Vehicle –$15 before Oct  7, 2018 — $20 after Oct 7, 2018

For more information, visit www.stmattscarshow.com

Questions? Contact Jack Denton

 

 

 



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Parish Spotlight – John Madajewski

Our own John Madajewski, a member of St. Matthew’s since 2016, has  exhibited his work here at St. Matthew’s talent show, car shows, and other St. Matthew’s events. Read about his craft here, and the hours and attention to detail that go into his work, in the article below, which appeared in Decaturish.com on August 7, 2018.

Last year John reclaimed cypress wood from trees removed on the St. Matthew’s grounds, and has turned that wood into beautiful bowls and platters.

To read the article about John, click here.

 

This is the first in a series of occasional articles on parishioners at St. Matthew’s.  Watch for more spotlight articles in the coming months.



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Other Than Sunday — Christian Education Options

OTHER THAN SUNDAY OPTIONS

NEW!  PARTNERING WITH POLICE
One Parish, One Precinct events to learn more about relevant topics

November 3rd at 10am- Identity Theft  —

What is the Dark Web?  How do we protect ourselves from Identity Fraud?

Join us on November 3rd to learn the answers to these questions and more about different types of scams, fraud, and how thieves obtain our information. Officer Laura Steele, from the Snellville Police Department, will be teaching us how to keep our information safe and what to do if personal information is compromised.
Saturday, November 3rd, 10-12 
St. Matthews Episcopal Church

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CAFE THEOLOGY
With a focus on Anglican theology, we will read and discuss the book, Dancing with God, by Jay Emerson Johnson.
Every other Saturday at 10:30am
9/8, 22: 10/6, 13 (off-site): 11/3, 17: 12/1, 15
Mother Liz Hendrick ~ 770-979-4210

WEDNESDAYS WITH THE WORD
We will begin the year with a study of the first book of the bible, Genesis.  During Advent, we will be reading and discussing The Book of Joy, by the Dalai Lama and Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu.
Starting September 5th
WED at 11am  after Healing Eucharist at 10am
Mother Liz Hendrick ~ 770-979-4210

CENTERING PRAYER
Book study with focus on centering prayer.
TUE at 6:00-7:30pm
Vicki Conway ~ 678-215-9179



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Adult Christian Formation Winter 2018

SUNDAY MORNING CHRISTIAN FORMATION OPTIONS

Adult Christian Education

Connecting Through Holiday Traditions:

10/ 28: 11/ 4, 11: 12/ 2, 9, 16

SCRIPTURE in the library

Unpacking Bible Stories and making sense of Scripture today.
Clay Olbon, Jim Jung & Susan Larson

RELEVANT TRADITION in the parish hall

Sharing holiday traditions that make us closer to God and our people.
various facilitators and presenters

AGES AND STAGES in the York Room

Raising children in the church and sharing in our traditions.
Ward Furman and Mary Louise Richards



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Sunday School and Christian Education Registration August 12

  9:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall

Sunday, August 12

For all ages, Nursery through Adult

Tables will be set up around the perimeter of the parish hall for the class sign-up. Sign up for Nursery, Cherub Choir, Junior Worship, Parenting Group, Inquirer’s Class and other classes and activities.

To register your child  ONLINE for Sunday School, click here.

To register your youth ONLINE for Sunday School or activities, click here.

 

OR You can print one out and bring the completed form with you:

To print out a Youth Permission Form/Release, St Matts Release Form 18    St Matts Release Form 17–release only pdf

To print out a children’s Release Form (Fifth Grade and Under) St Matts Children Release Form 18.

Registration forms will also be available Sunday in the parish hall.

 

Sunday School classes for all ages will begin Sunday, August 19 at 9:30 a.m.

 



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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.