Newsletters

 

February Birthdays

5 – Dick Fenwick and Mike Moses

20 – Bob Johnson

22 – LeAnn Donahoe

25 – Chris Stehlik

Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting was held on January 22 after the morning service. The following people were elected to offices: Cindy Tester–Sr. Warden, Dick Fenwick–Jr. Warden, Bob Johnson–Treasurer, Russ Applequist–1- year vestry term, Russell Burnap–2-year vestry term, and Mischel Stehlik–3-year vestry term. Alice Johnson will continue on the vestry since her term has not expired. Chris Kern will serve as Region V/Convention delegate, Susan Moses, Luana Meeker and Bill Sullivan will be convention alternates. Financial reports from the Vestry and Guild, the adopted budget for 2012 and the complete minutes of the meeting are posted in the Vestry Room. Thanks to Chris Kern and Laurel Hansel for their years of service as their terms end.

Shrove (Fat) Tuesday Pancake Supper

Our annual pancake supper will be held on February 21st from 5:00 until 6:30 PM. There is no charge but a free-will donation will be accepted with all proceeds going to the Heifer Project. If you can help flip pancakes or serve, contact Lynn or Sandy. This activity will be open to the public.

.

Request

Anyone who has photos of the kids from the Christmas program, would you please let Lynn Harstad know.

 Events

11th–Rooted in the Spirit Team meets with Examining Chaplains in Rushford

19th – Vestry Meeting after the service

15th -16thClergy Lenten Retreat, King’s House Retreat        Center, Buffalo.

21st – Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 5:00-6:30pm.

22nd – Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00

25th – Joint St. Matthew’s/Emmanuel Sunday school

Sleepover

25th – Bundles of Love Appreciation Luncheon at 10:00.

27th – Bundles of Love at 2-8:30

 

February Activity

The activity this month will focus on the Sunday school children. We are planning an overnight with the Rushford Sunday school kids on Saturday, February 25. We will gather on Saturday afternoon, have lots of games, food, and activities. We’ll spread our sleeping bags on the floor in the fellowship hall and hopefully get a few hours sleep before we get up, clean up, eat breakfast, and get ready to attend the morning service at St. Matthew’s. If anyone wants to volunteer to come in early and fix our breakfast, we would greatly appreciate it.

 

Lenten Meditations

The following is an excerpt from the ERD web site:

During the season of Lent we are called to slow down and consider our baptismal vows as we move toward the celebration of the resurrection of Christ and season of Easter. It is also a time for us to prayerfully consider how we can heal a hurting world.

Episcopal Relief & Development’s 2012 Lenten Meditations is a tool to help guide us to a deeper understanding of God’s call in our lives. This year, it provides a particular emphasis on promoting health and fighting disease while preparing ourselves for healing. It is co-authored by a group of leaders from across The Episcopal Church, who bring particular theological and spiritual perspectives to these writings as they reflect on their favorite scripture passages and other sources of spiritual wisdom.

The daily meditations will be sent out to the church email list. If you haven’t been getting the email announcements, contact Lynn so that you can be added to the list. Please enjoy the opportunity for reflection.

 

Dinner for Volunteer Fire Fighters

On February 6, St. Matthew’s will host a dinner for the Chatfield Volunteer Fire Department. Lynn Harstad and Rodney Coe are responsible for the planning and will contact individuals with ways you can help.

 

 

January Birthdays

   4 – Alice Johnson

7 –AliceApplequist

10 – John Castillo

13 – DylanBillmeier

31 – Dallas Burnap

 

Pledge Cards

If you haven’t already done so, please return your pledge card as soon as possible so that the Vestry can finalize the 2012 budget at their January 9th meeting.

Epiphany Potluck

The annual Epiphany bonfire and potluck dinner will be a little different this year…the event will be held at the church on February 6. For anyone who can come at 4:00, we’ll take down the greens and clean the sanctuary. At 5:30 everyone is encouraged to bring a dish to share for the potluck dinner. Following the meal, we will have the burning of the greens (in small increments NOT a bonfire) in a patio fireplace outside the church. Beverages will be provided.

Fruit Cake

The Guild would like to wind up the “fruit cake season”. Several people who took fruit cakes to sell or for your own use still need to pay for them. Would you please try to pay Alice Johnson as soon as possible so that project can be finished up. Thanks in part to a great article in the Chatfield News, the fruit cake sold very quickly. Thanks again to Luana Meeker, Bob and Alice Johnson for doing the baking and also to all those who helped buy ingredients, glaze and wrap the fruit cakes.

 

Team Activities

The joint Emmanuel/St. Matthew’s team continues to prepare for the session, on February 11, with the Examining Chaplains. The Examining Chaplains are a group of clergy and lay people who will question the team on seven areas of church life and history. Following the questioning, they will determine if the team is ready to move to the next step toward commissioning. This session is mainly for the Rushford folks on the team but, since we are a shared team, we want to support them.

                          

January Events

6th – Taking down the greens at 4:00 PM. followed by

the Epiphany pot-luck dinner and burning the

greens at 5:30 PM

8th – Guild Meeting following coffee

9th –Church lady law training 7:30 pm

15th – Team Meeting at 12:30 in Rushford

16th – Church lady law training 2 pm

16th –  Vestry Meeting at 7:00 PM

22nd–Church Mtg following the church service…followed by a potluck

30th – Bundles of Love – 2-8:30- Working on cutting out

materials for quilts

 

Sunday School News

After a very busy Advent and Christmas season, the Sunday School will be turning our attention to the Bible stories that we all love. Be sure to notice the Christmas banner that the children helped design and make. They will also be working to finish the altar that is being built with Bob Johnson’s help. This will be used by the Sunday School one Sunday a month for a communion service downstairs with the children. We are also going to begin to engage the older Sunday School children in some outreach activities along with their lessons. If you missed the Christmas Program, you missed a great “performance” by the Bell Plate Choir and the kids did a beautiful job of sharing the Christmas story! Thanks to Lynn Harstad and Mischel Stehlik for their huge part in preparing for the program.

 

Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting and potluck lunch will be held on January 22. The meeting will begin immediately after the service and will be followed by the potluck dinner. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share. Beverages will be provided.

Thinking Ahead

Instead of individual parish visits, Bishop Prior is hosting events within each region in 2012. He is scheduled to be in Region V May 5 through 8. If you have an idea of what you would like to see planned with him, tell your Region delegate or priests, so that they can pass it on at the Region mtg.

 

 

Season: Epiphany, Lent & Easter (January, February, March & April)

Officiants

Acolyte

Reader

Chalice

Greeter

Guardian

1/1/2012

2nd   Sunday after Christmas

Bill   Sullivan

Alice   Applequist

Cindy   Tester

Betty   Balcome

Bill   Sullivan

Helen   Finley

Mischel   Stehlik

1/8/2012

1st  Sunday after Epiphany

Michael   Moses

Amy   Moses

Helen   Finley

Dick   Fenwick

Helen   Finley

Mischel   Stehlik

1/15/2012

2nd   Sunday after Epiphany

Bill   Sullivan

Michael    Moses

Alex   Coe

Susan   Moses

Bill   Sullivan

Helen   Finley

Mischel   Stehlik

1/22/2012

3rd   Sunday after Epiphany

Alice Applequist

Rodney   Coe

Alice   Johnson

Cindy   Tester

Bill   Sullivan

Mischel   Stehlik

1/29/2012

4th   Sunday after Epiphany

Bill   Sullivan

Celeste   Siewert

Luana   Meeker

Helen   Finley

Mischel   Stehlik

2/5/2012

5th   Sunday after Epiphany

Bill   Sullivan

Alice   Applequist

Abby   Siewert

Laurel   Hansel

Bill   Sullivan

Cindy   Tester

Cindy   Tester

2/12/2012

6th Sunday after Epiphany

Michael   Moses

Susan   Moses

Bob   Johnson

Amy   Moses

Cindy   Tester

Cindy   Tester

2/19/2012

7th Sunday after Epiphany

Bill   Sullivan   Michael  Moses

Jada   Escalera

Lynn   Harstad

Bill   Sullivan

Cindy   Tester

Cindy   Tester

2/22/2012

Ash Wednesday

Alice   Applequist

Sandy   Sullivan

Cindy   Tester

Dick   Fenwick

Cindy   Tester

Cindy   Tester

2/26/2012

1st   Sunday of Lent

Alice Applequist

Amy   Moses

Helen   Finley

Alice   Johnson

Cindy   Tester

Cindy   Tester

   3/4/2012

2nd Sunday of

Lent

Bill Sullivan

Alice   Applequist

Aisha   Casler

Alice   Johnson

Bill   Sullivan

Dick   Fenwick

TBD

3/11/2012

3rd   Sunday of

Lent

Michael Moses

Alex   Coe

Betty   Lou Balcome

Dick   Fenwick

Dick   Fenwick

TBD

3/18/2012

4th   Sunday of

Lent

Bill   Sullivan

Michael Moses

Rodney   Coe

Susan   Moses

Bill   Sullivan

Dick   Fenwick

TBD

3/25/2012

5th   Sunday of Lent

Alice Applequist

Abby   Siewert

Alice   Johnson

Bob   Johnson

Dick   Fenwick

TBD

4/1/2012

Palm   Sunday

Alice   Applequist

Cindy   Tester

Sandy Sullivan

Dick   Fenwick

Alice   & Bob Johnson

Lynn   Harstad

4/6/2012

Good   Friday

Michael   Moses

Sandy   Sullivan

Luana   Meeker

Alice   Johnson

Alice   & Bob Johnson

Lynn   Harstad

4/8/2012

  Easter

Michael  Moses

Jada   Escalera

Bob   Johnson

Amy   Moses

Alice   & Bob Johnson

Lynn   Harstad

4/15/2012

  2ndSunday ofEaster

Bill   SullivanMichael Moses

Rodney   Coe

Amy   Moses

Bill   Sullivan

Alice   & Bob Johnson

Lynn   Harstad

4/22/2012

3rd  Sunday ofEaster

Alice Applequist

Celeste

Siewert

Mischel   Stehlik

Cindy   Tester

Alice   & Bob Johnson

Lynn   Harstad

4/29/2012

4th  Sunday ofEaster

Bill   Sullivan

Aisha   Casler

Laurel   Hansel

Alice   & Bob Johnson

Lynn   Harstad

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sunday School children invite you to attend their program as they tell the age-old Christmas Story and celebrate Jesus’ birth in song and bell plates. Their presentation will be part of the morning worship service at 9:30AM on December 18 at St. Matthew’s. Plan to stay after the service for food and surprises.

 

St. Matthew’s Happenings

December

 

December Birthdays

  5 – Helen Finley

18 – George Rodgers

28 – Pat Applequist

31 – George Rodgers, Jr.

        Taiten Siewert

December Events

No Guild meeting this month

12th – Vestry
Meeting

18th – Sunday
School Christmas Program during

          the morning service

18th – Team Meeting 1:30

24th – Christmas Eve Eucharist Service-Caroling

          at 7:00 pm – Service begins at 7:30

No Bundles of Love meeting this month.

Monthly Outreach Project

The December outreach project will be the Chatfield Christmas Project. This
provides Christmas gifts to needy in Chatfield. St. Matthew’s is sponsoring 6
children and will provide food for the family. Details on how you can
participate are on the back of this newsletter. Thanks for helping to make it a
great Christmas for these children.

Fruit
Cakes

The first batch of fruit cake is nearly gone so more has
been baked. Fruit cakes are $6.00. We hope each of you will make a special
effort to help with the sale of the fruit cakes. Thanks to Luana Meeker and Bob
& Alice Johnson for baking the cakes.

Scott
Tester Being Deployed

After a brief stay in Chatfield, Scott returned to his base in preparation for
deployment to Kuwait. Please keep Scott and his family in your prayers.

Team News

The St. Matthew’s and Emmanuel team continues to study together and make
preparations for the Examining Chaplains. We are working through a list of
practice questions. The Examining Chaplains date has not been determined but should               happen in the next few months.

This Advent season prepare in us, O Lord, a cradle that we might
    learn to love and cherish YOU.

Pledge Cards

   You will find a pledge card attached to this newsletter. The Vestry will begin
   to work on the 2012 budget this month so please turn in your pledge card as
   soon as possible and before the Vestry meeting on the 12th.

 Sunday School Christmas Program

   During the morning worship service on December 18th, the Sunday School
  children will again present the Christmas story. There will be all of the
  familiar characters and of course the manger scene. Bring your friends and
  relatives.
   Special Church Meeting

On December 11, after the morning service, the team will be talking
 with the congregation about meetings they had with a consultant this fall.
 The information is very important and your input is needed. The meeting
  will last approximately an hour and it is critical that as many as possible
  of the parish family attend.

November Birthdays

 1 – Tony Billmeier
15 – Kathleen Malinchoc

11 – Celeste Siewert        20 – Jeremiah Siewert

14 – Luana Meeker            21 – Alex Malinchoc

 

Dates to Remember

November

11th – Pork
Chop and Sauerkraut Dinner 4:30-7:00

13th – Guild
Meeting after church

14th
Vestry Meeting at 7:00 PM

21st  – Team Meeting at 1:30 PM

26th
Hanging of the Greens at 9:00 AM

27th – Advent
begins with Lessons and Carols

28th – Bundles
of Love – 2:00 – 8:30 PM

 

November
is UTO Month

United
Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of
the whole church. Through United Thank Offering, men, women and children
nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. These prayers of thanksgiving
start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who
participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity. United Thank
Offering is entrusted to promote thank offerings, to receive the offerings, and
to distribute the UTO monies to support mission and ministry throughout the
Episcopal Church and in invited Provinces of the Anglican Communion in the
developing world. Please bring your contribution this month.

Christmas
Giving

Many of the local churches are joining
efforts again this year to provide gifts and food donations for local families
in need. This effort is in conjunction with the Sharing Tree sponsored by
Fillmore County Social Services but only local families are included. Each
church will adopt as many families as they are able and will be given a
specific list of toy requests by the children in those families. Monetary
donations will go to providing gift certificates to Sunshine Foods to buy
groceries for a Christmas dinner. All family names are anonymous.  We would like to have all the gifts and food items to the
Chatfield Lutheran Church by December 8th.  We are planning on packing
everything up for the families on Sunday December 11th, with the families
coming either the 12th or 13th. A
list of food and household items are available on the bulletin board. You are
encouraged to choose several items from the list and place them in the box
provided in the fellowship hall.  If you
want to make a monetary contribution to this effort, please contact Sandy
Sullivan.

 

Ambulance/Police Officers
Dinner

Thanks to all who planned, provided food and worked at the Volunteer
Ambulance and Police dinner on October 17. They always appreciate being
recognized for the important work they do.

 

Daylight Savings Time Ends

Don’t forget that Daylight Savings Time ends next Sunday, November 6.
Turn your clocks back one hour.

Fruit
Cake

It’s that time of year, once again! Luana
Meeker will head the project with the assistance of Bob & Alice Johnson. The
first batch is decorated, wrapped and ready to go. All parishioners are
encouraged to help in selling the cakes.

 

Community
Choir

Chatfield Community Choir is again
preparing for a Holiday Concert along with the Chatfield Brass Band on Sunday,
December 4th in the afternoon!    Rehearsals began Sunday, October
23rd from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Chatfield United Methodist Church and will be held
each Sunday, same time, same place!     We would love to
have adults and teens of all ages join!  The group will be directed by
Nate Raabe and Carmen Narveson.  Even if you can’t make all the
rehearsals, come for as many as you can – we’d love to have you participate!

 

Come Holy
Spirit

Accept my
thanksgivings for your many blessings;

Open my heart
and help me be still and listen to you; Be with me as I go about my daily work
– give me joy in my dealings with others – in my home, work, places, churches;

Guide me in
love and peace as I meet all persons – on the streets, stores, offices:

Eliminate the
fear of the unknown:

Let me grow
where you plant me – your grace provides all I need to do the work you have
given me. Amen

October Birthdays

  1 – Glenna Berquam

20 – Sara Harstad

24 – Laurel Hansel

Ambulance/Police Dinner

It
has become a tradition for St. Matthew’s to honor the volunteer ambulance crew
and the local police officers with a dinner at the church. October is National
Volunteer Month and this year the event will take place on Monday, October 17.
Gathering will be at 5:30 followed by dinner at 6:00 PM. We will be contacting
people to help with the food preparation.

 

October All-church Activity

On
October 2nd, following coffee, you are all invited to the Sullivan’s
to make apple juice and share the noon meal. There are lots of apples this year
so bring several plastic containers to take home some juice. You are encouraged
to invite friends to join us.

 

Our God of Abundance

“Our God is not a God of scarcity but of
abundance. The words of Jesus make this crystal clear, “I have come that
they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

The life that Jesus proclaims is a life
where everyone has enough: livelihood, love of neighbor, and most importantly
love of God. That is why, wherever there is scarcity, whether economic or relational,
with either neighbor or God, we are called to do whatever we can to make sure
everyone has enough.

This will only happen if we, as witnesses
to the abundant life, work to end all forms of oppression that hold back any
one of God’s children from living the abundant life.”

From
Bishop Prior’s weekly blog at  news@episcopalmn.org

Dates to Remember

October

2nd - Apple juice pressing at
Sullivan’s after church

9th – Guild Meeting after church

10th – Vestry Meeting
7:00 PM

16th – Team
Meeting at 2:30 PM

17th
Ambulance/Police Officers dinner at 6:00

25th – Bundles of
Love

Scott Tester Completes Training

Scott
Tester has completed his diesel mechanics training with the U.S. Army. He
returned to Minnesota in mid-September and will work with the Army Recruiter in
Rochester for two weeks. Scott will then have 2 weeks leave followed by an
assignment at Fort Hood in Texas. Keep him and all of our military personnel in
your prayers.

Help Our Neighbors

The
Vestry has approved St. Matthew’s cooperation, with several other Chatfield
congregations, in distributing a survey from a local task force called “Help
our Neighbors”. Bill Sullivan has been representing St. Matthew’s at the
meetings of this group. The group’s mission is to empower neighbors to serve so
people of all ages may live with independence and dignity. The survey will be
given to all parishioners fifty years of age or older and the results will be
used to determine what services could be offered to allow seniors and others to
remain independent and safe in their homes. The survey will be distributed in
early November.

Sauerkraut and Pork Chop Dinner

St
Matthew’s will again be hosting a Veteran’s Day sauerkraut and pork chop dinner
on November 11, 4:30-7:30. Tickets will be presale $10.00 and $11.00 at the
door. Susan Moses and Sandy Sullivan will serve on the planning committee. The
menu will include grilled pork chop, sauerkraut, squash, mashed potatoes/gravy¸
rolls and dessert.

Minutes Posted

In
order to help keep everyone informed as to what takes place in the various
meetings, minutes of the Vestry, Team and Guild meetings will be posted on the
white board in the vestry room. Please feel free to look them over to be
updated on activities of those groups.

 

 

July Birthdays

3 – Kayla Siewert

11 – Charles Harstad

22 – Tyler Mix

21 – ChrisKern

31 – Tanner Fischer

 

                          August Birthdays

 

3 – Alex Coe
14–Lynn Harstad

5 – TerriApplequist

19 – Betty Lou Balcome

11 –Don Burnap

 

Shared Service with Chatfield Lutheran

 

In celebration of the 10th
anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America-Episcopal Church full
communion agreement a combined worship service will be held at the Chatfield
Lutheran Church on July 24th at 10:30 am.  The full communion agreement of the ELCA and The Episcopal
Church has been a remarkable opportunity for Lutherans and Episcopalians to
recognize that what we share is far greater than what distinguishes one part of
the Body of Christ from the other. This is a joint service and
will integrate members from both congregations. We will NOT have a service at
St. Matthew’s the morning of July 24th. St. Matthew’s will be represented by
Luana Meeker as greeter, Dick Fenwick will assist with Eucharist, and Bob
Johnson will be one of the readers. We hope that you will make a special effort
to attend this important worship service.

Migrant
Ministry

On August 28th,
St. Matthew’s will again team up with St. Peter’s Kasson to provide a meal for the
migrant workers at the canning plant in Montgomery. We attend the Spanish
service which is followed by a shared meal of barbecue sandwiches, chips, and
bars. This is a great experience so we hope more of you can participate this
year. Contact Bill or Sandy for more information or to volunteer to help.

Family in Need

On June 12, the Dale Rodger’s  home was
destroyed by  fire. All of  their
home and  personal  belongings were lost. A fund is being raised
to  help
them  with replacement   costs.
Donations   may  be
dropped  off  or mailed to
the  Root  River
State  Bank  or  the
Chatfield VFW.
July Birthdays
3 – Kayla Siewert

11 – Charles Harstad

22 – Tyler Mix

21 – ChrisKern

31 – Tanner Fischer

August Birthdays

3 – Alex Coe
14–Lynn Harstad

5 – Terri
Applequist

19 – Betty Lou Balcome

11 –Don Burnap

Shared Service with Chatfield Lutheran

In celebration of the 10th
anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America-Episcopal Church full
communion agreement a combined worship service will be held at the Chatfield
Lutheran Church on July 24th at 10:30 am.  The full communion agreement of the ELCA and The Episcopal
Church has been a remarkable opportunity for Lutherans and Episcopalians to
recognize that what we share is far greater than what distinguishes one part of
the Body of Christ from the other. This is a joint service and
will integrate members from both congregations. We will NOT have a service at
St. Matthew’s the morning of July 24th. St. Matthew’s will be represented by
Luana Meeker as greeter, Dick Fenwick will assist with Eucharist, and Bob
Johnson will be one of the readers. We hope that you will make a special effort
to attend this important worship service.

Migrant
Ministry

On August 28th,
St. Matthew’s will again team up with St. Peter’s Kasson to provide a meal for the
migrant workers at the canning plant in Montgomery. We attend the Spanish
service which is followed by a shared meal of barbecue sandwiches, chips, and
bars. This is a great experience so we hope more of you can participate this
year. Contact Bill or Sandy for more information or to volunteer to help.

                        Family in Need

On June 12, the Dale Rodger’s  home was
destroyed by  fire. All of  their
home and  personal  belongings were lost. A fund is being raised
to  help
them  with replacement   costs.
Donations   may  be
dropped  off  or mailed to
the  Root  River
State  Bank  or  the
Chatfield VFW.

Dates
to Remember in July

11th
Vestry Meeting at 7:00 PM

18th
– Team Meeting at 6:30 PM

24th
– Shared service with Chatfield Lutheran at

10:30 AM

25th
– Bundles of Love at 5:00-8:00 PM

Dates
to Remember in August

 8th – Vestry Meeting at 7:00 PM

13th
Team Meeting at 6:30 PM

28th
– Migrant Ministry in Montgomery leave church

at 1:00

29th
– Bundles of Love at 5:00-8:00 PM

Team News

The Team has
resumed its study of Life Cycles with the folks from Rushford. A Total Team
Summit was held in June in Mankato. Bill Sullivan and Alice Applequist attended
representing the Rooted in the Spirit Team composed of St. Matthew’s and
Emmanuel Rushford members. Unlike other years, this was a gathering of southern
teams only. A separate meeting for the northern teams was also held. Sandi
Holmberg presented information on Total Ministry as a transformation process
for churches of all sizes. Much of the time was spent sharing activities of the
various southern Total Ministry congregations. There were representatives from
8 Total Ministry teams: Chatfield/Rushford, Eagan, Marshall, Laverne,
Redwing/Lake City, Hastings, Sauk Center area, and St. Mark’s Cathedral in
Minneapolis.

 

                Dorothy Billmeier Recovering

Last week Dorothy fell and broke bones in her foot.  She has
had surgery and is recovering at home. If you want to drop by, call beforehand.
Address for cards is:

5 Twiford Street NW

Chatfield, MN 55923

Lloyd Meeker at Care Center

Lloyd is in
the Care Center while he regains strength after his last
hospitalization. Address for cards is:

Chosen Valley Care Center – Room 105A

1102 Liberty Street

Chatfield, MN 55923

Or feel free to drop in on him for a short visit!

 

 

 April Events

9th – Region V meeting at St. Matthew’s.

10th – Guild Meeting after coffee.

10th – Team Meeting in Chatfield at 5:00 PM

11th – Vestry Meeting – 7:00 PM

15th – Care Center Birthday Party – 1:30 PM

20th – Set up for luncheon – 4:30

21st – Maundy Thursday luncheon – serving 11- 1:00

22nd– Good Friday Service – 7:00 PM

23rd – Easter Vigil at 7:00 in Rushford

24th – Easter Service – 7:30 AM, Breakfast following.

25th – Bundles of Love Sewing Group – 6:30 PM

 

 

Easter Service and Breakfast

The Easter service will begin at 7:30 AM and will be followed by breakfast. If you can help set up, cook and/or serve the breakfast Easter morning breakfast, meet in the kitchen at 3:00 PM on Saturday, April 23rd.

 

Region V Meeting

The April 9th meeting of Region V will meet at St. Matthew’s beginning at 9:00 AM. We will be responsible for providing light breakfast items and coffee before the meeting before the meeting and will also serve a soup and sandwich luncheon at the conclusion of the meeting. If there is an interest, Susan Moses will be having a concurrent informational/work session for the Diapers for Haiti Project for anyone interested and not directly involved in the Region V meeting.


Care Center Birthday Party

On April 15th, St. Matthew’s will be providing the treats and gifts to all Care Center residents who have April birthdays. Thanks in advance for those who will be able to help with the event.

 

Nets for Life

St. Matthew’s is participating in a diocesan-wide project to provide mosquito nets for people in malaria-prone areas of the world. The Shrove Tuesday pancake supper raised $250 for the project. A free will offering will be taken at the Region V meeting for Nets, on April 10th we will be taking a 2nd offering for the project, and the Easter breakfast donations will also go to Nets.  St. Matthew’s goal is for 60 nets @ $12/each (($720).

 

Team News – Sharing Services

The joint team continues to meet monthly. We are studying a series of lessons on Ethics. This Holy Week, we will be having the Good Friday Service at St. Matthew’s with an invitation to the Rushford congregation to join us. Since Emmanuel Church does offer an Easter Vigil with Ben Scott presiding, they have invited our congregation to worship with them at that Saturday evening service. Both the Good Friday service and Easter Vigil begin at 7:00 pm. If you would like a ride to Rushford

on Saturday, contact Sandy Sullivan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April Birthdays

1 – Cindy Tester                      17 – Sandy Sullivan

8 – Bill Sullivan                        22 – Dominic Billmeier

10 – Josh Harstad                     30 – Susan Moses

 

 

 

 

Dick Fenwick to Retire as Lay Reader

Dick’s last service as a Lay Reader will be April 3. He began doing Lay Reader Services while Rev. Marvin Nordmier was serving our church.  In addition to leading some Sunday Morning Prayer services, Dick took his turn leading Wednesday night Lenten services (over the years), leading CVCC services, serving on the Chatfield Ministerium Committee, picking up random extra services when the priest was going to be gone, and taking communion to our shut-ins for years. Dick was asked by Rev. Ben Scott to be the mentor to both Harvey Bernard Jr. and Alice Applequist, when they decided to begin their lay reading time at St. Matthew’s.  Thanks, Dick, for being such a gracious and faithful servant/teacher/mentor/lay reader. We look forward to your continuing service as chalice bearer, greeter and other duties so important to St. Matthew’s.

Maundy Thursday Luncheon

On April 21st we will be hosting the annual Maundy Thursday luncheon. The menu includes a barbecue sandwich, assorted salads and pies. Serving will begin at 11:00 and go until 1:00. The cost is $7 for adults, $5 for youth 5-12 and free under 5 years old. There will be door prizes. This is a good opportunity to invite a friend to St. Matthew’s.  We will be setting up for the luncheon on Wednesday, April 20th at 4:30 and would appreciate having anyone who can help.

 

Service Changes

At the Annual Meeting in January, input was gathered as to whether a Eucharist service should be offered more often than twice a month. That input indicated that, among those who responded, there was an overwhelming desire to have more Eucharist services but to somehow include the lay readers. With this information, the Vestry agreed that: 1st & 3rd Sundays will begin with morning prayer and

followed by a brief Eucharist service.

2nd & 4th Sundays will be the normal Eucharist

Service.

5th Sunday will be determined each quarter.

In April, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays will be Eucharist services due to Palm Sunday following on the 3rd Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

March Events
4th – World Day of Prayer at St. Mary’s Church at 5: 30
8th – Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 5-6:30
9th – Ash Wednesday service 7:00
13th – Guild Meeting after morning
14th – Vestry Meeting 7:00
20th – Team Meeting at 2:30
26th – Game Night at 6:30
28th – Bundles of Love
Looking Ahead
April 21 – Maundy Thursday Luncheon served from 11-1
April 22 – Good Friday Service at 7:00
April 24 – Easter Sunday Service at 7:30 AM
Pew Cushions and Kneelers
The beautiful blue cushions are now completely installed in the sanctuary. The congregation kneelers will be covered with new blue vinyl by the end of the February. This is, again, part of Mary Harrison’s memorial gift for her mother, Dorothy McConnell.
Ministerial Alliance Active Again
The newly reactivated Chatfield Ministerium will be meeting in late March. It will be hosted at St. Matthew’s. If you have any items for discussion, please let Alice or Mike know.
One topic will be how the area churches can promote a community that is supportive of military families.  Pastor Mark from the Chatfield Lutheran Church and Alice+ from St. Matthew’s attended a Red Cross seminar in Rochester that was led by Chaplain Morris of the National Guard.  Minnesota is a leader in using faith communities and Yellow Ribbon groups to spearhead programs that will aid transitions and be of support to the whole military family from their pre-deployment time to their post deployment times.  It was excellent presentation.  Some congregations and/or groups are even “adopting” a military family.  This means they will help with chores, do daycare, give breaks etc. as scheduled between the family and organization.  More information will be sent out as it becomes available.
Singing the Psalter!!
It’s been a while since we last did this, but we are once again going to use Lent as an opportunity to sing the Psalm of the day rather than read it responsively. So loosen up those vocal cords and get them ready for a little extra workout starting March 14th.
Ash Wednesday Service
The Ash Wednesday Service that marks the beginning of the Lenten season will be held on Wednesday, March 9 at 7:00
Scott Tester in Basic Training
Scott will be “celebrating” his 22nd birthday at Fort Jackson, NC. on March 2nd. He can’t receive gifts or food but can receive a note in a plain envelope…no birthday cards. I know that he will appreciate hearing from you even if it’s a little late. His address:
E-1 Tester, Scott
Company Eco, Platoon 1
1/34 IN REGT 165th INBDE
5500 Marion Ave.
Ft. Jackson, SC   29207-6019
March Birthdays
2 – Scott Tester
9 – Dorothy Billmeier
18 – Jesse Donahoe
28 – Melissa Castillo
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper will be on March 8 from 5:00-6:30. A free-will offering will go to buy mosquito nets to help people in malaria-prone areas of the world. Come and bring a friend.
World Day of Prayer
On Friday, March 4th, 2011, people in more than 170 countries and regions will join together in celebrating World Day of Prayer.  This year’s service was written by the women of Chile and centers around the theme: “How many loaves have you?”
This year’s service will be held Friday, March 4th at 5:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chatfield, MN.  Ceci Elliott will be our guest speaker with dinner to follow.
Invite your friends and family to join the women of Chile in prayer and song to support women’s ecumenical ministries toward justice, peace, healing, and wholeness.  The annual offering will support the work of World Day of Prayer USA and help meet the needs of families who are victims of many forms of poverty, violence, and human trafficking.
Game Night
Due to a death in the extended Moses family, the annual game night has been rescheduled to Saturday, March 26 at 6:30 PM. This has been a popular event in past years and is an inexpensive “night out”. So bring a friend, your favorite board games and a snack to share. Beverages will be provided.
New Lavado Table
Bob Johnson is making us an oak lavado table.  The table will be of help to both the acolytes and priests.  He is donating both his time and the materials for this project.
Guild News
Our next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, March 13th, at coffee after the service. It’s time once again to be discussing/planning the Maundy Thursday Salad Luncheon, so please do a preliminary check of your calendar to assess whether you’ll be able to help out. There are a number of other items on the agenda that need to be addressed at this time, rather than wait for the April meeting, so please do your best to attend.
Feed Us Lord.
St. Matthew’s Happenings
January Events
8th– Taking down the greens at 9:00 AM.
9th – Guild Meeting following coffee
– Sliding party at 3:00 followed by the Epiphany
–luck and burning the greens at 5:00
10– Vestry Meeting at 7:00 PM
16th– Team Meeting at 12:00 Noon
31st– Bundles of Community Service Day 12:00-9:00 PM
St. Matthew’s
Outreach
What is outreach? Outreach is going beyond, to reach out to others. The
need in our world at times surpasses our understanding. In response,
we do what we can to lessen the burdens of others less fortunate than
us and to thank those who are able to make that effort. Most of us
have been involved in St Matthew’s outreach projects in one way or another.
When we give of ourselves to the community either by being there for
someone in need or giving our monetary support, we are providing outreach.
A few of the activities we were involved in this past year were painting
and cleaning at Lakewood, Migrant Ministry in Montgomery, Care Center
services and the  birthday parties, Shrove Tuesday pancake
supper, Haiti Earthquake relief, and providing an appreciation meal
for Bundles of Love and the Chatfield ambulance crew.  St Matthews
sponsored 3 families including 7 children for the Community Christmas
project. In addition, Bundles of Love gave 6 layette bundles to
the Community Christmas Project and distributed 120 layettes/bundles to
needy babies.  BOL also distributed 700 individual items. The value of
the bundles and individual items was approximately $2500.00. Volunteer
hours total approximately 9000 hours. The Haiti diaper project shipped
2900 diapers to Haiti, a value of approximately $8700.00.  As we
continue our outreach efforts in the coming year, know that each of your
efforts starts a ripple effect in helping others. Quoting Tiny Tim
“God Bless us Everyone!” by Susan Moses
Sunday School News
After a very busy Advent and Christmas
season, the Sunday School will be turning our attention to the Bible
stories that we all love. Thanks to Alice Applequist for coordinating our
Christmas Program and for producing the CD with the children’s pictures
In Memorial
On December 14, a celebration of the life of Christine Rodgers was
held at St. Matthew’s. We pray God’s comfort for her family. There will be
a benefit to help the family with medical expenses on Friday, January 7 at
the Eagle’s Club in Rochester. A bake sale begins at 6:00 followed by a
silent auction and door prizes through the evening.

January Birthdays
4-Alice Johnson
7 – Alice Applequist
10 – John Castillo
13 – Dylan Billmeier
31 – Dallas Burnap
Pledge Cards
If you haven’t already done so, please
return your pledge card as soon as possible so that the Vestry can finalize
the 2011 budget at their January 10th meeting.
Sliding and Epiphany Potluck
The annual Epiphany bonfire and potluck
dinner will be held on Saturday,  January
9th
at the Harstad’s. All interested in sliding should come
at 3:00…those less adventuresome will gather at 5:00 for the potluck
followed by the burning of the greens after supper. Bring a dish to share,
beverages will be provided. Trees and other greens may be brought out ahead
of time if it is more convenient – call Lynn for directions. (867-3877)
Fruit Cake
The Guild would like to wind up the
“fruit cake season”. Several people who took fruit cakes to sell or for
your own use, still have “not paid” by their names on the list. Would you
please try to pay Alice Johnson as soon as possible so that project can be finished
Vestry News
The Annual Meeting and potluck lunch will
be held on January 23. It was
decided to use the memorial money of Dorothy McConnell to have cushions for
the pews made. The material has been ordered and construction will begin
soon. This should greatly improve the comfort in the sanctuary. Also new glasses
and soup bowls were ordered and have arrived just in time for the Annual
potluck dinner. Other items for the kitchen are being considered.
Team Activities
The joint Emmanuel/St. Matthew’s team is
concluding its study “From Jesus to Constantine” and will begin another
series in February.
St. Matthew’s Happenings
Wishing each of you a Happy, Healthy, and
Peaceful
2011