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MAY 2017

For more than 10 years, Grace Chinese Lutheran Church has been meeting at St. Matthew’s. I am deeply grateful for the faithful leadership of Pastors Mike and Rowena Wang. They are passionate, patient leaders who shepherd their growing community with enormous love and care. I am honored to call them my col-leagues in sharing the Gospel (good news) of Jesus and mutual partners in sowing seeds of grace. There are many things I appreciate about the community of Grace Chinese and how they are called to be church in our midst. The Spirit is alive and moving.

Please take a moment and learn more about Grace Lutheran and Pastors Mike and Rowena. Join me in giv-ing thanks to God for their faithful witness!

+ On Easter this year, three adults and one child were baptized at Grace Chinese. After the sermon, a wom-an came up to Pastor Rowena and asked if she too could be baptized in the worship service. The woman was compelled by the story of the resurrection. Pastor Rowena asked if the woman knew the meaning of bap-tism. The woman said, “Yes, I long to receive abundant life.” So, during the service another member was add-ed to their community and washed in the waters of God’s grace.

+ Did you know that baptized members of Grace Chinese refer to each other as brother or sister? I am always delighted to overhear them referring to each other as members of God’s family; connected and com-mitted to each other. Imagine if we began speaking this reality. “Sister Nicole will be giving the children’s message today. Sister Margaret is in need of our prayers. Brother Michael will be bringing a meal for ARISE this week.” How would our life as church change if we viewed each other as siblings in the faith?

+ Did you know that Pastors Mike and Rowena converted to Christianity from Buddhism. They met on a Buddhist island and have an amazing call story. They will be telling us their story in the next couple of months during worship.

+ On Wednesday nights, Grace Chinese gathers for prayer. As a community they rest and listen to God for an hour of quiet reflection.

+ Every day Pastors Mike and Rowena send a devotional note to their community to encourage them in the faith using the social media WeChat. Many of the members of their com-munity are the first in their family or peer groups to convert to Christianity.

+ Pastor Mike and Pastor Rowena lead two communities of faith on Sun-day mornings. Grace Chinese at St. Matthew’s at 11:30am and Federal Way Chinese Church at 4pm.

+ St. Matthew’s has been invited to participate in a new, large Mother’s Day event on Saturday, May 13

th from 4-6pm. The gathering will be in

partnership with Grace Chinese and the Chinese American Mixed Mar-riage Association. There will be a FEAST of Chinese food from many regions of China, performances of dance and singing, and time to connect with our neighbors. Some musicians from St. Matthew’s will be performing too! Please try and come!

Continue to hold Grace Chinese Lutheran and Pastors Mike and Rowena in your prayers! We are church together and partners in sharing the love of God!

Peace and love and joy to you! Pastor Kacey

A Note From Pastor Kacey

Pastors Mike and Rowena Wang

MESSENGER

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New Partnership Between St. Matthew’s and Kindering

Sunday, May 14, 9:15– 10am (between services)

UPCOMING CONVERSATIONS AND EVENTS!

For the last eight months, St. Matthew’s has entered into an intentional conversation with a non-profit that provides services to babies and toddlers with special needs. You are invited to come and learn more about Kindering and the new possibilities for walking with our neighbors.

Our Neighbors in Faith with Pastor Terry Kyllo

Sunday, May 28

Rev. Kyllo is serving The Catacomb Churches, a Lutheran and Episcopal congregation of house churches throughout Northwest Washington. He serves as the director of Neighbors in Faith, authorized by the Episco-pal and Lutheran churches in Western Washington. He feels that interfaith dialogue is essential in learning to live with each other given our cultural differences. Please come to St. Matthew’s on Sunday, May 28 and hear about the good work Neighbors in Faith are doing to celebrate relationships between Muslims and other faith/ non-faith communities.

LOVE in a TIME of FEAR

Tuesday, May 23, 6:30-8pm at Luther’s Table

New Member / Re-Member Mini Retreat

Friday, May 19, 6-8pm and Saturday, May 20, 9am-1:30pm

(childcare available)

At St. Matthew's if you show up, you belong. Seriously, you do not have to be a member to be fully involved within the life of the community. However, if you would like to deepen your commitment to the mission of the community and partner in new ways, you are invited to attend this member mini retreat. This will be an inten-tional time of walking through the core values of St. Matthew's and also connecting with the leadership of the community. New members will be received on Sunday, May, 21st at both services. Interested? Please con-tact Pastor Kacey or Libby Lucier 425-226-2420 or stmatthewschurch@comcast.net

Muslims in the United States have often been subject to racism, xenophobia and scapegoating behaviors and attitudes. The human dignity and human rights of Muslims are often not respected. A significant part of the U.S. population, including some national political leaders, are in support of these attitudes and practices. A University of Chapman study in 2016 found that 48.8% of the US population would be fearful of a mosque being built in their neighborhood. This fear is not happening in a vacuum.

This is a crucial time for all Muslim people and communities to step forward and advocate for their rights as U.S. citizens. This is also a crucial time for other faith traditions to step forward and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Since December 2015, 13 Love in a Time of Fear forums have drawn nearly 4,000 people to question, learn and affirm that – even in this time of fear – God is calling us to recognize our neighbors and work together for our mutual well-being.

Guest speakers include Pastor Terry Kyllo the Director of Neighbors in Faith, authorized by the Lutheran (ELCA) and Episcopal Churches in Western Washington and two Muslim speakers yet to be determined.

Please join us Luther’s Table on May 23 at 6:30 PM. We encourage you to invite your friends as we all learn to recognize our neighbors.

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May 9, Tuesday from 10am-2pm - Renton Senior Center trip to tour Auntie Anne's Pretzels at Southcenter in Tukwila. Call the Senior Center to register.

May 11, Thursday,1pm matinee at Carco Theater to see our own Gretchen and Lola May in their tapping shoes at the annual Senior Stage Revue. Call Pat Lee for tickets. ($3)

May 17, Wednesday at 9:30am. Tour Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind to learn how the blind manufacture goods for Boeing and our military. Call Pat Lee for reservations. 703-856-8498

Adult Seniors

Layette Building Time Saturday, May 13, 9am-12pm

The Can Do Group will be putting together baby layettes that will be distributed throughout the year to the King County Public Health Department in Renton and Kent for families in need. The layettes consist of items sewn or collected during the year by the Can Do group. We can use many hands to help us with this event, so please consider joining us. Snacks and beverages will be provided. The completed layettes will be on dis-play in the Narthex for Mother's Day.

Join SMLC and other Renton area church groups as we raise money to help hungry folks in our community, assist immigrants to this country, and help families around the world develop sustainable food production and clean water. We will walk along the beautiful Cedar River Trail for 3.5 miles and then return to the park. Dogs are welcome!! Tired kids can ride in strollers or wagons. Energetic folks can even run “the walk”. You can register online @ www.cropwalk.org/rentonwa/smlc. If you are not able to attend the walk, simply donate at the site above. Questions? Email Maria Wolcott -- wolcottmj@gmail.com Or visit the CROP Walk table after the 8:00 and 10:00 services.

CROP WALK

May 7th 2017 at Liberty Park. 1:00 Pre-walk Rally, 1:30 Walk Begins.

St. Matthew’s has entered into a new initiative called Living Local. Living Local is a process for discerning a congregation’s calling among neighbors, neighborhoods, and communities. It is a journey of listening and en-gaging with our neighbors in new ways, in order to participate with God’s life beyond the church building walls. This journey is a Missional Ministry of the Northwest Washington Synod. A team of six individuals-Lisa Barnes, Matt Hill, Dave Holzboog, Ron Hopper, Libby Lucier and Bella Millett have been called to this journey as the “Guiding Team.” Each of them brings gifts of discernment, compas-sion and a deep trust that the Holy Spirit is moving through the congregation and community to discover where God might join them. The Guiding Team will be working together for the next 18 months Listening, Dis-cerning, Experimenting and Reflecting on where God is showing up at St. Matthew’s and within our communi-ty. Please offer up prayers and encouragement to the team, St. Matthew’s congregation and the community, as we all walk this path of discovery. For more information on Living Local: www.livinglocalnw.com

Living Local

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Beyond the Screen: Youth Ministry for the Connected But Alone Generation

by Andrew Zirschky

7:00-8:15pm Wednesdays, May 3, 10, 17 and 24

Book Study and Conversation at St. Matthew’s

Youth Serving at REACH Renton Meal Coalition

Sunday, May 28, 4-7pm

Take a Hike!! Sunday, May 21

Come to connect with God and each other! There’s always fun, food, and more!

All Youth Night Wednesday, May 3, 7-8:15pm

All are welcome to join the conversation led by Pastor David Hahn. The book is available on Amazon or from Nicole for a suggested $10 donation. The introduction and chapters 1 &2 will be the focus of the first gathering, so grab a copy of the book and get reading soon!

Beyond the Screen reveals why teenagers use technology; in a desperate bid for intimacy that largely is ab-sent from face-to-face society and the church. A clear-headed examination of the latest research on adoles-cence and digital media through the lens of theological reflection, this book charts a compelling new direction for ministering to youth in the digital age.

Parent’s Night Out

Friday, May 12 5:30-8:30pm

Date Night? Shopping without little ones? Some peace and quiet? Let us Help!

SMLC Youth would like to offer their services of babysitting on Friday, May 12 5:30-8:30pm. Open to children 0-10yrs old. PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY TO SUPPORT YOUTH MINISTRY

You may RSVP with the number of children and their ages to Nicole at nicole.vander@comcast.net. Each child will need a completed release form. Let your child enjoy a night of pizza, play, crafts, games and a mov-ie with popcorn.

All youth (grades 6-12) are invited to stay after worship. We’ll have lunch together and then hike to Cold

Creek Falls.

HELP NEEDED! Renton Meal Coalition provides food for Renton ’s most vulnerable people. Food and volunteer servers are needed. Saint Matthew’s Youth and their families sponsor every fourth Sunday of the month from 4-7pm. Contact Nicole to get connected to the online sign ups.

Operation Graduating Gifts

Wednesday, June 7, 7-8:15pm You are invited to come and receive a graduation blessing and special gift on Sunday, June 11 during 10am worship. Please RSVP to Nicole at ni-cole.vander@comcast.net by May 17 if you will be present and participating so we may prepare a special reminder of God’s love for each Senior as they graduate.

Calling All Graduating Seniors

All youth grades 6-11 are invited to meet at St. Matthew’s on Wednesday, June 7 from 7-8:15pm. We will create special, surprise gifts for our graduating seniors and as al-ways, there will be snacks!

YOUTH!

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Sign Up Now!

Vacation Bible School

July 10-14

44 personal hygiene bags were delivered to CISR (Communities In Schools of Renton) on April 13! The CISR staff were so grateful for the generosity!

The hygiene bags will be distributed to Renton High School and Middle school students in need.

Thank you, thank you for the donations of used t-shirts that were sewn into bags by the Can Do group and the hygiene items that were collected during the month of March. Thank you to the 1st - 5th grade Sunday school class who filled and tagged the bags on Sunday, April 9th. You are awesome and did a super job!!

THANK YOU ST. MATTHEW’S!

As we said goodbye to the ARISE men, we want to say THANK YOU to everyone who helped in every way to host the men this month. You offered tremendous support and kindness that we truly appreciate. Please share any and all feedback so we can continue to improve and strengthen the program for the future. Thank you! Tiara and Amy. You may reach us at: tirarasonlocation@hotmail.com or amyroberts@seanet.com

Hygiene bags

ARISE, Men Without Homes

St. Matthew’s 1st-5th Grade Sunday School Class

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St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church

1700 Edmonds Ave NE Renton WA 98056

Website: www.smlc.cc

Facebook Page: St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid

Renton, WA 98055

Permit No. 108

STAFF

Pastor | Kacey Hahn, kaceyhahn@gmail.com, 425.226.2420 x115

Community and Communications Coordinator | Libby Lucier, stmatthewschurch@comcast.net, 425.226.2420 x110

Children, Youth & Family Director | Nicole Vandermeulen, nicole.vander@comcast.net, 425.226.2420 x103

Worship and Faith Curator | Lacey Brown, lacey.smlc@gmail.com, 425.226.2420

Facilities Manager | Dan Willcocks 425.226.2420

Bookkeeper | Tammy Gesler 425.226.2420 x117

Senior Choir Director | Susan Kriesel 425.226.2420

After School Director | Tone Austin , tone@smlc.cc, 425.226.2420 x120