PARISH NEWS MARCH 29, 2009

Altar Greens
for March 29, 2009 - One altar vase in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Henry C. Tecklenburg given by Elizabeth & Mrs. Leonard Long. One altar vase in memory of Joseph Franklin Garner, III given by Gregg, Adina, Hunter & Ellie Grace.


A congregation meeting will be held next Sunday, Palm/
Passion Sunday, April 5, at 10:00AM in the Sanctuary
for the
purpose of voting on whether or not to extend a call as Senior
Pastor of Saint Matthew’s Lutheran Church to the
Reverend Doctor Robert Wallace. You should have already
received information about Pastor Wallace in the mail. If you
haven’t received the information, it is available in the church
office.

NEXT SUNDAY, April 5, 9:45, Nursery, Preschool, K-5 will all be together in the Auditorium during the Congregational Meeting which begins at 10:00. Confirmation, High School and all Adult classes will not meet but are encouraged to attend the meeting.

Ministry Boards will not meet during Holy Week, April 5-10.

If you desire prayer for any reason
, our Prayer Partners
(Jan Puckhaber at 8:30AM and Rob Byrd at 11:00AM) will receive you in the chapel after you have communed. 

XYZ Spring Trip. Please see the XYZ Bulletin Board for details.

Good News—Our Afternoon Tea
has continued to grow every year, serving more people annually. As a result, we are short on some needed items. As you spring clean and peruse those yard sales, please keep an eye out for the following items: Tea pots, tea cups and saucers, small & medium china plates to serve both the tea plates and desserts. They can be brought to the Outreach Center during the week or to the church office on Sunday. Thanks.

Afternoon Tea at Saint Matthew’s, May 21-31
. Please support the many programs of the Outreach Learning Center by donating quality handcrafted items, artwork, jewelry, accessories, new gift books, table linens, church-related items, pillows and other décor pieces. Let us know what you have to offer, even if you haven’t made or purchased it yet. Contact the Outreach Learning Center at 579-0420.

Saint Matthew’s Men’s Softball Team: Practices are on Tuesday nights in March at 9:15PM. Games and practices are played at Ashley River Baptist Church on Hwy 17 in West Ashley. Games begin March 30th and are on weeknights (except Wednesdays). If you are 16 years old or older and interested in playing, Contact Michael Black.

Wednesdays during Lent
12:10PM Worship in Nave with Lunch following Worship
5:30 – 6-30 PM Dinner served
7:00 PM Worship in Nave

Childcare provided during evening Worship. Please make your reservation for lunch and/or dinner on the Record of Attendance found in the Sunday bulletin or call the office by Monday at 10AM. Lunch is $6/person, $17/max per family, no charge/college students. Dinner is $7/person, $20/max per family, no charge/college students. If you need financial assistance for the meal please contact Pastor Blalock 723-1611 Ext. 12 or Cindy Greenwood Ext. 26.

Campfirmation Meeting Today, 10:45-11:00 in Room 209 for all youth going to Lutheridge July 5-11.

For Lent ‘09 let’s do something fine…Band together to send aid to Tanzania. During Lent we will be gathering funds for the Clinic at Magoye, Tanzania. These funds will provide everything from band-aids to basic first aid, in addition to other medical services in this remote area. None of this was available before the Clinic was built. Help us fill the Clinic Wall in the Auditorium with band-aids! Begin banding together by using your Lenten offering box. Fill a Band-aid Box with coins and color a band-aid each day during Lent. If you save any amount during Lent, you can “buy a band-aid” when you turn in your box. If you include your name/envelope# we’ll put your name on a band-aid to help fill the Clinic Wall.
Buy a Band-aid by making a donation of any amount in memory of or in honor of a loved one. Please complete the information on the envelopes to add a band-aid to the Clinic Wall. We’ll continue accepting donations after Lent and hope to fill the Clinic Wall by our Tanzania Celebration Dinner on June 14 to raise funds for the Clinic in Magoye. If you would like to serve on the planning committee for the event, please contact John Burbage.

The next quarterly Shepherd Ministry Meeting for Shepherds and Area Coordinators will be Wednesday, April 29, Noon or 6:30 (dinner served 5:30 – 6:30).
Please make your lunch or dinner reservation on the Record of Attendance on April 26 as a part of the Wednesdays Together meal, Lunch $6 and Dinner $7. If you need financial assistance for the meal, please do not hesitate to contact Janelle Othersen.

DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITES
Classes meet Sundays at 9:45AM in the Education Building
Sunday School Superintendent: Mary Beth Hill

Toddler Class for ages 1-2 ~Room 102
Preschool Class for ages 3 -5 ~ Room 101
Kindergarten - Grade 1 ~ Room 104
Grades 2 – 5 and parents - Bible Song in Auditorium
Confirmation Ministry - Grades 6-8 – Room 209 Head to the Heart (H2H) Parents are encouraged to attend. Senior High - Third Floor Youth Room - Devozine – Devotions to help youth develop a lifelong practice of spending time with God and reflecting on what God is doing in your life.

Adult classes meet at 9:45AM in Community Outreach Center (ORC) or in the Chapel in the Education Building


That the World May Know - Charles Schantz - ORC – First Floor. Filmed on location in Israel, Faith Lessons is a unique video set that brings God’s Word to life with astounding relevance.
Young Adult Class – Laura & Chris Altman - ORC - 301. Young adults gather for coffee and discussion to help you examine your faith as you grow as a Christian.
Bible Study - Pastor Raymond Hollifield - Chapel. Come be a part of this class for an in-depth, verse by verse study of the Gospel of Mark.
Discover St. Matthew’s – ORC -201. New Member Sunday May 3. Contact: Bev and Ed Blanton.

There is something for everyone at
Vacation Bible School, June 21-25. Preschool children age 3 through children entering 5th grade can register to attend beginning May 3. Invite your friends and neighbors! Youth and adult can sign up now to help. Please contact Mottie Wieters.

Child Protection
As a part of implementing St. Matthew’s Child Protection Policy, staff is required to have a background check, drug screening and complete the Stewards of Children prevention training program from Darkness to Light. All volunteers (including youth) for VBS need to complete required paperwork to comply with the policy. Forms are available in the Education hallway. All adults must also complete the Stewards of Children training. The training will be offered Wednesday, April 22, 5:30-6:30 – Dinner served as a part of Wednesdays Together!, 6:30 – 9:00 – Training. Please make your dinner reservation on the Record of Attendance on April19 or call the church office by Monday 10AM.

The training is also available online! Once you begin the online program, you have two weeks to complete it. To sign up for the Stewards of Children online training, please contact Debarah Harbuck, Parish Secretary, (723-1611 ext. 16) to get St. Matthew’s Log in ID and password. To visit the website go to www.darkness2light.org for a wealth of information.


SAVE THE DATE : Rich Melheim, humorist, cartoonist, musician and designer of our Bible Song Sunday School system and Confirmation program is coming to town May 9 to help strengthen our families and family ministries. The ELCA pastor and founder of Faith Inkubators (www.faithink.com) will be at St. Luke’s in Summerville on the 16th stop of a 75 city speaking tour, co-sponsored by St. Luke’s and St. Matthew’s.


The Week at a Glance


Sunday, March 29 – Fifth Sunday in Lent

8:30AM Holy Communion (S)
9:45AM Sunday School All Ages (ED)
10:45AM Campfirmation Mtg (ED209)
11:00AM Holy Communion (S)
5:00PM New Member Dinner (A)

Monday, March 30

10:00AM QT Respite Care (A)
7:00PM Child Protection Team Mtg (L)

Tuesday, March 31

8:30AM Men’s Work Crew
10:00AM Bible Study
2:00PM Staff Meeting (L)
6:00PM Campus Ministry

Wednesday, April 1

11:00AM Circle 6
12:10PM Worship (S)
1:00PM ORC Board Meeting
1:00PM Lunch (A)
4:45PM Alleluia Choir (CHR)
5:30PM Youth Choir (CHR)
5:30PM Dinner (A)
7:00PM Worship (S)
7:30PM Gallery Choir (CHR)

Thursday, April 2

10:00AM QT Respite Care (A)
11:00AM Circle 4

Friday, April 3

10:00AM QT Respite Care (A)

Saturday, April 4

11:00AM Women’s AA (201)