Sunday Morning Details
Adult Forum
Meets on Sunday mornings at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall.
February's Forums
February 5 - Overview of Mark's Gospel with Derek Cooper
February 12 - Happiness Research with Karen Randall
February 19 - Christian Joy with Karen Randall
February 26 - Application of Mark's Gospel
Solemn Communion Celebration
Today we join in celebration with the children who have participated in the Solemn Communion Class of 2012. We welcome the special friends and family members who are sharing this morning's worship at the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist.
Saint Matthew's Facebook Page
For those interested in keeping up with events and happenings at Saint Matthew's via Facebook, you can "like" our page at https://www.facebook.com/SaintMatthews.
Layette Sunday
New clothing for children ages infant through age 6 may be donated and sent to Saint Timothy's Episcopal Mission in Kentucky for distribution in this impoverished Appalachian area. Donations will be accepted through next Sunday, February 26 and may be placed in the box provided outside the parish hall.
Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard
Your donations of pancake mix, syrup, peanut butter, jelly, and canned fruit are always needed for the Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard. Please bring these items to church and place them in the collection box located under the coat racks outside the kitchen.
Shrove Tuesday
Get Your Pancakes! Our annual Pancake Dinner will be held on February 21 from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. The price of the dinner will be $4 for children 10 and under, $7 for adults, and $30 maximum for families of 5 or more. Sponsored by our youth groups, the proceeds from the supper will benefit the Youth Mission Fund.
Family Sunday
We continue to encourage whole family attendance for Sunday School and Adult Forum at 9:00 a.m. and then for Holy Eucharist together at 10:30 a.m. Services will be oriented around family attendance. This month, family Sunday will be next Sunday, February 26 which is the first Sunday in Lent. In March, family Sunday will be March 4.
Ministries Opportunities
Food Bags For Families in Need:
This year our Lenten nonperishable food offering will go to the Concerned Parents ministry. Their ministry includes Graterford prison families, but extends throughout the broader Philadelphia region. We will begin handing out bags for you to fill on Ash Wednesday, February 22. They will be available all through Lent. The bags must be returned by Palm Sunday, April 1, or any week prior. Each bag should have some canned or dried soup, canned vegetables and fruit, some protein, such as tuna fish, some rice or pasta, and perhaps some juice, cereal or peanut butter. Real food for hungry people. Try to avoid packages that require extra ingredients that the recipient may not have. Grocery store certificates will be added for baby food or other needs.
Youth News
Youth Group for all youth (grades 6-12) meets from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Anyone needing a reminder or updates about youth group can call or email Erin Whalen at 215-519-8229 or erinwhalen85@yahoo.com.
Sunday, February 19 - We will be playing Lazer Tag. We will meet at Philadelphia Sports Club, 1 Highpoint Drive (formerly Highpoint) in Chalfont at 4:30 p.m. so we can assemble and get briefed before the game. We will play from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Pick up will be at 6:15 p.m. The cost is $7 per person if you are playing. There is a game room if you do not want to play. Friends are welcome and please be sure to let Erin know if you plan to attend so she can have an idea of a head count. We will not be having dinner.
Read The New Testament in 2012
The Rector invites you to join him in reading the New Testament from start to finish this year, starting on New Year's Day, January 1. Dave learned of this suggested reading plan from Dr. F. Dale Bruner who has written books commenting on the Gospels of Matthew and John, and decided to take it up this coming year as part of his daily devotions.
The Method
Read one chapter of the New Testament each day. A chapter takes only a few minutes to read. Read the chapter quietly, seeking to hear in it God's Word for the day. Underline or note what is most striking, and see if there is a verse, sentence, phrase or word that most speaks to you. Think about what the Lord might be asking you to pray, think, say, change, or do as a result of this scripture. You might want to end with the Lord's Prayer. Don't worry if nothing "strikes" you on any given day.
The Plan
Listed below is the New Testament by months. Match the day of the month with the chapter of the book: on January 1st read Matthew chapter one. On free days such as January 29 through 31 one can read and pray any chapter missed in the month, or use one's imagination!
January: Matthew 1-28
February: Mark 1-16
March: Luke 1-24
April: John 1-21
May: Acts 1-28
June: Romans 1-16
July: 1 Corinthians 1-16; 2 Corinthians 1-13
August: Galatians 1-6; Ephesians 1-6; Philippians 1-4; Colossians 1-4
September: 1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians; 1 Timothy 1-6 2 Timothy 1-4; Titus 1-3;
Philemon
October: Hebrews 1:1-13; James 1-5
November: 1 Peter 1-5; 2 Peter 1-3; 1 John 1-5; 2 John; 3 John; Jude
December: Revelation 1-22
Help and Encouragement
As you read feel free to email either Dave or Aaron with questions or thoughts you may wish to discuss with someone, and we'll get back to you quickly. Also, Dave has set aside Thursday, January 19, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. for any who wish to gather for discussion about your reading in Matthew's Gospel. Finally, we plan to have a Sunday Forum in early January to present basic background teaching about Matthew's Gospel.
