Reflection
Annual Meeting — Reports and Vestry Candidates 2022
Annual Parish Meeting
January 23, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. in the parish hall or online via Zoom (see newsletter for details)
You will be able to vote in person or via Zoom:
Ballot Link for Zoom Meeting attendees.
Please view the reports here:
Annual Report 2021 Complete-Candidates and Reports
St Matthews Annual Mtg Minutes 2021 2.21.21 Final
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A Huge Thank You From the Knit, Crochet & Pray Ministry
The Knit, Crochet, Pray Ministry (KCP) at St. Matthew’s thanks all people who donated money, yarn, hats, scarves, gloves or mittens to our drive for Rosebud Episcopal Mission in Mission, SD. From this particular donation (starting our 2022 contribution), we mailed 36 hats/scarves/gloves sets, 17 hats/gloves sets, 24 extra pairs of gloves, and one pair of socks. These items were mailed last week when the temperatures were from -12-6 degrees F. The Rosebud Lakota Reservation has over 4,000 children between the ages of 4-18 years. Hence, you understand why this project is ongoing for KCP, even though our biggest collections are in the winter.
We also appreciate your donations for prayer shawls (which go to parishioners or their family/friends in need of support because of illness, death, other hardships) and/or chemo caps (which go to the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Hospital) and/or hats and scarves for the local homeless.
Last year, KCP donated the following items, thanks to your support.
Prayer Shawls given – 89
Chemo caps – 72
Rosebud Reservation:
63 hat, scarf, gloves/mitten sets
32 hat, scarf sets
13 hats
5 scarves
10 pairs of gloves
1 pair of socks
4 headbands
Clean, but gently used:
10 hat, scarf, glove sets
5 scarves
5 pairs of gloves
4 headbands
Homeless at the Church of the Common Ground
30 hat/scarf sets
Box of flat flashlights
We are so grateful for your help, and we hope you will consider assisting us in the future.
Thanks and Prayers,
Beth DiGiovanni
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Candidates for 2022 Vestry
Click the links to view the candidate’s bios.
Vestry slate will be approved on Sunday, January 23 at the Annual Parish meeting, 9:00 a.m.
Carolyn Coil Vestry Candidate 2022
Sharon Hansen Vestry Candidate 2022
Jay Jones Vestry Candidate 2022
Clay Olbon Vestry Candidate 2022
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Epiphany Meditation: Searching For Joy, by Jay Sidebotham+
If I could meet the magi, the question on my mind: What made them take that road trip? What did they hope to find?
Assume their lives were comfortable. It paid well to be wise. They spent their days at camel chase. At night they scanned the skies. They knew the stars like back of hand. They’d studied well and hard. Advanced degreed astrology, In school they got gold stars Another way to ask it: What was it they were lacking? Was there some royal restlessness that sent them westward packing? One eastern night when moon was hid and stars were shining bright, They wisely cast a glance above and spied a different light. Next night the same, but brighter. Where did that star come from? How could they have been missing it? And had it been there long? Mounting camels, off they went following that light. No need to go to mapquest. The star would steer them right. I’m sure you’ve heard the gender jokes, how men can’t ask directions. Not so for these astrologers: They made a course correction. By calling on a colleague. King Herod, deemed much wiser. They asked if he would point the way. He called in his advisers. Who searched the scripture for a text to pass along to them They told the Magi where to go “Head straight for Bethlehem” We each are like the magi. I wonder if you know it. (Though you may think it less than wise for priest to pose as poet) Our lives become predictable. We live out our routines. But then a light makes us look up and restlessness creeps in. We realize then we’re seekers for things that fill the bill. Will money make us happier? Relationships fulfill? We sometimes shop at Herod’s (the king, and not the store) To see if power fills that place. We’re always after more. If we could just work harder. The next promotion reach. If we could just act better. And practice what we preach. We each are on a journey to find joy in our lives. In many ways, we try to fill the gaps that life supplies. What are you seeking in your life? Is search for joy your quest? Have you a clue where it is found? Or where it’s best expressed? A search for joy can lose its way when clouds obscure the star. And pain of life can hide the light and then we don’t get far. Our search for joy can get bogged down, get gridlocked spiritually Our lives get in a traffic jam. There’s no green light to see. We focus on what others have. But what we fail to do Is seek for joy by looking up, by looking for what’s new. What’s new is represented in Bethlehem’s young boy. That’s where we find an answer if we’re really seeking joy. Like those kings who made that trip and left their status quoing. There’s new life to be found by all if we will start let going. Let go. Let God. Our travel tip. Let star become the guide. And know that when we take a step we go with God beside. We each are on a journey that’s guided by the Spirit. It sometimes is a bumpy road. It’s sometimes hard to steer it. But the journey is a gift itself when made by me and you. When traveling with other folks we come on something new. A life we’d not expected. Grace that helps us cope. A light that shines in darkness. Amid the cold night: Hope. Community in loneliness. A place to bring our gifts. A common spirit traveling. A star that spirits lifts. It’s possible to travel far and never leave this place. A journey of the spirit starts with one small step toward grace. The biggest trek can be one step of welcoming God’s love. Of worshipping with eyes raised up. That is the way we move. Our world sure needs us magi. Needs wise folk seeking love Who look beyond the glitter to see a star above. So let’s head back 2000 years to what these magi teach us. Across the miles, across the years their witnesses still reach us. We find the magi traveling. The Exit: Bethlehem They’re slouching in their camel seats. The next step’s up to them. They’ve traveled far. They’re tired. They’ve quarreled just a bit. Go right. Go left. Head north. Head south. But it was worth the trip. For when they met the infant king, entitlement surrendered. They offered gold, incense and myrrh, the best they had to tender. The star they followed led them to the child they now adore. The one they flood with presents has given them back more. It all made sense, so quickly clear, the reason for those miles The search for joy now ended with holy family smiles. It all made sense in worship. They found it filled their needs And when we worship Christ child king, our search for joy succeeds. This ending a beginning. Move ahead they must They headed home another way, left Herod in the dust. Their story teaches lessons still, through years more than 2k It teaches us to move ahead. Go home another way. Go forward from the place you offered gift on bended knee. Go forward to the journey next based on Epiphany Go forward based on glimpse of light that guides when dark surrounds. Go forward on your journey. There’s more joy to be found. -Jay Sidebotham |
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2021 Christmas Service Schedule
Karen Anderson To Be Ordained To the Transitional Deaconate
Tenth Annual St. Matthew’s Car Show WrapUp
Our 10th Annual St. Matthews Car Show turned out to be a great success this year. Some of the best vintage classic cars, trucks and motorcycles in Georgia were in attendance to the tune of over ninety cars. We had a fantastic Silent Auction with over 30 items and we had bidders on every single one of them. We had several new arts and craft vendors and, last but not least, we had Tipsy Pig who brought us great ribs, chicken, and barbeque.
Family Promise of Gwinnett County, who works to help homeless families in the area, was the recipient of a whopping $20,000 donation. We couldn’t have done it without our sponsorships, our volunteers, our Bake Sale, Knit Pearl and Pray, our Kids Zone, the car registrations, vendor fees and the monies raised from our silent auction. Plus Bishop Rob was here with us to pick the Bishop’s Choice trophy recipient and stayed with us through the trophy presentations.
A great big Thank you to all that helped to make this show such a great Outreach and Fellowship event. The Car Show Committee, our volunteers, all of our sponsors, those who supported us with your prayers and encouragement and all of St. Matthews , we thank you all!!
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Baptismal Promise # 3
Rooted in Christ and carrying the cross of cross we are to Proclaim the good news.
In case you have not taken a good look at the prayer card that you got in the mail with your ministry commitment form. I invite you to take a deeper look. Rooted in Christ – what does that really mean to you?
The cross reminds us of Christ’s saving act, but it also reminds us that in our humanity we are capable of great sin. But Jesus doesn’t leave us in that sinful place – he offers grace and forgiveness. Jesus came among us in order to show us how to live and he came to share God’s forgiveness and grace with us. The Church is Christ’s body – that means that we are to live in such a way that people meet Jesus when they meet us. That is how we live out our third baptismal promise which is to PROCLAIM by word and example the good news.
That is what we are supposed to be about. We are to be that compassionate and caring place, the church, where Christ is proclaimed, lives are transformed and people’s needs are met through word, sacrament, service and community.
We, as the committed disciples of Christ at St. Matthew’s, are to be that place which centers and grounds all who come to us. We are the place where people do not have to be ashamed of their sins but rather find and experience God’s abundant love and forgiveness in our midst
In our third baptismal promise, God asks “Will you Proclaim by word and example the good news?” “Will you”, Jesus asks us again and again everyday. Will you be my eyes and ears to see and hear the needs of the world? Will you take action by your words and deeds to bring the love of God to those who have not yet found their way?
Will you, Jesus asks us. And we prayerfully and faithfully say, “I will with God’s help”.
I invite you to continue your prayerful discernment about how you are called to live into your discipleship. Rooted in Christ, supported by worship, education, community & service we grow in our spiritual maturity and in our faith. As we fix our focus on the cross gazing toward God, we see the outstretched arms of Christ which form the crossbeams of the cross – we are invited and challenged to reach out in evangelism and social outreach. As we journey with Christ we find ourselves more and more opening our arms in a wide embrace proclaiming by word and deed the good news of God’s love for all creation. Blessings, Mother Pat+
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