No Healing Eucharist

or

Walking With the Word Bible Study

this Wed Apr 3 due to spring break.

***

Church office hours:

Monday - Thursday

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Closed Fridays

The office will be closed Mon-Tues

April 1-2 for the Easter holiday.

22 The same stone which the builders rejected *

has become the chief cornerstone.

24 On this day the Lord has acted; *

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:22,24

March 24, 2024 - In This Issue:

• Rector's Corner: The Resurrection and a New Practice
• Bulletin Links and Livestreaming Info for All Holy Week Services
• Good Friday Interactive Stations of the Cross for Families
• Youth Group Activities through May
• Committee and Parish Updates
• Parish Events: Mark Your Calendars
• Knit Crochet & Pray: Hats, Scarves and Gloves for Rosebud
• DOK Study

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Sunday of the Resurrection

Easter Sunday

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II++

9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II**++

Or view the service on FB Live

Service Bulletin

**Nursery available for young children

Holy Week and Easter Service Schedule

Holy Week services will also be live-streamed on our Facebook page. (except for Stations of the Cross)

Feature Photo of the Week:

St. Matthew's Courtyard and Entryway

New spring growth arches over the spot where the new fire will be lit on Holy Saturday to begin the Great Vigil of Easter. It is from this new fire that the Paschal Candle is then lit, remaining lit for the Great 50 Days of Easter.

The service begins in the courtyard at 7:00 p.m. Saturday.

Good Friday Services:

12 noon - Good Friday Liturgy, including the Passion Gospel of John, the solemn collects, and Veneration of the Cross. In the sanctuary . To view the service online, click here.

5:30 p.m. - Stations of the Cross - This year, on Good Friday, we will offer interactive stations of the cross on the meditation path. These stations will be open to everyone, especially children and families. Through scripture readings, tangible objects, and prayers, we will follow in Jesus' footsteps as he walks to the cross. This service is not livestreamed.

We hope you are able to attend some or all of the Holy Week services, beginning this evening at 7:00 p.m. with the Maundy Thursday service.

If you cannot attend in person, we invite you to join the services online here.

Bulletin Links for all Holy Week Services:

Maundy Thursday March 28 at 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday Liturgy March 29 at 12:00 noon

Easter Vigil with Renewal of Baptismal Vows Saturday March 30 at 7:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday March 31 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. livestreamed)

Rector's Corner: The Resurrection and a New Practice

This Sunday, Easter Day, we will introduce and try something new and different in our worship service. It may be a little unusual, but that's what the resurrection is about—it captures our attention and encourages us to reflect on its significance.

The Post-Communion Prayer is a sending prayer that signifies the end of our worship service. During the service, we heard God's Word, received the Eucharistic sacrament, and shared fellowship with one another. Now, God sends us out into the world to do His work and ministry. We are Christ's disciples, and it is our call and privilege to spread the Gospel, minister to one another, and remember that Christ dwells within us through the Word and sacrament during the week.

At the end of both services, during the closing hymn and procession, we invite the congregation to turn and face the church entryway (narthex doors) as the processional cross and altar party pass by. We would like you to continue facing the doors until the celebrant offers the dismissal. This physical act of turning represents our readiness to leave the sanctuary and enter the world, ready to embrace the opportunities that await us.

The worship committee and I understand that change can be difficult, and we don't expect everyone to participate in this new practice. However, we hope you will consider trying it out and see how it feels. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns. This new movement will give us a deeper understanding and awareness of participation in our worship and liturgy.

Have a blessed Eastertide!

God’s Peace,

Father Tim

From Your Fellowship Committee...

Take a trip to Monastery of The Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA:

Date: April 10th. Have you heard about the Monastery of the Holy Spirit? Come spend the day exploring this Trappist Monastery a mere 20 miles away in Conyers. Meet at St. Matthew’s at 10 AM to carpool. We are planning to attend their 12:15 midday service, explore the Church and grounds and of course visit the bakery for goodies. If you are curious or have been to the monastery in the past and want to go again, please join us for the day.

To learn more about the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, check out the monastery's website .

Committee & Parish News

*Building & Grounds with Long Range Planning has been working to have the parking lot repaired, and the work was completed Wednesday. Thank you to those on the committee who worked to get this done!

*The Parish Workday has been rescheduled to Sat. April 13. Please sign up for the new date on the bulletin board in the main hallway, or on Realm. If you signed up previously but can’t come on April 13, please let Clay Olbon know. 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., come for all day or an hour or two as you are able. Lunch served by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.

*Schedule Changes April 1-5 (Spring Break):

• Mon & Tues, April 1-2 - The parish office will be closed for the Easter holiday.
• Tues, April 2 -- The Tuesday night "Dinner & a Movie" (The Chosen, Season 3) will not meet.
• Wed, April 3 -- There will be no healing Eucharist or WWW Bible Study.

Save the Dates: (and watch for info)

FODAC Run, Walk & Roll Saturday, April 27 - Click here to register.

Kentucky Derby Day Party - Saturday, May 4

Mending the Gap Annual 5K - Saturday, June 8

Gwinnett Striper Game - Friday, June 28

St. Matthew's Preschool and Kindergarten: Create for a Cause!

We need your donations! We're accepting creative works of various mediums and unique handmade crafts for our Arts and Crafts Fair Fundraiser

"Art from the HeART". April 16-20.

Generous donations last year allowed us to use the $4000 we raised to replace carpets in the classrooms and provided three scholarships this year.

To donate artwork or an auction item, please contact Juanita or Dalex at 770-978-1323 or email the preschool. All donations needed by April 10. All donations are tax deductible.

Youth Group Schedule through May

3/31 Easter Egg Hunt- Youth Hide Eggs/ No Youth Group- Easter

• Youth will hide the Easter eggs during the Sunday School hour starting at 9:30am. Please plan to attend the egg hunt after the 10:30 service and stay to help clean up once it's complete.

4/7 No Youth Group- Spring Break

4/14 Youth Group from 5-7

4/21 Stars and Strikes Loganville- details to follow.

4/28 Youth Sunday!/ Parents of Youth Make Breakfast/ Youth Group

• Youth Group Makes Breakfast! Sign up to participate here.

5/5 Youth Group- 4 Square/ Connect 4 Tournament

5/12 No Youth Group- Mother's Day

5/19 Graduation Sunday/ Cake Reception Between Services/ End of Year Pool Party- details to follow

Co-Op Food Drive for March

For the month of March, the Southeast Gwinnett Co-Op Ministry would like St Matthew’s to concentrate on donating Pasta Sauce to the food bank. Other non-perishable food and personal care items are also always welcome and needed.

 You can place items in the barrels in the hallway outside the parish hall. If you make cash donations via check or through Realm, please notate Outreach/Co-Op on the detail line, or choose Outreach from the drop-down menu & note Co-Op in the detail.

Thank you for your support in helping the Co-op feed those in need.

Knit Crochet & Pray (KCP)

Help the local homeless at the Church of the Common Ground and the extremely poverty-stricken children at the Rosebud Episcopal Mission (a Lakota/Sioux reservation) in very cold Mission, SD. 

Here's how you can help Rosebud Episcopal Mission

*Money donations** for mailing hats, scarves, gloves/mittens (Our main need)

*Donations of yarn

*Money donations to buy yarn

*Heavy/thick hats, scarves, gloves /mittens for ages 4-18 years

**If you donate money, please designate for KCP/Rosebud on the detail line via check or on Realm/Outreach.

You can place the items in the bin outside the side door marked KCP, or in the bin in the main hallway outside the parish hall.

Thank you for helping. See Beth DiGiovanni if you have questions.

The Daughters of the King National Study meets every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (in the first meeting room on the right in the Christian Ed hallway). All women who are interested in finding out more about the mission of the Daughters of the King at St. Matthew’s are invited to participate. If you have any questions, please contact Peggy Isaacs, Cecilia Billingsley or Gail Sawyer.

Every Tuesday in Lent-The Chosen, Season 3

Soup & Bread Supper and a Movie is back during Lent and continuing through April 16. Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. Continue the story of Jesus' ministry through the eyes of his disciples and others around him.

Please note, the group will NOT meet on Tues, April 2 due to Spring Break.

Men's Trivia 1st & 3rd Wednesdays each month @ 7:00 p.m.

McCray’s Tavern, 100 N. Perry St. L’ville

All men of the parish are invited. Contact: Levi Livermont, Jay Jones

Next dates: April 3 & 17 at 7:00 p.m.

Lunch Bunch 3rd Thursday each month at 12 noon, at different area restaurants

Fratelli's NY Style Pizza & Restaurant, 1711 Athens Hwy, Grayson, GA 30017

Everyone invited! Let Joan Kengla know if you will attend to get a head count.

Next date: April 18 at 12 noon

Restaurant Foyers Once a month on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at different area restaurants

Oyster Bay Seafood Cafe, 125 Crogan St. Ste. B, L'ville 30046

Individuals/couples, watch for a Realm sign up next week, or let Warren Drury or Rebecca Bowen know you will attend.

Next date: April 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday Breakfast Host Sign Up –

Thank you for all who have signed up!

Breakfast this Sunday: Ruth Chapter, Daughters of the King

Did you know there are 3 ways you can sign up to use your time and talents to help with Sunday Breakfast?

You can contact Trisha Voiles, you can Sign up on the list in the office hallway bulletin board, or you can click on the below links for sign up genius. 

Get a couple of friends and join in the Sunday fellowship in May! Sign up HERE.

GIVE ONLINE THROUGH REALM

To request a Commitment Form,

please click here.