St. Matthew’s Ministries - 2006

Ministry

Description
Adult Sunday School
Fr. Michael 		Adult Sunday school meets (almost) every Sunday during the normal school year, between services at 9:30 a.m., with various classes during the year and discussions about topics in the church and the world. We attempt to help adults live their faith in the context of today’s world.
Altar Guild
Barb McNish 		The Altar Guild assists the priest and parish by setting up and caring for the altar and elements used in worship services. They care for the vestments, flowers, candles, banners and hangings, communion vessels, bread, wine, and any items needed for special services. All are welcome to join this quiet, but vital service to our Lord.
Bible Study
Fr. Michael

Wednesday mornings we have a Bible study that begins at 9:45 a.m. We seek to make the Bible God’s Word to our lives in a way that allows for our lives to be renewed and made whole. Lively discussions are joined with snacks and fellowship.
Buildings & Grounds
Jr. Warden Richard Selph 		The buildings and grounds committee coordinates and supervises work on our campus and helps to make sure that our buildings are safe and comfortable.
Chalice Ministers / Lay Readers
Fr. Michael		 Chalice Ministers serve the consecrated wine during our worship services. Readers and Intercessors read the lessons and the lead the Prayers of the People, respectively. Training is provided at the parish for these ministries. Young people participate monthly in reading as well!
Children’s Choir
JoEllen Richardson		 The children practice during Sunday School and allow us to enjoy their singing about once a month, generally the first Sunday of the month. It’s a great place for children to learn hymns that will find a place in their heart.
Children’s Chapel
JoEllen Richardson		 The children, age 3 through Third grade, join the procession at the beginning of the service during the opening hymn and leave to go to the Children’s Chapel for age appropriate lessons. They join us for Communion, the blessing, and to sing the final hymn. Parents are welcome and encouraged to join their younger children the first few times they attend in order to help them be comfortable.
Christian Education
Sarah Siekierski		 St. Matthew’s offers Christian education to all members of our parish. We have an active Sunday School for Pre-school through High School, meeting at 9:15 a.m. Our Sunday School teachers bring the stories of the Bible to our younger members, helping them to know God through our Scripture and worship. (For the older youth, see also “Youth Group”)
Choir
Tom Strickland		 The adult choir provides music leadership on Sundays at the 10:30 Eucharist during the “school year”, and at other occasions throughout the year. The choir not only assists the congregation in singing, but enhances our worship with wonderful anthems and solo music. We practice Thursday evening in the choir room, upstairs in Balcomb House. All are welcome.
Episcopal Church Women
Lucy Lord		 The women of St. Matthew’s like to meet for various activities of interest, fun and fellowship. We take an active part in bringing together our community for functions as well as meeting on our own for special times.
Fellowship
Tina Newlin		 The Fellowship Committee was established to promote celebration and socializing outside of a purely worship environment. They help our Sunday morning by organizing coffee and snacks after each service, and organizing Breakfast on the first Sunday of the month (breakfast is now cooked by the Men’s group). The committee hosts receptions, dinners, and other social events, attempting to provide a friendly, welcoming environment for all parishioners and guests.
Grocery Coupons
Patty Fanning 		Grocery coupons are used at the national chain grocery stores just like cash. By purchasing at St. Matthew’s, the stores contribute a percentage to the church and members are able to help the church when we buy groceries. Coupons are offered for sale at both services
Lay Eucharistic Visitors
Fr. Michael		 The Lay Eucharistic Visitors are a group of trained laypersons who take Communion from our Sunday Eucharist to the sick and shut-in members. Please tell us of those in need of this service.
Lay Readers
Fr. Michael 		The Lay Readers may preside over prayer liturgies during the year such as Morning or Evening Prayer and Stations of the Cross.
Men’s Group
Tom McNish 		The Men’s Group provides an opportunity for fun and fellowship for the men of St. Matthew’s. We raise funds and provide labor for various projects at St. Matthew’s. The group is active in church upkeep.

Newcomers
John Gile 		The role of the Newcomers committee is to help guests at St. Matthew’s feel welcome, offer them literature about the church and answer questions that may arise. The Newcomers committee, with great assistance from the Fellowship committee, organizes a Newcomers Wine and Cheese fellowship twice a year.
Newsletter
Susan Hoffman 		The St. Matthew’s newsletter is produced monthly to keep the parishioners informed of the activities and schedules of the congregation. We are presently “publishing” the newsletter via email, so make sure we have your email address!
Nursery The nursery, staffed by adults, is provided for infants and toddlers under the age of three during Sunday services and on special occasions. The normal time of operation is 7:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We hope to provide a safe and playful alternative for those children who are not ready to sit through a church service, so that parents might have a time of prayer and reflection without worrying about their children.
Open Gate Thrift Shop
Hazel McColley &
Patty Fanning		 The Thrift Shop receives donated items of clothing and house wares from parishioners and the community, then sells those items to those who need slightly used clothing. We are an outreach of St. Matthew’s to Parker and the Southeast Metro area.
Outreach
Kandy Halstead &
Gretchen Neff		 The Outreach Commission coordinates and facilitates efforts to extend the resources of St. Matthew’s to areas outside our congregation. They give of their time, talent and treasure to many organizations and activities in the community, the nation and around the world. Check the website for outreach aid programs. We feed people, we give blood, and we work to make Jesus’ command to “love one another as I have loved you” as real as possible in Parker and beyond.
Pastoral Care
Tina Newlin, Kathy Latham		 Pastoral Care is the hand that reaches out to the people of St. Matthew’s. We are there to help in times of need, such as illness or death in a family. Please notify this team and the office when you know of someone in need of special care.
Prayer Ministry
Father Michael

St. Matthew’s prayers ministry is a group of individuals dedicated to prayer. We learn about needs through prayer requests received on Sundays as well as requests sent to the office during the week, and pray for those in need.

Prayers & Squares
Patty Fanning &
Hazel McColley		 Prayers and Squares is a sewing group that makes prayer quilts. These quilts are given to those that are ill or in distress to wrap themselves in prayer. The quilts are blessed and tied together during our Sunday worship, so that we all become a part of this ministry.
Stewardship
Tom Clark		 The St. Matthew’s Stewardship Ministry Team is a year around ministry focused on the understanding that stewardship is a faith response and not just a way to provide funds for the church’s needs.
Sunday Supper
Barb McNish
Sunday Supper is a program where interested individuals have supper at other member’s houses. About 8 people are assigned to a supper group and rotate supper responsibilities. After each member or couple provides a supper, new groups are formed.
Ushers
Steve Smith		 Ushering is an essential ingredient for a smoothly run church service, and this ministry provides a means for becoming involved in an activity that consumes virtually no additional time and there are no meetings to attend! Our ushering force consists of individual men and women, husband and wife teams and parent/child teams.
Weekday Services
Fr. Michael 		We worship together Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. and Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m., during the most of the year. Occasionally we may have suppers at 6:00 p.m. and services at 7:00 p.m., such as during Lent.
Youth Group
Sara Streight &
Cherise Bernard		 The St. Matthew’s Youth Group is for senior high and middle school students. The youth group eats pizza, cares for one another, plays fun games, eats pizza, goes on retreat, talks about life for teens, and plans fun get-away activities to challenge themselves or just to have a great time. They meet a couple of times a month, generally on Sunday evenings or as planned by the group.
   
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