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The Messenger June 2026

Edition 68

Dear friends in Christ,

The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke of UBUNTU as the core value of his philosophy and life’s work:

“There is no direct translation in Western terms. Ubuntu (an African concept) means I am human through my relations with others.You are a person through other persons. It speaks of social or communal harmony, as a human person, not seen as a corporate entity. The solitary individual person is, in our understanding, a contradiction in terms. Ubuntu says I am human only because you are human. If I undermine your humanity, I dehumanize myself. Ubuntu speaks of warmth, compassion, generosity, hospitality, and seeking to embrace others. You must do what you can to maintain this great harmony, which is perpetually being undermined by resentment, anger, or a desire for vengeance.”

He wrote in his book Crying in the Wilderness—a collection of sermons and speeches—that we can only be fully human if we accept the humanity of the other. He stated: "A person is a person through other persons, thereby showing that we are all created through divine love, in God’s image, and that we bear the spirit of God, even if we don’t recognize it.“

One could experience our society as a way of selfish arrogance and gratuitous violence against all that makes us human. Let us remember that we are created in the image of God—the God of love—and that every living thing is a reflection of the divine desire to create, redeem, and make holy. Let us remember that when we hate, name-call, attack, dehumanize, or marginalize another human being, we hate, name-call, attack, dehumanize, and marginalize ourselves.

We resist a selfish world by cultivating a community counterculture…to reclaim a first-century way of subversive love and prophetic living into the way of ubuntu. To be the change that we want to see in the world, as Gandhi said.

Let this summer of 2026 be a summer of ubuntu for our St. Matthew’s community, because we are only a church when we are a church for others, not ourselves.

In the community of Christ,

Father Joe

Ladies' Holy Happy Hour

Wednesday, June 3, 6:30 pm, Pray.Think.Love House

Pizza will be served

Please bring a friend!

PENTECOST SEASON - Submitted by Clifton Flemister

We have entered into the 6th, and last, season of the Church Year. This is the “Season after Pentecost”. It is also called “Ordinary Time”. Here are some facts about the season:

It is called “Pentecost” because it concludes the 50 days after “Easter Day”.
It starts God’s new creation of the Church, on “The Day of Pentecost”, the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The coming of the Holy Spirit reveled the three-fold of nature of God to the Apostles and the early followers of Jesus, and us today—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The season lasts about six months.
During the season we focus on the life of Jesus, on growing in our knowledge of Him, and how we can develop our faith.

Each week in the season, St. Matt’s will focus on a passage, or a topic that can help us better understand how we worship and to be more committed believers.

Let us all put on our learning caps so we can be more knowledgeable Christians.

Saturday, June 6

5:00 to 8:00 pm

Behind Westerville City Hall

COME AND HANG OUT WITH ST. MATT'S FOLKS

St. Matthew’s will have a tent at Westerville PRIDE! The celebration is organized by our friends at the Westerville Queer Collective, who have their monthly board meetings at the Pray.Think.Love House. Come help us show our support and spread Jesus’s love as one of the few churches at the event. St. Matthew’s participation is being led by Amber Nickels. Please email Amber (or call at 614- 579-0203) with any questions or to volunteer.

Are You Ready for Your Close-Up?

We will soon have an updated church directory in our hands. For your opportunity to edit or opt out of having any or all of your information in the directory (photo, name, address, email and/or phone), a markup copy will be available at church through June 14th (second Sunday). Or email Elaine Freund (401-263-5967). If you would like to change your picture, Glenn Myres or Elaine will take a new one or simply email your photo to Elaine.

Good Medicine, a local theatre group who got their start at St. Matthew's will celebrate their 10th anniversary, and our friend and founder of GM, Kristy Vucolo, couldn't be happier! She touts the evening as a “one-of-a-kind part party, part performance, and all heart”.

Sunday, June 7, 2026

5:00–7:00 PM

American Legion

393 E. College Ave., Westerville

“Fun for the WHOLE FAMILY. FIND YOUR JOY.”

Tickets are available (suggested donation) HERE.

St. Matt's Prayer Chain

As many of you know, we have had a Prayer Chain “behind the scenes” for many years. The Prayer Chain members (about 15) use their own private time to pray for others, and for those who have requested prayers of a confidential nature.

Some names on the public prayer list (bulletin and newsletter) are known to the Prayer Chain members because they are given more details; sometimes just a name is given to me just for the public lists. And sometimes I am requested to add a name and reason to the Prayer Chain and told if it is confidential or not. Those on the Prayer Chain merely receive emails from me when this happens and are asked to pray. Nothing else is required.

Please email me at mrsjoe4586@gmail.com if you would like to be part of the Prayer Chain - or whenever you would like to submit a prayer request. ~ Marie Kovitch

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

Opportunities to Serve

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Help with Street Church

Volunteers are needed for Street Church, Sunday, June 14, at St. John’s Episcopal Church on West Town Street, Franklinton, from 12:30-2:30 pm. We need hard boiled eggs, as well as people to help cook, serve and clean up. If you are able to provide items for our free store, drop them off at the PTL house by Saturday, June 13.

Text, call or email Marsha at 614-477-9122 if you are interested in helping, boiling eggs or have any questions.

Join the Altar Guild

Help set up the Holy Eucharist for St. Matt's. We are a small but dedicated group of people who prepare the Altar for the Eucharist and care for the vessels and linens after each service. Polishing the Missal Stand, candle holders, chalices are also part of the duties.

Currently serving: Marc Hopper, Debbie and Greg Leaf, Kathy and Ed Summers, Phil Richcreek, Sandra Weisner, Marie Kovitch, Terry and Mike Mahoney, Rebecca and Tom Wright. If you feel called to serve or would like to know more about this rewarding service, contact Debbie Leaf or Sandra Weisner.

Vestry Retreat, Items donated to Mrs. Rutherford's class and blessing Clifton and Mother Abby for their 60th wedding anniversary.

Of Interest!

Mother Abby will be preaching as a Supply Priest on July 6 at St. John’s in Columbus and July 14 at St. Peter’s, in Gallipolis.

Donna Wyatt attended a four-hour Zoom seminar on AI & Prompting - Empowering the Church for Today and Tomorrow sponsored by our Diocese.

Yoga at the PTL House. Please complete this Yoga Class Interest Form to gauge the viability of restarting classes at the church house.

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. The group is studying Black Liturgies by Cole Arthur Riley.

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

Partners-in-Ministry-in-Liberia

PIMIL International Luncheon and Silent Auction Returns July 18

PIMIL will host its 17th International Luncheon and Silent Auction Fundraiser on Saturday, July 18, from 12:30–3:30 pm at St. Philip Episcopal Church in Columbus. This year’s theme is based on Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” The event will feature guest speaker The Reverend David Kendall-Sperry, Rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Delaware, Ohio.

Proceeds from the luncheon support educational opportunities for children in Liberia, with a fundraising goal of $22,000 for the year. Guests will enjoy Liberian and American dishes, African drumming, intercultural worship, children’s activities, door prizes, vendor and silent auction tables, and correspondence and photos from the children supported through PIMIL. Mother Abby will also be signing copies of “The Story of PIMIL.”

Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for ages 5–19, and free for children 4 and under. Plenty of parking is available at St. Philip Episcopal Church, 166 Woodland Ave., Columbus.

If you cannot attend and would like to make a donation, checks should be written to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church with PIMIL on the memo line. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 30 East College Avenue, Westerville, OH 43081.

Faithfully, on behalf of the Joint Planning Committee:

Robin Holland – (614) 888-1933 – St. Philip, Columbus

Greg Leaf – (740) 953-2203 – St. Matthew’s, Westerville

Abby Flemister – (614) 891-2960 – St. Matthew’s, Westerville

_________________________________

LoveBOLDLY

We can't wait to welcome you to the

THIRD Annual Interfaith Pride Service!

Tuesday, June 16, 7 pm

City Creek Events, 1200 Chambers Road

Grandview Heights, Ohio

The Service: A celebration of Queer joy, community, and the dignity of all people, this service is a reminder that LGBTQIA+ people have always been part of religious and secular traditions. Some participants include: