The Holy Eucharist: Liturgy of the Word
4th Sunday in Lent (Year B) March 14, 2021
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday, March 14, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
Preface
We at St. Matthew's Church in Savannah are unable to gather together in person due to the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic. Under the guidance of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, the Vestry has decided to keep our church building closed for all in-person gatherings.
At 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, I will broadcast the following worship service using Facebook Live at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav. After the service concludes, you can re-watch it at any time.
This worship service is designed for for use at home while watching the live stream or reading the prayers when you cannot physically attend worship. Lay people may read the entirety of this service.
In 2021, we have made some technological and liturgical changes to our live stream, in accordance with the latest COVID-19 Safety Guidelines from the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. All these changes are intended to simplify the production process of these worship videos and comply with those guidelines.
This liturgy will be performed live on Sunday morning as you watch from home, rather than pre-filmed and edited together. In other words, you are looking at a live feed of what we are doing in the church. This means there will be fewer flourishes on the video, but it will look like actually attending church again.
Due to the "live" nature of this video, there will be 3-4 people in the church on Sunday morning (Ms. Dandy, 1-2 lay readers, and myself). In compliance with the Diocese of Georgia's COVID-19 indoor worship guidelines, we will engage in social distancing, wear masks at all times, and aim to keep the liturgy under 40 minutes.
Therefore, most hymns will be shortened (typically to 3 or fewer verses) and some portions of the liturgy that may be sung will be spoken.
May God protect you from this virus and protect the most vulnerable among us. May we be God’s hands and feet of compassion and service to all in need during this time. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Penitential Order
LEV #88: My Faith Looks Up To Thee
[Verses 1-3]
1 My faith looks up to thee,
Thou lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away;
O let me from this day
Be wholly thine.
2 May thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire;
As thou hast died for me,
O may my love to thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be
A living fire.
3 While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn today,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away;
Not let me ever stray
From thee aside.
Words: Ray Palmer, Public Domain.
Music: Lowell Mason, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #95019. All rights reserved.
Opening Sentences
[BCP, p. 351]
Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
God's mercy endures forever. Amen.
The Decalogue
[BCP, p. 350]
Hear the commandments of God to his people:
I am the Lord your God who brought you out of bondage. You shall have no other gods but me. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not make for yourself any idol. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not invoke with malice the Name of the Lord your God. Amen. Lord have mercy.
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Amen. Lord have mercy.
Honor your father and your mother. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not commit murder. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not commit adultery. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not steal. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not be a false witness. Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. Amen. Lord have mercy.
Confession of Sin
[BCP, p. 351]
Jesus said, "The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord your God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
[Mark 12:29-31]
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[1 John 1:8-9]
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
[Hebrews 4:14,16]
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
The Bishop, when present, or the Priest, stands and says
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
Kyrie Eleison
[BCP, p. 356]
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Collect of the Day
[BCP, p. 357, 219]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Reading from the Book of Numbers (21:4-9)
From Mount Hor the Israelites set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
[BCP, p. 746]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, *
and his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let all those whom the Lord has redeemed proclaim *
that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
3 He gathered them out of the lands; *
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
17 Some were fools and took to rebellious ways; *
they were afflicted because of their sins.
18 They abhorred all manner of food *
and drew near to death's door.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent forth his word and healed them *
and saved them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy *
and the wonders he does for his children.
22 Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving * and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.
A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians (2:1-10)
You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-- by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. John (3:14-21)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
"The Light of Truth" by Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
There has been a lot of discussion in popular culture lately about truth. A lot of our cultural disagreements and conflicts arise out of disagreements about what is true. What are the actual facts about situation X, Y, or Z? But more important than that are the disputes we have about our different experiences of events. You and I might both have witnessed something, but we interpreted what happened really differently because of our life experiences, our perspectives on the world that are shaped by age, gender, culture, language, race, and more.
The most famous example of this in the last week was Oprah Winfrey’s bombshell interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
I’ll admit that I didn’t watch the whole thing, but the clips I saw and the articles I read made clear that the Duke and Duchess have had a really difficult few years since their romance began. They spoke earnestly about their experiences of bullying, harassment, isolation, racism, and even mental health crises. Some have responded to this interview with eye rolls and dismissals, telling Markle to suck it up and get over her alleged complaints since, after all, she is a literal princess, married to a prince. Others have resonated with her words and found that they speak to the overwhelming experience of Black people in majority-white spaces.
This event functions like a mirror to the soul. However you or I reacted to the interview, it probably says more about us than it does about the situation itself. Our perception of truth is shaped by who we are and the experiences and formation that we bring to the table.
I will say this. We don’t know all the facts about the Royal Family. The situation must be more complicated than Harry and Meghan were able to portray in their interview, and I’m sure most of the people who hurt them did so unintentionally on one level or another. I’m sure most of them are not consciously racist. The Royal Family has already released a brief statement denouncing racism and committing to a private investigation into the matter. But if you’ve ever been a non-white person surrounded by white people, Meghan Markle’s allegations seem very plausible. As just a slighty non-white person, being a Latino man in Anglo-dominant American culture, I can relate.
That’s because, as I have said before, our intentions don’t always matter. Sometimes it is true that we, human beings, intend the right thing, that we want to do the right thing, but that we still fail. Our secret sins often come to the surface without us even realizing it -- our prejudices and the nasty things we have been taught to think or say about other people. And facing those things is terribly hard. It’s frightening. Facing those things is an admission that we are in need of serious repair, that we are in some way fundamentally flawed, that our hearts and souls need a moral overhaul. But all of that is the truth. And God sheds light on the truth, whether it feels good or it hurts. God is light and God is truth.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God” (John 3:19-21).
We human beings are usually afraid of the truth. We recoil from the truth when it makes us uncomfortable. We prefer not to come out into the light so that our deeds are not exposed. We would rather bury our heads in the sand and keep on keeping on, maintaining the comfortable status quo rather than seeing the truth and changing what ought to change. We would rather dig in our heels and say things like “we are not racist” than admit to the fact that we have are not and have never been anti-racist. We would rather deceive ourselves than tear down the illusion that protects us from trauma and pain. In other words, we are all both sinners and victims of sin. We are all capable of covering up our deeds so they won’t be exposed by Christ’s light. We would all rather judge others’ failures than look squarely at our own.
The Meghan Markle and Prince Harry interview is an easy example for us to look at as a majority-Black congregation with a Latinx pastor. We probably all fall on one side of that cultural debate, and we probably all blame the same side. It’s relatively easy for us to see their crimes as they are exposed to the light of public opinion. We can smugly accuse others of staying in the darkness instead of opening themselves to the truth.
But the light of Christ is brighter and more penetrating than our own. God can see past even our own biases, past our own self-righteous “wokeness.” God sheds light on the truth whether we agree with it or not. That means that God’s light is greater and more loving than any of us can ask for or imagine.
Because while we know that God is light and truth, we also know that God is love. God reveals the truth about us, both that we are sinners in need of grace and that God loves us enough to give us grace feely. As the Letter to the Ephesians says, by grace we have been saved through faith as an unearned gift of God (Eph 2:8). God’s truth is loving, meaning it is good for us. Even when it is uncomfortable or the process of facing it hurts in the short-term, it is for our benefit.
God sees our faults and failures and responds not with anger and condemnation, but with love. Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, but in order to save it (John 3:17). God’s truth is the path to salvation, and it starts with us recognizing the truth about ourselves and admitting our own faults. Once we see our own sin, we can become beacons of God’s love and grace to even the worst sinners around us, holding them accountable without condemning them and seeking vengeance.
That is why we spend so much time and energy on confessing our sins during Lent. There are extra acknowledgements of our faults and what we have done wrong and how we have fallen short of God’s standards for us. But they are not in service of our guilt and shame. They are meant to help us see God’s love and grace in our own lives so we can share it with the rest of the world. Lent is an opportunity to tune back into the divine love that is the source of our hope. Lent is a chance for us to be to others what God has been to us: light and truth and love. Amen.
LEV #181: Amazing Grace
[Verses 1-4]
1 Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
2 ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
3 The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
4 Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
Words: John Newton, Public Domain.
Music: New Britain, Public Domain; harm. John Barnard © 1982 Hope Publishing Company.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #90111. All rights reserved.
The Nicene Creed
[BCP, p. 358]
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
[Adapted from the Rev. Rick Morley, http://www.rickmorley.com/archives/1431]
Celebrant: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your loving kindness; in your great compassion, hear our prayers.
Intercessor: We pray for the whole church, all leaders and ministers, and all the holy people of God. Wash us through and through, And cleanse us from our sin.
We pray for our nation, for all the nations of the earth, and for all who govern and judge, especially for Joseph our President, Brian our governor, Van our mayor, Chester the chair of our County Commission, and Ann the Superintendent of our Public Schools. Purge us from our sin, And we shall be pure.
We pray for those who hunger, those who thirst, those who cry out for justice, those who live under the threat of terror, and those without a place to lay their head. Make them hear of joy and gladness, that those who are broken may rejoice.
We pray for those who are ill, those in pain, those under stress, and those who are lonely. Give them the joy of your saving help, and sustain them with your bountiful Spirit.
In this season of Lent we pray for those who prepare for baptism, and we pray that we all might be given the grace and strength to repent and grow closer to you, O God. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us.
We pray for those who have died and who have entered into the land of eternal Light and your abiding peace, especially (_____, and) those whom we remember now... Cast them not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from them.
We pray for our Day Care staff, students, and their families, and for the people of our Parish Prayer List: Martha Avery, Zavier Bradley, Myrtle Brow-Hollis, Jacquelyn Bryant, Christine Brown, Genella Chamberlain, Taylor Blue Clemons, Annie Colbert, Ana Columna, Lazola Cope, Alice Dailey, Beryl Dandy, Mark Dashiell, Brittany Dawson, Eduardo Espinosa, Imani Ferguson, Ruby Fernandez, Harry Frazier, Charles Gordon, Amanda Green, Jocelyn Bryant Harden, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Enoch Henderson, Charles E. Hines, Kenneth Howard, Terri Howard, Dale Hundley, Jared Hundley, Tracy Hundley, Milinda James, Alvin Jenkins, Dana Jenkins, David Jones, Frances T. Jones, Lori Jones, Robert L. Jones, Sr., Whitney Kennedy, Leonard Law, Jr., Ralph Lovett, Ryan Lovett, Tammie Lovett, Marcus Marzen, Joan Maty, Craig Maxwell, Sada Maxwell, Altheria Maynard, Carmelita Maynard, Bette Milledge, Hollie Moultrie, Patricia Murry, Russell Nails, Dorothy Neal, Jameel Newton, Glenzy Payne, Robert Payne, Willie Mae Robinson, Paul Rockwell, Dison Washington Slaughter, James Small, Gwendolyn Smith, Courtney Watts Vista, Ed Vista, Willie Stephens, Lori Ward, Gertrude Washington, and Noel Wheeler.
We give thanks for Prentiss McMullen (3/15), Jameel Newton (3/15), and Sandra Mitchell (3/17) on their birthdays.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Concluding prayer led by the Celebrant:
Gracious God, because of your great love for the world you gave us your son; grant us the strength and wisdom to believe in him that we would not perish but have eternal life. Amen.
The Peace
[BCP, p. 360]
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
The Offertory
[BCP, p. 377]
Giving to St. Matthew's: We know that many people are feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The church is feeling it too. We still need your support to pay our staff, pay our bills, and provide for these online live streams. There are several ways to give, but the simplest are these:
Mail us a check or money order at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 1401 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd, Savannah, GA 31415; OR
Make a secure online gift to St. Matthew’s and/or automate future gifts at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now; OR
Text “stmattsav” to 73256 to make a secure online donation through your phone.
NOTE: Donations made online (#2 or #3) through Realm incur a processing fee of about 2.5%. Please consider adding an additional 2.5% to your online gift to cover these costs.
“If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”
[Matthew 5:23-24; see BCP, p. 376]
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
LEV #29: Near the Cross
[Verses 1-3]
1 Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There’s a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
REFRAIN:
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
2 Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Sheds its beams around me.
3 Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadows o’er me.
Words: Fanny J. Crosby, Public Domain.
Music: William H. Doane, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #98013. All rights reserved.
The Lord’s Prayer
[BCP, p. 364]
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Solemn Prayer Over the People
[The Book of Occasional Services 2018, p. 11]
Let us bow down before the Lord.
Look down in mercy, Lord, on your people who kneel before you; and grant that those whom you have nourished by your Word and Sacraments may bring forth fruit worthy of repentance; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Parish Announcements
[See below]
The Dismissal
[BCP, p. 366]
Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
Parish Announcements - 3/14/21
A. In-Person Worship Survey: As new coronavirus cases fall and more people receive vaccinations, the Vestry of St. Matthew's and our COVID-19 Task Force are planning for an eventual return to in-person worship gatherings. As part of our discernment, we need your help. Please complete the online COVID-19 In-Person Worship Survey: https://forms.gle/tkuem9mf5oZnJNzi9.
The more responses we get, the sooner we can make a decision about when and how in-person worship services at St. Matthew's will be available to the public. If you would like a paper copy of the survey, please contact Fr. Arboleda or a Vestry member ASAP. Please submit all responses by Sunday, March 14, 2021.
Please note that we will continue to offer online worship options during and after the pandemic. Even if you do not feel comfortable returning to an in-person gathering, there will still be worship videos every Sunday on Facebook Live.
B. 2020 Giving Statements Now Available: This week, St. Matthew's mailed out Giving Statements to all individuals and families who contributed financially to St. Matthew's mission and ministry in the year 2020. If these do not arrive by next week, feel free to contact the Office to pick up a hard copy or receive your statement electronically. If you notice a discrepancy on your statement when compared with your own records, please also let the Church Secretary know at Office@StMattSav.org or (912) 234-4440.
C. Bookkeeper Resigns: Our Bookkeeper, Frankie Smith, has resigned from his post in an effort to focus on his graduate studies at Savannah State University. We are sad to see him go and wish him the best as he pursues an education.
We are again fielding candidates for this open position. If you know of a qualified candidate, please share the following job description and invite them to apply by sending a cover letter and résumé to FrGAA@StMattSav.org.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nV28OhFpK49O_ZHWB4pJZD1qmW6CFM_8/view
D. Wednesday Study in Lent: This Lent, St. Matthew's will hold a weekly discussion about the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia's Thriving in the Vine: Daily Reflections for Lent. We encourage parishioners to read the daily devotions prepared by priests and laypeople from around our Diocese (including folks from St. Matthew's). Download the Lenten Devotional Book here: https://gaepiscopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Lent-2021-Book.pdf. You may also purchase a printed version of the devotional book for $3.60 per copy, plus shipping at: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/liz-williams/thriving-in-the-vine/paperback/product-gprw5q.html?page=1&pageSize=4.
On Wednesdays from February 24 - March 31 at 5:30 PM, right after Evening Prayer ends, we will hold a discussion group focusing on the spiritual practice of the week (highlighted each Saturday and Sunday), and provide time for a conversation about the other weekday devotions. The Devotional Study will meet over Zoom using the same call information as Wednesday Evening Prayer. All you need to do is log into the call at 5:30 to join the study. If you log into the call at 5:00, you can pray with us and be featured on the Zoom Facebook Live-stream. Note that the discussion group will not be live-streamed to Facebook.
For security purposes, below is the Meeting ID only; please check your St. Matthew's e-Newsletter for the password (or email FrGAA@StMattSav.org to request it).
Topic: Zoom Evening Prayer
Time: 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) every Wednesday
Join Zoom Meeting: See e-Newsletter
Meeting ID: 991 8577 8541
Passcode: See e-Newsletter
Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
Meeting ID: 991 8577 8541
Passcode: See e-Newsletter
E. Virtual Coffee Hour 3/14: Join us for virtual coffee hour over Zoom this Sunday at 10:30 AM.
For security purposes, below is the Meeting ID only; please check your St. Matthew's e-Newsletter for the password (or email FrGAA@StMattSav.org to request it).
Topic: St. Matthew's Coffee Hour
Time: Mar 14, 2021 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: See e-Newsletter
Meeting ID: 825 7251 1175
Passcode: See e-Newsletter
Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 825 7251 1175
Passcode: See e-Newsletter
F. Raleigh Bryant Burial Plans TBD: St. Matthew's mourns the death of Mr. Raleigh A. Bryant, Jr., who passed away on December 18, 2020, at the age of 96. Mr. Bryant will be cremated and buried at a future date to be determined. A graveside burial service will be announced once plans are finalized. For Mr. Bryant's full obituary and online guestbook, please visit the following link to Adams Funeral Services' website: https://www.adamsfuneralservicesinc.com/obituary/MrRaleigh-BryantJr
G. Donations for New Security System, Internet, & Camera: In the last month, the Vestry and Rector have planned several improvements to our facility using the Building Renovation Fund. The Vestry approved a wholesale replacement and upgrade of the burglary alarm system across our entire building and we have asked several members to contribute to the upfront installation costs. The Vestry also approved a complete upgrade to our internet and wifi equipment, such that there is universal hi-speed internet coverage throughout the building (Office, Parish Hall, Day Care, and Sanctuary). Finally, we are purchasing a new HD video camera for use during live-stream worship on Sundays and holidays (see above).
Now that the internet installation is complete, the total cost of all these upgrades has increased to approximately $6500.00. We thank all those that have already contributed designated gifts toward these projects. If you have not already contributed, please consider making an additional donation to the Building Renovation Fund for one or all of these building upgrades.
The Altar Guild invites parishioners to offer memorial gifts in honor of departed loved ones toward these projects in lieu of flowers. Raffle tickets for the quilt also go toward the Building Renovation Fund and can support this cause.
H. T/W/Th Evening Prayer via Zoom: On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Fr. Arboleda invites you to pray Evening Prayer with him over Zoom. The video will continue to stream to Facebook Live at 5:00 PM. Please join the Zoom call by 4:50 PM. Otherwise, watch the prayer service as you have been on Facebook Live.
During Lent, we will use the Evening Prayer liturgy from Enriching Our Worship 1, an Episcopal worship resource that includes new prayers from more parts of the Bible, an emphasis on non-gendered language for God, and featuring more feminine perspectives both ancient and modern.
For security purposes, below is the Meeting ID only; please check your St. Matthew's e-Newsletter for the password (or email FrGAA@StMattSav.org to request it).
Topic: Zoom Evening Prayer
Time: 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Join Zoom Meeting: See e-Newsletter
Meeting ID: 991 8577 8541
Passcode: See e-Newsletter
Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
Meeting ID: 991 8577 8541
Passcode: See e-Newsletter
I. “Trip Around the World” Quilt Raffle: The Quilter's Guild, through St. Matthew's ECW, is raffling a "Trip Around the World" Quilt to benefit St. Matthew's Building Renovation Fund. This fund supports major extra-budgetary building improvement projects, such as painting, replacing the sound system, replacing the oven in Toomer-Walker Hall, etc.
This beautiful, jewel-toned quilt measures 103"x90" and will fit a queen-sized bed. This machine-stitched quilt in tones of deep violet amethyst, blue sapphire, green emerald, blue topaz, and green peridot will enhance any bedroom.
The winner will be announced on September 30, 2021. Winners do not need to be present to win. In addition to the grand prize of the "Trip Around the World '' quilt, there will be interim raffles of seasonal quilt-type projects for no additional ticket purchase. Interim winners will still be eligible for the grand prize.
The second interim drawing was on February 28, 2021. Sandra Mitchell and Iris Jenkins won aprons designed by our Quilters' Guild. The next interim drawing will be around Easter.
Tickets are $15 each. Please make donations in $15 increments. Tickets may be purchased by:
Mailing a check to St. Matthew's with "Quilt Raffle" in the memo line; OR
Expect your raffle tickets to be returned to you by mail or email within 5-7 business days of receipt. Direct any questions to office@stmattsav.org.
The Parish Prayer List
Prayer List: Martha Avery, Zavier Bradley, Myrtle Brow-Hollis, Jacquelyn Bryant, Christine Brown, Genella Chamberlain, Taylor Blue Clemons, Annie Colbert, Lazola Cope, Alice Dailey, Beryl Dandy, Mark Dashiell, Brittany Dawson, Eduardo Espinosa, Imani Ferguson, Ruby Fernandez, Harry Frazier, Charles Gordon, Amanda Green, Jocelyn Bryant Harden, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Enoch Henderson, Charles E. Hines, Kenneth Howard, Terri Howard, Dale Hundley, Jared Hundley, Tracy Hundley, Milinda James, Alvin Jenkins, Dana Jenkins, David Jones, Frances T. Jones, Lori Jones, Robert L. Jones, Sr., Whitney Kennedy, Leonard Law, Jr., Ralph Lovett, Ryan Lovett, Tammie Lovett, Marcus Marzen, Joan Maty, Craig Maxwell, Sada Maxwell, Altheria Maynard Carmelita Maynard, Bette Milledge, Hollie Moultrie, Patricia Murry, Russell Nails, Dorothy Neal, Jameel Newton, Glenzy Payne, Robert Payne, Willie Mae Robinson, Paul Rockwell, Dison Washington Slaughter, James Small, Gwendolyn Smith, Courtney Watts Vista, Ed Vista, Willie Stephens, Lori Ward, Gertrude Washington, and Noel Wheeler
Birthdays: Prentiss McMullen (3/15), Jameel Newton (3/15), and Sandra Mitchell (3/17)
Wedding Anniversaries: N/A
Recent Deaths: Raleigh Bryant (12/18)
May the souls of all the departed rest in peace; and may light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.
Note: This service is reproduced from The Book of Common Prayer 1979 (BCP), The Hymnal 1982 (Hymn), Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African American Hymnal (LEV), and other sources cited. The Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.