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The Messenger February 2026

Edition 64

St. Matthew's and the Pray.Think.Love Way

As your priest, I celebrate you, St. Matthew's, and honor you for the community of Christ you are. I celebrate your faith, your care for one another, and your unconditional love for your neighbor. You are truly living out the Pray Think Love Way. 2025 was a year of creative churching between the priest and the parish, and I believe God blessed our offering together.

Pray: We are cruciform people; that is, we have the vertical relationship with God expressed in our dynamic worship and manifested in our prayer life together. Prayer changes us, and we change things by inviting the Holy Spirit into a vertical way of prayer that acts on behalf of this world.

Think: We are a people of God who do not check our brains at the door. We embrace courageous curiosity for truth. We live the questions and call it faith in action. We are sinners in the hands of a loving, forgiving, all-compassionate, and all-merciful God who calls us to listen deeply to the other and honor their stories.

Love: We proclaim that love is the common denominator of all divine human activity in this world. As Victor Hugo writes in Les Misérables, "To love another person is to see the face of God." So, we love and learn to love more, even when it seems complicated. We strive to be recognized as part of the actual Jesus movement by how we love. To see the face of God begins with how we love each other in our parish, and as it spills out into Westerville and the world, this love is the very image of God and the incarnation in the face of every human being.

Way: This is the Way of Jesus Christ, as Paul writes of in the second chapter of Philippians:

"5. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6. who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, 7. but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, 8. he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-11).

To have the very mind of Christ is to be humble, emptying ourselves for others in obedience to God and self-sacrifice. This Way is the Way of exaltation and praise found in the submission of our wills to the will of the Pray Think Love Way.

Let this same mind be in us as we begin a new year of praying, thinking, and loving for the sake of a dark world that is hungering for the light of hope and peace. It begins with our conversion to surrendering our lives to Christ in how we love God, others, and ourselves. I look forward to what God has in store for us as we invest invite, and involve ourselves in the Way of Jesus.

Father Joe

Ladies' Holy Happy Hour

Wednesday, February 4, 6:30 pm PTL House

The Epiphany Season

~ Submitted by Clifton Flemister ~

Lent is the fourth season of the Church Year. It originally was three days long, then increased to six days. It is now forty days long, having incorporated the teachings we learn from Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness.

I think the most demanding of the six seasons in the Church Year is Lent. During Lent we are encouraged to be actively involved in more things than in any of the other seasons. This can make Lent demanding work.

Here is guidance from the Book of Common Prayer and how we should observe Lent: all Christians are invited “to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word” (BCP, p. 265).

Yet, I think this season is most rewarding and fulfilling. I feel more full and alive when the season ends. The 40 days have made me feel better and prepared for the glorious time we will celebrate the gift of new life through the Risen Jesus.

So, for 40 days, starting on Ash Wednesday (February 18) we will be doing things to enrich our spiritual life and get ready for the happy time of the Season of Easter.

A rewarding and enriching Lent to you and yours.

Clifton Flemister

EQ (Emotional Intelligence) Cafes to be Offered

Members of St. Matt's are invited to join four 90-minute sessions called EQ Cafes to be lead by Liz Adamshick. Focusing on "Resiliency, Conflict, and Authenticity", the workshops are designed to help use emotions as allies, teachers and guides. Learn how to assess, harness and transform emotions to help strengthen relationships, deepen self-awareness and support our pursuit for meaning and purpose.

Liz has 42 years’ experience in volunteer resources management, having directed volunteer engagement programs for Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus, Columbus AIDS Task Force, and in faith communities, high schools, and university settings.

Saturdays, ~~January 24, 31~~, February 7, and 14

10:30 am-12 pm

Pray.Think.Love House

Volunteer at the Church House Office

Would you like to help organize and maintain our church files? Clifton Flemister, who has been our historian and office supervisor for many years, will soon resign from those duties. Call or text Donna Wyatt at 513-203-6505 or email her to get more information.

Donate Cereal for Otterbein's Promise House

Donations of cereal are always welcome by the students at Otterbein. Office hours of the PTL House are M-F 9 am-1 pm. Stop in with your donations.

Donate and/or Volunteer - Street Church

St. Matthew's will be serving a hot meal at Street Church on February 8 in downtown Columbus. If you would like to help that effort in any way, contact Marsha at 614-477-9122. We will also provide more warm weather gear to these needy folks. If you have coats or blankets you can donate, please drop them off at the PTL house.

Support Immigrant-Owned Businesses

Fr. Joe contacted WARM (Westerville Area Resource Ministries) who told him that many people cannot get food because they are living in fear. WARM is looking for volunteers to serve as “proxies” to help deliver food. You can also help by shopping at immigrant-owned stores, eating at immigrant-owned restaurants, and spending time at immigrant-owned coffee shops. Click here to read Fr. Joe's letter to us on ways to support our immigrant neighbors including a list of immigrant-owned businesses.

The Westerville Queer Collective held a large garthering in January at the PTL House to make care packages for the houseless.

Bryson G. performed his contest piece for us after a service, with Lindsay's accompaniment. A very proud Mama looks on.

HHH Ladies brought "something beautiful" to share for their monthly gathering, and the gallery was lined with Fr. Joe's vestments, 32 years' worth.

On a bone-chilling day, at Street Church we warmed hearts serving 52 individuals in need. We were able to provide not just hearty meals but also a cozy collection of clothing, including beautifully hand-made knitted scarves and an abundance of hats and gloves.

The Epiphany Brunch was an absolute delight! A special shout-out to Vicki L., whose culinary skills truly knocked our socks off.

Clifton and Abby F. were among those at the St. Matt's table at the MLK Jr. Breakfast.

Mark F. poses with fellow members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Project Team (a group of Leadership Westerville) on which he served. Mayor David Grimes is seated in the center.

Our 2026 Annual Meeting was a meaningful event as we convened to approve a three-year funding plan aimed at supporting a part-time priest-in-charge. We celebrated the efforts and hopes of our ministries.

Please contact Priest-in-Charge, Fr. Joe, Senior Warden, Mark F. or Junior Warden, Donna W. if you have any questions or comments about the topics discussed at our meeting. St. Matt's welcomes input of all our congregants. Thank you to all who came to this very important business meeting.

Sunday Conversations with Refreshments/Coffee

Sundays after the 10:30 am Worship Service, Otterbein Chapel, 88 Cochran Alley

WholeHeart Tuesdays

Tuesdays, 6:30 pm. Pray.Think.Love House

An hour of prayerful conversation from poetry or current book led by Fr. Joseph.

Ladies' Holy Happy Hour

Every 1st Wednesday, 6:30 pm, Pray.Think.Love House

Ladies, join us for a chance to meet new friends and catch up with old ones. A meal will be served plus wine.

Pause and Paint

Every 2nd Monday, 7-8 pm, Pray.Think.Love. House

A meditative, Christ-centered time with artist Mah Leah Cochran, designed to unite the community through creative expression.

PIMIL

(website: Partners in Mission in Liberia)

PIMIL's Theme for the 2025-2026 School Year. Every year, the PIMIL Council chooses a new fundraising theme for the school year. The themes usually are taken or derived from holy scripture. This year, the Council approved a theme drawn from Jeremiah 29:11, and suggested by Vice-chair Greg Leaf. The theme is “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.” We hope the students and everyone in the PIMIL family will reflect on and be inspired by the theme.

The students will be invited to write a one-page essay on their understanding and application of the theme, and the essays will be included in the table centerpieces at this summer’s International Luncheon and Silent Auction. The luncheon will be held on July 18 at St. Philip Episcopal Church (Columbus), and the featured speaker will be The Rev. David Kendall-Sperry. Rev. Kendall-Sperry, pictured, is a PIMIL sponsor and the rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (Delaware, OH).

LOVEboldly

website: HERE

"How Sweet the Sound?" A New Project by LOVEboldly

Co-developers and co-hosts of “Coming Out Christian,” Siobhan and Rev. Dr. Ben, have put together this mini-season focusing on the hymns, songs, gospel music, and worship anthems used at church. They’re going to “grade” each song:

Chord Change - It just needs a little work.
Remix - It needs a lot of change, but it’s salvageable.
Record Scratch - It’s time to stop playing this one in church

Available at the Coming Out Christian Podcast and wherever you get your podcasts.

February 1 - Amazing Grace
February 8 - Awesome God
February 15 - Oceans (Where My Feet May Fail)
February 22 - Onward Christian Soldiers

LOVEboldly is excited to partner with The Salty Pigeon, an Ohio LGBTQIA+-affirming small business, that shares our commitment to serving Queer people at the intersection of Queer identity and faith. During February a portion of the profits from EVERY item sold will be donated to LOVEboldly!

Check out The Salty Pigeon’s online store and their Instagram (show them some love and like and follow). Support an Ohio small business, and support LOVEboldly at the same time!

Good Medicine Productions

website: HERE

Celebrating 10 years!

We’re marking the occasion with our 10th Anniversary Gala of Silliness and would love to celebrate with the St. Matthew’s community. This work would not have been possible without the generosity, partnership, and support of St. Matthew’s over the years—and we are deeply grateful. All staff and congregation are warmly invited to join us for an evening of joy, laughter, and community. Save the Date: June 7, 2026

Good Medicine Joy Grams. If you know a child currently in the hospital, Good Medicine Productions offers Joy Grams: short, personalized videos filled with humor, connection and silliness. These little doses of good medicine are created just for them and sent directly to help brighten a hard day. AND IT'S FREE! To request a Joy Gram, simply fill out the form HERE.

The Painted Hedgehog

website: HERE

The Painted Hedgehog, is a new venture holding art classes for children ages 5-12 at our PTL House! They focus on the artistic process, allowing little artists to explore fostering independence and connections while having fun.

Try a FREE class by filling out their offer HERE!

From our Diocese and the Wider Church

Beloved Community Book Study will begin discussion Jan 6 (continues Feb. 3 and March 3) of The Church Cracked Open by the Rev. Stephanie Spellers, 7 pm on Zoom. Register HERE. Request a complimentary copy of the book in paperback, kindle, or audiobook when you register. Reading the book is not mandatory for this book study!

Protesting Faithfully: A Toolkit for Public Witness: A new resource from the Episcopal Church. This “Protesting Faithfully” toolkit—with content updated and adapted from “The Episcopal Street Action Handbook”—offers spiritual grounding and practical resources for faithful presence at protests and public demonstrations. These materials, which include downloadable songs, prayers, and Scriptures in English and Spanish, integrate spiritual care, nonviolence training, and the logistics of safe, compassionate Christian witness. Click HERE to access this new toolkit from The Episcopal Church.