St. Matthew's Church
300 South Main Street, Pennington, NJ
609-737-0985 (Office)
Web: www.stmatthewspennington.org
609-737-9019 (Fax)
Email: saintmat@verizon.net
CALENDAR OF EVENTS - SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2016
Sunday, January, 17
Monday, January 18
Tuesday, January 19
Wednesday, January 20
Thursday, January 21
Saturday, January 23
8:00am, Holy Eucharist
10:00am, Holy Eucharist
11:30am, Rectors Class
4:00pm, Meal Gathering at Pennington Presbyterian Church (MLK)
5:00pm, Martin Luther King Service at Pennington Presbyterian Church
7:30pm, Vestry Meeting (lib)
7:00pm, Pastoral Care Team Meeting (lib.)
7:00pm, Hand Bell Choir
8:00pm, St. Matthew’s Choir
7:00pm, St. Matthew’s Book Club (lib)
10:00am, St. Matthew’s Preschool Open House (Until 12 noon)
NOTICE: Sunday, January 24, 2016
Following the 10am service
THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Please submit your committee reports by January 4, 2016 to the parish office or email to pattiecurtiss@verizon.net
ANY QUESTIONS? If you or your child would like to receive communion or to be baptized or confirmed, you may like to
speak with Mrs. Lori Cooper or The Rev. Barbara Briggs. We welcome your questions, whatever they are!
On that note, a special class called the Rector’s class will be held for all church school students grades three and up on TODAY
at 11:30am in church. If you have ever wondered about God, sacraments or the Church, come ask. We’ll talk about it during
this class.
Maya and Michael Hill will be speakers! COMMUNITY GATHERING COMMEMERATING THE LIFE AND
LEGACY OF THE REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING – TODAY at 5pm. The Pennington Presbyterian Church will be
hosting this event beginning the evening with a community potluck at 5pm in Heritage Hall with a special worship service at
6pm and desert following. Those have last names starting A-L will bring a main dish and M-Z a side or salad. Drinks will be
provided.
ARE YOU CALLED TO SERVE YOUR CHURCH? If you feel called to serve the St. Matthew's Community in a
leadership role in 2016, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee (Kate Westbrook, Jim McGuire, Joe Lawver,
Paul Bell, Jim Benton or Ashley Calhoun). Thank you. "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 24:40)
ST. MATTHEW’S BOOK CLUB: Thursday, January 21 at 7:00 pm in the library Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith by
Anne Lamott. In a narrative spiced with stories and scripture, with diatribes, laughter, and tears, Lamott tells how, against all
odds, she came to believe in God and then, even more miraculously, in herself.
Epiphany Tea at the Rectory
Please join us for an Open House
Last names beginning with the letters M-Z
Saturday, January 23 from 4-6pm
Barbara, Paul and Caleb are
looking forward to welcoming you!
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR…PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION
FOR THE 2016–2017 SCHOOL YEAR
Open House on Saturday, January 23rd 10 AM 12:00 PM
The Renewal of Ministry with the Welcoming and Installation of The Rev. Barbara Briggs as Rector
The Rt. Rev. William H. Stokes, Presiding
The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Preaching
A Festive Reception in Belmont Hall to follow
Saturday, January 30, 11:00am
PLEASE JOIN US FOR A TOWN HALL MEETING - FEBRUARY 7: A time to reflect on our common life as a parish,
share concerns, expectations; disappointments and thanksgivings; hurts, joys, and hopes. The Rev. Bud Holland, our former
Transitions Consultant, will be our facilitator and our guest preacher that day.
ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY: Small Groups will begin in February with three group choices: 1) Dwelling in the
Word – listening to God’s Word in a text and how it helps us discern God’s presence in our own context; 2) Centering Prayer, a
meditative practice in the Christian tradition. 3) Book Study “I am that Child” by Elizabeth Geitz. More details to come about
who, when and where!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW to join us at St. Matthew’s for our Annual Mardi Gras Pancake Supper on Tuesday,
February 9th from 5 to 7:30pm
SAVE THE DATE: St. Matthew's next fellowship event promises to be fun for the entire family. Plan to come out for the
innaugual Cornhole Tournament and Chili Cook-Off on February 27th at 6 pm. Our Corn Hole Commissioners, John Eckel
and Denny Rodgers, will instruct you in the finer points of Cornhole and have you tournament ready in no time. St. Matthew's
best cooks are warming up their crock pots and breaking out their secret spices. In between cornhole rounds, you will decide
which St. Matthew's cook claims the title of Chili Champion. Bragging rights and unbelievable prizes for our winners. Fun and
fellowship for all!
OUR COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE is looking for people interested in volunteering to review our current signage,
exterior and interior, sign lighting, letterhead, etc. and make recommendations about how St. Matthew’s can create a more
visually current and appealing impression to the community. Please speak to Gary Driscoll, chair of the Communications
Committee to express your interest or email him at drisc011g@gmail.com.
DO YOU HAVE AN EXTRA COMPUTER MONITOR? If you have an extra monitor 17 inches or larger that you would
like to donate to St. Matthew’s, please let the office know. We are currently looking to improve ergonomics for our staff who
are using laptop computers daily.
FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE: If you do not attend services regularly, consider mailing your payments to the
church. Address your payment to St. Matthew’s; enclose your pledge envelope in the mailing or note “Pledge Payment” in the
memo section. Many banks offer direct payments for a predetermined amount at intervals you designate. If you have any
questions about making your pledge payments please contact John Eckel (609-737-8591) or Bruce Weise (609-737-1064).
"Have you considered including St. Matthews in your will or estate plans?” Please contact John Krisulewicz, Stewardship
Committee member at kris5969@mindspring.com or Rev. Barbara Briggs at Revbarbarabriggs@verizon.net if have questions
or would like more information.