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Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Matthew 25:14-30

Dear Friends,

As we come to the final weeks of the church calendar year, we find the Sunday lessons focusing on themes of last things and final judgment.

In classic prophetic style, Zephaniah declares the day of the Lord/ day of wrath.  I read “wrath” here not to mean a human kind of temper fit, but true and right justice being done.  This is the day when the Lord puts all things right and settles with all those who disregard the claims of God’s law and prophets, establishing their lives on wealth and human strategies for success.

In a collection of teachings about the final coming of God’s kingdom among us, Matthew places a parable of Jesus about servants who are given charge of talents (huge sums of money) by their master.  On the long delayed return of this master, they are held accountable for what they have done.  Those who increased what was given them enter the joy of the master, while the one who distrusted his master and buried the talent is rebuked and cast out from the master’s joy (‘outer darkness and weeping”).

St. Paul comforts the Christians of Thessalonia regarding “the day of the Lord.”  Like many first generation followers of Jesus, Paul expected the cosmic return of Jesus within his own generation.  Will this coming of Jesus as judge will be sudden and involve the undoing of many, these new Christians have every reason for confidence.  They have already chosen to “belong to the day” in their lives as followers of Christ, and when he comes again they will continue to live with him who died to save them.

Comment:  Christians do not need to disown the images of judgment in Scripture to hold our faith in a loving God.  Love holds us accountable to love – we are confronted with perfect love and truth as the measure of our lives.  This awareness makes me vividly aware of my need of God’s grace and mercy because every day I fall short of that kind of love! When you and I become aware of that gracious mercy in Christ, we find ourselves all the more eager to extend the mercy and grace we have received to all whom we meet.  It’s not enough for me to sing: “Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart…”  for I must also seek wholeheartedly to do, now, the things Jesus has shown me are the way to honor God and love my neighbor!

 

 

The preacher this Sunday is David Robinson.

 

 

This Sunday, we were blessed to have Dorcas and the Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chemengich visit us from their home in Kitale, Kenya.  Dorcas and Emmanuel are the founders of the Mwamba Foundation, a non-profit foundation formed to transform lives and communities in Kitale region of Kenya for sustainable human socio-economic development.  Since approximately 2002, St. Matthew’s and the Mwamba foundation have partnered to change the lives of young men and women.  Mwamba’s three main projects include providing funding for high school education for children in need, leadership development and women’s development.

Dorcas and Emmanuel shared their story which you can watch here.

It began in the living room of Harry and Phyllis Barbin. With them were John and Margaret Vose and Roger and Marilou Haydock, to discuss the idea of a new Episcopal Church in the Maple Glen area. Conversation with Diocesan officials and local parishes followed, and the first worship service of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church met in a rented hall near the corner of Limekiln Pike and Horsham Road on Sunday, September 10, 1967.

 

On Sunday, September 10, 2017 a bronze plaque commemorating these founding families will be dedicated on the large granite cross that overlooks the Memorial Garden.  We will also dedicate a plaque that remembers a significant event that followed.  When hearing of the new mission and their search for a permanent site, Marion van Steenwyk offered ten acres of her property that fronted Tennis Avenue for that purpose. The first church (now our Parish Hall) was completed in 1971.

 

Everything else follows from there: a committed core of people with a place to build and grow.  A church is always built up of and by people, not bricks.  St. Matthew’s was established by sacrificial gifts from faithful people, along with a great deal of “elbow grease” as members in the early days all took turns cleaning the church!  Yet by 1975, the new mission was recognized by Diocesan Convention as a self-supporting parish.

 

A new building to provide offices and classrooms was added in 1981, followed by extensive renovations and expanded worship space in 1997, and another classroom facility in 2000.  The congregation paid for,

and paid off, all these buildings, bit by bit, year by year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This all was helped by unsolicited Estate gifts both large and small. Combined with our weekly offerings, this giving left the parish debt free. In this year we have received an unexpected gift of $94,000 – one of our members wanted to honor our 50th Anniversary with a gift that would have been made in her will!  Earlier in the year, we received additional undesignated gifts for $12,000 and $1,000.

 

These outward signs point to a people who are here to work, pray, and give to honor the call of Jesus Christ upon us.  The buildings and the budget are for mission.

For five decades we have worshipped and served Jesus Christ in our community and our world.  We have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and welcomed the stranger and the homeless.  We have baptized and nurtured children in the knowledge and love of the Lord, and have encouraged youth and adults in their faith.

 

Over the decades we have given many hundreds of thousands of dollars to works of mercy and diocesan mission and ministry.  About all of this, I will have much more to say on Sunday, September 10, 2017!

It has been a great blessing for Lynn and I to be part of such a community for 32 years.  To paraphrase Saint Paul: “Glory to God, whose power at work in us can do infinitely more than we can imagine!

 

~ Dave Robinson

This fall holds many exciting new additions for our children’s religious formation at St. Matthew’s.  We are implementing a toddler atrium space for children from 18–35 months, in addition to welcoming all three-year-olds through fifth graders in the modular unit each week. Thanks to those who worked hard to repair and replace the decking around the modular building this summer.  St. Matthew’s Sunday school is set to begin on Sunday, September 10th at 9 a.m. with all groups meeting in the specially prepared rooms that embrace the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  All our lead catechists will be returning along with several new assistants and floaters.  Lynn Robinson will lead a strong team to help with the toddlers, assisted by Sandie Preusch, Kelly Rimer, Eleana Robinson and Susan Ricciardi.  A fine collection of teenagers (Ainsley Rimer, Gabrielle Pascuzzi and Kayla Caddick) will also be working with the youngest ones.  Nancy Cunningham will be spending time once again with the Preschool children (ages 3 and up.) She will be assisted by a team of great women including Diane McCleary, Sue Acquaviva, Nancy Williams (a newly trained Level 1 catechist) and Rebecca Waysz.  Linda Schindewolf and Linda Baier will be co-catechists once again for Level 2, the kindergarteners through second graders.  They will be accompanied by Kim Brown, Caryn Brannen, Cindy Higgins and Megan Williams.  Their room is on the “playground” side of the modular building alongside the Level 3 room.  Mrs. Groben will lead this oldest group of third through fifth graders. This Senior Level will benefit from great and experienced assistants: Marnie Pascuzzi, Mike Acquaviva and Wendy Johnson.

In addition to the catechists and assistants, our staff includes “floaters” who are there to guide the children and families to their assigned rooms, answer any questions, distribute needed information and offer a friendly smile.  Those invaluable floaters are David Birett, Tricia Carter, Karina Caddick, Katie High and Linda Carlson.

Please look for a mailing that will indicate the group in which your child has been placed.  Registration forms will be available starting on our first day, and we ask that each family complete them in a timely fashion so all your necessary information will be updated. Feel free to bring new friends to join us.  When you arrive on September 10th, signs will be posted to assist you.

As the fall moves forward, we are excited to be offering an All Saints program, with a “saints” storyteller, on Saturday evening, November 4.  We hope to present a Christmas pageant led by our children on Christmas Eve.  More information will be coming on those events.  The oldest children determined that they would like the children’s offering for this year to be given to the St. James School to provide school supplies for students in need in Philadelphia.

We look forward to seeing you all there! Please contact Lynn Robinson with any questions or concerns

This year the Nursery School will open on Monday, September 11, 2017 and it will be the 25th anniversary year! Twenty five years ago Evelyn Randolph began the nursery school with morning classes and it quickly grew in demand to offer afternoon sessions, lunch bunch and a phenomenal enrichment program. The success of the school is due in large part to the solid foundation that Evelyn laid and the talented and dedicated staff that work with the children. Many of the staff that Evelyn hired are still working in the school today, which is a testament to the school and the support it receives from the Church.

The 2 ½ year old classes begin with a visiting day in which mom or dad comes to school with their child and stays to play and visit with the teacher and aide. The 3 year old classes begin with a short session in which half of the children in the class come by themselves for an hour and then the other half of the class comes for an hour by themselves.  The 4-year old and Pre-K classes begin with regular full day. By the second day of school, almost all of the children are settled in and happy and ready for lots of fun!

This year the nursery school welcomes a new 2 ½ year old teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Duffy and a new four year old teacher Mrs. Alexandra Arnold. Both ladies will be wonderful additions to our staff this year!

The Nursery School children will again be participating in Chapel with Father Dave, Music with Mrs. Martha Reynolds and Gym with Mrs. Kim Gehlhaus. They will enjoy many programs that visit the school- the Horsham Fire Company, Horsham Police Department, Whale Watch, and a traveling farm. The 3 and 4 year old classes will visit several different places in the community for field trips. Enrichment classes are held weekly for children in the 4 year old classes and include: Mathemagic, Science, Book and Cook, Kreative Kids, and Reading Writing and Fun. The 3 year old classes can participate in Move and Groove, a culturally themed music and movement class, as well as Sensational Art.

Over the summer much work was completed throughout the building and I cannot thank Father Dave and the Vestry enough for their continued support of the Nursery School.  There are still a few openings in classes, if you have friends or family looking for a nursery school. Please call or e-mail the school with any questions at 215.646.4466 or nurseryschool@verizon.net.  ~ Jackie Anderson