Dear Friends in Christ,
Lent is forty days of being; forty days to go for a walk, forty days to prepare the garden, forty days of reading scripture, forty days to pray, forty days
to Easter. The number forty for Lent is barrowed from the occurance of
the use of the number forty in scripture. For example as Moses leads the Isrealite for forty years from Egypt's captivity to the the entrance of the Holy Land, or 40 days and nights of rain, putting Noah's ark a float while the earth flooded, or for forty days and nights of Jesus entering the wilderness after his baptism and before he began his ministry. 'Forty'
as you can summize represents biblically a time of growth, change,
transition. Although we don't necessarily think in terms of forty these
days, forty is the number of weeks needed for a human baby to come to
term from conception.
The Forty Days of Lent, are a time of
being. As we say in our Ash Wednesday Liturgy, you are invited to keep a
holy Lent. The invitation is for your own well being, to practice
being a child of God, intentionally, lovingly, and steadfastly for forty
days, until we meet the Christ of the resurrection on Easter. Forty
days of turing off our automatic mode, forty days of desire to stay in
God's company.
Praying for a holy Lent
The Rev Lorrie Slaymaker+ |
Cracker ministry -50 pkgs/week
Bring peanut butter or cheese crackers, 50 packages a week for local outreach of school children. Fanny Jones has details.
Kids Club, & EYC gathers on February 29, 2012
Dinner at 6PM and activities. Pick up the youth at 7:30 PM. No Kids Club on Feb 22, due to Ash Wednesday Services.
Ash Wednesday service at 6:30 PM February 22
Lent begins with the observance of Ash Wednesday and the imposition of Ashes. We gather at 6:30 to begin the 40 day observance.
Lent Study on Mondays: February 27 and March 5, 12
Soup
is for dinner, with bread and crackers (and yes desert for those that
cannot resist) as we study prayer practices from several faith
traditions as well as our own. We'll meet in the Fellowship Hall, from
6:30 to 8:00 PM.
ECW Soup Sunday: Ladle of Love, Sunday March 4th
Make
a soup, come and eat soup, as the ECW will have its 2nd Annual Soup
fundraiser. To add your soup to the menu, contact Caroline Robinson at millerrobinsoncarolinee@uams.edu.
ECW meets in March
ECW
meets at 7 PM at Brenda Robert's house in March or will be taking a
field trip on a different date. Contact Caroline Robinson for updated
information, at millerrobinsoncarolinee@uams.edu
Woolen Works, March 21
Woolen
Works will be at the home of TBA on march 21. Woolen Works is a
prayer shawl ministry meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Contact Caroline Robinson, 847-1039 or millerrobinsoncarolinee@uams.edu.
Vestry Meets Monday March 26 , at 7 PM
The
vestry meets for their monthly March, with a sure date to be
announced. If you have insights or concerns you want to share with the
vestry; contact Senior Warden Fanny Jones (501.317.6761) or Junior Warden Chris Ellis, (501.860-7757) or Vicar Lorrie Slaymaker (501.317.8015) . Vestry reports are available to everyone at https://www.stmatthewsar.org/vestryreports.
Altar Flowers for February
Are given by Chris Ellis in thanksgiving to for family.
Adult Sunday Study: Old Testament Study
Sunday's from
9:45 to 10:45 AM, we will study the books of the Old testament, in a
multi week survey, looking at the major events, of ancient Israel to New
Testament times. Great study for keeping names and times organized for
your own person understanding of scripture. We begin January 8th after our winter break. For more information contact Vicar Lorrie, lorslaymaker@sbcglobal.net.
Sunday School for youth
Sunday School meets at 10:30 in the Classroom with Fanny Jones as teacher. Younger children will meet with Ms Debbye Maxwell in the study next door. Children will be joining their parents during worship.
Weekly Offering and Attendance
Offering reflects numbers from Feb 12. Update coming next week. | Offering | Weekly | Offering YTD | | Attendance |
| | February 12 | $1,172 | $13,454 |
| February 19 | 52 | | Budget | $1,557 | $10,899 |
| Avg 2012 YTD | 47 | | Difference | $ 385 | $ 2,555 |
| Avg 2011 YTD | 40 |
Upcoming dates
Woolen Works, February 15
Diocesan Convention, February 17 & 18
Ash Wednesday, February 22
Lent Study, February 27,
ECW Soup Sunday, March 4
ECW March Meeting, TBA
Spring break (Schools) March 19-23
Palm Sunday, April 1
Easter Sunday, April 8
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Cracker Ministry Reminder
Join our mailing list
St Matthew's Market
Saturday - May, 12
Vendors, Crafts, Food,
and 'boot sale'
Contact Allison Nolly for details
Bishop Larry Benfield at the 140th Diocesan Convention at Episocpal Collegiate School, Little Rock
Alternate
Selena Ellis, and Delegates Bucky Ellis and Chris Ellis from St
Matthew's at the 140th Diocesan Convention on Saturday Feb 18
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Sundays & Weekly
Sunday Worship
8:30 worship with music occasionally.
11:00 worship with organ and congregational singing
Sunday Nursery
Children
are always welcome to worship but understanding parents need to worship
too, we have a nursery available during our 11:00 AM service
Adult Sunday School 9:45
Adults gather in the fellowship hall with the Vicar and other teachers throughout the year.
Daily Office: Morning Prayer
Morning Prayer meets is at 7:00 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the church.
Kids' Club Wed Nights 6 to 7:30 PM
Kid's
from 6 yr olds to teens gather for dinner, conversation, learning and
fun with mentorsDawn Leslie and Allison Nolley and Th Rev Lorrie
Slaymaker and Melinda Hancock from September to May (except over the
Christmas break) .
ECW - First Wednesday of the Month
On
the first Wednesday of the month the women gather for fellowship,
business, and program. The meeting is hosted often at the homes of the
women. Caroline Robinson (501.847.1039) is the 2011 president.
The Vestry 3rd Monday of the Month
The
Vestry is our governing body for church business. Nancy Hornstein is
our Senior Warden, or president of the Vestry. Please contact Nancy
with your concerns and interests in regards to St Matthew's at 501.317.
0102. |
