You are invited to join us for these upcoming events and to participate in these ongoing ministries..
Church News & Announcements
Update from Food Box Program
Next 7:30 am distribution dates:
March 18, April 1, 15
St. Matthew is proud to serve families who are in need of food assistance by giving out non-perishable food boxes from 7:30 a.m. every other Saturday. Each box is given on a first come, first serve basis and feeds a family of four for 3-4 days. Most of the food is picked up from the Midwest Food Bank through a partnership with them.
We have all felt the effects of our current inflation. Unfortunately it has also impacted the donations we receive for the food box program and we have some empty shelves that could use your help. How can you help: Canned vegetables or fruit, canned tuna or chicken, and small jars of peanut butter. Midwest food bank rarely provides us with these items. They can be dropped off at church in the shopping cart in front of the church, or between 5-6pm on the first and third Wednesdays of the month in the East side pull through. Please help if you can, one or two of the listed items per person will make an impact. If you would like additional information please contact Steve Childs, Virginia Hughes or Rosemary Glithero."
Join the Food Box Crew
The Food Box crew could use a couple of volunteers to join our team on Thursday mornings every other week. We could use one or two people to help pack the food boxes from 8:00-10:30, and/or someone with a truck to pick up our order from the Midwest Food Bank at 8:20 and deliver it to St. Matthew.
If interested, please contact Virginia Hughes at hugvirginia@gmail.com. We’d love to have you be a part of our team!
Thanks again for your continued support of this important mission.
Steve Childs
Food Box Coordinator
Sunday Funday
EVERY Sunday, 10:15 - 11:15 AM is Sunday Funday.
Join us for this engaging intergenerational Sunday School experience. All are welcome!
"The Chosen"
Season 2
Join us every Sunday after Worship to discover more about Jesus through those who knew him!
Easter Memorial Dedications
Dedicate a Memorial and/or Honor your loved one this Easter season. Cards will be available for you to complete in the Narthex on Sundays March 19, 26 and April 2 or in the St. Matthew UMC Office. The completed cards will be taped to the Narthex windows for all to read. A donation basket will be available and you may give the amount of your choice. Donations received will go toward sponsoring our youth trip in July to Youth 2023 in Daytona Beach, FL.
~Worship Committee
New Study for Lent
"Imago Dei" is the Lenten Bible Study This Year.
5 Evenings beginning Thursday, Mar 2 at 5:30 pm.
"So God created humans in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them."
Gen 1:27 NRSV
Led by Pastor Jim Ek, this study is open to all.
PLEASE PRE-REGISTER - send email to
-A light soup and salad dinner will be provided.
-A study packet will be sent by return email as
confirmation of your registration.
Bach to Broadway
Coming March 12, 2023
at 3:00 pm at St. Matthew UMC
Bishop's Installation Service March 11
Summer Camp
Old Mingus favs include Elementary Camp, Jr. High Camp, and Night Owls, new opportunities include a special 2-night camp for grandparents and their grandchildren in July, and a super fun Adventure Camp for Sr. High campers (details are forthcoming). A revised and tweaked Arts Camp is sure to be a ton of creative fun. Info and registration here:
Racial Justice Library
The Racial Justice committee has installed a small library in the cabinet in the chapel (sanctuary). We have included publications that we thought would interest our congregation:
- Several excellent publications from the Southern Poverty Law Center
- Book: River of Fire by Sister Helen Prejean
- Book: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
- DVD: Just Mercy (2019)
- DVD: Slavery by Another Name (PBS – 2011)
Please stop in to see if there is material you’d like to check out!
Just sign your name, publication title and phone number on the form next to the publications.
Celebrating Black History Month
The Racial Justice committee has added a few items to our Racial Justice library, located in the chapel in the sanctuary. The items include:
- Southern Poverty Law Center's 2023 calendar, "Vision for a Just Future" which notes events as interest to those who are interested in racial justice topics
- A copy of Learning for Justice magazine
- SPLC's publications "The Year in Hate" and "Hate and Extremism in 2022"
Why not go to the chapel and check out all the offerings in honor of Black History Month? They are in the large cabinet, behind the glass doors.
Men's Bible Study
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Capital Campaign Committee Update
Thank you to everyone who has continued to generously support our 3-year campaign. We have received donations more quickly in the first 18 months of the campaign than we originally anticipated based on pledged commitments. As of the end of September, we have already received 78% of the $365,000 we estimated would be needed to complete the 7 projects.
We have completed 4 projects: replaced the Sanctuary and Youth room air conditioning units, replaced the shingle roofing on the Sanctuary and Music buildings, slurry-sealed the parking lots, and replaced the organ at a total cost of $245,549. It has been wonderful to enjoy the cool air, know we have solid roofs overhead, leave our vehicles in nicely paved lots, and enjoy hearing the incredible sounds of the new organ.
The 3 remaining projects are to replace the Lutron lighting system in the Sanctuary, replace the outside electronic message board components, and to paint the exterior trim on the buildings. We estimate the cost of these 3 remaining projects at $90,000. Additionally, the asphalt company that slurry-sealed our parking lots recommends that we seal the parking lots in 12-18 months to substantially extend their life. We are hopeful that we will have sufficient remaining monies to also seal the parking lots.
Currently, we have $41,380 on hand in the Capital Campaign Account and we know that generous donations are still being received each week. We will plan for the remaining projects as donations are received over the next 18 months.
Donations may be made electronically to the Capital Campaign through our Website or by check. Remember to note Capital Campaign in the memo line of checks. If you have questions about your donations or amounts pledged to the capital campaign, please contact the church office or send an email to rstmatthew@gmail.com. If you would like to revise your pledge, you may click below to access the fillable capital campaign pledge form.