Download March Newsletter with corrected time for Palm Sunday Church School

Lenten Mini-Series: "The Power of Forgiveness" Part II

 March 7th

Dinner at 6:30 pm,

Presentations at 7:00 pm

"It is not possible to achieve by vigilance in anger and revenge what the soul is longing for. The soul longs for peace."    -The Rev. Dr. James Forbes

Join us as we address issues related to forgiveness - both what it is and what it is not - by watching and discussing an award-winning 2007 documentary by Martin Doblmeier called "The Power of Forgiveness." On February 28, we'll see the first half of this moving film, followed by group discussion. The following Sunday, we'll watch the second half and continue our conversation. The documentary includes questions of forgiveness faced by the Amish Community, Northern Ireland, and South Africa, as well as interviews with renowned Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, and others. We'll hear from a renowned expert on forgiveness whose theories were put to the test after the brutal murder of his mother.

The link between forgiveness and blood pressure, as well as other health implications, will also be presented. Discussions will be facilitated by parishioners Carole Christian and Chris Hayden, as well as Pastor Emily.

We will begin at 6:30 pm with a simple meal of soup and bread (please bring your own beverages!), followed by the presentation and discussion at 7:00 pm. Register by contacting the Parish Office (609-737-0985/pattiecurtiss@verizon.net).

Dinner and a Movie at St. Matt's: Days of Heaven

Friday, March 12 in Parish Hall (Rescheduled from 2/5)

Potluck Dinner at 6:30 pm, Movie at 7:15 pm

Days of Heaven (1978) is a dark, beautifully composed poem of love and loss. The film is exquisitely photographed, following a man on the run with his lover and little sister. Together they hide among itinerant workers traveling to Texas at harvest time. A wheat farmer's property becomes the desperate trio's opportunity to reshape their lives. A love triangle develops involving the farmer which results in a volatile situation. And it's all seen through the eyes of the little sister. Her voice throughout the drama adds a poetic dimension as the story unfolds. Days of Heaven's unforgettable images and evocative score weave a timeless story with biblical overtones as old as the story of Ruth. The film was directed by Terrence Malick. It was photographed by Haskell Wexler and scored by Ennio Morricone. No sign up necessary - just bring something to share for the potluck beforehand!

Dinner and a Movie at St. Matt's: Jesus of Montreal

Friday, March 19 in Parish Hall

              Potluck Dinner at 6:30 pm, Movie at 7:15 pm

Come see one of Father Jack's favorite movies! Winner of the Grand Prize of the Jury at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival, this French-Canadian film (R) depicts a group of actors hired by a local priest to put on a production of the Passion. All involved get more than they bargained for - including the actor playing Jesus, who finds himself identifying more and more with his character. The film offers up provocative, contemporary parallels to several events depicted in the Gospels - from Jesus' baptism and temptation in the wilderness to his death and the impact it had on those who followed him. No sign up necessary. Join us for the potluck, the film, or both!

Lectionary Bible Study Continues

Sunday, March 14th at 9:15am in the Chapel

If you have ever wondered, but were afraid to ask how Lectionary Readings from the Old and the New Testaments fit together each Sunday to provide a cohesive message, come and let's spend half an hour or so wondering together.  Deacon Frank will lead the discussion. NOTE: Cuban coffee and a morning snack will be offered!

LENTEN QUIET DAY

Choruses from The Rock by T.S. Eliot

Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 9:00 am – Noon

Trinity Episcopal Church - Solebury, PA

Retreat Leader: The Rev. Dr. Virginia M. Sheay

In 1934 in England, T. S. Eliot wrote his first play, The Rock. Written after his conversion to Anglicanism, this intriguing work explores the human strife of struggling to find meaning in life. Despite the 20th century age of knowledge, information, and endless labor with the hopes of gaining money, power or knowledge, one never learns truths. Eliot says that these do not bring one closer to God but results in a spiritual emptiness of the soul. The Rock remarkably speaks to us even in the 21st century.  Of the ten choruses, we shall identify and reflect on some of the themes, especially the importance of the Church, the faith community. Eliot writes: "There is no life that is not in community, and no community not lived in praise of God." We shall also reflect upon the conflict between the secular world and the Church, and of the search for the "Invisible Light" and the paradox of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ who is the very Light of the World. Register by contacting the Parish Office (737-0985/pattiecurtiss@verizon.net.) Look for copies of the Choruses in the mailbox outside Pastor Emily's office.

CRISIS MINISTRY DONATION OPPORTUNITIES

                WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

The first Sunday of each month, there will be a red wagon in the Narthex to collect non-perishable food items for the Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton. These items will be presented during the Offertory along with the bread and wine as part of our sacred act of thanksgiving to God. 

Wondering what kinds of food to give?  Lists are available in the Narthex.

Episcopal Relief and Development

Bagel Briefing

Sunday March 21

 9:00 am

Our Saint Matthew's community has given over $4,600 to the relief and rebuilding efforts in Haiti through Episcopal Relief and Development.  Where have those funds gone, and how are they helping?  What happens with our contributions to the Diocese in support of Episcopal Relief and Development Programs?    What did the Archbishop of Canterbury have to say about Episcopal Relief and Development's Nets for Life program?  Join Saint Matthew's parishioner and Episcopal Relief and Development Board member, Teri Lawver, to discuss how Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the generous support from ours and other parishes to partner with the worldwide Anglican Church and local organizations around the world to save lives and transform communities. (Bagels and coffee will be served.)

Summer Work Trip to Urban Promise in Camden, NJ

July 18 to 23, 2010

St. Matthew's Mission Committee is pleased to announce our 2010 parish mission trip. We were originally set to return to El Hogar in Honduras this coming summer; however, due to the political instability in Honduras at this time, we have decided to wait another year before returning. We hope to be back there in 2011! Based on our great experience this past summer, we are again partnering with Urban Promise in Camden (www.urbanpromiseusa.org) – a non-denominational organization with a mission remarkably similar to that of El Hogar. Founded in 1988, Urban Promise lives out its vision of "building a city of promise...one child at a time" through comprehensive youth development: after school programs, summer camps, employment readiness programs, internships, as well as a Christian elementary school and college preparatory high school. Unique to their vision is a commitment to involving local teenagers (StreetLeaders) in the tutoring, mentoring, and coaching of younger children in the community. They are one of the largest private employers of teens in the city of Camden, with close to 100 teenagers on their payroll each year.  By involving teens in the leadership process, Urban Promise is creating a new generation of young, visionary leaders who embody a commitment to change their own community. We believe this trip is an excellent opportunity for the people of St. Matthew's to get more deeply involved in God's work closer to home.

The Goals of Our Mission:

• To provide support for the long-term work of Urban Promise by helping with their summer camp, as well as with light renovation and maintenance on the UP campus
• To learn from and serve others in a cultural environment different from our own, to deepen our understanding of poverty within our own state and diocese and how we might respond as Christians to this need, to build relationships with those we serve, and to give back a small bit of the blessings we've been given
• To engage in intergenerational ministry with Christians from other backgrounds – and to bring back a deeper sense of mission and community with fellow parishioners

Who May Join Us:

Anyone in our parish community 15 or older is eligible. We hope to have a cross-section of mature teens and healthy adults who are interested in working with children and teens and are willing to live in community and work as a team. (We anticipate staying in a dorm on the Rutgers-Camden campus.)

Finances:

At this point, we estimate the cost per person to be no more than $500. (This includes food, lodging, transportation, work supplies, as well as support for the children's ministry programs of Urban Promise.) Our hope is to engage in specific fundraising projects within and beyond the parish to help each missioner with the expenses of the journey.

To learn more about the trip, please join us for an Informational Meeting on Sunday, January 10th at 7 p.m. Applications will be distributed at this time. We hope to have the team finalized by the end of January. Thanks in advance for your prayers and support!

EASTER FLOWER MEMORIALS:

You can find envelopes for Easter Flower Memorial contributions in the Narthex.  Please fill out the front of the envelope (PRINT PLEASE) and return the completed envelope to the Parish Office BEFORE March 20th.  Your contributions will be used to cover the expenses of Memorial Flowers, as well as the greens used to decorate the church for Easter.

From the Shelves of Our Library

 Lent is often a time when we look for something appropriate to read. A new section in our library, designated for books of prayer, has numerous possibilities: Prayer and Personal Religion (Prayer), by retired Bishop John B. Coburn, talks about God teaching us to pray and how to be open to God's creative spirit. Philip Yancey's Prayer (Prayer) tells of his own struggles to find that window into the mind of God, discusses how prayer has brought transformation to Romania and South Africa, and even offers some surprising thoughts about Jesus' prayer life! The Journey: How to Live by Faith in an Uncertain World (CW), by Billy Graham, discusses how to determine God's blueprint for our lives, and assures us that He won't let us go it alone.  These Forty Days: Lenten Counsels by Twenty-one Anglicans (SP), published in 1962, offers sermons from a variety of clergy covering Ash Wednesday to Good Friday. The wisdom of Mother Teresa shines in Meditations from a Simple Path (SP) .Prayer, service, love, and peace are the messages in this slim volume that can speak to all of us, perhaps especially in Lent. Come and browse, there is lots more to chose from!

Constant Contact

For those of you who are not currently receiving CONSTANT CONTACT e-mails informing you of major church events (rummage sale, service auction, etc.), please send an e-mail to Lynn Lorenz at admin@justmultiples.com to add your e-mail address to the contact list.  If you aren't signed up to receive these e-mails, you won't be notified when the e-newsletter comes out in September!  For those of you who do not have a computer, or do not have regular access to e-mail or the Internet, please let Pattie know by contacting the parish office at (609) 737-0985.  We will arrange to have a hard copy mailed to you. 

OneCause

Are you an online shopper?  Do you need to do your Christmas Shopping?  Want an easy way to give back to St. Matthew's WITHOUT costing you a thing extra out of your already tight budget?  OneCause is your answer!! If you still haven't joined OneCause, get started today! It's simple:

1. Go to www.onecause.com and click "Join."

2. Fill in your profile information and select St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Pennington, NJ to support. (There are several St. Matthew's so make sure you select the right one!)

3. Start shopping through OneCause!

Every time you shop through OneCause you will be contributing to St. Matthew's with every eligible purchase with hundreds of well-known merchants including Travelocity, Barnes and Noble, Harry and David, Target, Lands' End® and Nordstrom.   Simply start at www.onecause.com/shop, fill out your profile and click to your favorite online store or service provider, make your purchase and automatically earn a contribution. It's that simple!

Please call Caroline Sieber if you have any questions.