Messenger. Summer Worship Schedule begins June 7th. May Pastor s Cup Pastor Maynard Atik

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1 May 2015 What s Inside? A Message From Pastor Kacey pg. 9 VBS Registration pg. 4 SMLC Financials pg. 7 Messenger St. Matthew s Lutheran Church Newsletter 1700 Edmonds Ave NE Renton, Washington stmatthewschurch@comcast.net Pastor s Cup Pastor Maynard Atik I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:3-6) I have to say I echo Paul s words to the Philippians when it comes to my thoughts and hopes for you, dear sisters and brothers at St. Matthew s. Moreover, I thank you for your love, support and willingness to put up with me during this transition process. During this time the mission and ministry Christ has entrusted to you has not wavered or gone on a hiatus. Quite the opposite, you have extended this mission and ministry, and display a true picture of what Christ s Church is all about. Your newly called Pastor, Kacey Hahn, is chomping at the bit to get involved with you and further this mission and ministry. Who knows what lies ahead. I am reminded of one of my favorite songs from the group Fleetwood Mac, Don t Stop. The chorus is: Don t stop, thinking about tomorrow, Don t stop, it ll soon be here, It ll be, better than before, Yesterday s gone, yesterday s gone. Whether that ll be your theme song I cannot say, but the sentiment for new beginnings, change and new possibilities rings loud and clear. Pastor Kacey s official start date is June 1 st. According to synod protocol, interims are to conclude their ministry one month prior to the incoming pastor s start date, which means I am finished April 30 th, hence my last Sunday being April 26 th. continue to page 7 Summer Worship Schedule begins June 7th Our summer worship schedule begins June 7th. Please note the Traditional worship time is 8am, and no longer 8:30am. 8:00 a.m. - Traditional service 10:00 a.m. - Contemporary service *Sunday School will resume in September.

2 P a ge 2 M e s s e n g e r Life Stage Ministry To create partnership between ministry of St. Matthew s and the faith formation that takes place in the home, community and the world. Life Stage Children Registration is now available on line at or you may find a registration form available on page 4 and 5 St. Matthew s Vacation Bible School 2015 July am-noon Donations needed: -12 large foam sheets (each 4 x8 2 in. thick) ($24 each) -empty gallon size plastic milk jugs Life Stage Youth Confirmation 2015 May 13: Confirmation Banquet, 6-7:30pm in the fellowship hall. Watch for details about what to bring for this potluck dinner. May 17: Confirmation Sunday, 10am SMLC April Youth Calendar May 3: CROP Walk: all youth are invited to help raise money and come and walk to help raise awareness about hunger in our community and around the world. The walk goes from 1-3pm, beginning at Liberty Park. May 10: No youth activities, celebrate your mom! May 17: SMACK, 6-7:30pm at St. Matthew's May 22-24: High school spring retreat at Lutherwood Camp and Conference Center CROP Walk 2015 Join St. Matthew s and other Renton churches as we walk to reduce hunger locally and globally! When: Sunday May 3rd Where: Liberty Park Start time: 1:00 pm What: Walk on the cedar trail to raise awareness for hunger relief programs in the Renton community and around the world. Contact Maria Wolcott for more information wolcottmj@gmail.com. Or

3 M e s s e n g e r P a ge 3 AMIGOS of April Thank You! A great Big Thank You to Amy Roberts who stepped up to lead this program. It would not be possible to host the 21 st annual Amigos if it weren t for the saints listed below. Laundry Jeanne and Larry Crook Janet Saukko Sharon Jones Kathie Swenning Colleen Jensen Joan Stewart Fritz Brendemihl Tina Boyd Terrie Meyer Dinners Janet Saukko Sandy Millett Crystal Poague Amy Roberts Libby Lucier Steve Wessel Tiara Whitney-James Pat Lee Angel Swanson Joan Stewart Mike and Barb Connor SMLC youth (who gave a birthday party for the Amigos) Jeff Wolcott Kate Bice Thank you, St. Matthew s! Sandwiches Joan Stewart Libby Lucier Tina Boyd Barb Connor Pearl Jacobson Melissa and John Cheryl & Jonathan Jayne Amanda Bedsaul Linda Hicks Judy Craig Dear St. Matthew s, Thank you for your support and generosity this past Christmas. You provided a single mom with a new car battery to make sure she could get her son to preschool everyday and herself to school and work. Your gift made a positive impact in her life and she expressed her appreciation. She has decided to take a full time position, and reliable transportation supported this transition. Thank you for all you do! ~ Meghan Session, Meadow Crest Early Learning Center It s Layette Time Again! The Can Do ladies need your help. We will have a basket located in the Narthex for donations of new or gently used, nighties, sleep n plays, onesies, sweaters and caps, socks, and rattles. The clothes items should be newborn, small, or three month sizes. We will be assembling the layettes in the fellowship hall on May 9th beginning about 9am, until we finish. Join us! A Note From Pastor Kacey Hahn located on page 9 A list of May birthdays can be found at the welcome counter.

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7 M essenger P a ge 7 St. Matthew s Financial Update March 2015 Income Expenses $ 46,150 $51,552 Year to Date $132,903 $154,570 St. Matthew s Financial Update Pastor Maynard Atik cont. from page 1 However, I will be back for our Confirmands Rite of Confirmation on May 17 th. It was decided that it would be more appropriate for me to come back for that day since I ve had a warm and fun relationship with them rather than have some pulpit supply who doesn t know them. They re great kids! Then, after that I am truly gone, I promise! A simple choice; a generous response With Simply Giving, your donations are made through a pre-authorized withdrawal from your bank account or credit card. You determine the frequency of your automatic donation weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly the option is yours! It s reliable and safe! If you would like to participate in the Simply Giving program, you may enroll on line at and click on the Giving Tab or contact Libby in the church office. stmatthewschurch@comcast.net or I thank you for the fine, fun reception for me. My family was very touched, as well as myself. Your cards were filled with love and thanks and I was very moved by your thoughtful words. I was blown away by the gifts of NY Steaks and ingredients for Manhattans! That s got to be a first in any congregation. You are way ahead of the curve when it comes to gift giving! I hope to see you at Safeco in the near future, especially when the M s are postseason bound! You ll find me working the sections , by the left field foul pole. But remember, at St. Matthew s I proclaimed the Gospel of grace. At Safeco, it s all Law!! God s blessings abound and shower upon you. Maynard Atik, interim pastor Lent Change Challenge Update And the winner is SPRING!!! With -8,865 points Spring Birthdays (April, May, and June) won our Lent Change Challenge! Fall took second place with -10,112, Winter third at -11,815, and Summer had -14, 996. The REACH Center of Hope will be the biggest winner of all when they receive the almost $650 that was collected. Side By Side Ministry We're a trained team of caring people who walk along side those who are in crisis due to health, family, job, and LIFE. St. Matthew s Lutheran embraces everyone's story and strives to connect with people in the midst of their struggles and joys. Side by Side is a ministry that connects trained volunteers with those who are looking to share and find support during difficult times. A side by side volunteer is carefully matched with someone who needs and wants a listening ear. If you are interested in becoming a Side by Side volunteer, or if you would like to meet with a Side By Side Volunteer, please contact the Side By Side Coordinator, Joan Stewart, joan.stewart@smlc.cc or

8 P a ge 8 M essenger...i would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame. -W.B. Yeats May 1 Matthew 3: John 3:6-8 3 John 15:1-8 4 Romans 8:26 5 John 14:26 6 Galatians 5: Acts 2: Corinthians 6:19 9 John 14: Isaiah 11: Corinthians 2:13 12 Romans 15:13 13 Acts 10:38 14 Ezekiel 36: Acts 4:31 16 Romans 5: Luke 4:1 18 John 20: Luke 4:18 20 Psalm 51:11 21 Matthew 10:20 22 Job 33:4 23 Ezekiel 37: Acts 2: Romans 8: John 15: John 16: Acts 1:8 29 Acts 19: Galatians 4:6 31 Romans 8:11-17 Faith Inkubators, All Rights Reserved, REACH Financial Update Good News! United Way and the City of Seattle approved a $93,000 grant for the Emergency Shelter in Renton. This means that families can now have a warm place to sleep and resources to connect with in the community for a long time! REACH would like to extend their gratitude to everyone that made a donation this past winter. Your dollars helped keep the emergency shelter doors open when many families would have been turned away and left out in the cold. REACH couldn t have done it without your help! For more information on REACH,

9 P a ge 9 M essenger A Note From Pastor Kacey Hahn Hello Faithful of St. Matthew s, April 27 th, 2015 Have you noticed there are high and low tides when we are in transition? Sometimes waves of anticipation rush over us, tickling our futures with joy-filled possibility while at other times the ground underneath us feels like shifting sand and we are wholeheartedly anxious for our next step. Transitions involve risk and a willingness to embrace change. I do not know about you, but I have a tendency to get impatient during the in-between times. Since I said YES and accepted the call to St. Matthew s, I have been holding you in my daily prayers. Saying good -bye to a beloved interim and waiting for a new pastor to come and get established is not easy. As a congregation, you are blessed with a very gifted staff and council and I am very thankful Pastor Maynard was able to coordinate supply preachers for the in-between time. You are in good hands! As the Spirit continues to guide you as a congregation, I am saying heart-felt good-byes and bringing closure to my current ministry context. As a family, we are sharing last meals with dear friends, before we pack up the moving van and drive 1660 miles. Yes, we will pack snacks! I will be in the office at SMLC after Memorial Day weekend to meet with staff and prepare worship for Sunday, May 31 st. I am SO EXCITED to commune with you all soon! Dave and the kids will be relocating after school gets out in the middle of June. We are OVERJOYED to make SMLC our spiritual home and learn how God is at work in your community of faith. I am THRILLED to be called as your pastor and look forward to sharing life together and learning each other s stories. Here is a prayer that I have used during this in-between time. Ever-present God, You call us on a journey to a place we do not know. We are not where we started. We have not yet reached our destination. This is not a comfortable place. Be among us, we pray. Calm our fears, protect us from discouragement, And help us be patient as we wait. Open our hearts to your guidance so that our journey to this Unknown place continues to be a journey of trust. Amen (Rev. Canon Kristi Philip) SMLC we have only a little longer to wait!!! In God s Patience and Peace, Pastor Kacey Hahn

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12 St. Matthew s Lutheran Church 1700 Edmonds Ave NE Renton WA Visit our website at ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Renton, WA Permit No. 108 Staff Directory Pastor Maynard Atik interim pastor pastor.maynard@smlc.cc x115 Director of Worship Arts Karla Cruz karlacruzmusic@gmail.com x108 Susan Kriesel, Senior Choir Director Welcome Minister & Wedding Coordinator Joan Stewart joan.stewart@smlc.cc x120 Administrative Support/ Communications Coordinator Libby Lucier stmatthewschurch@comcast.net x110 Facilities Manager Dan Willcocks Life Stage Ministry Todd Hobart Youth Coordinator todd.hobart@comcast.net x130 *** Nicole VanderMeulen Children s Coordinator nicole.vander@comcast.net x 103 Bookkeeper Susan Richmond x117 Marriage and Family Therapy Jean Eakins, LMFT Lutheran Counseling Network x VBS Registration located on page 4! Summer Worship Begins: June 7th