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THE GOOD NEWS


from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

The Season After Pentecost: A Time of Harvest


A Word from Father Tom


Colossians 3:6-7


6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.


Being thankful takes discipline and a reliance on the Holy Spirit. I remember one Thanksgiving in college when I had decided that on Thanksgiving Day, I would spend some time in prayer by myself focusing all of my prayer on the blessings that the Lord had provided me in this life and the life to come. It was harder than I thought.


I always enjoyed coming home from school for break. In the house that I grew up in, it was always festive, smelled of good coffee, and was decorated to the hilt. Having three other siblings and my parents present, there was always something interesting to talk about, good food being served, and plenty of good football on the television.


I eventually did get away by myself briefly, but I had to marvel at the difficulty of the whole pursuit. However, even as a clergy member, I know that being thankful, like any other act of prayer, meditation, and character development - is plagued by distraction (usually by things that in and of themselves are not bad).


May God lead us to become more and more a people who are thankful instead of so easily critical; accepting of the decisions of others when our preferences are not realized; more resilient facing things out of our control. As we do, we will find thankfulness a salve to our unhappiness and a reminder of the gifts of God's grace and love all around us.


Fr. Tom

Click on the below links to open the documents

Adult Education and Fellowship

Mark these dates for our upcoming Reading Group meetings:

  • December 8th at 6:00 PM: Tolkien Reading Group
  • December 15th at 6:00 PM: Theology Uncorked


Congregational Thanksgiving Celebration

This Sunday, November 24th, there will only one Worship Service for all members, friends, and guests of St. Matthew's, followed by the annual Thanksgiving potluck fellowship meal! Worship will be at 10 AM for everyone, with the set-up and meal shortly after. If you are new to St. Matt's or were not able to sign-up, please come anyway! All are welcome!


Hanging of the Green

Please join us on the First Sunday of Advent, December 1st, 2024, for the "hanging of the green". Many hands make light the work, so we welcome all the help we can get. The Altar Guild will lead us as we "green" the sanctuary and look toward our Feast of the Nativity, high-holy celebration, held on Tuesday, December 24th at 7:00 pm.


December Cookie Exchange and Bake Sale

The cookie exchange and bake sale (donation offers) will take place on December 8 in the parish hall. If you are interested in participating, please drop off the cookies at the church on Saturday, December 7 at 12:00 PM for the exchange. If you have any questions, please contact Jack Pitts at 309-825-8196.


Planning Financially for 2025

We have now set out the pledge cards for the new year on our newly donated information table just outside of the church office. We encourage you to turn in your pledge cards before the end of 2024.


Filling out a pledge card is not a contract which cannot be broken. It is a tangible communication of intent and support that encourages the leadership and members of St. Matthew's that we are all in this together, striving to be generous and "cheerful" givers. I am hopeful that we will have many more first-time pledgers this fall.



Worship Lectors

7:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Nov 24 - Shelley Carter (only one service)

Dec 1 - Bill Johns and Elizabeth Clark

Dec 8 - Julie Bennett and Brad Bauman


Lay Eucharistic Ministers

10:00 AM

Nov 24 - Jack Pitts (only one service)

Dec 1 - Bill Johns and Jonathan Martin

Dec 8 - Mark Gibson and Brad Bauman


Crucifer

10:00 AM

Nov 24 - Georgia Solis

Dec 1 - Carla Murillo

Dec 8 - Kathy Ledinsky


Altar Guild Prep

7:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Nov 24 - Patty Pitts

Dec 1 - Dawn St. Peters

Dec 8 - Lynn Gray


Coffee Hour Schedule

Nov 24 - Parish Thanksgiving Luncheon

Dec 1 - Linda and Lou

Dec 8 - Susan and Shelly


Looking for Church Events beyond the coming week?

Go to our website (CLICK HERE) and look at the Happenings menu for past newsletters, the church calendar, and other information.


St. Matthew’s Schedule this week

9:00 a.m.- Adult Study

10:00 a.m.- Rite II

10:00 a.m. - Children's Sunday School (Preschool - 4th grade)

11:00 a.m.- Coffee Hour

5:30 p.m. - Evensong (Evening Prayer)



Monday - Fr. Tom's day off


Tuesday

10:00 a.m.—Stitchin' Bees


Wednesday


Thursday

7:30 a.m.--Morning Prayer

6:30 p.m.- Vestry Meeting


Friday


Saturday


Sunday - Nov. 24th

10:00 a.m.- Rite II, Holy Communion

10:00 a.m. - Children's Sunday School (Preschool - 4th grade)

11:00 a.m.- Coffee Hour

5:30 p.m. - Evensong (Evening Prayer)



MONTHLY Reoccurring Events:

Each Sunday - Adult Study in Parish Hall, 9 a.m., Children's Sunday School, 10 a.m., Evensong 5:30 P.M.

Each Tuesday - Stitchin’ Bees, 10 a.m.

Each Thursday- Morning Prayer, 7:30 a.m.

Third Thursday - Vestry, 6:30 p.m.

Monthly on the 2nd Saturday of the month - Men’s Fellowship Breakfast, 8 a.m.


Weekly Choir Rehearsals:

Each Sunday - Jubilate & Jubilate Chimes, 9:15-9:45 AM

Each Wednesday - Adult Choir, 4:15-5:00 PM

Each Wednesday - Handbell Practice 5:00-5:45 PM

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

309-662-4646

office@stmattsblm.org

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