From the Rector

Ubi caritas et amor; deus ibi est.

(Where charity and love are,

there is God.)

- from the ancient hymn at the washing of feet on Maundy Thursday.

November sees the beginning of an exciting new ministry at St. Matthias' called Caritas.  Caritas is the Latin word for love or charity.  Modeled on similar ministries that St. Matthias' parishioners have been involved with in other communities, Caritas provides limited emergency assistance to persons in need for items such as gas, utilities, prescriptions, work clothes, and other immediate necessities.  It also provides information and referrals for other agencies that offer assistance.

Caritas is funded by St. Matthias' Discretionary Fund, which, in the past, I as Rector have administered and used for assisting those who come looking for help.  Money for that fund comes through the Vestry from a portion of the Thrift Shop Tithe and from individual donations.

Over the past several months, several of us have met and looked at the possibility of developing a program and establishing guidelines that will provide a more consistent and accountable approach to helping those in need.  Both Bill Henderson and Judy Ozinga have been deeply involved with similar programs in Florida and Washington, and have been very enthusiastic in getting this program going here.  Additionally, numerous members of St. Matthias' have volunteered to staff the program and have gone through training to assist persons who come to Caritas for help.

Caritas operates on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 in the St. Matthias' Outreach Center.  Applicants can come during that period and are able to talk to volunteers about their needs.  There are limits on the number of times a person may be helped within a year, as well as limits on amounts that may be spent on certain types of assistance.  This is explained to the applicants as they come, as well as other types of help that may be available from other organizations.

Publicity of this new program has gone out to through posters, and press releases to various media outlets (click here for an example).

I am very grateful to Bill Henderson and Judy Ozinga for their hard work in getting this off the ground and to Janon Furlong who has agreed to be the "bean counter" -- keeping the books and overseeing the fund.  I am also grateful to all those who have volunteered to staff the Caritas office.  It is a sign of the wonderful spirit of caring within our congregation.

If you would like to help with this ministry, speak to Judy, Bill or Janon about volunteering.  If you would like to contribute financially, donations may be made to St. Matthias' Discretionary Fund.

St. Matthias' is an amazing parish.  Caritas is only one of many avenues of outreach in which our congregation is involved.  In this Ambassador, you will also read about a new program sponsored by the St. Francis Project called Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partnership.  This past Sunday we heard from representatives of that ministry at our Adult Forum and also gave a blessing of sewing machines and other items being sent to Nicaragua.

May God bless you and all those near and dear to you as we celebrate Thanksgiving and offer our gratitude for the many blessings of life.

Life is short and we have not too much time

for gladdening the hearts of those who travel with us.

So be swift to love and make haste to be kind.

- Henri-Frederic Amiel (1821-1881)

The Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac 

The Rev. Matthew Alan Gunter was elected Eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Fond du Lac at the 139th Annual Convention on October 19.

You can read more about the bishop-elect by clicking here to read the release by the Diocese of Fond du Lac, or by clicking here to read an interview done by the Diocese of Chicago, shortly after the election.