Could you help 4-5 Sundays during the school year greeting at Sunday School? It's easy and fun. Arrive at 9:45 to greet parents and children and get them signed in. Stay in the hallway to be available in case the teachers need help with a child or a project. Shepherd the children back to the undercroft by 10:50 in time for communion with their families. Safe Church training is required. Please see Jill Desrochers or Joan Alayne Stevens if interested. Thanks - it's a great way to meet our wonderful young families!

Quiet Day:  Saturday, November 15th 10AM - 2PM

Linnae Peterson's home: 26 First Ave, Goffstown 

Presenters: Winnie Skeates, MTS, Linnae Peterson, MDiv, Jill Desrochers, Joan Alayne Stevens

A Quiet Day affords participants a few hours away from the hustle and bustle of daily life to strengthen your soul in the company of other seekers.  It is free & lunch is provided. Space is limited, please register by calling 497-2003 or emailing office@stmattsepiscopal.org

Everyday Pastoral Care: Practicing Compassion Inside & Out has to do with living kindness as Christ would do. Learn how to take care of yourself so you can be aware of and respond to the needs of others.

10AM Empathy: Jesus practiced everyday pastoral care with everyone. Story after story Jesus is scolded for spending time with so called sinners and tax collectors. He devoted time with them to listen and understand their experiences. What was it like to be labeled as a "sinner" in Jesus' time? Who are the people that challenge us today? What assumptions do you make about another person? Can we try and understand the other persons experience? We will explore how we can empathize with those with whom we struggle - both from Jesus' time and modern day through guided meditations.

11AM Re- Energize: Empathy is hard work! Did you ever notice how Jesus is always wandering off to pray? It is draining to really commit to listening and understanding another person. Even Jesus needed a break to recharge himself in order to be a continuing presence of a God's love to all he encountered. We will hear stories of how Jesus recharged himself and share our own methods for caring for ourselves.

11:30 AM Gentle Yoga stretches - wear comfortable clothing

12:15PM Lunch

1:15PM It Takes A Village! Often understanding ourselves is even harder than understanding others. The Quakers recognized that each of us has an inner teacher, a voice of truth, that offers the guidance and power we need to deal with our problems. But that inner voice is often garbled by various kinds of inward and outward interference. We will be introduced to how Quakers encourage each other to hear their own inner voices through listening circles.

2 PM Adjourn: Go forth in peace 

One of the things I admire about by grandmothers is that they were always learning. I remember them taking on French, ballroom dancing, calligraphy (despite arthritic hands), watercolor painting, and any number of other endeavors. Learning is a lifelong undertaking. There is always more to learn. This is particularly true of the spiritual life. We are called to learn more, to follow our wonder and curiosity into the next part of our lives in Christ. As we are learning, we have the opportunity to share what we are learning and exploring with our children. Read a book, listen to a podcast, explore scripture at a Bible Chat or prayer at the prayer class.

Here are a couple of ideas. Let me know if you are looking for a specific topic. (linnae.peterson@gmail.com)

Books

Simply Christian, by N. T. Wright. A readable look at what it means to be a Christian.

Sabbath in the Suburbs: A Family's Experiment with Holy Time, by MaryAnn McKibben. A look at how one family tried to make time for God and each other.

An Altar in the World, by Barbara Brown Taylor. Taking up a variety of "practices," Taylor helps us to look with new eyes and glimpse the sacred nature of such ordinary things as walking, laundry, getting lost, or the day to day experiences of living in our own skin.

Websites

"At the Edge of the Enclosure."

http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/  A meditation on the upcoming week's Gospel lesson.

"Darkwood Brew."

http://darkwoodbrew.org/   Live on Wednesday or recorded thereafter, speakers discuss a wide variety of topics, including "Drawn In: Living the Creative Life with God," "On Earth as It Is In Heaven," and "The Faith of Jesus in a Pluralistic World."

"Lord help us to be grateful for your whole creation, that we may

honor thee with our substance and be faithful stewards

of thy bounty."  (BCP pg. 329)

"The Earth is the Lord's and all that dwells therein." (1 Corinthinian)

 Anniversary? Birthday? Thanksgiving?  Offerings for special occasions may be made by providing for worship in the following manner:

Give Thanks To God Always

IN GOD'S PRESENCE IS JOY

IN GOD'S SERVICE IS PERFECT FREEDOM

The Rev. William E. Exner+, Rector
Administrative Asst. Kelly Kennerson
St. Matthew's Church   7 N. Mast   Goffstown, NH 03045
phone: 603-497-2003 
email:   office@stmattsepiscopal.org
 

Office Hours: Tues 9:30-12:30, Wed 9:30-1:30pm & Thurs 9:30-12:30