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
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Easter at St. Matt’s – Photos

April 22, 2022

Here’s just a few photos from our Easter Sunday at St. Matthew’s. If you have photos from the day that you’d like to add to our collection, please send them to admin@stmatthewssnellville.org.



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Filed Under: Children's Ministry, Easter, Parish Life, Worship

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

April 7, 2022

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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Filed Under: Lent, Spotlight on Ministry, Worship

Holy Week and Easter Services

April 1, 2022

Palm Sunday, April 10

8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
Palm Procession and Holy Eucharist (no Passion narrative until Good Friday)

Holy Monday, April 11

7:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist

Holy Tuesday, April 12

7:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist

Holy Wednesday, April 13

10:30 a.m. Healing Eucharist, 7:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist

Maundy Thursday, April 14

7:00 p.m. Foot-Washing, Holy Eucharist, and Stripping of the Altar
9:00 p.m. Prayer Vigil begins (Sign up sheet in the narthex)

Good Friday, April 15

12:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross outside (weather permitting)
7:00 p.m. Good Friday service, Veneration of the Cross and
Passion Gospel enacted by youth. (no Communion)

Saturday, April 16

7:00 p.m. Great Vigil and Baptisms (no Communion)

Sunday, April 17, Easter Sunday:

7:00 a.m. Sunrise service—begins outside
10:45 a.m. Festive Holy Eucharist (with incense)

  • The congregation is invited to bring bells to either service to ring as we celebrate the Resurrection.
  • Flowering of the Cross before and after both services in the courtyard; you may bring flowers or use the flowers provided.
  • There will be an egg hunt immediately following the 10:45 service for children 5th grade and under. Older youth are invited to help hide the eggs. Contact Holly Bond to volunteer.

 



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Filed Under: Easter, Lent, News, Worship

Spotlight on Ministry: Flower Guild

April 1, 2022

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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Filed Under: Ministries, News, Spotlight on Ministry, Worship

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

March 31, 2022

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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Filed Under: Lent, News, Spotlight on Ministry, Worship

A Word from Mother Pat+: Spiritual Weightlifting

March 18, 2022

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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Filed Under: Lent, Spotlight on Ministry, Worship

A Word from Mother Pat+: Christ in the Wilderness

March 11, 2022

This past Sunday’s gospel was about Jesus being led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus did not wander into the wilderness by accident. He sought the wilderness of the Judean hills with a purpose in mind. He went there so that God could speak to him. Being away from the crowds and his family allowed Jesus to clear his heart and mind, so that he might gain clarity about what God was calling him to do.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are invited in this season of Lent to enter a different type of wilderness. Most of us will not literally go away from family and friends to a quiet place of isolation or silent retreat, but we can try to find a quiet undistracted space for listening to God.

Ask yourself, what are my most intrusive distractions? How can I change my day or my week to allow space for quiet time with God? It may be as simple as coming to the church for a short visit to the nave to sit in solitude; or you may find a place in your home or workspace where the intrusions are diminished so you have time with God. It may be walking the stations of the cross or slowly walking a prayer path. It can be your sacred space at home when you are alone.

In the wilderness, Jesus had few if any comforts – no food, no safe place to sleep, no one to talk to, except God. Lent is an invitation to ask ourselves, “how could going without provide space to grow?” As followers of Jesus, instead of trying to fill our life with food, people and distractions when life seems difficult and stressful, perhaps it would be in our best interest to find our own sense of desert wilderness – to be alone, but with God. How can you create that space in your life, not just during Lent, but a habit of seeking God in ways which focus on listening to God in a quiet place?

May you encounter God in this season of reflection, Mother Pat+



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A Word from Mother Pat+: Marathon

February 17, 2022

Can you run a marathon?

Some people have said that our Christian life is like running a marathon. Unlike a sprint or short race, a marathon requires endurance and stamina. Our Christian journey is that sort of long race and so we have to do spiritual training in order to have the endurance and stamina to accomplish our life’s goals. We have to train to serve. We have to master skills of prayer, study, and habits of discipline in order to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. We even have to form a habit of worship to offer our praise to God. So during Lent we are once again going to focus you on a spiritual training plan.

Next week we will be offering each family a bag containing items for creating a Holy and Sacred space in your homes. This bag is meant to help you connect Sunday worship with Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday… creating a spiritual training plan not just for Lent but for the whole year.

This idea of Holy and Sacred space is not so you can stay home and watch Sunday worship on your computer or phone. This is to connect your corporate Sunday worship with the rest of your week.

St. Matthew’s has fully reopened all worship and parish programming so we hope everyone will resume in-person attendance, unless prevented by personal health reasons. The Pastoral Care Team will try to ensure that those unable to attend for reasons of health will also receive a bag for their Holy and Sacred space in their home or care setting.

Jesus’ life is a model for us. Jesus prayed throughout the day, the Jewish hours of prayer were 7 times a day. Jesus offered himself to the Father in prayer, not holding back. When we pray, we offer ourselves to God. Jesus not only committed to a life of prayer and ministry, but he trusted in God’s unfailing presence. He made himself vulnerable to God’s will just as we do when we pray. In your Holy & Sacred Space bag, you will find a prayer card for a model of short prayers throughout the day.

Yet, even in our private prayer, we are in community with each other and with others around the world who are engaged in prayer. Part of the discipline of attentiveness is this sense that we are not alone, we are part of God’s kingdom in this place and our faithfulness in prayer (regardless of the results) help bring the fullness of God’s kingdom.

Take the time to develop spiritual habits of daily prayer, regular worship, study, and occasional fasting in order to run with endurance the race which is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1-3). May you find joy in each new day, freedom in each hour, and peace in God’s presence.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday. Mother Pat+



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Filed Under: Lent, Parish Life, Spotlight on Ministry, Worship

A Word From Mother Pat+: INCENSE – Fun Trivia for the Holy Days

December 22, 2021

The Church has long used incense for special celebrations much as it was used in the Jewish tradition of Jesus’ time. Scripture refers to incense as a sign of the presence of the holy and the smoke goes up like our prayers ascending to God. Incense will only be used at the 11:00 pm service on Christmas Eve. If you have allergies to incense, then please join us for the 5 pm Christmas Eve service.

In the Revelation to John, chapter 8:1-4 we read “the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints.” In the Old Testament we find numerous references to the use of incense as a part of worship. Incense has long been associated with prayer and with special times of celebration. The magi brought fragrant frankincense as one of the gifts for the infant Jesus.

The use of sight, sound and smell in worship have long been used to connect us to each other and to God. We offer our bodies in prayer and thanksgiving – kneeling, bowing, walking, standing, sitting and other postures of praise and prayer. We see and taste the elements of consecrated bread and wine allowing God to fill us. We lift our voices in prayer, praise and song offering our gifts to God; and when we use incense it involves our sense of smell and sight allowing us to experience visually our prayers ascending to the heavens and we smell the fragrance of frankincense reminding us of God’s gift to us in the person of Jesus.

Merry Christmas, Mother Pat+



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Filed Under: Advent & Christmas, Christian Education, Worship

A Word From Mother Pat+: Perseverance

December 17, 2021

How long Lord, do we have to wait?

I am not good at waiting! If someone puts me on hold on the phone, I look around for something else to do. But in every day there are times when we must simply wait. When night comes, we can’t rush the dawn – it simply is not in our power to do so. We can get up and turn on all kinds of electric lights, but we can not make the daylight come any sooner than God plans.

In this season of the Church year that we call Advent, we enter a season of waiting. Many of you are like me and you dislike waiting in line or waiting in traffic and you may even dislike waiting for dinner to cook. That is why I like to microwave everything! Sometimes we are so impatient that we try to figure out which grocery line is moving the fastest or which lane of slow traffic will get us there more quickly. But Advent is not like that. Waiting in Advent can’t be rushed. Advent is always four weeks in length and no amount of hoping and praying will bring Christmas any sooner.

So here we are in the third week of waiting and perhaps we have already fallen into the chaos of the world rushing to buy presents and hurrying to get decorations up? As Christians, we are supposed to prepare for Christmas in a different way. We are invited to slow down, not speed up. We are invited to wait to light that beautiful green tree until Christmas actually arrives. We are encouraged to prayerfully seek out gifts for others which remind them of the love God has for us.

The primary reason for gift-giving at Christmas time is to remind us of God’s great gift of love to each of us. Perhaps you can slow down enough to pray each day and to attend worship each week. Come and slow down for just a few minutes in the presence of God. Then you can go out into that busy world renewed and refreshed. The waiting of Advent is somewhat like the waiting of a couple for that new baby – it is the waiting of anticipation and it is the waiting of mystery and hope.

Light your Advent wreath candles (one each week, so we are up to three) and say a short prayer every day recognizing that each candle represents the Light of Christ coming closer and closer to our hearts and lives. May this season bless you with a sense of God’s peace and may you find yourself ready to welcome the Christ Child this Christmas with an open heart.

So how long Lord do we have to wait? Just long enough, God tells us, so that our hearts once again become mindful of Christ’s love and just long enough so that we become a hopeful people ready to light up the world for God.
God’s peace, Mother Pat+



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Filed Under: Advent & Christmas, Spotlight on Ministry, Worship

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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.

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