Matthew s. April Saint. Episcopal Church. Cheer On Our Softball. Team Big Blue! Monday, April 3rd 6:30pm/7:30pm Potomac Lakes Sportsplex

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1 Cheer On Our Softball Team Big Blue! Monday, April 3rd 6:30pm/7:30pm Potomac Lakes Sportsplex Saint Matthew s Episcopal Church 201 East Frederick Drive Sterling, VA April 2017 From the Rector Rob Merola Dear Friends, Tying flies is the art of using very fine thread to attach feathers, fur, and other materials to a hook in order to imitate something a fish might like to eat. There are an infinite variety of combinations that can be tied (called patterns ), and the process is tremendously enjoyable. When I first started tying flies, I thought I was pretty good. My flies caught fish and life was good. But the more I have tied, the more I realized how much I have to learn. It is often when I have tied a fly a hundred times and feel like I really have the pattern down that I realize some tiny detail I had been missing all along that makes a big improvement. It s humbling, but there is also something so very cool about making a new discovery when I thought I had something so thoroughly figured out. It speaks to me of the depths of knowledge possible from even the simplest things. It also speaks to me of the commitment needed to achieve mastery and of the joy that comes in even the earliest stages of becoming a master. I have had a similar discovery in my spiritual life. It is awfully easy for me to feel like I m basically a good person and therefore have the spiritual life down. I think God is love, and so I think I know everything about God I need to know. But the reality is that nothing could be farther from the truth. I ve been a priest for 30 years. I ve preached thousands of sermons. But there is still so much I don t know. The fact is that there is an awful lot on which I ve been just plain wrong. (I am sure that is still the case.) And, when I discover something new, it isn t just a piece of cold, stark intellectual data. It is something that helps me become the person I ve been training to be since I first made Jesus my trainer and enrolled in his gym of Life. (And yes that was May 18, 1973!) If there is any kind of spiritual world at all, what could be more important than gaining mastery in this area of our life? If there is any kind of God out there at all, what could be more essential to a life well lived than actually knowing this Being? Do not read these questions too quickly. Ponder them. Feel their weight. They are not inconsequential. My dear and beloved friends, I hope you have something in your life like tying flies in which you find utter delight. But even more I hope (and pray) that in a very deliberate, intentional, and habitual way, you are discovering more and more about Life itself. Faithfully, Fr. Rob+

2 Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 8th, 10am-12pm Join us for this wonderful community event at Briar Patch Park. There will be an Easter egg hunt, arts & crafts, pictures with the Easter bunny and much more. We are accepting donations of individually wrapped, non-melting candy and small toys for this event. Please contact David Lathrop with questions. Parish Work Day Saturday, April 8th, 9am 12pm Please join us as we prepare the church and grounds for Holy Week and Easter. We need your help! Stop by for an hour or so and then head over to the Easter egg hunt at the park. Coffee will be provided and we ll have jobs available for all ability levels. Families are welcome! Annual Spring Yard Sale Saturday, April 29 th from 8am - 12pm Whether you are Spring cleaning and have some gently used items to donate or are looking for an affordable item to meet a need, please join us at St. Matt's Spring Yard Sale. Donations will be accepted starting Thursday, April 27 th after 12pm. We are not able to accept the following items: TV s, computers, printers, electronics, underwear, tires, batteries, medical supplies or equipment, mattresses, expired car seats, or any broken, cracked, or stained items. Please plan to join us on Friday to help set up, early Saturday morning for the sale, and Saturday around noon for clean up. This is a really fun day and a great service to our community, but it takes many volunteers to make it work -- please join us! Want to be part of this great day? Contact Wilma Sargent at wilsar2@verizon.net.

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5 Financial Peace University Wednesdays starting April 19, 7:15pm-9:15pm Whether you are trying to figure out how to balance saving for retirement, college and family vacations, or you are struggling to make ends meet, FPU has something for you. As a church, we want to share a practical plan that can help you discover God s way of handling money. We want to empower you to get on a budget, get out of debt, and take control of your money. To register, sign up online at: facebook.com/ StMatthewsEpiscopalChurch/events/ If you have any questions, please Miriam or Mason Turner at Family@turnerville.us Dog City Hoedown In Concert Friday, April 21st, 7:30pm Come enjoy an evening of bluegrass inspired music. All ages welcome. Contact Kevin Fletcher, Music Minister with any questions: Kevin@stmtts.org Celebrate Earth Day! Sunday, April 23rd Help us celebrate God s amazing creation on Sunday, April 23rd for Earth Day. We will be celebrating with our annual plant adoption event, live animal presentations during Faith Factory, games and crafts, and so much more! As you start seedlings or divide perennials this spring, set aside a few for this special Saint Matthew's celebration. All are welcome to donate and/or adopt plants. Questions about the plant adoption? Contact Heidi Lathrop at HLathrop@me.com. For more information on the other Earth Day events or to join in the fun, contact Susan Jones at Susan@stmtts.org.

6 It s Time to Register for VBS! Maker Fun Factory July 24-28, 2017, 5:30pm-8:30pm A world where curious kids become hands-on inventors who discover they re lovingly crafted by God! Be on the lookout for Registration information this month! First Communion Class for Children Saturday, April 29, 9am Please join us on Saturday, April 29th at 9:00am as Father Rob guides our young children through their First Communion class. In this class we ll discuss preparations for Holy Communion, the ceremony itself, and how it feels to be with Jesus in a special new way. This class is open to children ages 4 through 5th grade. If you wish to have your child(ren) participate, please Ashly Townsend at ashly@stmtts.org. Youth Weekend Is Coming May 6 and 7 The youth of Saint Matt s will be taking over the services on May 6 and 7. Don t miss this fun weekend where you ll see our St. Matt s youth stepping out in faith to speak words from their heart, play in the band, lift their voices to sing, serve, and of course everyone loves our Saint Matthew s dancers. All youth are invited to participate. Please contact Elliott at Elliott@stmtts.org or Ashly to be part of this great weekend!