THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER

Transcription

1 ST. MATTHEW S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER Volume 4, No. 1 Table of Contents March 2017 A Message from Bishop Susan 1 Worship Schedule 2 Media Resources Report 3 Finance Report Budget Summary Financial Summary 5 Upcoming Events Did You Know? Lay Spiritual Retreat th Anniversary of the Reformation News Luther Pub Crawl 9 Move Night Info 10 Help Wanted 11 Little Luther 12 Lutheran Laughter 13 Reformation Challenge - Tree Planting An Evangelical Deal with the Devil Communion Record Cards 17 A Few Quotes Choir News 18 Youth Activity 19 Children s Activity 2 St. Matthew s Church Women 21 Thank You s 22 January Food Drive 23 Contact Information Church Staff & Leadership Community Connections St. Matthew s Mission& Vision Membership Committee Request From the Editor/Deadline 24 January 30, 2017 Dear members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Grace and peace to you. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me. - Matthew 25:25 I am writing to you following the horrific events that occurred last night at a Quebec City mosque during Sunday night prayers. Freedom of conscience and religion is named first among the fundamental rights of the people of this land in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. How utterly devastating to instill fear and terror in a place where we are supposed to feel safe and welcome. I want to pass along my deepest condolences to our brothers and sisters who experienced these events last night. Our hearts and prayers reach out to the families of those who were killed, those who were hurt, their families, and all who feel the impact of this terrible act of violence. We extend our commitment to stand with Muslims across Canada. I call on the members of our church to reach out in a genuine expression of love for our neighbor as we stand in solidarity with the community of le Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec and speak out against all forms of racism and violence against Muslims. Let us pray: God, our refuge and strength, we lift up before you the victims, families, and community of le Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec. We pray that you would send comfort, healing, and peace to all who mourn. Strengthen us to stand with Muslims across Canada and to speak out against all forms of racism, intolerance and violence. In your holy name we pray. Amen. s in Christ, Bishop Susan C. Johnson, National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

2 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 2 Regular Worship Schedule: Hymn Sing: 9:45 a.m. Children s Message/ Sunday School : 10:00 a.m. Holy Communion: 10:15 a.m. Refreshments & Fellowship: Following Worship Lenten & Easter Worship Schedule: March 1 - Ash Wednesday: - 7:30 p.m. March 8, 15, 22, 29 & April 5 - Ecumenical Lenten Worship Services : 12 Noon, Lunch to follow April 9 - Palm Sunday Service: Regular worship times above Brunch to follow April 13 - Seder Meal: 5:30 p.m. - Maundy Thursday Worship: 7:30 p.m. April 14 - Good Friday: 11:00 a.m. April 16 - Easter Services: Sunrise Service: 7:00 a.m. Traditional Service: 10:00 a.m.

3 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 3 Media Resource: Committee Focus Although it is a relatively new committee at St. Matthew s, the Media Resource Committee has accomplished a great deal. What does Media Resource do? The committee is in charge of the church library which has recently been resurrected in the church parlour. They encourage you to take time to puruse the books and magazines that are there, perhaps over a cup of coffee or tea and to check out the selection of DVD s as well. There is a selection of books about Martin Luther that may be of interest to you as we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. ~~~~~~~ The committee is responsible for archiving our history. One of the most visible signs of this is the photo collage of St. Matthew s pastors. ~~~~~~~ The committee offers Movie nights. Specially selected movies are presented that contribute to some thought provoking discussion. There is no charge to attend, but a freewill offering is taken to cover costs. And yes... popcorn & juice is provided! See page 7 for information on upcoming movies. ~~~~~~~ The committee indirectly oversees our website and facebook pages. These electronic media sites are managed by the church secretary and 3 other individuals. If you haven t had a chance to check out our website and facebook pages, now is the time. Our website is and provides information about St. Matthew s including upcoming events, the Pastor s blog, our ministries as well as a children s activity page. We also have 2 facebook pages. One for the church (click here), and one for St. Matthew s Little Luther (click here). Check them out - like them, share them, comment on them, post to them! These are great ways to let others know what is happening at St. Matthew s. ~~~~~~~ Adult Studies are co-ordinated on the advice and direction of the pastor and needed supplies are part of the budget. ~~~~~~~ Adult Forums are also managed by the committee with the next one coming in the Spring of Watch your bulletin for more information. ~~~~~~~ Audio Visual activities such as the Power Point are part of the committee mandate. Media

4 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 Finance Report: At the Annual Meeting on February 5, the congregation approved a budget of $195,000. 1/52 of that amount (e.g. one week s budget is $3,750.) Please check the weekly bulletin and compare our budgeted amount to actual receipts. Please see Page 5 for the 2016 Financial Summary. Job well done! offerings help programs like our Media Resource Committee to continue. (See page 3 for more information). THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER Total Receipts for 2016 (before Increased Revenue Strategies) CURRENT ACCOUNT Total Disbursements for 2016 Shortfall 194,377 $195,126 $749 Budgeted to October 31 BENEVOLENCE GOAL Received to October 31 $23,500 $23,500 Goal Met!! PAGE 4 We continue to encourage our members to participate in POP. What is POP? It s the Preauthorized Offering Program administered by Faith Life. It s also a safe, easy way to ensure your regular financial support of St. Matthew s. Call the Church office to enroll! 2017 Budget Summary: The challenge for Council and the Committees was to develop a realistic and attainable Current Account budget. Each committee worked hard to reduce their budgets. This involved thinking outside the box in many areas. It might also mean that we will need volunteers to do some of the things that we paid for in the past. Council prayerfully considered different options, which resulted in the Budget recommendation that was approved at the Annual Meeting on February 5, 2017 Current Account Budget: Receipts: $195, Receipts were $194,377, so we know this is an attainable budget. This is slightly higher than our budgeted disbursements for The additional amount will eliminate our opening deficit. The budgeted receipts do not include receipts from Increased Revenue Strategies. We will now be able to use those funds for other projects within the church. Disbursements: $193,861. Council and each committee are to be commended on finding ways to reduce the budget by over 6% in a time when many costs are rising. Benevolence Goal: $25,000. We were asked by Synod to increase our goal for 2017 to help with the increased expenses Synod has. We were pleased to be able to respond in a positive way.

5 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 5 SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS As of December 31, 2016 Receipts Disbursements Change Opening Ending (includes (includes for Period Balance Balance Transfers in) Transfers out) Current Account Mission Account Special Gifts Seminarian Fund Building Maintenance Reserve Fund G&HK/DVS Memorial Education Fund St. Matthew's Young Lutherans Faith Expressions Grey Bruce Area Fund St. Matthew's Stewardship Fund TOTAL We started 2016 with a Current Account deficit of $10, Through the generosity of our members and the support of everyone who attended/worked at/planned our Increased Revenue Strategies, we were able to reduce the deficit to $733. Well Done!! Once again, we were able to meet our Benevolence Goal of $23,500 as well as contributing an additional $6,895 to support other Mission Areas for a total of $30,395. Kudos to everyone! are some examples of the ways committees have reduced their budgets: Asking members to look after putting out the garbage and recycling for pickup. (~ savings = $860) Eliminating regular church ad in newspaper (~ savings = $1,000) Using Youth Fund for Confirmation Camp and Youth Activities (~ savings = $1,150) Purchasing Finance supplies in bulk during 2016 to eliminate costs in (~ savings = $300) Reducing offering envelope costs (~ savings = $200)

6 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 6 February: February 16 - Movie Night - Spotlight (See page 10 for more information) February 28 - Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 5:00-7:00 p.m. March: March 3 - World Day of Prayer - McVeen Lodge at 10:00 a.m.; Salvation Army at 2:00 p.m. This year s theme - Am I being Unfair to You? March 9 - Women s Meeting 7:00 p.m. Watch bulletin for more information! March 12 - Daylight Savings Time Begins. Move your clocks ahead and change your smoke detector batteries. March 16 - Movie Night - Concussion (See page 10 for more information) March 24 - Spaghetti Supper - Tickets $10.00 each. Proceeds towards the Reformation Challenge goal of scholarship(s) to ELCJHL Schools. April: April 9 - Palm Sunday Brunch April 13 - Seder Meal/Maundy Thursday Service. Last year s meal was a tremendous experience for all who attended. April 13 - Women s Meeting - Attending Seder Meal/Maundy Thursday Service. April 22 - Lutheran Women Georgian Bay Area Spring Conference here at St. Matthew s April 23 - Tree Planting Day! Plant a tree in commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. (see page 13 for click here or more information) April 28 - Pub Crawl. One of our activities during the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. (see page 8 or click here for more information) May: May 11 - Mother/Daughter BBQ May H.U.G.S. - Eastern Synod Women s Ministry Event. - see page 21 for more details. DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that you can donate to St. Matthew s online? We have partnered with Canada Helps to provide a new way to support St. Matthew s. If you go to our website you will find a link that takes you to our donation page - or - You can go directly to the Canada Helps website at Once you have made your donation, you will receive your receipt from Canada Helps via .

7 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 7 January 24, 2017 Dear friends: Grace be yours and peace. This letter is written to invite laypersons of the Eastern Synod, ELCIC, and the Diocese of Niagara, Anglican Church of Canada to attend a spiritual retreat. This year, our Spiritual Director will be Rev. Claudine Carlson. Having served for more than 23 years as a pastor in the Eastern Synod, Claudine Carlson retired in February Throughout her pastoral ministry, she served the wider church in various capacities, including teaching Spiritual Formation at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary and serving on National Church Council. Prior to ordination, her careers included teaching grade 2 in California and management as a department head at the University of Waterloo Library. She wants her retirement years to be both productive and creative, and has embarked on a busy year living as an Alongsider of the Anglican Sisters of St. John the Divine in Toronto. She hopes to return to Kitchener- Waterloo when the program concludes at the end of July Her theme, Moments of Joy, Seasons of Grace, is the title of a book she d like to write someday. You won't want to miss this opportunity to spend these special days in conversation, worship, and silence, as we explore the Spirit together. Register soon, for space is sure to be limited! The retreat will be held from Friday, March 31st to Sunday, April 2nd, 2017, at Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre, 7020 Stanley Ave, Niagara Falls, Ontario. Please note that this is a fragrance free event. Along with this letter you will find a flyer and a registration form. If you have any questions about the retreat, you are invited to contact the Retreat Director, Dorothy Frook (dbfrook@wightman.ca), or the Registrar, Prijna Gingrich (anp.gingrich@rogers.com). On-line registration is available on the Eastern Synod website at: We look forward to welcoming you. Bishop Michael Pryse MJP:sc

8 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 8 500th Anniversary of the Reformation October 31, 2017 will be the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses onto the door of Wittenberg Cathedral, which set the wheels in motion for the Reformation. are a few of the events happening at St. Matthew s: Monthly - Vignettes of Luther s Life. March 24, Spaghetti Supper - proceeds to ELCJHL** Schools Scholarship April Planting Trees - our goal 50 trees! See page 13 (or click here) for more information. April 28, Luther Pub Crawl - Tickets are limited for this event. See page 8 (or click here) for more information. May - Special Service. More information to come. Early June - An organ concert is being planned. Watch for more info. June 28, A special meal is planned where 150 people from all walks of life from Hanover will come together around food, fellowship and worship. ** Hmmmm... Ever wonder what all those letters stand for? Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land Go to for more information. St. Matthew s Goals Towards the Challenge $ towards Refugees $ towards 1 scholarship St. Matthew s Lutheran Church Women: $500 for Trees for Ethiopia St. Matthew s: Plant 50 trees $ Contribution towards Endowment Fund ACHIEVED!!!

9 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 9 Luther Pub Crawl - Friday, April 28, 2017 A Pub Crawl?... With the Church? Yes! History tells us that Martin Luther would often join his students at local taverns or invite them back to his home where they would discuss theology over a stein of beer. Luther loved a good beer, and the saying Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy is attributed to him. When enjoying a beer at home, it would have been brewed by his wife Katie who had become a licensed brewer in the convent.. So, what a fitting way to celebrate Luther s Life! s what you need to know about the Luther Pub Crawl: Tickets are $25.00 each and must be purchased by April 7. They will be limited to the first 40 people (including a designated driver), so get your tickets early. The ticket price will include: MacLeans Ales 6:00 to 7:00 - facility tour, tastings, appetizers, coupon for $10.00 off store merchandise Queen s Bush 7:15 8:15 - ticket for 1 drink Frankie s 8:30 9:30 - ticket for 1 drink We will go by car and every car must have a designated driver. (Note: the designated driver will also be required to purchase a ticket. They will receive non-alcoholic beverages at the venues. We have a few people who have volunteered to drive.) If there is interest from more than 40 people, we will consider having another Luther Pub Crawl at a later date.

10 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 10 February 16 th at 7pm, we will present the film Spotlight which won the 2016 Academy Award for best picture. This true story documents the Boston Globe s investigative reporting into the systemic abuse of children by priests in the Diocese of Boston and the efforts to cover it up at the highest levels of the Roman Catholic Church. On March 16, the movie Concussion will be shown which chronicles the challenges faced by accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu, when he discovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play. From Pastor John: As your pastor and as someone who played football through high school I believe anyone who has children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews who play contact sports should see this film. Both of these films are based on real events and tackle the trials people face both individually and collectively when they speak the truth to power. In this way, both movies are prophetic.

11 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 11 Looking for a way to contribute to the programs St. Matthew s offers? are some opportunities for you! POWERPOINT OPERATOR Operating the prepared PowerPoint presentation on the screen during the service. Required 1 Sunday per month. Training will be provided. Open to all, this is an excellent opportunity for high school students to gain volunteer hours. VIDEOGRAPHER Videotaping the service approximately 1 Sunday per month. Be a part of an important outreach program that allows viewers of Eastlink, Wightman and Youtube to watch our service. Training will be provided. Open to all, this is an excellent opportunity for high school students to gain volunteer hours. HEATING SYSTEM OPERATOR(S) There is a unique opportunity for 1 or 2 individuals to begin a training program with Leroy Dietz to learn the operations of the heating system. Initially, these individuals will be trained to step in when Leroy is not available during the heating season. Long term, they will take over the operations and maintenance of the heating system. Experience is not required, but a mechanical aptitude and a desire to learn are definite assets. Contact Leroy Dietz at for more information COUNTER As part of a two person team, you will count, record and deposit weekly offerings. Training will be provided. Required once every 4 6 weeks. Contact the church office for more information. SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER Join the learning team in providing a fun, interactive faith based curriculum to our children. All supplies and lesson plans are provided. Come join the fun! SOUND BOARD OPERATOR By manning the Sound Board, you will help to enhance our Sunday Services. Training will be provided. Another opportunity for high school students to gain volunteer hours. MEALS ON WHEELS You will work with another volunteer to deliver nutritious meals to clients in Hanover. Volunteers are usually only needed 1 day every 6 weeks. Staff at Home & Community Support organize everything you need. Call Barb Fleming at if you can volunteer or if you would like more information. TABLE/CHAIR SETUP Individuals are required to help with the set up and take down of tables and chairs for events occurring in the auditorium. If you are interested, please call the church office.

12 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 12 St. Matthew s Little Luther Face Book Page If you haven t checked out our facebook page, here are some examples of what you might see. Go onto facebook and like us to see more. Little Luther loves to have his picture taken. And he wants to travel. If you are going on a trip, or attending an event - stop at the church office and take Little Luther along with you. Take his picture and send it to smm_editor@wightman.ca so it can be posted on his facebook page.

13 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 13 Lutheran Laughter: A New Twist on Lot s Tale: A father was reading Bible stories to his young son. He read The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned to salt. His son asked What happened to the flea? The Lion and the Missionary: A Christian Missionary was walking in Africa on Easter Sunday when she heard the ominous padding of a lion behind her. Oh, Lord, prayed the missionary, Grant in thy goodness that the lion walking behind me is a good Christian lion. And then, in the silence that followed, the missionary heard the lion praying, too. Oh, Lord, he prayed, I thank thee for the food which I am about to receive this Easter time. Sunday School: A Sunday School teacher asked her class one Easter Sunday, as they were on the way to the church service, And why is it necessary to be quiet in church? Rebecca, a bright little girl piped up, Because people are sleeping? (Note: this would never happen at St. Matthew s)

14 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 14 One of the E.L.C.I.C. Reformation Challenges is to plant 500,000 trees worldwide. St. Matthew s goal for the challenge is to plant 50 trees. The Women of St. Matthew s also have a goal to raise $500 for trees that will be planted in Ethiopia as part of the project they are supporting. As of January 31, they have raised just over $300.00!! On April 23, 2017, (the day after Earth Day) we are encouraging everyone to plant a tree - whether it be in their own yard, the yard of a neighbor who needs shade, at a farm to be used as a windbreak, or in a memorial grove. If you don t have the space for a tree and want to plant one, Barry Josephson has graciously offered to allow trees to be planted on his property. It doesn t have to be a particular species, or size; and you don t have to purchase it from a particular store. Every tree will count towards our goal of 50 trees planted. St. Matthew s will be planting our own tree at the church after the service that day. When you plant your tree, please take a photo of you and your new tree. That photo will be placed on a special tree display in the church. So, help us meet this goal. Plant a tree! He who plants a tree, plants a hope. Lucy Larcom, Plant a Tree

15 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 15 AN EVANGELICAL DEAL WITH THE DEVIL And it came to pass that the evangelical Christians in America were led into the desert to be tempted by the devil. And the devil said unto them, I ll make America great again, all you need do is reach out your hand and join me. And so it was that the crowd responded in unison, No, we will serve the Lord God and Him only shall we serve. But then, intrigued by the offer, Jerry Falwell Jr. stepped out from the crowd, Perhaps we shouldn t be so hasty, lets hear what the man has to say first. Then addressing the devil he asked, What exactly do you mean by great again? Exactly what you think great is tempted the evil one, The America you desire will continue to dominate the world system; economically, militarily, and culturally it will suffer no serious rivals. Hallelujah! exclaimed a voice from the crowd. Praise God shouted yet another. Yes responded the devil under his breath, praise God indeed It was then that Jerry Falwell Jr. stepped back to confer with the other evangelical Christian Americans as to what they should do. I know this is the devil, confessed a confused Falwell, but it sounds awfully like God s plan to me Agreed, said the others with hesitation, but we really need some other assurances first. It was then that James Dobson, President of Focus on the Family, stepped up to face the devil. Staring Lucifer in the eye he said, You make a fair offer to my friends and I but we all know you stand against family values. I know who you are, he said with an air of bravado, you are the promoter of homosexual marriage in America today, I for one, will never support you. Really? said the devil. Really answered Dobson with smug confidence. The devil then sidled up to the President of Focus on the Family. Placing his arms around Dobson s shoulders he whispered into his ear, You know, I have a secret I haven t told anyone but, he added, I m going to tell just you Dobson looked back at the others in his group. Dropping his voice turned back to the devil and asked, What secret? Satan looked around at the other evangelical leaders to make sure they were out of earshot, Truth be told, he whispered again into Dobson s ear, I really believe marriage is God ordained. You do? responded Dobson somewhat suspiciously Of course retorted Satan, I mean don t you really think marriage is meant to be solely between a man and a woman?

16 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 16 Dobson turned back to his other Evangelical leaders. I m in he said, Let s make the deal What? said the others with hesitation, but he s the devil! Hey, said Dobson, I m not endorsing the guy per se, he said with a twinkle in his eye, but we re are on the same page when it comes to family values. Wait! The evangelical leaders turned to see Franklin Graham emerge from the back of the group, The Muslims, he asked, what do you propose to do about them? Why ban them of course exclaimed the devil. Ban them? said Gary Bauer Ban them answered Satan Is that even legal? muttered James Dobson Shh, countered Graham, let the man speak I don t know, Falwell asked, his voice betraying a sense of unease, what would your dad say about all this? You just let me handle my dad, quipped Graham confidently, I speak for him these days. But what about abortion? interjected Ralph Reed, could you promise the unborn will be protected? Uhm, yeah, sure thing, said the devil crossing his heart. And gun control? added Falwell with glee Standing to attention the devil saluted the president of Liberty University and smiled, the right to bear arms will not be infringed. And Illegal Immigration? asked Mike Huckabee What if we built a border wall? suggested the devil The coalition of leaders looked at the Prince of Darkness intrigued. and? they asked together and added the devil, we make the Mexicans pay for it. Ohhhhh, remarked Graham, this guy is good! Amen chimed the crowd But what do we do? asked Ralph Reed, we re Christians. We can t make a deal with devil. For a moment the evangelical leaders seemed genuinely perplexed

17 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 17 But, explained Falwell breaking the silence, if it furthers the Kingdom of God and makes America great again interrupted Dobson. yes and makes America great again, concurred Falwell, it seems we are compelled as men of God to walk through this open door the Lord has provided. The coalition leaders all began nodding their heads in agreement as the devil stepped forward. Gentlemen, he said extending his hand, Times up. Shall we make America great again together? Do we have a deal? The group paused for a fraction of a second and then We do indeed, said Falwell breaking the silence and reached out to receive the devil s hand. Then each of the other evangelical leaders in turn reached out to embrace the hand of the devil. Sad that not one of the group paid notice to the man standing quietly in the back of the group. A man who had the rugged look of a carpenter about him. Watching the deal being made the carpenter slipped away and separated himself from the group of evangelical leaders. When the man was alone he sat on the ground and wept bitterly. Editor s Note: The preceding article was written by Steve Hackman. Steve is a Christian blogger, podcaster and author from Colorado. Steve takes his readers Beyond the Pale - in his words beyond the picket fence and the controlled areas of our Christian faith. You can access more of Steve s work through his website at or by clicking here. RECORD OF COMMUNION After a few years absence, we are once again being asked to complete a Holy Communion Record card. The cards only need to be filled out once per year, but can be filled out at other times - if you desire a pastor to call, for example. The cards can be found in the holders in each pew. Simply fill in your information and put the card on the offering plate. Thank you for taking the time to complete a card. This will help us prepare the Synod reports.

18 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 18 A FEW QUOTES... "Whichever religious path we follow, the destination is the same: to value and respect the other person" - The Prince of Wales' A quote from Martin Luther: Faith is a living, daring confidence in God s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times. - Martin Luther Act the way you'd like to be and soon you'll be the way you act. - Leonard Cohen If you have a quote you would like to share, let us know! Choir News Rehearsal Date Preparing for: March 15 March 25 March 29 Palm Sunday & Easter Sunday April 12 Easter Sunday If you are interested in joining the choir, come out to a practice. Practices begin at 7:00 p.m. for approximately 1 hour. Join us! We ll be glad you did!

19 . VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 19 Complete the following quiz (circle or highlight your answer) and bring it into the church office for your chance to win a prize! 1. Who was the mother of Jesus? Anna Martha Dinah Mary 2. Who did Jesus raise from the dead? Lazarus James Peter Mary Magdalene 3. Who baptized Jesus? Peter John Joseph Saul 4. Who tried to dispose of baby Jesus by making a decree that all baby boys should be killed? Augustus Herod name: Pharaoh Tiberius 5. Who was Jesus stepfather? Joseph James Peter Zechariah age: Phone Number: 6. Which apostle led Christ s church after Jesus was killed? Lazarus Thomas Peter Timothy 7. Which apostle betrayed Jesus with a kiss for money? Judas Timothy Thomas Luke 8. Who would not believe Jesus was resurrected until he saw Him with his own eyes? Saul/Paul Joseph Lazarus Thomas 9. Who atoned, suffered, was crucified and was resurrected for all mankind, making Him a saviour? James John Peter Jesus Christ

20 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER Children s Activity Page PAGE 20

21 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 21 St. Matthew s Lutheran Church Women There is a saying that says behind every good man is a good woman. It could also be said that behind every good church is a good Women s group. That is certainly true here at St. Matthew s. Through their Grace Gifts, receipts for providing funeral lunches, the Spare Rib Dinner, Fashion Show and Flowers of Love, they are able to provide financial assistance to a number of organizations including the Current Account at St. Matthew s. On December 11, 2016, Marie Ashton presented Pastor John and Council Chair Lorraine Morrow with a cheque for $4, to reduce the deficit. This generous assistance helped us decrease the Current Account deficit to less than $1,000. Upcoming Events: On April 13, the women will attend the Seder meal and Maundy Thursday service as their monthly meeting. Georgian Bay Spring Conference - at St. Matthew s April 22, :30 Registration, 10:00 Worship. $10.00 includes lunch. Watch for more information in the bulletin or Facebook page. H.U.G.S. - (Helping Us Grow Spiritually) Eastern Synod Women s Ministry. May 26-28th at Klempenfelt Conference Centre, Innisfil. Brochures and registration forms are available from Executive members. Early Registration March 15. Lots of stimulating Breakout sessions, including guest speakers, painting, Tai Chi, therapeutic touch and a prayer walk. All women members are automatically a member of St. Matthew s Church Women. If you would like to become involved in any of the circles, please speak to the circle leader or a member of the executive.

22 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 22 We have received a number of thank you s from organizations who benefited from the generosity of our members. are some excerpts from their letters: From the Alzheimer Society: Thank you for taking part in this year s Coffee Break Campaign. involvement and your demonstration of support have real value right here in this community. Our records show that (over the years), St. Matthew s Evangelical Lutheran Church s Coffee Break events have raised $1,227. Go to to learn more about what the Alzheimer Society does. From Samaritan s Purse (Operation Christmas Child): We thank God as we pray for your church. We know that it is no small commitment to serve as a shoebox Collection Center and we don t want to miss an opportunity to recognize your partnership. Go to for more information on Operation Christmas child and other Samaritan s Purse programs. From Christian Horizons Global: Thank you so much for your thoughtful contribution to the Guatemala Mission Fund. The team will have the opportunity to share God s love in tangible ways with children and communities in Guatemala. Their work will include renovating classrooms, providing children s ministry and sharing Gods love with children who live in a community plagued by gang violence. Go to to learn more about Christian Horizons Global. From Church Council: Thank you to everyone who signed up to look after the garbage for 1 month. By taking the time to each week to put a bag tag on the garbage bag and put it out for pickup, along with the bi-weekly recycling, you are helping to reduce costs. If anyone would like to know more about what is involved and how they can help with this, please contact the church office. From The Editor: Thank you to Pastor John for giving up the space for his message in order to include the letter from Bishop Susan. From The Salvation Army Hanover Ministries: Thank you for your support towards our foodbank. Without friends like you who are willing to support The Salvation Army we would not be able to reach out and serve others in the manner that we have been able to during these past months.

23 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE 23 January Food Drive St. Matthew s has continued to support the Salvation Army Food Bank. That support shone through with the January Food Drive. We collected pounds of food. Job well done! Although we know that there is a need for this support, the information below may surprise you. This information was compiled by the United Way of Bruce-Grey and published in their 2015 Hunger Report titled WTF: Where s The Food? The Salvation Army Foodbank in Hanover was started in 1980 and is one of the oldest in the region. It is also the 3rd most visited after Owen Sound and Dundalk. The Salvation Army Foodbank in Hanover served 1600 households in 2015.** 16% of the population of Bruce and Grey Counties have accessed a food bank. Only 7 out of 16 foodbanks provide fresh fruit and vegetables. Almost 26,000 families visited a foodbank in 2015.** This is a 92% increase from The average food bank client spends 70% of their income on rent, leaving very little for all other necessities. (Note: Financial Planners advise you shouldn t pay more than 30% of your income on rent) 1 in 3 jobs in Ontario is temporary, contract or part time. An individual working full time, at minimum wage will have an annual income of approximately $21,000 falling well below Ontario s poverty line. The Salvation Army food banks in Hanover & Wiarton provide cooking programs as part of the food bank program. The average market rent is $847. To afford that apartment a household must earn at least $34,400 per year or $16.56 per hour for a 40 hour week. ** 2015 is the latest data available.

24 VOLUME 4, NO. 1 S T. M A T T H E W S E V A N G E L I C A L L U T H E R A N C H U R C H THE ST. MATTHEW S MESSENGER PAGE th Street Hanover, Ontario N4N 3L5 Phone: stmatthews@wightman.ca Website: Community Connections Our services can be seen on the community channels of both Wightman and Eastlink. They can also be seen on youtube.com or by clicking on the link on St. Matthew s Facebook page. Check it out! Our Ministers: All members of the congregation are called to boldly make Christ known. Our Staff: John Polačok, Pastor Sandra Fyfe, Administrative Assistant Linda Bender, Director of Music Ken & Carol Zister, Custodians Our Church Council Executive: The Council Executive for 2017 will be elected at the February 21 Council meeting. From The Editor Please bring your suggestions for articles to the church office, or call Laurel Krueger at or you can them to smm_editor@wightman.ca To save printing costs, we will be ing the newsletter to all addresses we have on file. We encourage anyone whose address we don t have to share it with us. (See Membership notice below) Deadline for submissions for the next newsletter is Friday, April 28, MEMBERSHIP: Thank you to everyone who has provided their address. We are still reaching out to members to get a complete list of addresses, but you are welcome to call the church office or send an to stmatthews@wightman.ca. St. Matthew's Mission and Vision At St. Matthew's, our mission is to endeavor to love God above all things, and to meet the needs of others by being a committed, loving, and welcoming community faithful to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our Vision At St. Matthew's we strive to emphasize God's grace and we celebrate our shared baptismal journey in ways that others will see what God is doing here. We seek to reflect the gospel by reaching out to the community in which we live and beyond. We look to build partnerships, carry on vibrant ministries that connect with all people, and to be good stewards and generous givers in the name of Jesus Christ.