December 16, 2015 Issue 120

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church 243 Barrow Street phone 985-872-5057

Dear People of St. Matthew’s:

I want to thank all of you for a simply amazing celebration of the rebuilding of St. Matthew’s Church & School! It all looked so effortless: the music, the food, the liturgy, the hospitality---but behind all of that excellence was a lot of hard work and dedication! It all amounted to a generous and heartfelt offering of gratitude for our wonderful new church and school. What a banner day!

I especially enjoyed seeing old friends re-connecting and catching up with each other after not having seen each other for many years. It was a reminder of just how deep and intertwined are the roots of St. Matthew’s. I was also quite touched by the participation of so many folks from our wider community who were so obviously delighted about the restoration.

I have also enjoyed seeing the great media coverage we’ve been getting lately. A number of people in our wider community have commented on how happy they are to hear and see the wonderful news that we are finally back home. By the way, if you find yourself speaking with a friend or neighbor about St. Matthew’s, be sure not to miss the opportunity to invite them to church. I’ve had more than one person ask me if it would be ok if they came sometime! This always surpris-es me, because I assume everyone knows they are welcome anytime…and that we’d love to have them. So, please help spread the word that all are welcome, and that we’ve got room for more!

Finally, a reminder that Bishop Brown will be with us on January 10. He will be confirming/receiving folks. Also, I’ll be baptizing babies. So please let me hear from you if you would like to have your child baptized that day. I’m so looking forward to it.

See you in Church,

Fr. Craig

St. Matthew’s

Announcements: Sermon: Now, Let’s Wear It Out: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/53922377/

Now%2C%20Let%27s%20Wear%20it%20Out.m4a Sermon: Advent 2—Are you Ready: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/

u/53922377/Are%20You%20Ready.m4a

A MESSAGE TO THE CONGREGATION FROM THE TREASURER: The Christmas Season will be upon us before we know it. It has been our custom, at this time of the year, to place a reminder in the newsletter for parishioners who wish to contribute to a Christmas Purse for our Rector and members of the Staff of our church. You may mail your contributions (marked “Christmas Purse”) to the Treasurer, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 568, Houma, Louisiana 70361, or place them in the collection plate on Sundays in an envelope addressed to the Treasurer. If you wish to designate a certain amount for the Rector and/or members of the staff, please fur-nish that information with your contribution. If no designation is made, the contribu-tions will be divided equally among the Rector and the other members of the Staff. Members of the staff are: the Rector, Office Manager, Church Organist, the Christian Education Coordinator and 1 assistant, and Sunday morning Nursery attendant. Have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. (Deadline for contributions: December 20, 2015. Thanks.)

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

Sunday Service 10:00am

Nursery & Youth Programs Available

Christmas Eve 5:30 PM

Christmas Day 10 AM

St. Matthew’s

Page 4 Issue 120

SMEC Website:

www.stmatthewshouma.org

Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana

www.edola.org

SMES Website:

www.stmattsschool.com

Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary!

BIRTHDAY PRAYER

Watch over your child, O Lord, as his days increase; bless and guide him wherever he may be. Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he falls; and in his heart may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

1-Bonnie Siegrist

1 – Ashley Lirette

8-David Jumonville

11-S. Myers McAllister

14-Alex Ostheimer

14-Ralph Use’

14-Duane Ring

14-Kim Bazet

22-Susan Niette

24-Tandy Webb

27-Doug Greenburg

28-Wendy McNelis

29-Tom Currie

30-Lee Stiel

30-Paige Gaudet

16-Randy and Kim Bazet

20-Brendon and Wendy McNelis

Barbara & Alex S., Kathy, Margaret, Frances, Eula, Wilma, Ingree, Andrèe, Sharon, Sybil, Marian, Johanna, Angelle & Taylor, Emily, Rocelle, Warren, Harold, Gordon, Phil and Shirleen, Pete & Paula, Russell, Jennifer, Hunter, Penny, George, Delores, Kellie, Anna Belle, Barney, Helen, Flo, Ray, Louise, Kimble, Gerard, David, Denise, Gina, Jeanie, Steven, Ann, Aivyn, and our Partner-In-Mission sister parish, San Jose in Honduras. We give thanks and pray for St. Matthew’s Episcopal School, S. Myers McAllister, Head of School, members of the Board, faculty, staff and students, our Parish Vestry and Building Committee.

Prayers & Thanksgivings

December

SCHEDULE

December 20, 2015

Team 2

Eucharistic Ministers Sharon Pontiff, Donna Knight

Lector Sybil Webb

Acolyte Hali Theriot

Eucharistic Visitors (EV) Debby Fortier

Ushers Julio and Rina Medina, Karen Kelly

Vestry Member on Duty Sybil Webb

Altar Guild Sandy Ostheimer, Karen Kelly

Hospitality Randy Knight

Homes Visited Today: Eula McElroy

Wednesday, December 23, 2015, 5:30PM – NO SERVICE

December 24, 2015 – Christmas Eve – 5:30

December 25, 2015 – Christmas Day – 10:00am

December 27, 2015

TEAM 3

Eucharistic Ministers Alex Ostheimer, Sandra Deroche

Lector Becky Becnel

Acolyte Grace Blair

Eucharistic Visitors (EV) Emilie Daye

Ushers George Drury, Karen Chauvin

Vestry Member on Duty Charleen Westbrook

Altar Guild Shanna Himel, Gail Duhe’

Hospitality Jay Theriot

Homes Visited Today: Kathy Ryan, Wilma Belviy

Wednesday, December 30, 2015, 5:30PM – NO SERVICE

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

Parishioner Spotlight

Sinclair Mercer Buquet

Born in (city, state)? Baton Rouge, LA

Raised in (city, state)? Houma, LA

High School attended? Vandebilt

College attended? Degrees Earned? LSU- B.A., Journalism/Advertising Major

Occupation? Volunteer, Wife & Mother

How long have you been a Parishioner at SMEC? I joined the Children’s Choir in 1975.

What drew you to SMEC? Joining the Children’s Choir. We traveled the state performing and com-peting, and we even made a record.

Family/Children? I’ve been married to JJ Buquet, III for 23 years. We have one son, James, who is 22 and our daughter, Mary Mercer is 19.

Pets? We always have some sort of pet: ducks, guinea pigs, cats, hamsters, rabbits and fish. But now, we have two dogs: Beautox and Troy.

Favorite Quote? “Be the Change you wish to see in the world.” Gandhi

Hobbies/Interests? I love Arts & Crafts or anything creative. I enjoy needlework. I just learned to Knit. And I adore wrapping gifts with lots of ribbon.

3 places you’d like to visit? Greece, The Swiss Alps at Christmas, Alaska

Name something on your bucket list. I’d love to see the Aurora Borealis

Additional Comments? Both of my children attended St. Matthew’s school from kindergarten to 7th grade. The Church and School are both dear to my heart.

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

Parishioner Spotlight

Jay C. Theriot Born in (city, state)? Chauvin, La.

Raised in (city, state)? Chauvin, La.

High School attended? South Terrebonne, Bourg, La.

College attended? Degrees Earned? The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, BS (Honors) Mathematics

Occupation? Desktop Developer System Engineer

How long have you been a Parishioner at SMEC? 6 years

What drew you to SMEC? Acceptance, the family atmosphere and the Sacraments. I was a divorced Roman Catholic and was looking for a place that I could worship without guilt, to find the Grace of God in Jesus. My path led me to St. Matthew's, as I was becoming closer to my wife and she was a parishioner and I started at-tending with her. I was made to feel at home the first Mass and have missed very few Sundays since. The Episcopal teachings give me peace and the congregation makes me feel valued.

Family/Children? Kandice, 26; Hannah, 22; Alex, 18; and Hali, 13. Married to Kath-erine Theriot and am the last of 8 kids (six sisters and one brother).

Pets? Salsa, a Beagle-Dachshund mix (with very little beagle) whom I inherited up-on a friend's passing and Cookie, Rat-Terrier mix whom inherited me (and is the boss of the house).

Favorite Quote? “What is a man if his chief good and market of his time be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more.” – Shakespeare. It keeps me going. I want to make the world a better place for others. I want to be human, not a beast.

Hobbies/Interests? Network communication, manipulating large data sets, astrono-my, camping, photography, writing articles and reading technical documentation.

3 places you’d like to visit? Machu Picchu, the pyramids of Giza, Chile

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

Parishioner Spotlight

Ryan Kilgo

Born in (city, state) Florence, South Carolina Raised in (city, state) Darlington, South Carolina High School attended Mayo High School for Math, Science, & Technology

College attended? Degrees Earned? 2003-2007, The Citadel, The Military Col-lege of South Carolina, (B.S.) Business Administration

Occupation? Director of Operations - Bordelon Marine, LLC; Previously served as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard (10 years). Had been as-signed to Sector Charleston, SC; Marine Safety Unit Houma, LA; Marine Safe-ty Unit Pittsburgh, PA; and Sector Key West, FL.

How long have you been a Parishioner at SMEC 3 years

What drew you to SMEC I was warmly accepted as a part of the St. Matthew’s family when I first reported to Houma in 2008. Being so far from home, St. Matthews became my new home and my refuge.

Family/Children Son - Henry M. Kilgo (4 years old) Pets Two miniature schnauzers Favorite Quote “Check your moral compass frequently. If you do not know who you

are walking into a situation, you are not going to like who you are when you’re done.” General Peter Pace.

Hobbies/Interests Fatherhood, Guitar, Singing, Home Improvement 3 places you’d like to visit 1. Cuba 2. St. Vincent and the Grenadines 3. Thailand

Name something on your bucket list. Hike the Appalachian Trail

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

Parishioner Spotlight

Emilie Melancon Daye Born in (city, state) Houma, LA Raised in (city, state) Houma, LA High School attended Terrebonne High School College attended? Degrees Earned

1997: J.D., Paul M. Hebert Law Center, LSU 1989: B.A. Business/Economics, Nicholls State University Occupation? Attorney at Emilie M. Daye, APLC, Personal Property Appraiser at Daye Apprais-

ers & Consultants, LLC How long have you been a Parishioner at SMEC from 2001 to 2009, then again from 2011 to the

present. What drew you to SMEC Pete and Beverly Rhymes invited us in 2001, we were instantly in love

with the welcoming congregants and joined shortly after our first visit. St. Matthews is home and haven.

Family/Children: Married to Jere M. Daye for 22 years. I have two children: Christian A. Ortego, son; Courtney Ortego Ricker, daughter; Ann Daye, stepdaughter. We have 6 beautiful grandchil-dren; 5 girls and 1 boy.

Pets: The “tail” end of the family are our 9yr old American Bulldog, Bishop, and 2 year old stand-ard Poodle, Gigi.

Favorite Quote: 1 Corinthians 13:4: Love is patient and kind…Love is eternal. Hobbies/Interests Reading, Cooking, Crocheting, and playing computer Solitaire. 3 places you’d like to visit

1. Italy and Spain (same trip) 2. Williamsburg as often as possible 3. French Polynesia Name something on your bucket list. New York City with my granddaughters