Holy Trinity

"You ought not to be astonished, then, when I tell you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it wills; you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from, or where it is going. So, with everyone who is born from spirit."

John 3: 7-8

Last Week at Saint Matthias

There were 89 parishioners at 3 services: Morning Prayer with Bible Study on Wednesday morning at 10AM, and The Day of Pentecost Services at 8AM and 10AM on Sunday morning.

There were 98 guests of “The Loving Thing” served by 6 volunteers.  

Thank you to LaVerne Edmunds, Barbara Khan, Joan Krave, Ellen Mykkanen, Richard Reyes, and Sue Williams for contributing their time and talent 'Doing the Loving Thing' to support those in need in our community seeking food, assistance, and love.

Thank you to Eileen Weiss for preparing Reverend Hartshorn Murphy's sermon on The Day of Pentecost for publication on our Website: Saint Matthias Blog — Saint Matthias Episcopal Church (stmatthiaswhittier.org) 

Special shout out to Kathy Adams, Mary Jean Christian, LaVerne Edmunds, Claudia Gonzales, Joan Krave, Christopher Lavagnino, Sophie McIntosh, Ellen Mykkanen, Kathy Underwood, Eileen Weiss, our very beloved Father Hartshorn, Kevin McKelvie and the incredible Saint Matthias Choir, and all our incredible multi-lingual speakers who made The Day of Pentecost at Saint Matthias truly inspirational. Veni Sancte Spiritus. Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

And, as always, thank you to Ben and Jimmy Gonzales for all they do to maintain our historic Saint Matthias landmark. Ben worked meticulously with a plumber late last week, through the weekend, and into the early part of this week to repair one of the church's major waterlines leading into the Saint Francis Patio.

This Week at Saint Matthias

Wednesday, May 22

• 10AM - Bible Study continuing the study of the book of the prophet Micah, Morning Prayer, Chapel, In-Person and via Zoom

Thursday, May 23

• 12NOON - Saint Elizabeth's Guild, Chapel, In-Person

Saturday, May 25

• 10AM - Episcopal Church Women, Chase Room, In-Person

Sunday, May 26

• TRINITY SUNDAY with the Reverend ('Mo') Lyn Crow presiding
• 8AM - Mass with Holy Eucharist, Church, In-Person
• 10AM - Child Care
• 10AM - Festive Choral Mass with Holy Eucharist, Church, In-Person and Streaming via Facebook
• 11:30AM - Special Celebration of TRINITY SUNDAY (and Memorial Day) with bagels, cream cheese, and assorted berries courtesy of Joan Krave, Saint Francis Patio, In-Person
• 11:45AM - Saint Matthias Prayer Vigil, Church, In-Person
• 1PM - Stephen Ministry Meeting, Chapel, In-Person

Monday, May 27

• Memorial Day Holiday - Saint Matthias Office Closed

Upcoming Spring and Early Summer Events

Bible Study 

Join us for Bible Study and Morning Prayer every Wednesday at 10AM in the Chapel and virtually on ZOOM.

Kathy Underwood leads the Bible Study group.

Under Kathy's leadership, the group is currently studying three of the Minor Prophets: Hosea, Amos, and Micah, all of whom prophesied in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th Century BCE, warning the Israelites of the impending Assyrian captivity in judgement for their unfaithfulness.

The next Bible Study session takes place on Wednesday, May 22 at 10AM. The group will continue the study of the book of the prophet Micah.



If you are not able to partake in person, you may connect to the Bible Study via ZOOM utilizing the following connection information:

Kathryn Underwood is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Bible Study

Time: 10AM, Wednesday

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88198890910

Meeting ID: 881 9889 0910

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbP0s8r6Ar

 An Opportunity to Pray Together

 "The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective". 

We are made "righteous" through the righteousness of Christ. 

(2 Corinthians 5:21).

Please join with a group of St. Matthias family members in Thanksgivings and Petitions for our parish in a time of transition and discernment.

We will begin on Sunday, May 26, meeting for six consecutive Sundays at 11:45 after the 10:00 o'clock service. (You will have time to participate in Coffee Hour!) We will gather around the altar in the church and participate in a time of guided prayer. I look forward to this time of sacred fellowship.

Kathy Underwood

Men Eating Badly 

Gentlemen of Saint Matthias, mark your calendars: The next meeting of Men Eating Badly will take place on Saturday, June 1 at 8AM at the Greenleaf Café in Historic Uptown Whittier. Join the group to enjoy great conversation, good food, and wonderful fellowship.

Anniversary and Birthday Celebrations

On the first Sunday of every month, please join us in the Saint Francis Patio or Lewis Hall immediately following the 10AM service as we recognize our fellow parishioners who are celebrating an anniversary or birthday during the month. We will be treated to delicious baked goods and beverages. Mark your calendars for our next event: we will be celebrating our June anniversaries and birthdays on Sunday, June 2. If you would like to contribute treats for any of the monthly anniversary celebrations, please sign-up sheet in the narthex to indicate your preferred date and contribution.

Annual ECW Online Bake Sale

If it is June, it is time for all the gourmet Bakers and Chefs of Saint Matthias to offer their culinary delights in support of the Annual ECW Online Bake Sale. The proceeds from this event directly fund the charitable events sponsored by the ECW throughout the year. This year the online auction will be held from June 9 through June 30. If you wish to participate, please let Kathy Adams know by June 2 what culinary treasure you will be offering, a brief description of that offering, and whether you prefer to deliver it or have it picked up. Kathy's email is ktouch52@gmail.com. Participants will also be able to sign-up on a sheet in the narthex.

Striping of the Saint Matthias Parking Lot Rescheduled

We have rescheduled our Parking Lot Striping for Saturday, June 15, at 10AM. Please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the Narthex and join us for a fun morning beautifying our parking lot.

Remember, this is an all-hands project, so everyone is encouraged to participate. We will start at 10AM and the more people we have on hand, the quicker we will be able to finish the job. Let’s take this opportunity to improve our parking lot appearance and make our parking spaces easier to see!

Father's Day at Saint Matthias

Dads, you thought we forgot you. No way! Just as we did our mothers on their day, we are honoring you on your day, Sunday, June 16. Just like last year: See's Chocolate Baseballs for each of you. And then a special cake as well after our 10AM service. An early Happy Father's Day to all of you!

Our Worship

Trinity Sunday

Feast that celebrates “the one and equal glory” of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, “in Trinity of Persons and in Unity of Being” (BCP, p. 380). It is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Trinity Sunday is one of the seven principal feasts of the church year (BCP, p. 15). The proper readings and collect for Trinity Sunday are used only on the feast, not on the weekdays following. The numbered proper which corresponds most closely to the date of Trinity Sunday is used (BCP, p. 228). The BCP also provides the proper “Of the Holy Trinity” for optional use at other times, subject to the rules of the calendar of the church year (see BCP, pp. 251, 927). The Hymnal 1982 presents ten hymns in a section on The Holy Trinity (Hymns 362-371), including “Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!” (Hymn 362), “Come, thou almighty King” (Hymn 365), and “Holy Father, great Creator” (Hymn 368).

Celebration of Trinity Sunday was approved for the western church by Pope John XXII in 1334. This feast is associated with Thomas Becket (c. 1118-1170), who was consecrated bishop on Trinity Sunday, 1162. His martyrdom may have influenced the popularity of the feast in England and the custom of naming the remaining Sundays of the church year “Sundays after Trinity.” The Sarum Missal and editions of the Prayer Book through the 1928 BCP named these Sundays the Sundays after Trinity. The 1979 BCP identifies this portion of the church year as the season after Pentecost, and names these Sundays the Sundays after Pentecost (see BCP, p. 32).

(From Bible Study: Year B – The Episcopal Church)

Bible Study: TRINITY SUNDAY – May 26, 2024

Weekly Meditation: What difficult theological questions do you want to bring to Jesus in prayer?

Erica Andersen

RCL: Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17

Isaiah 6:1-8

When reading the books of prophecy in the Old Testament, it is important to approach them as poetry rather than as history or journalism. Prophecy stretches our hearts and imaginations, offering glimpses of God’s glory and of a deeper reality transcending what we normally experience with our senses.

In this passage, Isaiah describes God, who is so glorious that the hem of God’s robe fills the temple. He describes wondrous heavenly beings, seraphs, who sing to God, using words that inspired the first part of the Sanctus hymn that we sing during the Eucharist. (Sanctus means “holy” in Latin.) This description of seraphs (or seraphim as they are also called) is unique to Isaiah.

Isaiah is overwhelmed by this experience of God’s glory and majesty, and he feels unworthy to have seen such an incredible sight, but a seraph brings him a coal that takes away his sin and guilt. Fire in the Bible is often a symbol of purification. Following this purification, Isaiah hears God’s voice and responds to God’s call.

• Isaiah describes God’s greatness and magnificent size, but he does not describe anything specific about God’s appearance or his face. Why do you think this is?
• Try to imagine the seraphs that Isaiah describes. Although angels seem to be different types of heavenly beings from seraphs, does this change your idea of what angels might look like?

Psalm 29

Today’s psalm is one of praise, focusing on God’s glory, magnificence, and power. The psalmist describes the power of God’s voice, a theme that can be found throughout scripture. In Genesis 1, God creates the world through speech. Isaiah hears God’s voice in today’s Old Testament passage. Peter, James, and John hear God’s voice in the Transfiguration accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

In today’s psalm, God’s voice has power to break the cedar trees, make mountains skip, split flames of fire, shake the wilderness, and make oak trees writhe. God’s power is awe-inspiring, and it is comforting to know that nothing in the world is stronger or more powerful than God.

• What image in this psalm do you find the most compelling?
• What other episodes in scripture can you think of that involve God’s voice? How do they compare with Psalm 29 and the episodes mentioned above? 

Romans 8:12-17

In this segment from Paul’s letter to the Romans, Paul mentions Father, Son, and Spirit, making this a fitting passage for Trinity Sunday. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we are invited into the life of the Holy Trinity.

Paul writes about dying to sin so that we can have new life in Christ. In a culture that places so much value on the individual, it may be challenging to think of being led by the Holy Spirit as liberative. Paul is clear that sin, or the worship of anything that is not God, such as money, fame, or pleasure, is a form of slavery. These material things will never satisfy us; seeking after them becomes an addiction.

Because of the work of Christ, we can be restored to our original purpose, to live in unity with God, the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. This is not work that we do ourselves but work that the Spirit does within us, with our consent. Even our prayers are prompted by the work of the Holy Spirit. Freedom is dying to sin and living an abundant life in Christ, so that we grow more unified with the Holy Trinity and with one another, becoming the human beings that God created us to be.

• Can you think of instances in your life when surrendering to God has been a liberating experience?

John 3:1-17

In today’s Gospel passage, as in the epistle, we again have a description of how the Trinity works, of God sending the Son into the world to save it, of human beings needing to be born of the Spirit in order to enter God’s kingdom. God is one, but somehow God is also Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Nicodemus comes to Jesus seeking answers to difficult questions. He knows that Jesus comes from God, but he is earnestly struggling to understand Jesus’ teachings intellectually. Jesus patiently addresses his many questions. Many Christians struggle with the concept of the Trinity, while many other Christians seem content to accept that God is more complex than our brains can grasp and live with the mystery. Whatever our struggles or questions are, we can feel confident and safe that we can bring them to God in prayer.

John 3:14-15 refers to a fascinating story in Numbers, in which God makes a way for the Hebrew people to be saved from a plague of venomous snakes by looking upon a bronze serpent. Similarly, Jesus has come to offer healing and redemption to a broken and rebellious world when we raise our eyes to him. John 3:16-17 are two of the most comforting verses not only in the Gospel of John but in the entire Bible. They proclaim that God loves God’s creation and is working to save it.

• What difficult theological questions do you want to bring to Jesus in prayer?
• What are some concrete ways that your church community can lovingly show those around you that God sent the Son into the world in order to save it, not to condemn it?

Erica Andersen is a senior residential student at Nashotah House Theological Seminary and is an aspirant to the priesthood in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. She serves as seminarian at Trinity Episcopal Church, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. She previously studied English literature, classics, and Montessori education. For many years she was a homeschooling parent and community volunteer. Her hobbies include language learning, reading, hiking, gardening, and crochet. She is passionate about teaching God’s word to people of all ages. Erica and her husband Tim have three children.

Young Person's Guide to our Worship

To all of you, but especially to our families with young'uns, please avail yourself of this wonderful educational enrichment material that we make available weekly in the Saint Matthias Narthex. Download the puzzles for age ranges three-year-olds to seven-year-olds and beyond. It is really extremely good curriculum. Introduce your young family members to the lectionary that they will be hearing this week either in church or the enrichment center.

3+-Year-Old-Hebrew-Scripture-Puzzle download

3+-Year-Old-Epistle-Scripture-Puzzle download

3+-Year-Old-Gospel-Scripture-Puzzle download

7+-Year-Old-Hebrew-Scripture-Puzzle download

7+-Year-Old-Epistle-Scripture-Puzzle download

7+-Year-Old-Gospel-Scripture-Puzzle download

Clergy Schedule

We are truly blessed to have the following clergy scheduled in May, June, July, and August to celebrate joyously with us the Holy Eucharist, lead us in the liturgy, and share their inspirational thoughts on the lectionary for the given Sunday with their sermons:  

• May 26 Rev. ('Mo') Lyn Crow
• Jun 02 Rev. Jeannie Martz
• Jun 09 Rev. Hartshorn Murphy
• Jun 16 Rev. Jeannie Martz
• Jun 23 Rev. ('Mo') Lyn Crow
• Jun 30 Rev. Hartshorn Murphy
• Jul 07 Rev. Hartshorn Murphy
• Jul 14 Rev. Rob Bethancourt
• Jul 21 Rev. ('Mo') Lyn Crow
• Jul 28 J.D. Neal
• Aug 04 Rev. Jude Lyons
• Aug 11 Rev. Hartshorn Murphy
• Aug 18 Rev. Jude Lyons
• Aug 25 Rev. Hartshorn Murphy

We welcome the return of our beloved Reverend ('Mo') Lyn Crow to preside at both the 8AM and 10AM services this Sunday.

You can review the inspiring sermons of our presiding clergy on the Saint Matthias Website: Saint Matthias Blog — Saint Matthias Episcopal Church (stmatthiaswhittier.org)

Gifts, Ministries & Services

Daughters of the King (DOK)

The Order of the Daughters of the King is a national organization of women who follow a Rule of Life that includes prayer, service and evangelism. The St. Matthias chapter meets on the third Sunday of each month at 1PM in the Chapel. All women in the parish are welcome to explore this option for spiritual growth and community. For more information, contact the Church Office at office@stmatthiaswhittier.org. 

Next Meeting: Sunday, June 16, 1PM, Chapel, In-Person

Doing The Loving Thing

Our Doing the Loving Thing volunteers continue to provide: 1) healthy sack lunches with sandwiches, fruit, and nutritious treats; 2) hygiene kits; and 3) a mail address for the homeless. The volunteers provide these services to those in need within our community Monday through Friday from 3PM to 4PM.

Episcopal Church Women (ECW)

ECW is the umbrella organization for all women’s ministries of the church and includes opportunities for service, study and spiritual growth. All women of St. Matthias are welcome. The St. Matthias chapter meets on the fourth Saturday of each month at 10AM in the Chase Room. For more information, contact the Church Office at office@stmatthiaswhittier.org.

Next Meeting: Saturday, May 25, 10AM, Chase Room, In-Person

Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Stitchery Group

The ECW Stitchery Group meets the third Saturday of each month from 9AM to noon in an "open house" environment. Participants are free to drop in and bring a sewing project or stitchery project of their own to work on independently, or to get coaching in learning a new skill. All are welcome. Contact Ellen Mykkanen (ellenmykkanen@yahoo.com) for more information.

Next Meeting: Saturday, June 15, 9AM, Chase Room, In-Person

Our Time

Our Time is a group of senior parishioners who enjoy the fellowship of each other, partake of arts and crafts, and invite guest lecturers to present on topics pertaining to relevant contemporary events. The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 2 PM in the Chapel.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 10, 2PM, Chapel, In-Person

Saint Elizabeth’s Guild

The Saint Elizabeth’s Guild provides additional fellowship opportunities for the women of the church. The group meets at 12 noon on the third Thursday of each month in the Chapel.

Next Meeting: Thursday, May 23, 12NOON, Chapel, In-Person

Stephen Ministers are lay people who are trained to work with parishioners going through challenging or stressful times, including a death in the family, job losses, divorce, and many other problems. Stephen Ministers become a friend to their care receivers and compassionate advocates for people who need to be seen, heard, and comforted; they also have resources available to make referrals to professionals if and when a situation demands it. All conversations and visits with Stephen Ministers are absolutely confidential. If you are interested in learning more about this important program, whether you are a person in need or think you might make a good Stephen Minister yourself, please contact the Parish Office at office@stmatthiaswhittier.org.Our current Stephen Leaders are Faye Jackson, Terry Dodd and Sophie McIntosh. 



Next Meeting: Sunday, May 26, 1PM, Chapel, In-Person

General Topics of Interest

Beloved Cash Contributors

If you wish to receive a formal statement from Saint Matthias at the end of the year for tax purposes, please place your cash contributions in an envelope and write your name on the envelope. This will allow our treasured counters to tabulate your contributions correctly and ultimately send you an official statement at the end of the tax year.

Prayers, Comments, and Concerns Box

We have provided all of you a way to confidentially request prayers for yourself and loved ones, make comments, and raise concerns about Saint Matthias. The Prayers, Comments, and Concerns Box is located in the church's narthex. All of your input will be treated with the utmost respect and confidentiality and directed to the appropriate individual(s) for disposition. 

Saint Matthias Welcomes You

We welcome worshippers of ALL ages to participate in our 8AM and 10AM services. Do NOT be daunted if any of you become restless. Feel free to stand up, stretch, and enjoy the mystery and beauty of the historic Saint Matthias ambiance or experience the serenity of the Saint Francis patio. Such freedom of expression is what true divine worship is about. We do continue to offer a youth-care service for the 10AM service for those who wish to partake of it. Any suggestions you may have to improve the worship experience for everyone, particularly for our youngest ones, are welcome! Please contact Timothy Adams at tim@stmatthiaswhittier.org. For those of you who love the balcony, it is open again for your participation in worship.

Calling out for TLC of our Historic Saint Matthias Facility 

Saint Matthias needs your help! Saint Matthias is a beautiful and wonderous place to worship and work in, however it is an aging facility and requires constant care and attention.

Our Facilities Manager Ben Gonzalez does a fantastic job of keeping this beautiful building running and in good working order. This is a mind-boggling job, but Ben manages to keep on top of everything. Ben spends countless hours making sure repairs are up to date, water is running, furnaces are running, A/C is running, plumbing is fixed, and the list just goes on and on.

Sometimes extra eyes can pick up items that one person might overlook. This is the reason we are asking our congregation to be vigilant and keep your eyes open for items that you think might need attention. They might be small cosmetic touchup work, or they might be something major, it does not matter. If you see something, please contact Stan Jamieson at: stan@stmatthiaswhittier.org or 626-485-5885.

Stan will compile a list of our concerns and will attempt to find a remedy for correcting. Remember nothing is too small to be reported. Also remember that our roof leakage is already being addressed and will be taken care of in the very near future.

Looking forward to seeing your concerns. 

Contact the Office with Any General Inquiries

If you have general inquiries about St. Matthias and are not certain who to ask, please send your questions and concerns to office@stmatthiaswhittier.org. Messages can be seen by our Parish Administrator, Sophie McIntosh, and other members of our parish leadership team. We will respond as soon as possible.

On the Cover:

Title: Holy Trinity

Object Function: Carving

Material: Wood

City: Paszym

Country: Poland

Permalink:

https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55323

(Use this link to refer back to this image.)

Copyright Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/feargal/5096160543/ - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Copyright Permission: Please visit the URL in the Copyright Source field on this page for details about reusing this image.

Attribution: Holy Trinity, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55323 [retrieved May 21, 2024]. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/feargal/5096160543/ - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Record Number: 55323 

Record Created: 2012-05-05 17:53:18

Institution: Vanderbilt University 

Collection: Art in the Christian Tradition

Saint Matthias Episcopal Church

7056 Washington Ave., 

Whittier, CA 90602

562-698-9741