Current Announcements

Welcome to St. Matthew’s!   Visitors are invited to a 7-minute welcome immediately following the 10:30am Eucharist by the baptismal font, and to join the community for refreshments downstairs in the parish hall.

Education Hour: St. Matthew’s offers Christian Education for all ages on Sundays at 9:15am (September-May). Children ages 3 through 3rd grade are invited to Godly Play.  Grades 4-6 may attend Faithweavers. For more information about Godly Play or Faithweavers, please contact Lis Christenson at (651) 646-2969 or lisdc@comcast.net.  Youth Group for grades 7 through 12 meets in the Youth Room adjacent to the Parish Library.  For more information, please contact Director of Youth Ministries, Lindsay Thalacker via email at lthalacker001@luthersem.edu.  Adult Forum meets in the Parish Library; a complete Forum curriculum can be found online at www.stmatthewsmn.org.  An Adult Reading Group is meeting in the computer room.  For more information about the Reading Group, please contact Vickie Woodcock at woodcock@chem.umn.edu.
 
Taizé Candlelight Prayer:  St. Matthew’s offers Taizé every first and third Thursday of the month at 7:30pm in the sanctuary. The next service will be next Thursday, February 21. Please invite a friend!
 
Old Time Hymn Sing: Sing along to old favorites at an Old Time Hymn Sing and Vesper Service TODAY in the Undercroft. This family-friendly event will begin at 5:30 with a simple soup supper followed by the Hymn Sing around the piano (6:15) and a short Old Time Vesper Service (evening prayer). The entire event will end by 7:30 latest. If you have suggestions for hymns or would enjoy the opportunity to play the piano, email dukeaddicks@earthlink.net, and he’ll bring the words and sheet music.
 
Men’s Bible Study:  All men are invited to a bi-weekly Bible Study on Tuesdays at 7:30am in the parish library. The next meeting is Tuesday, February 19. Contact Dwight at dzscheile001@luthersem.edu if you need more information.
 
St. Matthew’s Youth Choir/Ensemble:  All youth, ages 9 and up – if you love to sing, play any instrument or would like to learn, please join us TODAY!. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month in the Choir Room at 5pm.  For more information, please contact Katie Lowry at (651)483-1472 or katio.lowry@gmail.com.
 
Craft Circle:  All crafters are invited to meet in the parish library every Wednesday (except Holiday weeks) at 7pm for fellowship while crafting. For more info, contact Maclore at maclore.christensen@navitaire.com.
 
Emergency Meals:  Please contact Joan Hershbell at (651) 645-6173 when bringing food, and ensure all meals are well wrapped, labeled and dated.
 
Building Use:  The official calendar of the parish may be viewed online (www.stmatthewsmn.org and click on “calendar”).  Please call Michael at (651)645-3058 during office hours (Tuesday-Friday, 9:30am-2:30pm) to reserve space and have your event entered on the electronic calendar.
 
Compline Service: Come to a family-friendly service of prayer, thanksgiving, music, anointing with holy oil, joining hands for healing and a concluding lullaby on Sundays at 7pm. There will be coffee and conversation in the Undercroft and a period of Silence. Contact Duke Addicks at (651)643-0622.
 
Sermons Online: Sunday sermons are posted on our website in the hope that you revisit them, share them with friends, and that you be “in the loop” when away for the weekend. Please visit us at www.stmatthewsmn.org.
 
Native America Flute Circle:  Meets on second Thursdays in the parish library at 7pm.  All are welcome.  See Duke Addicks for more info.
 
Volunteers needed: Homebound elderly and those with disabilities rely on volunteers to provide them with a nutritious meal in order to continue living independently in their home.  But, often a volunteer delivers much more than a meal.  They deliver a smile, kind words, and provide a wellness check on the most vulnerable adults in our community. Meals are ready to be picked up at the Merriam Park Community Center at 11am and delivery takes about an hour. Routes are available Monday – Friday ranging from once a week to once a month. Children (18 months+) are welcome to join you, when delivering. If interested, please contact Hollie Ott, Keystone Community Services Volunteer Coordinator at (651) 603 6650.
 
Confirmation:  All youth and adults who wish to be confirmed by the Bishop at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis on Saturday, May 10, are required to attend a 6-week confirmation preparation course that starts on the evening of Sunday, March 9.  If you plan to participate in the spring confirmation, please contact Lindsay at lthalacker001@luthersem.edu.
 
Centering Prayer: Bea Melby and Marilyn Grantham are going to resume having Centering Prayer on Saturdays at 8:30am in the church library, starting this Saturday, February 9.  If you are interested in joining them, please email Marilyn at m.grantham@comcast.net.
 
Safe-Church Training: There will be a Safe-Church Training session for "Safeguarding God's Children" on Saturday, March 1, 9:00am - 12:00pm in the Library at St. Matthew's. Nancy Alholm will be leading the training, which includes video and discussion.  This training is required for all mentors of the youth. Everyone who is signed up to mentor this spring, as well as anyone who anticipates mentoring in the future or simply would like to be Safe-Church trained should attend this upcoming session.  Please contact Nancy Alholm at Nancy.Alholm@mpls.k12.mn.us if you plan to attend.
 
Lenten Series: On 3 consecutive Thursday evenings, February 28, March 6 & 13, St. Matthew’s will be hosting a Lenten series beginning with a soup supper at 5:30pm, program from 6-7pm and then a worship opportunity.  The first Lenten program on February 28 will involve an intergenerational art project and theological reflection.  The other two evenings will involve a presentation and discussion of what it means to live a holy life and die a holy death.  Child care will be provided.  An RSVP to Blair Pogue at rector@stmatthewsmn.org would be greatly appreciated.
 
Prayer List: If there is someone you wish us to pray for on Sundays, please email the Rev. Blair Pogue at rector@stmatthewsmn.org.
 
Altar Flowers 2008:  Help us plan the flower roster for the year! Please complete a form that is now available in the undercroft.
 
Announcements:  Please send submissions for the Announcement Page to Marí Swart at mswart@stmatthewsmn.org. The deadline for bulletin announcements is Thursday morning at 9am.  Announcements require the rector’s approval and are subject to editing. Please keep announcements to two or three sentences, as space is limited.