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The Messenger
Published monthly by St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
Serving southwest Fort Worth since 1953
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church,
organized in 1953 and a Reconciling in Christ congregation of
the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, is located at
the corner of Granbury Road &
Welch in southwest Fort Worth.
Phone: 817-292-1338
Fax: 817-292-3329
E-mail: office@stmatthews-elca.org
Website: www.stmatthews-elca.org
St. Matthew’s Greenbrier School
817-292-5592
Church Staff
Michael Masterson, Pastor
Jolene Webster, AIM, Director of
Music Ministries
John Parsons, Director of Youth
and Family Ministries
Hans Grim, Organist / Pianist
Mary Nedde, Administrative
Assistant
Kelly Riddle, Office Assistant
Kay Green and Bethany Narvaez,
Sunday Nursery Staff
Council and Commissions
President: Clare Kirchhoff
Vice-President: Kelly Riddle
Secretary: Olivia Riddle
Treasurer: John Creecy
Financial Secretary: Eric Moeller
Christian Ed.: Faye Youngblood
Fellowship: (open)
Outreach: Bill Anderson
Property: David Brown
Stewardship: Liz McCarthy
Worship: Tim Knutson
Youth: Beth Hummel
Mission Statement
Living in Christ through faith.
Living for neighbor
through love.
November 2014
A THANKSGIVING HYMN (ELW 881)
Let All Things Now Living
Let all things now living
A song of thanksgiving
To God the creator
triumphantly raise,
Who fashioned and made us,
Protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on to the
end of our days.
God’s banners are o’er us,
God’s light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth
in the night,
Till shadows have vanished
and darkness is banished,
As forward we travel
from light into light.
God rules all the forces:
The stars in their courses
And sun in its orbit
obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains,
The rivers and fountains,
The deeps of the ocean
proclaim God divine.
We too should be voicing
Our love and rejoicing;
With glad adoration
a song let us raise
Till all things now living
Unite in thanksgiving:
“To God in the highest,
Hosanna and praise!”
Text: Katherine K. Davis, 1892-1980
Music: Welsh folk tune
JOINT THANKSGIVING SERVICE
Wednesday, November 26 7:00 pm
P.I.E. Fellowship
LET US GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD!
N O VE M BE R 2 0 1 4
THE MESSENGER
From the Pastor’s Desk(top)
If I was back home at this time of the year (Fall being my favorite season) I would be enjoying the kaleidoscope of colors, cooler temperatures,
fresh cold cider and hot-from-the-oven doughnuts. It was a time that spoke
of the coming of Thanksgiving and the Christmas season. Now I am not one
that likes to see Christmas commercials or decorations until after Thanksgiving, but the anticipation of the upcoming event is exciting. And I must tell
you that we have many events coming up as we close out this calendar year.
I lift this to you at this time so that you may plan on being at these
events; supporting them physically and financially. We paid off our mortgage
early so that we would have additional resources to expand our ministry.
Never did we anticipate that we would rest on our laurels and go into a static
mode. The fact is that John Parsons has picked up our pace and is doing the
very things we anticipated; increase ministries. AiM Webster hasn’t slowed
down either. After a superb job of filling in while I was on sabbatical, she has
picked up her pace splitting our children’s choir into more teachable units
and creating a concert series to share the blessing of our musical talent for
the larger community, in addition to normal worship planning and execution.
Our staff and congregational council are doing what they were called
and elected to do. But we need the congregation to support our efforts
through presence at worship and ministry events, as well as financially.
Both have been down these past few months. I challenge you to finish this
year strong and establish habits that will help us move forward in the years
to come. St. Matthew’s has a strong history of moving forward in God’s mission in our community. Like my memories of fall in Michigan, our history is
the past, but I have great love of today and anticipation of our future. Join
together; give back to the God of mission with a church in the world. It is
our calling.
PAGE 2
NO VE MBE R 2014
THE MESSENGER
26 Souls Lost
Twenty-six souls lost, and a nation grieved. After the massacre at Sandy
Hook Elementary School, we were all left searching for answers. These were our
children, the most vulnerable in our society, and they were taken from us. Robbed
of the beautiful lives that God intended for them. So we demanded solutions - a
road map - a way to make sure a school shooting never happened again. Now two
years, 47 School Shootings and 28 Deaths later we are still looking for answers.
I have heard a lot of different solutions to prevent tragedies like Sandy Hook;
maybe the answer is we need to give every teacher a gun. Maybe we need a niceness campaign. Maybe stricter gun control is worth a shot. The debate, for a time,
was inescapable.
The problem is, I fear we are all learning to move on just a little too fast. I
fear that all the problems are a little too overwhelming, and what I fear most is, as a
nation, our attention span is getting shorter.
Since Sandy Hook, Christmas’s have come and gone, Republicans and Democrats have gone to war over Obamacare, natural disasters have struck, and so with
that, the news cycle has moved on, and as the news moves on we also move on.
Our own lives once again envelope us.
But now once again another school shooting. This time at Marysville
Pilchuck High School in Washington. How fast will the news cycle move on this
time? How fast will our lives once again envelope us? I think unfortunately, far too
soon.
I am struck though, I am struck by the need for action. Even if the solutions
sound hard, and we might disagree on how to get it done, I know for sure that it is
up to you and me to try to make the world a little safer for our kids. I don't know
how, and I don’t have all the answers. But that’s what I am left with - we have to
try.
Let us never forget.
- John Parsons,
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
PAGE 3
THE MESSENGER
NO VE MBE R 2014
PAGE 4
CONGREGATION MEETING & POTLUCK MEAL - NOVEMBER 9
8:45am Sunday School
10:00 am Worship (one service)
11:15 am Meal and Meeting
Review of 2015 Spending Plan
Soup will be the main course - Please bring the following:
A - F Bread, crackers, etc
G- - M Salad
N - Z Dessert
THE MESSENGER
NOVEMBER 2014
November
Anniversaries
November
Birthdays
Shawn Youngblood
Georgia Riddle
Abigail Miller
Sylvia Wester
David Foy, Sr.
John Hoyler
Jeannie Knutson
Matthew Berry
Terry Boggs
Don Clifton
Birgit Anderson
Barbara Thomsen
Mary Frances Page
Eric Moeller
Anne Moroneso
Paige Morse
Hyles Rudolph
PAGE 5
Nov. 4
Nov. 8
Nov. 9
Nov. 11
Nov. 13
Nov. 13
Nov. 14
Nov. 15
Nov. 16
Nov. 18
Nov. 19
Nov. 19
Nov. 20
Nov. 22
Nov. 22
Nov. 27
Nov. 30
YOUNG-AT-HEART
LUNCHEON
November 13, 11:30 am
in the Fellowship Hall
Lisa Buck from the Alzheimer’s Association will speak on ‘Giving support to patients and families with a
new diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.’
Learn ways to give support to those
dealing with the challenges of this
difficult disease. No RSVP needed;
a donation of $2.00 is requested for
the meal.
Please plan to join us!
Hosted by the
Lay Pastoral Care Team
CONGRATULATIONS
and BLESSINGS!
Barry & Cindy Kammer
Terry & Faye Youngblood
Eric & Stephanie Moeller
Len & Rose Marie Schweitzer
(55 years)
Nov. 7
Nov. 7
Nov. 8
Nov. 21
Women’s Study Group
Every Thursday
10:00-11:30 am
We are studying the books of the Bible using the Lutheran Study Bible.
All women of St. Matthew’s and their
friends are invited as we study, pray
and have
fellowship. Bring a friend!
Questions? Need transportation?
Call Mary Frances Page
817-292-3545
(You do not have to be a member of
St. Matthew’s to join us!)
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
Come, ye thankful people, come:
raise the song of harvest home.
All be safely gathered in
ere the winter storms begin
God, our maker, doth provide
for our wants to be supplied.
Come to God’s own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home.
NO VE MBE R 2014
THE MESSENGER
NOVEMBER
BIBLE READINGS
November 2
All Saints Sunday
Rev. 7:9-17; Psalm 34:1-10, 22;
I John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12
November 9
Amos 5:18-24; Psalm 70;
I Thess. 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13
November 16
Zeph. 1:7, 12-18; Psalm 90:1-12;
I Thess. 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
November 23
Christ the King Sunday
Ezek. 34:11-16, 20-24; Ps. 95:1-7a;
Eph. 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46
November 30
First Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19;
I Cor. 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37
Northern Texas — Northern Louisiana Campus Ministry Trivia Challenge
Come to this year’s LCM Trivia Challenge, November 9; 4:00
pm at Christ Lutheran Church in Dallas. All funds generated go to the NT-NL Campus Ministry Mission Fund. This
year’s meal is being catered by Chef Norman Isa of Briarwood
Retreat Center. For information on registering (by Nov. 2)
Contact Pastor Celene Welch by phone: 817-269-1229; or visit
www.lcmdenton.org.
PAGE 6
NOVEMBER 2014
PAGE 7
THE MESSENGER
We Remember in Prayer:
Our Homebound
Richard Bodak
Craig Bridges
T.J. and Dorothy Bridges
Eva Clifton
Joan Gordon
Fay Hennig
Helen Jackson
Marjorie Jellison
Charles and Winifred Mann
Those Who Mourn
Danny Stroud and family in the sudden
death of his brother Randy Stroud on Oct. 16.
Tommy Higgs and family in the sudden death
of his sister-in-law, Janice Higgs on Oct. 26.
Those ill, recovering or otherwise
in need of prayer
Bill Burtner
Jessica and Wes Cain
Diane Crellin
Sister of Lynne Haro
John Hoyler
Rendee D’Onofrio
Friend of Lynne Haro
Charles Moody
Brother of Jolene Webster
Hardy Swinson
Andrea Garcia’s mother
NOVEMBER 2014 NT-NL Synod Prayer List:
We pray for these NT-NL Mission Area congregations and entities:
Nov. 2
Nov. 9
Nov. 16
Nov. 23
Nov. 30
Emmanuel, Granbury / Bethany, Dallas / Western Mission Conference
Mount Olive, Dallas / Walnut Hill, Dallas / Lutheran Campus Ministry
New Hope, Keller / Redeemer, Greenville / ELCA World Hunger
St. Andrew, Hurst / Bethel, Avoca / ELCA Malaria Initiative
Oslo, Gruver / Trinity, Clovis, NM / NT-NL Hispanic Youth Leadership Team
We especially pray this month for those directing the ELCA World Hunger program,
and the ELCA Malaria Initiative
OFFERING ENVELOPES
If you are interested in giving envelopes for 2015, please contact Eric
Moeller at emoeller1@gmail.com. They will be available for pickup in the
narthex in early December, and those not picked up will be mailed in
January. Also, if you currently receive envelopes and no longer wish to
receive them, please also let Eric know (especially new members). As a
reminder, there are also generic envelopes in the pews for your use. If
you choose to use the generic envelopes, please write your name or giving number on it so your offering can be credited to you. Those folks
wishing to give online, please use the online giving link on St. Matthew’s
website: www.stmatthews-elca.org.
NO VE MBE R 2014
THE MESSENGER
FROM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Congregational meetings are like the family kitchen table. Around the
table, we gather to eat, talk, work, catch up, and make decisions. This
is what we do at our congregational meetings, too! It’s not a coincidence. Sometimes our conversations are exciting and joyful – we will
have some of those at our meeting on 9 November. Sometimes our
conversations are a little more serious – we are voting on the budget
for 2015 when we gather to eat and pray and be together as a family.
Please come to the congregational meeting on 9 November after
our 10:00 am worship service. We need you at the table!
Make a Difference -
Every fall our
high school and junior high youth will be
challenged and changed as they learn
what it means to be the hands and feet
of Christ while participating in our Make
a Difference Sunday School Initiative.
The Premise -
Students are given
funds and then tasked with going out into
the Fort Worth Community and using
those funds to positively impact the community i.e. “make a difference”. Youth
then develop a project of their choice, either as a group or individually, and implement it during the course of the Sunday School year.
How it Works -
The Make a Difference Sunday School Initiative is composed of a series
of Sunday School lessons focused on being the hands and feet of the gospel. As youth explore
what it means to “Make a Difference” in the world, they are challenged to come up with a
tangible project they can put into motion. Our time together also includes developing a vision, budget and plan of action. In the past, youth have provided school supplies to teachers
and created sticky notes of encouragement to place around local hospitals.
Mentoring -
Our Director of Youth and Family Ministries walks through this process with
the students. He will help them develop a vision for what they will do to “make a difference”
and provide them spiritual guidance while also providing them practical advice.
PAGE 8
NO VE MBE R 2014
THE MESSENGER
PHOTOS FROM OCTOBER
PAGE 9
NO VE MBE R 2014
THE MESSENGER
PAGE 10
ON-LINE GIVING
It is possible to sign up to give
to St. Matthew’s through the homepage of our
website: www.stmatthews-elca.org
Click on the ‘Online Giving’ link under
Quick Links, then click the ‘Create Profile’
button and follow the directions.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Sept. Income
$ 23,770
Sept. Expenses
$ 25,093
Income YTD
$240,100
2014 Budget
$412,550
At 75% of the year (Jan. Sept.) we have received 58%
of our 2014 budget.
CANDLERIDGE GARDEN CLUB
Meets at St. Matthew’s the third Tuesday
of the month at 7:30 pm in the Music
Room. You do not need to live in Candleridge — all are invited to share and gather gardening knowledge.
See you at our next meeting,
November 18!
Questions? Contact Faye Youngblood
NOVEMBER 2014 at St. Matthew’s
Living in Christ through faith. Living for neighbor through love.
Sun
2
Eucharist
Mon
Eucharist
1 Men’s Breakfast at Dixie
8
House
8:00 am
Food
Pageant Rehearsal 12-2:00 pm
at Neigh.
Needs 8:30 am
Pageant Rehearsal
12-2:00 pm
17
18
19 *
20
21
Musikgarten 8 am-5 pm Musikgarten 8 am-1 pm Women’s Study Group
10:00 am
GED Class
6:00 pm
Candleridge Garden
GED Class
6:00 pm
Club
7:00 pm
22
Men’s Breakfast at Dixie House
8:00 am
Pageant Rehearsal 12-2:00 pm
24
25
29
8:30 and 11:00 am
Sunday School
9:45 am
Pageant Rehearsal
9:45 am
FAIR TRADE SALE
Handbells
12:15 pm
30 First Sunday in Advent Dec. 1
Eucharist
8:30 and 11:00 am
Sunday School
9:45 am
Pageant Rehearsal
9:45 am
FAIR TRADE SALE
Handbells
12:15 pm
Sat
11
12 *
13
14
15
Musikgarten 8 am-5 pm Musikgarten 8 am-1 pm Women’s Study Group
Food Distribution at
10:00 am
Neigh. Needs 8:30 am
Young-at-Heart
Lunch
GED Class
6:00 pm
11:30 am
NT-NL Jr. High Gathering Nov. 14-16
GED Class
6:00 pm
8:30 and 11:00 am
Sunday School
9:45 am
Handbells
12:15 pm
Council Meeting
1:15 pm
FAIR TRADE SALE
23
Fri
10
Sunday School
8:45 am
One Worship Service 10:00 am
Congregation Meeting
and Meal
11:15 am
FAIR TRADE SALE
Eucharist
Thu
4
5 *
6
7
Musikgarten 8 am-5 pm Musikgarten 8 am-1 pm Women’s Study Group
10:00 am
GED Class
6:00 pm Outreach Commission
Women’s
First
Thursday
6:00 pm
Lunch
11:30 am
ELECTION DAY
GED Class
6:00 pm
(Return to Standard Time)
16
Wed
3
8:30 and 11:00 am
Sunday School
9:45 am
Handbells
12:15 pm
9
Tue
26
27
28
Joint Thanksgiving Eve THANKSGIVING DAY
Worship Service at
Grace Lutheran 7:00 pm The church offices will be closed
Nov. 27 and 28.
Dec. 3
Dec. 2
Dec. 4
Dec. 5
Musikgarten
8
am-1pm
Women’s Study Group
Musikgarten 8 am-5 pm
10:00 am
Pageant Rehearsal
Sunday School Christ– Women’s First Thursday
5:30-7:00 pm mas Pageant
6:30 pm
Lunch
11:30 am
GED Class
6:00 pm
GED Class
6:00 pm
* WEDNESDAY ACTIVITIES
High Five Choir
5:00 pm
Girls’ Choir
5:25 pm
Boys’ Choir
5:50 pm
Fellowship Dinner
5:30 pm
Madrigals & Confirm. 6:15 pm
Chancel Choir
7:00 pm
LITURGICAL
MINISTRIES
November 2014
Time
8:30
(Time change)
All Saints
Sunday
November 2
10:00 am Worship
Sunday
November 9
Sunday
November 16
Christ the King
Sunday
November 23
(Advent begins)
Sunday
November 30
Steve Weis
Tom Gluntz
Liz McCarthy
Faye Youngblood
(10:00 am)
Cindy Kammer
Phil Moroneso
Sandy Heinrich
Jim Gordon
Gary Christensen
Renee Hill
Marj Rudolph
Ruth Vinciguerra
Anita Bodak
Kelly Riddle
Shawn Wagner
Cindy Kohn
Patti Brunnert
Robert Roupe
8:30
11:00
K. Thompson
John Fitch
Tom Gluntz
Phil Beckman
Nick Washuta
Gary Christensen
Usher Captains
Usher Captains
8:30
(Ushers)
(Ushers)
(Ushers)
(Ushers)
11:00
Ryan Ford
Emerson Cunningham
(10:00 am)
John Reed and
David. Brynell
(10:00 am)
Jacob Gonzales
Caleb Gonzales
Andrew Beckman
Katie Beckman
Finn Riddle
Ben McCarthy
(Ushers)
CHANCEL
MINISTRIES
8:30
11:00
Jeri Manske
Diane Higgs
Jeri Manske
Diane Higgs
Jeri Manske
Diane Higgs
Jeri Manske
Diane Higgs
GREETERS
8:30
11:00
Mary Frances Page
Congregation
(10:00 am)
Jeri Manske and
Diane Higgs
Mary Weis
Mike Haro
Don Clifton
Liz McCarthy
Carol Washuta
Chuck & Patti Brunnert
Carol Washuta
Congregation
8:30
Tom Gluntz
Cindy Kohn
Gary Christensen
Phil Beckman
Phil Moroneso (Alt.)
(10:00 am)
David Brynell
Phil Moroneso
Chuck Brunnert (Alt.)
Rande Wagner
Cindy Berry
Gary Christensen
Kelly Riddle
David Brynell (Alt.)
Mary Creecy
Tom Gluntz
Phil Beckman
Chuck Brunnert
Kelly Riddle (Alt.)
Cindy Kohn
Mary Nedde
Chuck Brunnert
Phil Moroneso
Gary Christensen (Alt.)
LECTORS
11:00
USHER
CAPTAINS
ACOLYTES
COUNTERS
11:00
CHANCEL FLOWERS
NURSERY
CARE
Chancel
flowers are
given by…
8:15
through
12:15
Marianne Rugeley in
memory of Alan
Wharton
Eric and Stephanie
Moeller in celebration
of their first wedding
anniversary
Jackie Brinkman in
memory of George’s
birthday, & in celebration of David
Foy’s birthday
Marj Rudolph in thanksgiving for our congregation at St. Matthew’s
Host Needed
Kay Green
Kay Green
Kay Green
Kay Green
Kay Green
If you are unable to serve on your designated Sunday, please find a replacement and notify the church office: 817-292-1338 or
office@stmatthews-elca.org
Assisting Ministers
Lectors:
Acolytes:
Greeters:
J. Webster
Church Offc
K. Riddle
Church Offc
(week by week basis)
817-292-1338
817-360-4584
817-292-1338
Ushers:
Chancel Ministries:
Counters:
Chancel Flowers:
Nick Washuta
Tim Knutson
Church Office
Church Office
817-732-7787
817-821-7940 (cell)
817-292-1338
817-292-1338