St. Matthews Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church in Snellville, GA

 “Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.” Psalm 95, v.1-2
 

Rector’s Corner: The Holiest of Weeks

We are entering one of the busiest times of the church year: Holy Week. It is a time filled with multiple liturgies, schedules, and arrangements between the various ministry groups, worship times, and many bulletins (I say this as I finish another round of proofreading). The church will have a lot of activity as we prepare to welcome visitors, seekers, and guests. We will do our best to enter into the sacred space of Holy Week. But I want you to consider taking a little time for yourself in the presence of God.

A clergy colleague always says during the season of Advent, “Slow down, be quiet; it’s Advent.” Maybe we can apply this slogan to Holy Week and hear me out before you say, “That’s all well and good, Father Tim, but you know how insane this week can be?” When I invite you to take some time to yourself, it can be just about anywhere and anytime during Holy Week. You may find the time for silent meditation for a moment throughout one of the liturgies, especially during the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday liturgies, where there is intentional silence. You may find time on Holy Saturday as you prepare for the Easter celebrations. Perhaps you can find time to reflect on the last week of Jesus during a walk in the beautiful spring we are experiencing in Snellville. You could find time during an early morning in the week as you pray and offer yourself and your day to God with your first cup of coffee.

And you may find that the only time you get is during a drive to church or somewhere else. Regardless of where you find time for yourself, know that all our occasions with God are holy, sacred, and unique, and God is interested and wants to be with you and, hopefully, vice versa. However, as you enter and experience Holy Week this year, I hope you are intentional and open to the time God gives you and the wonder of this week’s liturgies.

May God be with us as we travel with Jesus to the cheering crowds of Jerusalem to the intimacy of Maundy Thursday, from the solemnity of Good Friday to the joyful proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection and victory over death at the Great Vigil of Easter and Easter Sunday. I pray that we all have a wonderful Holy Week and find God in some unexpected places during our journey with Jesus.

Holy Week Blessings!

Father Tim Meyers
Rector



Share this on your social network:

Pancake Supper Served by our St. Matt’s Youth on Shrove Tuesday

Many thanks! and kudos to the Youth and the youth parents for an outstanding Pancake Supper on Shrove Tuesday, February 21! We had a great turnout for the evening, and appreciate all the support from the parish for our youth program. All funds generated will support youth programs.

Check out a few photos from the evening!



Share this on your social network:

Holy Week and Easter Services

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.

 



Share this on your social network:

Musical Meditation For Holy Week

by Kyle Osborne, St. Matthew’s Director of Music

Music for Holy Week

As we approach Holy Week, I wanted to share some music for meditation that may not be familiar but that I feel should be more well known.

The first piece I would share is “O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sünde groß” BWV 622 from the Orgelbuchlein (Little Organ Book) by J.S. Bach (1685-1750). This piece is an organ setting of the Lutheran Chorale by German theologian and hymn writer Sebald Heyden (1499-1561). O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sünde groß” is a Passiontide Hymn based on the Four Gospels and was originally 23 stanzas. Bach choose to set the first stanza as an ornamented chorale. Bach vividly depicts the chorale text with appoggiaturas, sighs, and striking chromaticism. The text and listening link are below.

O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sünde groß,
darum Christus sein’s Vaters Schoß
äußert und kam auf Erden.
Von einer Jungfrau zart und rein
für uns er hier geboren ward,
er wollt’ der Mittler werden.

O man, thy grievous sin bemoan,
For which Christ left His Father’s throne,
From highest heaven descending.
Of Virgin pure and undefiled
He here was born, our Saviour mild,
For sin to make atonement.

https://soundcloud.com/user80906043/bach-o-mensch-bewein

“Crucifixion” from Symphonie Passion by Marcel Dupre (1886–1971) is a programmatic organ work that was originally improvised during a recital on the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia. In this work you can hear Jesus walking to Calvary, falling along the way, the hammering, the anguish, and torment of being nailed to the cross, crying out to God before he breathes his last, his body being lowered and laid in his mother’s lap. Dupre ends quietly, in peaceful sorrow with the Stabat Mater chant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s_N9e32bcw&t=43s

Last year we recorded Stations of the Cross with organ interludes French organist and composer Cesar Franck (1822–1890). The results were very moving, and I would like to share them with you again this year. Here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIq9KiYmTlc&t=16s

I hope these works will enhance your Holy Week meditations.

Kyle Osborne
Director of Music



Share this on your social network:

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.