CALENDAR of EVENTS. S t. M a t t h e w L u t h e ra n C h u rc h C o n n e c t i n g Fa i t h W i t h L i fe!

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1 2017/2018 real church for real life grades 9-12 st. matthew lutheran church Connections S t. M a t t h e w L u t h e ra n C h u rc h C o n n e c t i n g Fa i t h W i t h L i fe! CALENDAR of EVENTS SAT., APRIL 21 10am-12pm Concord Room 10am-1pm Reserved/Al-Anon Mtg. ECIRMAC 5:00 pm Worship 6:00 pm Pasta & Piano Youth Fundraiser SUN., APRIL 22 8:30 am Worship 9:45 am Coffee Fellowship 9:50 am Sunday School 9:50 am Adult Forum/Storybook Project 10:45 am Worship 6:30 pm High School Youth Group MON., APRIL 23 8:30 am Morning Prayer Group 9:00 am Pastors Text Study 7:00 pm Girl Scouts Pastor Maggie at First Call Meetings through Tuesday TUES., APRIL 24 9:00 am STM Quilters in the Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm Boy Scouts WED., APRIL 25 ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY 6:00 pm Bible Study 6:30 pm Youth Huddle 6:45 pm STM Choir Rehearsal THURS., APRIL 26 9:30 am Women s Bible Study 6:00 pm BUNCO in the Augsburg Room FRI., APRIL 27 Illinois Marathon Weekend SAT., APRIL 28 Illinois Marathon Weekend 10am-12pm Concord Room 10am-1pm Reserved/Al-Anon Mtg. ECIRMAC 5:00 pm Worship SUN., APRIL 29 8:30 am Worship 9:45 am Coffee Fellowship 9:50 am Sunday School 9:50 am Adult Forum 10:45 am Worship student ministry The woman in the hospital bed was in tears. She needed to be moved from the bed to a chair. Nurses and attendants tried to offer their aid, but they didn t know how best to help or where to hold her without hurting her. Her cry rang out in the corridor, I want someone who knows me! In an age when extended families are often separated by miles or strained relationships; in a time when we are known by a driver s license number, a Social Security number, a student identification number, or an employee number we yearn for intimacy. We yearn for the familiar for someone with whom we are comfortable and accepted. We yearn to be known. Jesus words speak to the heart of our yearning. I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me. (John 10:14 NRSV) His words remind us that our human yearnings to be known find fulfillment in him. In Jesus we find intimacy, acceptance, compassion, and care. Jesus knows us. He knows that without a shepherd, we would be lost. He knows that without a savior, we would be lost. And so he becomes both shepherd and savior for us leading, guiding, and giving his life for the sheep so that we are known and found. As shepherd and savior, Jesus brings us together as one flock. The community of the church is gathered because we are known. We may not know each other by our full name, but we know a part of each person s name: child of God.We follow a common shepherd. The final words of commendation prayed in the funeral liturgy remind us of this wonderfully good news that we are known by the good shepherd. As the dearly departed is commended to God, these words are spoken: Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own redeeming. (ELW, page 283) Even at death, there is someone who knows us. THANKS BE TO GOD! Prayer Thank you, Good Shepherd, for knowing us by name. Amen.

2 Prayer Requests Specialist Sean Splittstoesser, grandson of Ruby & Dan Splittstoesser Brody Welshofer, friend of Danielle Deck Donna Gehrt, aunt of Jill Daly Chris Galvin, friend of Morgan Johnson Rita, sister of Diane Durbin Vickie Fitzsimmons, sister-in-law of Shirley Shaw Rita, niece of Liz Schwartz Virginia, Meghan & Chris, friends of Chris Bedford Barb Frantz, friend of Diana Marshall John Sheehan, grandfather of Walker Westfield Janette Green, friend of Peg Warriner Gloria & family, aunt of Jill Daly **************** Tobie Durance, granddaughter of Mark & Tina Shaw and great-granddaughter of Shirley Shaw Morris & Doreen Huck, friends of Dorothy Graham Janet Kitzman, sister of Ruby Splittstoesser **************** Sharon Hedrick Isabella Gonzalez Rita Vanier Suzanne Ross Bruce Carroll Gerald Smith Rod Warfield Cherylin Stivers Pr. Bill & Kathryn Harum Norm & Lana Maske **************** Remember our shut-ins: Elaine Ebeling John Gantz Muryl Ohms Mandi Gilliland Danielle Deck Hervin Buhr Garris Graham Dan Splittstoesser Leona Saathoff In loving memory of Harris Garberg, grandfather of Pastor Maggie Please include his family & friends in your special thoughts & prayers. May God welcome him into the kingdom of heaven. Please note: Names on the list for prayers will be posted for one month unless otherwise requested. Please contact the church office with any updates or extensions. Thank you. STAFF OF ST. MATTHEW LUTHERAN CHURCH PHONE: Pastor Associate Pastor Office Manager Nursery Parish Nurses Robert J. Rasmus Maggie Falenschek Gayla Pellum Ruby Splittstoesser & Emma Lacefield Aziza Awate, Kathie Pound, and Beth Riddle Connections Deadline: Submit announcements in writing to the church office or by to no later than 9:00 a.m. Wednesday. Thank you!

3 Welcome! St. Matthew Lutheran Church is a fellowship of Christian believers called to: grow in Christ, share the Gospel, serve God s people. Do come again to St. Matthew Lutheran Church where you are always welcome. Worship Services Saturday, 5:00pm A relaxed and informal worship held in our Christ Chapel. Sunday, 8:30 am Spirited traditional worship that focuses on participation through the liturgy, the great hymns of the Church, & corporate confession of our faith. Sunday, 10:45 am Praise & worship in an open & accessible style. STEPHEN MINISTERS: THE AFTER PEOPLE People often ask, What exactly is a Stephen Minister? One way to put it is that Stephen Ministers are the After People. Stephen Ministers are there:...after the phone call you hoped you d never get....after the divorce papers are served & the bottom falls out of your life....after the funeral, when everyone has left & the emotions you ve held at bay come crashing in on you....after the doctor says, I m sorry, but there s nothing more we can do....after the nursing home director shakes your hand & & says, Welcome to your new home....after the last child honks the horn, waves, & drives away & the house suddenly seems empty....after the gavel goes down, the handcuffs go on, & your loved one is led away....after the baby arrives, demanding more of you than you ever dreamed possible....after you find a pink slip with your final paycheck....after your family & friends have heard your story one too many times, but you still need to talk it out. Stephen Ministers are the After People. They are ready to come alongside you or your friends, neighbors, coworkers, or relatives & provide comfort & support for as long after as needed.

4 ALTAR FLOWERS The flowers on the altar this weekend are given by Shirley Shaw in loving memory of her daughter, Denise Moore. May she rest in the company of the angels. Help make our altar beautiful! Celebrate a birthday, anniversary, someone s life or just because. The sign up sheet is located on the bulletin board in the narthex. SUNDAY MORNING ADULT FORUM You've been hearing about Storybook Project for several years. Making it possible for children to hear the voices of their fathers and grandfathers reading to them is a blessing YOU provide every time our Storybook Project team visits Danville Correctional Center. Please come see the film and hear first hand stories about this amazing service project this Sunday at 9:50 in the Augsburg Room. COMBINED CHOIR CONCERT (St. Matthew, Good Shepherd and Grace Lutheran Churches) When: Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 5:00 pm Where: Grace Lutheran Church, Springfield & Prospect Aves, Champaign, IL J.S. Bach s Cantata 112, a paraphrase of Psalm 23, was written and first performed in 1731 on the 2nd Sunday of Easter. You don t have to understand German to feel the joy of the words: Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt. The Lord is my faithful Shepherd. Join with the Lutherans of Champaign and Urbana for this concert. This will be a special way to spend your Sunday afternoon! Choir Concert H.S. YOUTH, FAMILIES & FRIENDS ARE HAVING PIZZA 2017/2018 THIS SUNDAY! HSYG and their families will meet this Sunday from 6:30-8pm at Jupiter at the Crossing. Join us for great pizza, conversation and fun! Bring a friend! Everyone is welcome. STM QUILTERS THIS WEEK! Come and join the STM Quilters at 9:00-12:00 on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month. We meet in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Peg Warriner, , for more information. With our many projects we could use a few more hands to help us. Monetary donations are helpful to purchase fabric and supplies. Everyone is welcome to join us! We hope to see you there. WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY THIS WEEK! The WELCA Bible Study will meet at Prairie Winds of Urbana on the last Thursday of the month at 9:30am. If you would like to join the women's Bible studies based on the Gather magazine Bible studies (& we would welcome any other Bible study ideas) pick up one of the complimentary copies of the magazine today in the outside the Concord Room & join us on April 26th for fellowship & coffee. Hope to see you then! Thanks ladies, Mary Anderson, Bible Study coordinator LADIES... LET S PLAY BUNCO THIS WEEK! NEW TIME! Play a fast paced game, win great prizes, and have a lot of fun. Please bring your drink of choice. The next BUNCO Night will be Thursday, April 26th starting at 6:00pm in the Augsburg Room. No need to sign up... everyone is welcome. We have a great time! Join the fun & bring a friend!!!

5 It s Time to Make Up the Next Worship Assistant Schedule! I will be scheduling worship assistants in early September for the June through September 2018 services. If you are currently part of the schedule, please contact me to let me know if you are unavailable for certain weekends and/or if you have a scheduling preference. We can add people to any of the assisting duties and would love to see more of you helping out! If you are currently not on our schedule, please consider giving any of our assisting positions a try! We will be happy to train anyone who is interested. We would love to have your smiling face be part of our team of worship assistants! Please have your requests and/or preferences ed to me at my office address (gayla.stm@stmatthewurbana.org) no later than May 9th. If you have any questions, please give me a call at the office. Thank you! Gayla Pellum LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD COOKS! St. Andrew s Lutheran Church and Campus Center is in need of our help to provide food for their weekly Chat and Chow held on Wednesday nights. We began this ministry with St. Andrew last winter and right now they have three empty dates to fill out the school year April 25, May 2, and May 9. It s very easy to do and I will do everything I can to make it even easier for you. It works best if there are two cooks. (Actually, I find the most challenging part of this ministry to be finding a parking place for the food delivery.) They need a main dish (we ve been doing two, one meat and one vegetarian), and a filler. This can be a salad, fresh fruit, breads, dessert...your choice. They feed anywhere from people each week. They also have walk-ins off the street in need of a meal. All food must be delivered in disposable cookware. There are some diet restrictions which are easy to work around and I have a list of those which I will share. If you re not available during the day and want to help, you can prepare your dish ahead of time and I can reheat it and run it over there. This ministry will continue next fall with regularly assigned dates for St. Matthew s involvement. Would you be interested in helping out with this ministry? Please contact me at kjw1951@comcast.net, or I ll be happy to answer your questions. Thank you Kathy Wallig MEN S COFFEE Our Men s Coffee group meets twice a month. All available STM men are invited to gather for a cup of coffee & conversation on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, May 1st at 10:00am in the Harvest Market on South Neil St. in Champaign. Men of all ages are welcome & encouraged to join our discussions. LET S DO LUNCH LADIES LUNCHEON Join us on the second Friday of each month at 11:30 am at a different restaurant each month. No age limit, no jobs to do, no colored hats to wear, nothing to study, strictly social & fun. Come when you can whatever months you can. The next lunch will be held Friday, May 11th at Longhorn Steakhouse on North Prospect in Champaign. The sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex. If you forget to sign up... come anyway! Women of all ages are welcome! PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY The next meeting of the Prayer Shawl Ministry will be Wednesday, May 16th at 9:30 a.m. in the Concord Room at church. We welcome all who knit. If you know of someone who would be comforted by a prayer shawl, please contact Joan Peterson ( ), Mary Anderson ( ), Pastor Bob, Pastor Maggie or the church office ( ). The stories from the recipients are beautiful & filled with gratitude for the prayers & love that goes into making them.

6 YOUR HELP MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO HELP FEED HUNGRY FAMILIES THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS to our STM Food Pantry. With all of your help the Food Pantry is full of food for the weekly deliveries. The families in the Urbana and- Champaign area are grateful to you for helping them by your donations. We have a few items that we are in need of at this time: canned or bottle juices, peanut butter, jelly, Hamburger Helper, cornbread mix and toilet paper. If you have any question about STM STM food pantry, we would be happy to answer them, or if you would like to volunteer to help us make deliveries call Laura Podeschi at (217) THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. MATTHEW We'll be celebrating the 75th Anniversary of St. Matthew on Reformation Sunday in the fall! We'd like to form a steering committee very soon. The weekend event could include worship, music, fellowship, historical record, stories and a video. We may even want to incorporate some St. Matthew stories during Sunday School and Adult forums during the weeks leading up to Reformation Sunday. Many of the ministry leaders on Council will be helping with planning this event, but we need a few people to help create, plan and communicate to the congregation as we plan this wonderful celebration. Please let Dorothy Gable know if you are interested in helping to plan the celebration! dorothy.p.gable@gmail.com or SOLA GRATIA FARM 2018 SHARES ARE AVAILABLE NOW! Shares for the 2018 season of Sola Gratia Farm are currently for sale. Some shareholders purchase a share for their own family, while others purchase a share to be donated to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. Shareholder agreements are available in the narthex or in the farm office. If you would like more information, please ask a member of the Sola Gratia Farm board. Please consider giving the gift of food to those who are hungry. Donate one of our CSA shares to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank and you'll be giving healthy, fresh vegetables to those who need it most. In 2017, nearly 16,000 pounds of high quality, naturally grown, fresh-picked, good food was donated into our community our partners working on community food security - let's do it again! ARE YOU A Snow BIRD? HAVE YOU RETURNED? HAVE YOU MOVED? Are you moving to a new address or enjoying a sunny, warm climate this winter? Please let the office know! We need your new mailing address or if you will temporarily away we need to know when you will be leaving AND when you return. We need update our mailing labels with your new address. If you re just away for the winter months, we can hold your newsletter or we can send it to your warm address. The post office charges us and the mailman collects cash from the office for our returned mail. May 11th - 20th 9am-5pm