St. Matthews Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church in Snellville, GA

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

Evening Of Remembrance Sunday, November 4

NOVEMBER 4, ALL SAINTS SUNDAY
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Quiet Reflection
7:30 p.m. Memorial Service with
Reading of the Names
If you have friends and family you would like commemorated during this service, PLEASE LIST THEIR NAMES IN THE THE RED SIGN-UP BOOK IN THE PASS-THROUGH BETWEEN THE MAIN HALLWAY AND THE NARTHEX. All names should be submitted by Wednesday, October 31st. All names will appear in the bulletin on Sunday, November 4th.
St. Matthew’s will celebrate the lives of our family and friends who have gone on before us with a special evening service incorporating some of the traditions used by cultures around the world. There will be quiet time beginning at 6:30 for various kinds of contemplation. The sanctuary and the Coil Chapel will be reserved for silent prayer. The labyrinth will be set up in the parish hall for prayer walks. Mother Liz will be available for those who just want to talk to someone. At 7:30, a brief memorial service will be held in the sanctuary during which the names of those we have lost will be read.
We hope that you will join us to light a candle, place a flower on the cross, place a stone on the cairn, or simply say a prayer as you search for your own peace and understanding of that most mystifying aspect of life: death.



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Choir Practice/Rehearsal Times

Sanctuary Choir

Join the Sanctuary Choir! Choir rehearsals are Wednesday evening from 7:20 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.. in the choir room, located in the Christian Education wing. Contact Kyle Osborne for more details.

Hand Bells

Hand bells practice Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the in the choir room, located in the Christian Education wing. If you are interested in playing hand bells please contact Sharon Ferrell.

Cherub Choir

Cherub Choir has begun practice on Sunday mornings from 10:15 – 10:45 a.m. in the Christian Education wing. All children ages three through second grade are encouraged to join this energetic group. Cherubs sing approximately once per month at the 10:30 service. Contact Laura Starratt for more information.

NEW! Children’s Choir

Children’s Choir is new at St. Matthew’s! They practice on Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. – 7:10 p.m. in the choir room. All children from third through sixth grade are encouraged to take part in this new music ministry at St. Matthew’s. Come make a joyful noise for the Lord! Contact Kyle Osborne or Sharon Ferrell for more information.

Epiphany Choir (Folk/Praise Choir)

The Epiphany Choir practices Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. If you sing or play guitar, banjo, fiddle or other instruments,  contact Flip Porter for more information. The Epiphany Choir plays every 1-2 months at the 10:30 service.

Instrumental (Any Age)

Calling all instrumentalists! If you play an instrument and would like to share your talents in worship please contact Kyle Osborne .  All ages are invited to participate,



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Photos From Worship and Celebration in Honor of Sally Ulrey’s Ministry

Check out photos of Sunday’s Celebration of Sally’s Ministry!

.

After 15 years of serving St. Matthew’s, Sally Ulrey’s last day was July 31.  We worshiped together Sunday using a liturgy that was composed in part by alumni of Sally’s youth program. Youth participatde by serving as acolytes, greeters, ushers, lectors, communion ministers and musicians. The worship music was that used during services at youth gatherings.  A reception for Sally and her family followed in the Parish Hall. We will miss Sally, and wish her Godspeed in her ministry. She was a blessing to all of us here at St. Matthew’s.

Our youth with our visitors from St. Mark’s in Jacksonville, preparing to head to the Church of the Common Ground

Youth Service Retreat “Seek & Serve”

 



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A Thank You Note From Mother Liz+

This last Sunday’s service of Pentecost was a great celebration – of the coming of the Spirit, of the reflection of the Holy Spirit as seen in baptism of three new children into the body of Christ, and in the welcome of new families to membership at St. Matthew’s at both the 8 and 10:30am services. AND we celebrated graduation of six high school seniors!

I would like to thank all of those who worked to make the Sunday so special: the altar guild, the flower guild, the great decorations, the choir, the children’s participation, Tammy Pearson’s altar flowers – there are so many more people I could list – it just goes to prove our motto – it REALLY is the people! Thank you! Mother Liz+



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9 To 99 Sunday School Class “Expressions of Faith” Workshop

Many thanks to all who attended the 9 to 99 Sunday School, where parishioners ages 9 and up participated, learning ways to express their faith.  Special thanks to all who facilitated a workshop: Sylvia Campbell for Communion Bread, Nancy Piechowiak and the Knit, Crochet & ray group for “Crochet and Pray”, Beth DiGiovanni and Janis Williams for Altar Flower Arranging, Sally Ulrey for Praying in Color, and Diane Eberhart for Easter Stories!  Everyone had a great time, and it was a chance to get to know each other across generations!

 



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The Great 50 Days of Easter

I have had questions each year about some of the changes in the worship service that take place immediately after Lent.
The time from the Great Vigil through the Sunday celebration of the Feast of Pentecost is known in the Church as the Great Fifty Days. As with many Christian celebrations, it takes its roots from Jewish tradition. The feast we call Pentecost is drawn from the Jewish celebrations of Passover and Shavuot. The time between Passover and Shavuot is known as the Feast of Weeks, which counted a week of weeks, or 49 days, with Shavuot occurring on the 50th day. Shavuot was originally an agricultural festival, but it came to be celebrated as the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Pentecost, also known as Whitsunday, is the eighth and last Sunday of Easter. Since Easter is not just one day, but a season, there are practices the church does to mark this time as a special time of celebration:

  • The Paschal candle is lighted during all services.
  • The Easter acclimation is used at Eucharist and at the daily offices.
  • “Alleluia, alleluia” is added to the dismissal at Eucharist celebrations and the daily offices; fraction anthems including Alleluias are chosen, as are hymns with multiple Alleluias.
  • The Confession of sin may be omitted entirely during the 50 days.
  • Some churches follow the prohibition made during the Council of Nicea in the fourth century that prohibited kneeling during the great 50 days, whether during the Eucharistic prayer or when receiving communion at the altar.
  • A lesson from the Acts of the Apostles is appointed for every day during the Great 50 Days, and is used as the first reading on Sunday, in place of the Old Testament lesson.
  • Since the entire season is a celebration, the vestments and altar colors are white.

Since it helps us to remember that Easter is a season and not ust a Sunday St. Matthew’s follows most of these changes during the Great 50 Days. See how many you notice this Sunday!

The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia, alleluia!!
Peace,
Liz+



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New Director of Music Announcement

Mr. Kyle Osborne is St. Matthew’s New Director of Music

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Kyle Osborne as St. Matthew’s Director of Music, effective April 16, 2018.

Kyle comes to us from St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in McDonough, where he served as Director of Music and organist since 2016. He has over ten years’ experience in  Episcopal churches but has also served in Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist and Christian churches. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from Stetson University in Florida and has done post-graduate work at the University of Tennessee and the University of Texas.

Kyle received enthusiastic approval from every member of the Music Search  Committee. David Chandler, chair of the Search Committee, described Kyle as a virtuoso organist who embraces a diversity of musical styles and cultures; who has  experience in working not only with adult choirs, but with children and youth, and who has the capability to build a music program.

Kyle will be on campus the week of April 16, and will play at the 8 a.m. service on April 22. Please join me in welcoming him to St. Matthew’s.

I would like to thank David Chandler and members of the Music Search Committee for a job well done, not only in finding excellent candidates for our next Director of Music, but also for creating a Vision for the music Program.

I would also like to thank Russell Meyer for a wonderful job as our interim organist and choir director over the past several months. Russell came on board in the aftermath of the flood with the music library in storage and no rehearsal hall. Yet he made it work and led the choir capably during this transitional time. Russell, we are grateful for your leadership and talent.

Peace, Liz+



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April 22 was Youth Sunday–Check It Out!

 

April 22nd is Youth Sunday, where the Youth run the service, pick the music, help with the sermon, act as EMs, read the readings and lead the psalm.  It’s a great time to allow the youth to practice living into their ministries, and to offer their  services to the church  and to  God. And, even though  it may be a  little different,the energy and enthusiasm of our youth is refreshing and you might be surprised, but they have a lot to teach us older folks as well.  You can learn a lot from our youth!  Please come learn, worship and participate with us on Youth Sunday!



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Holy Week and Easter Services at St. Matthew’s

SUNDAY, April 14, 8:00 a.m. AND 10:30 a.m. (with incense at 10:30 a.m.)

Blessing of the Palms and Palm Procession 

PLEASE NOTE that the blessing of the palms and the procession will begin earlier than last year:

Beginning  at 7:50 a.m. prior to the 8:00 a.m. service in the parish hall

Beginning at 10:10 a.m. prior to the 10:30 a.m. service in the parking lot/courtyard (weather permitting)

The youth will lead the palm procession for the 10:30 service

The Passion Gospel–re-enactment by the St. Matt’s youth at 10:30 a.m. service

 

HEALING EUCHARIST   WEDNESDAY, April 17, at 10:00 a.m.

 

MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE –    THURSDAY, April 18, at 7:30 p.m.

Hand and Foot Washing and Eucharist

Followed by the VIGIL AT THE ALTAR OF REPOSE

9:00 p.m. Thursday—11:30 a.m. Friday.

Sign up on the sheet in the narthex at church to watch and pray overnight.

GOOD FRIDAY     FRIDAY, April 19

11:30 A.M. Stations of the Cross

12:00 NOON Good Friday Service with music

6:45 P.M. Stations of the Cross

7:30 P.M. Good Friday Service with music

 

EASTER VIGIL SATURDAY, April 20 (with incense)
with the Sacrament of Baptism
or Renewal of Baptismal Vows

AT 7:30 P.M. 

Bring bells to ring at the Gloria during the service as we begin the celebration of the first Eucharist mass of Easter
(Please note that there is no nursery available for the Easter Vigil. Children of all ages are always welcome in church.)

 

EASTER DAY, SUNDAY, April 21, 8:00 A.M. AND 10:30 A.M. (with incense at 10:30 a.m.)

Flowering of the Cross before and after both services–bring flowers from  home or use those provided

This year (weather permitting) we will place the cross in the courtyard.
All are invited to place flowers on the cross before or after either service. 

Nursery available for ages 6 mos. – age 4 at the 10:30 a.m. service; Children of all ages are always welcome in church at any service.



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Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Service Schedule

Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 24 — One combined service at 10:00 a.m.**

Christmas Eve, December 24 —

5:00 p.m. Family Service with Children’s Sermon, Holy Eucharist Rite II, with the Cherubs**

7:30 p.m.  Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with incense**

10:30 p.m. Carol Sing**

11:00 p.m. Festive Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with incense**

 

Christmas Day, December 25 — One Service, 10:00 a.m.**

**No nursery available Christmas Eve or Christmas Day so that our nursery volunteers may attend church with their families. Children of all ages are always welcome in church.



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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.