lent & holy week with young people epistle lstmatthews.com/epistle/2016_issues/march2016.pdf ·...
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1 The Epistle – March 2016
Th
e Ep
istle
The monthly newsletter of
St. Matthew’s Parish, Pacific Palisades, CA
March 2016Volume 43 No. 6
LENT & HoLy WEEk WiTH youNg PEoPLE
by Missy Morain
Lent is SPRING TRAINING for disciples of the Risen Christ. It is our opportunity to engage more deeply in prayer and practices that shape us as the people of God and
prepare us for Easter. We have nurtured ourselves through Advent, Christmas and Epiphany and now we engage the difficult work of looking truthfully at ourselves and discern changes we need to make. The stories of Holy Week are shocking and violent, but we cannot experience the true joy of Easter without experiencing Lent and Holy Week. So how can parents and others who minister with young people engage the stories of Holy Week?
1. Attend the services of Holy Week together as a family. Share in the joy and palm waving of Palm Sunday, share Eucharist, observe the stripping of the altar, sit with Jesus on Thursday night, walk the Stations of the Cross and shout “Alleluia” on Easter. Give young people the op-portunity to experience the powerful liturgies of the church which tell the story of Holy Week in a safe and familiar environment.
2. Answer the questions being asked and always point towards the Resurrection. Some young people wonder about crucifixion. “Did it hurt?” “How does crucifixion kill?” Give a short answer that is to the point, which can then point you towards the Resurrection. “Jesus loved people so much that some people were scared by it and they put Jesus to death on a cross. But love is so strong, that not even death can destroy it, so God raised Jesus from the dead.”
3. Young people understand that bad things happen. Share with them the Easter message that good always triumphs over evil - even if it doesn’t appear to be the case.
4. Share the story through story books. Some favorites of mine include:
2 The Epistle – March 2016
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Staff Directory
Weekly Calendar
To reach any of the numbers below:
Dial 310/573-7787, then the extension
The Rev. Bruce A. Freeman, Rector (Ext. 130) [email protected]
The Rev. George Daisa, Curate for Pastoral Ministries (Ext. 129) [email protected]
Mr. Craig Ehlers, Chief Financial Officer (Ext. 126) [email protected]
Ms. Cecily Yuka Ito, Parish Organist, [email protected]
Ms. Karen Johnson, Stewardship Secretary (Ext. 100) [email protected]
The Rev. Lester V. Mackenzie, Associate Rec-tor (Ext. 103) [email protected]
Ms. Jennifer McCarthy, Director of Communica-tions and Membership (Ext. 128) [email protected]
Mr. Jeremias Mendez, Special Projects Manager (Ext. 133) [email protected]
Ms. Missy Morain, Director of Formation for Youth and Children; (Ext. 139) [email protected]
Mr. Thomas Neenan, Director of Music (Ext. 127) [email protected]
The Rev. Kristin Neily Barberia, School Chaplain (Ext. 125) [email protected]
The Rev. Michael S. Seiler, Managing Associate Rector (Ext. 123) [email protected]
Mr. Stu Work, Day School Head of School (Ext. 146) [email protected]
Sundays8:00 am The Holy Eucharist
10:15 am Choral Eucharist
10:15 am Infant & Toddler Care
Godly Play & Tween Church for older children
Mondays7:30 pm Contemplative Prayer
Wednesdays10:00 am The Holy Eucharist
Thursdays7:00 am The Holy Eucharist
MISSION STATEMENT
The Parish of St. Matthew, a community of faith in the Episcopal tradition, is called by God to love, serve and worship Jesus Christ.
Our mission is to spiritually nourish those who seek unity with God and each other in Christ.
As stewards, entrusted with God’s gifts, we are committed to carrying on Christ’s work in the world.
Sunday Sermons online - Recorded versions
If you would like to listen to a sermon that you heard at Saint Matthew’s, or one you missed for some reason, most of the Sunday sermons are now available online. Just navigate your web browser to: www.stmatthews.com and click on the “Sermons Online” link. Happy listening!
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requests for Prayers and Parish Announcements Pr
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In A Pastoral Emergency...
We want to know about all pastoral emergencies at St. Matthew’s so we can respond as quickly as possible. In such a situation, for example a death, a sudden hospitalization, an accident, or any kind of emergency, please contact our pastoral care hotline (310/573-7787, ext. 199) in order to reach the on-call priest right away. For the fastest response, please do not call the parish office or clergy cell-phones, as these are often not the fastest way to contact us. Thank you!
Sunday Morning Child Care
Every week, Sunday morning child care is offered in two locations. Infants are atlways welcome in the Nursery, with Luciana, located next to the Music Room. For our smallest parishioners, ages 1 – 3 years, please visit Marisol and the ladies up in the Mill building. Ages 4 and up are encouraged to join their families in the church. Any questions? Please contact Pam Mann at [email protected] or 310/454-4829.
Calling all babies!
The Parent-Infant/Toddler program is delighted to announce a new baby group for infants born between May and September of 2015. The class will meet on Mondays from 10:30am-12pm in the Mill Building. It is a great way for first time and seasoned moms alike to meet new friends, build community, and discuss parenting questions and concerns in a safe and trustworthy environment. Please contact Dana Berlin at [email protected] to learn more or to sign up.
Praying The Rosary - holy Saturday, march 26 and saturday, April 2 at 8:30 am
A group gathers in the Chapel at 8:30 am on the first Saturday of each month to pray the Rosary together. This is a lovely and contemplative spiritual practice, which takes approximately 20 minutes. All are welcome, even if you’ve never prayed the Rosary before - we’ll offer a brief “clinic” for those who need a refresher, and rosaries will be available for those who may not have them. For more information, contact Anne Jaskoski at [email protected].
Please pray for Anne Carson, Frank Davis; Alathena Miller; Keri Hillabrant; Nanette Sidenberg; Peter Mann, Sr.; Edna Stein, Daryl Twerdahl, Brian Suggett, Olivia Weber, Jeanne Williams; Lolly Philips, John Soneff, Phillip James Strauss. Amy, Amelia, Aiden, Allison; Barbara, Bill K., Bruce, Cindy, Catherine, Carmen and Joe; Connie, Deborah and JJ; Nikki, Cooper and Connor; Dominique, Emma, Esther; Greta, Lydia, Lois, Sarah; Ben, Joscelle, Karapet, Kathleen, Karen; Ken, Steve, Carol, Jack, Leslie, Margaret, Martina, Mark, Kathleen, Monique, Melissa, Red, Susan, Tom.
We remember also those who have died in the hope of Christ’s resurrection: Mary Alvera Dunbar; Bubba, on the 7th anniversary of his death; Frank Davis; George Alexander; Sir Tom Lees; Esther Lindop; Arthur Snyder; Barbara Sykes Go-tonski. Please know that in addition to your praying for these persons, they are prayed for regularly throughout the week by members of the clergy staff, and by members of our Interces-sory Prayer Group.
If you would like to add, keep, or remove someone from this list, please call The Rev. George Daisa at 310/573-7787, ext. 129. Prayer requests will automatically be kept on the list for one month only.
Birthday Caller Needed
Our Birthday Caller Ministry Needs a Caller! Our wonderful and fun ministry is need of a weekly caller who would love to spread birthday greetings from St. Matthews to our parishioners! The caller would handle just one day a week on a regular basis. Please contact Daniela Winter [email protected] if you would like to join our group.
4 The Epistle – March 2016
Lent and young People, continued
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All Parish Spring Work Day – Save The Date! - A Lenten
opportunity for The Parish of St. Matthew, Saturday, March 19 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Bring the children, bring the family. It’s a great YOUTH SERVICE OPPORTUNITY!
Take some time in your busy schedules to acknowledge the gift of this prop-
erty with your hearts and hands. Come help beautify our magnificent grounds. There’s something for everyone and all ages. Members of the Altar Guild would love to work with your children, teach them (and you) to make Palm crosses and learn to clean the Sacristy. Our sexton staff works with us. Bring your own gloves, favorite tool, rake or broom. There will be (5) task areas led by your friends and clergy. They are: 1) Weeds & Leaves 2) Colum-barium 3) Kitchen(s) clean-up 4) Palm Crosses/Altar Guild 5) Indoor Tasks - assemble materials for Holy week – location inside church, and 6) fam-ily group gardening activities for the young children adjacent to courtyard. Troop 223, including some
dads will be working with us. We are grateful for their service to St. Matthew’s.
• The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith, for children age five and up• The Easter Story by Carol Heyer, for children age four and up• Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter by Laura Alary
Watch for a special Family Ministries email the week before Holy Week with some more resources including pretzel making and Resurrection rolls. Never be afraid to say “I don’t know, let’s go figure it out.” and “I wonder…what do you think?”
The Alleluia Project
Each year during Lent, our parishioners and friends write of “Alleluia” or “Resurrection”
moments. These reflections are collected and published by Phil and Michelle Abrams and Kathy Bitting into a beautiful booklet that is mailed to our parish community. Your own copy is on its way to you very soon.
Please read these Alleluia reflections together with family or friends, one for each of the Fifty Days of Eastertide. As you read, discuss, and reflect, set aside a minimum of $2 each day (many families put aside much more as their resources allow) and on the Day of Pentecost, Sunday, May 15, bring the envelope with your cash or check to the altar for blessing and reception. The funds will be used to help any of our own members who are struggling or in need.
inquirer’s Class
THREE SUNDAY AFTERNOONS: APRIL 3, APRIL 10 AND APRIL 17
The Inquirer’s Class is a conversation-based introduction to – and exploration of – the
faith and traditions of the Episcopal Church. It offers an opportunity to examine one’s own faith and how the Epis-copal Church’s practices can enhance and express that faith.
Everyone is welcome —even if you have attended St. Matthew’s for years—but it can be of particular value to those joining us from a different denomination or who are new to St. Matthew’s.
Classes will take place at noon on Sundays (for three to four hours) from April 3 to 17. Please register at [email protected] or by calling Jennifer at 310-573-7787 x128.
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Holy Week Services
Join us for our schedule of worship through Holy Week in 2016
March 20 - The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday8:00 am: Holy Eucharist10:15 am: Holy Eucharist
March 21 and 227:00 am: Holy Eucharist
March 237:00 am and 10:00 am: Holy Eucharist
March 24 - Maundy Thursday7:00 am: Holy Eucharist
7:30 pm: Maundy Thursday Liturgy9:00 pm: Maundy Thursday Watch
March 25 - Good Friday12:30 pm: good friday Liturgy3:30 pm: Stations of the Cross7:30 pm: good friday Liturgy
March 26 - Holy Saturday8:30 am: Pray the rosary
9:00 am: Holy Saturday Liturgy7:30 pm: great Vigil of Easter with Choir and Brass
March 27 - Easter Sunday9:00 am: Holy Eucharist with Choir and Brass11:15 am: Holy Eucharist with Choir and Brass
6 The Epistle – March 2016
Thrift Shop NewsThe Thrift Shop held its annual Volunteer Appreciation
Dinner in January, with over eighty parishioners, volunteers and outreach partners attending. The guest speakers were Glanda Sherman and Maureen Rivas, the two field workers from the Pacific Palisades task force on homelessness. In addition to thank-ing all of our wonderful volunteers, a special tribute was given to Phil Dolan, who served as the Thrift Shop’s much-appreciated “book expert” for many years and is now retiring. Thanks to Phil’s hard work, we have a charming and well-organized book corner in the store that draws many customers. We know we can never replace him, but we will work hard to maintain the book area that he created.
The Thrift Shop continues to be busy improving the store - we upgraded our technology with improved security and a new cash register, renovated the front desk area and are about to do a major “refreshing” of the entire store. Many thanks to Tracy Metzger, Richard Kuhlenschmidt, many volunteers and the Sextons! We couldn’t have done this without your help.
We hope you will take a moment to check out the Thrift Shop web-site, where you can learn about our mission and activities. This month we feature a special tribute to St. Matthew’s parish-ioner Glenn Ossiander. You can read it at http://stmatthews.com/stmat-thewsthriftshop.com/Newsletter.html
The Thrift Shop welcomes new volunteers. Do you have time during the week to help at the Marking Center – near the Parish Center – where Mary Naef, Stacy Santos and volunteers organize and price donations? If so, please contact Stacy at [email protected]
We also welcome parishioners who would like to work at the Thrift Shop on Main Street in Santa Monica. We welcome all volunteers, but have a special need for Thursday afternoon and weekend volunteers. Please contact Diane Hogsta at [email protected]
The Thrift Shop operates thanks to parishioners’ generous donations of clothing, shoes, jewelry, toys, sporting goods, books and small household items. All of our proceeds go towards grants that support local charitable agencies.
Welcome to the Daniels - Siroky Family
Newcomers Alex Siroky and Genevieve Daniels are the proud parents of 2-year-old Diana and
are both excited and grateful to have discovered St. Matthew’s. Genevieve, a life-long Episcopalian, is originally from San Diego, while Alex was born and raised in the South.
Genevieve and Alex met while living and working in New York City, he in the financial arena, and she for Macy’s, where she worked in private label prod-uct development. A mutual friend wanted to set them up, but it never came to be. Ironically, one Saturday afternoon Genevieve and the mutual friend were walking down the street when they ran into Alex as he was walking out of his neighborhood laundromat. Serendipity? Divine intervention? Call it what you will. They’ve been together ever since and now call Brentwood home.
Having both been reared with a Christian upbringing, it was important to them that their daughter experience the same, so a quest for a parish home began. A Google search of Episcopal churches in their area led them to St. Matthew’s.
After attending their first service, it was instantly apparent to both of them that they’d found what they were looking for. Says Genevieve, “Everyone was so warm and friendly. People came up to us on the patio, introduced themselves and made us feel really welcome. And it’s not always like that at churches.” Alex echoed her feelings and said as a boy born and raised in the South, he was drawn to the open and accepting attitude of the Episcopal Church.
Genevieve is enjoying her new role as a stay-at-home mom and is involved in the Parent-Tot program where she’s enjoying meeting other new mothers. The couple is thrilled to call St. Matthew’s their parish home and we’re thrilled to have them!
-Kimberly Bloom