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Maundy Thursday, April 2 at 7:00 pm
Otterbein Chapel (Barlow Hall, 33 W. Home St., Westerville)
Good Friday, April 3 at 7:00 pm
Otterbein Chapel (Barlow Hall, 33 W. Home St., Westerville)
Easter Sunday "Son"rise Service, April 5 at 7:00 am
in front of Java Central on State Street, Westerville
Easter Sunday Festival Eucharist, April 5 at 10:30 am
Otterbein Chapel (Barlow Hall, 33 W. Home St., Westerville)
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Dear friends in Christ,
As I sit at Children’s Hospital this Palm Sunday morning, I am grateful for you, my church family, called St. Matthew’s (I join Marie in this thought as well). Thank you for accompanying me on this residency. I am blessed to be your priest and to serve you. I would have loved to be with you to celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the beginning of our Three Days. I look forward to journeying through Holy Week and Easter with you next week.
More importantly, in this very moment, I remember my Dad, who has now entered into the very presence of the God of Amazing Love. As you know, my Dad died last month, and now we are preparing to celebrate his life and homecoming. Though I grieve his passing, I am filled with immense gratitude for my Dad, his life, his devotion to my Mom and his family, his deep faith, his servant heart as a Deacon in the church, and his love and pride for me.
I am proud to be his son and a member of an amazing family that he and my Mom birthed and nurtured over the 63 years of their marriage. In this moment of celebration and sadness, as I join with my family for my Dad and feel surrounded by love, support, and prayers from you and so many others, I am reminded that, truly, love, compassion, and mercy win in this world. I am reminded that God reigns, that Jesus, through his life, death, and resurrection, has made a way through, and that the Spirit of God gives us courage and purpose as we continue our pilgrimage on this earth, until that day comes when we all will be reunited with those who have gone before us. These are truly days that challenge the very core of what it means to be human, yet they call us to stand and act in the name of love for all, because love wins.
Again, I say thank you with deep gratitude in my heart. Let this time be a time of courageous compassion and a remembrance of all those who have made us who we are and have gone before us.
In Christ’s Resurrection Life,
Father Joe
| | Enjoy a relaxed time and a beverage with your St. Matt’s wardens, Mark Flanders and Donna Wyatt. We want to hear from you and share the many ways that St. Matt’s needs you. What excites you about St. Matt’s? What concerns you? Mark and Donna and others will be there for fun, conversation, learning and listening. Come! | | St. Matthew's Circle of Friends is Now WeCare Ministry | | |
From Marie Kovitch.
We wanted to announce a name change to what we have been previously referring to as the “Circle of Friends.” Going forward it will now be called the “WeCare Ministry.”
We have nine team leaders who each oversee groups of around seven households. Nearly all of you will have received an initial letter signed by your team leader explaining the goal and function of this “care team” ministry. Our purpose is to make just ONE contact each month by text, email, phone, or in-person to see how you are, if you have any prayer requests or other needs, etc. It is absolutely fine if you would rather not have a team leader and continue to communicate those things through Father Joseph, Mother Abby, or the church office. Just email or text your team leader, “Thank you, but I will opt out.” If they haven’t heard back, the team leaders will make two more attempts at contacting you after the initial letter, just to make sure the message wasn’t missed. At that point, we will assume you would rather not be in a WeCare Ministry group–and that is okay!
There have been times in the past when we didn’t know someone’s needs or concern, or the extent of them, and this is one way we hope to improve flow of important communication. For those of you who have started to attend worship more often, we invite you to consider being added into the We Care Ministry. Please reach out to Marie Kovitch or Rebecca Wright to be given the name of a team leader or to answer any questions.
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NO Ladies' Holy Happy Hour in April!
Plan on getting together next week, May 6.
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Rescheduled Vestry Retreat, May 2
The Vestry will meet from 9 am-Noon for our 2026 Retreat. Our moderator, Nikki Buskirk, is a new friend of Fr. Joe’s from his work at Children’s Hospital and experienced in a wide variety of Christian formation and outreach programs.
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St. Matthew’s once again is helping the Kairos Men’s Weekend at the Marion Correctional Institution with home-made cookies. Our goal is 230 dozen and we are already at 215! Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. is a Christian faith-based ministry.
Its mission is to share the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ to impact the hearts and lives of incarcerated men, women, and youth, as well as their families, to become loving and productive citizens of their communities.
If you are able to help, contact Glenn Myres at 614-330-0920.
The pickup dates are April 14 and 15.
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Shall We Garden Again?
We are evaluating the future of our garden plot at the Otterbein community garden. Two years ago, it was very successful. Last year, the deer enjoyed it but we had very little to donate to the Promise House food pantry. Shall we try again?
If you are interested in participating in gardening, contact Marsha at 614-477-9122.
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Please Donate Cereal
Otterbein students are back from spring break and they are hungry. Drop off your donations at the PTL House during office hours: Monday-Thursday 9 am-1 pm.
| HELP NEEDED: Please consider joining the Altar Guild, a dedicated group who prepares the Altar for the Eucharist and care for the vessels and linens after each service. Contact Debbie Leaf or Sandra Weisner. | |
Easter
by Clifton Flemister.
Easter Season is the 5th season of the Church Year. It covers 50 days (7 weeks). It commemorates the Resurrection and the Ascension. Holy Week (the last week of Lent) prepares us for Easter Morning and the Resurrection .
The main emphasis is on the Resurrection. This is the oldest and most important of the seasons. The start of the Easter Season is Easter Day, which is also the oldest of all the feast days (Luke 24:1).
The date of Easter is determined by the Paschal Full Moon (the full moon that falls on or after March 21). Easter seems to be associated, in early time, with spring festivals. The word Easter may come from the Anglo-Saxon spring goddess "Eostre". This Anglo-Saxon goddess was to bring new life each year to the people. It is clear that, as with Christmas, Easter replaced an old pagan festival.
The importance of Easter is emphasized by the fact that Lent, Passiontide and Holy Week are preparatory for it. Many Christian churches observe Easter Season in much the same way. In the ancient Church, Easter day was the greatest day for baptisms. On the night before Easter day the churches, and often whole cities, were lighted, signaling the risen Lord.
Today the baptisms take place on Holy Saturday. The Great Vigil of Easter takes place during the service of the night of Saturday/Sunday.
Length of Season: Seven Weeks.
Date of Season: Variable. Between March 22 and April 25.
Mood of Season: Great Joy.
Color of Season: White.
Symbol of Season: Cross with Morning Sun.
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Opportunities to Serve
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Street Church
St. Matthew's will be serving a hot meal at Street Church on April 2 in downtown Columbus. If you would like to help that effort in any way, contact Marsha at 614-477-9122.
Support Immigrant-Owned Businesses
Click HERE a list of immigrant-owned businesses that may be of interest, compiled by Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS).
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ABOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: A session with our tech support guy, Niko, with Mark F. and Doug M.; a serving of Waffle Way waffles at Coffee with the Wardens; a presentation of Donna J.'s handiwork for Fr. Joe; Mother Abby preparing Eucharist; Pause and Paint. | | |
Thank You, Mother Abby for the many ways you stepped in to help last month.
Thank You, Doug McCann and Donna Wyatt for staffing the church office last month in the absence of our bookkeeper, Jan who took some vacation days.
A Gardener's Opportunity. We have been given permission to place a planter at the entrance of the Otterbein Chapel. Please contact Donna Wyatt to learn more.
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The Passing of the Peace: What's Happening?
At some point in the service, the priest will say: “The peace of the Lord be always with you.” And the people respond: “And also with you.” Then, as the Book of Common Prayer says: “Then the Ministers and People may greet one another in the name of the Lord” During the Passing of the Peace, what should you do?
- Say “And also with you” if you want to join in,
- Turn to a few people near you,
- Offer a simple greeting like “Peace” or “Peace be with you” “Good morning”. Then sit or refocus when the service moves on
That is completely enough. It is perfectly acceptable to smile, nod, bow your head slightly, and say “Peace”. Common customs include: a handshake, a brief smile and “Peace”, a nod or small wave, occasionally a hug, in warmer or more informal parishes.
Most Episcopalians will not mind if you keep it low-key.
What should you avoid? Try not to:
- walk all over the church greeting everyone
- start long conversations
- feel pressured to hug people
- treat it like coffee hour
- worry about “doing it wrong”
If you do not want physical contact, that is completely fine. You can:
- place a hand over your heart
- nod
- smile
- say “Peace” without extending a hand
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PIMIL
Partners-in-Ministry-in-Liberia
A person who sponsors a PIMIL student is definitely doing the Lord’s work, and the spiritual and mental rewards are quite significant. Regularly, the parents or guardians of PIMIL students communicate with the students’ sponsors regarding their progress and goals. The letters are all different, reflecting different writers. Here are a couple of recent letters received by sponsors. First, from the parent of student Sarafina, “I thank the Almighty God for the kindness of you and the PIMIL Council for paying my daughter’s first semester tuition. My daughter Sarafina is in the 12th grade attending Foya Free Pentecostal Mission High School, Lofa County. She is still determined to do Nursing. Here is her photo and the school picture. Thank you for your great support towards my daughter’s education. May Almighty God continue to bless us all! Amen, amen!”
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And here are another letter and photo, from the guardian of PIMIL student Exekiel.
“On behalf of Ezekiel, I write to extend my thanks and appreciation to you for the funds donated to PIMIL, for the First Semester School, 2025/2026 academic year. Ezekiel was born on April 4, 2009 (17yrs) and is a Grade 7 student at the Redeemer’s Elementary, Junior & Senior High School, located Barnesville Road, Garndersville Township, Montserrado County, Liberia. Ezekiel’s hobby is reading and his educational goal is to become a Medical Doctor. By the end of the 1st Semester his progress report shall be submitted. Thanks once again.”
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