January 2014
From Father Coke’s Study— In the church calendar, the season that begins after the Twelve Days of Christmas is Epiphany. I have been impressed that in past years, St. Matt’s parish marked January 6th with an Epiphany Pageant. In future years, I hope to plan similar events that will recapture the importance of the message that Christ came to save all people—including non-Hebrew folks like the three Magi!
The Annual meetings for both Calvary and St. Matthews Church will be held in January. St. Matthews Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, January 12, following the morning worship. A potluck dinner will proceed the meeting. Meat, rolls, and beverages will be provided.
It’s important to remember that the Church is not merely organized for the convenience of a few people. Christ’s manifestation is to the entire world—hence, we remember at Epiphany that the Gentile wise men from the East came to the Bethlehem manger. The three magi came to see and to hear and to experience as fully as possible this promised anointed one of God, the Messiah.
Calvary Hyannis’ Annual Meeting will be held following the morning worship on Sunday, January 19th. There will be a potluck lunch prior to the meeting. Please submit any reports as soon as possible so the report may be included in the meeting booklet.
LENTEN DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS This year, we are planning on publishing our own Lenten Devotional Booklet and are requesting that members of both parishes submit one or more devotionals to be used in our Lenten Devotional Booklets. We are asking members to submit personally written devotionals or to submit devotionals that have been meaningful to them. Ash Wednesday is March 5th so the booklets will need to be available prior to that date. The date for submitting your devotionals will be Monday, February 24th. Over the past few years we have had studies which have deepened our faith and now is the opportunity to share with others what we have discovered. Remember the devotionals need to be submitted by February 24th.
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How does this story have anything to with our lives? It is obvious that Christ has come for all the nations—are there not Christian churches throughout the world? It is obvious that just as the three magi were migrants—as Christians we support and respect people who are migrants and other people whose lives are in transition. There’s not much more to say unless we are willing to evaluate our lives in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is so radically inclusive that even the Three Wise Men came to pay homage to Jesus. I believe our churches need to be guided by how Christ has ministered to the entire world— both Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female… ---No longer can we continue to be perceived as primarily an institution— we must be experienced as a community that cares about and helps human beings.
---No longer can we continue to be perceived as an exclusive religious club— we need to work even harder at making people feel welcome and affirmed and help them discover their gifts for ministry. ---We need to understand ourselves as Christ’s Church—as the visible representation of the Word become flesh (Gospel of John, Chapter 1) that makes the difference for people here and now. ---We need to see ourselves as “the ambassadors of Christ” working as Christ worked—healing the pain and the brokenness, embracing people, affirming them and encouraging them to grow spiritually and to cultivate responsible values. Thank God for the excellent previous work of church leaders in organizing and promoting the Mission Store and, now more recently, the Bulldog Backpack Program. This commitment in becoming a more missional church has done much to help our parish grow spiritually. Clearly, God’s spirit is moving in our midst because of this commitment to local mission! But there’s more to do be done! We need to be conservative in remembering the ancient stories and thus always be a biblical church that reads the scriptures, interprets them and seeks to nurture relationships guided by the stories of old. We need also to be liberal with all people in affirming them and helping them. We strengthen the Body of Christ whenever we reach out to others who need a helping hand. We help Christ come now into this broken and troubled world when we serve as Christ’s “ambassadors of reconciling love.”
PARISH ADMINISTRATOR POSITION
Suzi Lore, parish administrator for the past two years, has resigned effective March 31, 2014. Anyone interested in the position should send a letter of interest and a personal resume in care of the vestry to the church before February 10th. The applications will be reviewed at the vestry meeting on February 11th with interviews during the following week. A job description will be available after the January 7th vestry meeting.
SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR ST. MATTHEWS JANUARY 5: 10:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST CELEBRANT: FR. COKE MCCLURE LEADERS: KRISTY DEANS AND PAT ZOBEL MUSICIAN: SUE DIMMITT ACOLYTE: KATHY GRAHAM JANUARY 12: 10:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST CELEBRANT: FR. COKE MCCLURE LEADERS: DOUG DIETRICH AND KATHY GRAHAM MUSICIAN: CYNTHIA HORN ACOLYTE: JAKE MCCAFFREY JANUARY 19: 10:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST CELEBRANT: DEACON CHERYL HARRIS LEADERS: KATHY WORLEY AND BILL RENO MUSICIAN: SUE DIMMITT ACOLYTE: ANNE ADAM JANUARY 26: 10:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST CELEBRATION OF NEW MINISTRY
JOINT SERVICE CALVARY AND ST. MATTHEWS CELEBRANT: BISHOP SCOTT BARKER LEADERS: TBA MUSICIAN: SUE DIMMITT ACOLYTE: PAT ZOBEL
Happy New Year and see you in church! Father Coke McClure
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Calvary 3 – Vicki Boldt 4 – Gary Boldt 12 – Crystal Cover 14 – Chris Cover 15 – Ruth Burgess 16 – Marisa Benson 25 – Joy Boyer 25 – Leslie Roseberry 28 – Peg Fosdick
Juice for January The January food item for the Backpack program is juice. The individually wrapped juice boxes work well.
THANK YOU!THANK YOU! St. Matthews 1 – Todd Harris 4 – Mark Cover 4 – Jack Feddersen 5 – Marisol (Maudi) Reza 6 – Lori Watson 7 – Cindy Mracek 8 – Susan Dyer 8 - Shirley Curtis 10 – Morgan Dietrich Wimmer 10 – David Feddersen 14 – Mike Mittlestadt 15 – Bonnie Dietrich 27 – Doug Dietrich 27 – Suzi Lore 28 – Sherrie Feddersen 29 – Jim Dickenson 29 – Ted & Kaye Hempel
I can’t thank my St. Matthew’s family enough for all the support you give the Bulldog Backpack Program all year long. You touch the lives of many children with your monthly monetary and food donations. Sometimes I know who brings things but most of the time I just find little bags of groceries and know you care. You are awesome!! Cheryl
Christmas Food Baskets The Parish Hall was a lively place during the packing of the Christmas boxes on Dec. 22. “Organized chaos” were the words that come to mind. Everyone was busy wrapping the boxes in Christmas wrapping paper and choosing foods to put in the boxes. Heartfelt thanks to those who donated the hams, potatoes and grocery items and to those who contributed monetarily. We had no shortage of volunteers to deliver the boxes – thanks, also, to those who delivered. From the comments I heard, I believe that we’ll be participating again next year. What a blessing that we who have so much can share with those who aren’t as fortunate. Happy New Year! Cheryl
ST. MATTHEWS ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 FOLLOWING MORNING WORSHIP. ALL ORGANIZATIONS ARE ASKED TO HAVE THEIR ANNUAL REPORTS INTO THE CHURCH OFFICE NO LATER THAN JANUARY 8TH AT NOON TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT BOOKLET.
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CALVARY SERVICE SCHEDULE JANUARY 5: 4:00 PM HOLY EUCHARIST CELEBRANT: FR. COKE MCCLURE LECTOR: MARINA GARNER
A Celebration of New Ministry will be held during our regular morning worship service Sunday, January 26. The Rite Reverend Scott Barker, Bishop of the Diocese of Nebraska, will serve as Celebrant. This is a joint service with Calvary Hyannis. Following the service a parish dinner will be held. Meat, rolls, dessert and beverages will be provided by St. Matthew’s Guild and the Vestry. Parish members are asked to bring a vegetable or salad side dish. All are invited to participate in this special day in the life of St. Matthews and Calvary parishes.
JANUARY 12: 10:00 AM MORNING PRAYER LECTOR: JOY BOYER JANUARY 14: 6:00 PM VESTRY MEETS JANUARY 19: 10:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST ANNUAL MEETING CELEBRANT: FR. COKE MCCLURE LECTOR: LESLIE ROSEBERRY GREET & TREAT: POTLUCK LUNCH FOLLOWED BY THE ANNUAL MEETING
JANUARY 26: 10:00 AM JOINT CELEBRATION OF NEW MINISTRY AT ST. MATTHEWS CELEBRANT: BISHOP SCOTT BARKER LEADERS: TBA
SPIRITUALITY 101 MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE DISCUSSION GROUP EACH
SUNDAY MORNING AT
9:00 AM. THE GROUP HAS CHOSEN THE BOOK “THE POWER OF PAUSE: BECOMING MORE BY
DOING LESS”
REMEMBER AT BOTH
THANK
AND
TERRY HERSHEY.
“Slowing down in a fast-forward world. Terry
TO STOP BY THE NEW LIBRARIES
CALVARY
BY
Hershey, an ordained minister and popular speaker,
ST. MATTHEWS.
understands that slowing down is difficult when life
YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE DONATED
is busy and getting busier. However, he also knows
BOOKS AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED
from personal experience that there is always a price to pay if we don t regularly take time simply
ORGANIZE THE BOOKS!
to pause to cease activity, to treasure quiet time, and to discern the deep meaning of life s little moments.”
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ST. MATTHEW’S VESTRY MINUTES Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Old Business Result of Consecration Sunday Campaign: Kristy will work with Suzi to send out a letter to those parish members who were not able to attend Consecration Sunday. The letter will ask them for their participation in the financial support of St. Matthew’s during the coming year.
Father Coke called the Vestry meeting to order at 6:05 PM. Father Coke shared a prayer from Thoughts in Solitude by Thomas Merton. Monthly Treasurer’s Report: The Vestry reviewed the cash activity report for November and the treasurer’s report for January of 2013 through November of 2013.
Samaritan’s Purse Donations: Father Coke reported that St. Matthew’s parish had filled 32 Christmas shoeboxes for children in need through Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief program.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting: It was moved to approve the November 2013 minutes as read. The motion carried. Finance Committee Report: Mark stated that Kristy Dietrich, treasurer, would direct the Vestry in putting together the budget for 2014. Parish Administrator’s Report: In Suzi Lore’s absence the Vestry reviewed the report she submitted. The Parish Administrator’s report was approved. After much thought, Suzi felt it was time for St. Matthews to hire a new parish administrator. She has submitted her resignation effective April 1, 2014. Suzi would like someone in place by March 1 or sooner so she may train the new person. She will work on the job description for her position.
Pictorial Directory: Father Coke stated the pictorial directory is almost finished. Deb Cover and Tamara McClure and others serving on this ad hoc committee are putting the finishing touches on the activity pages. Annual Meeting: There will be a potluck for the Annual Meeting on January 12. Mark will ask John Adam to cook the meat. The Vestry discussed paying John for the meat, but John prefers it to be a donation. The Vestry would still like to do something special for him. Melba will set up for the potluck. Celebration of New Ministry: Father Coke reported his Celebration of New Ministry would be held on January 26th. Bishop Barker will preside at the Sunday service. A potluck will follow. After discussion, the Vestry decided to provide fried chicken and ham. Melba will order the chicken. Father Coke will have Tamara call Melba about the ham. Melba will set up for the potluck.
It was moved to accept Suzi’s resignation. The motion carried. Buildings and Grounds Committee: A security light in the main parking lot is out. Dean will ask Mike to contact Bob Hill. Rector’s Report: Father Coke shared that Kate Baxley from the Diocesan staff would be leaving. It will be a great loss.
Recruiting Three Cantors for Leading Liturgical Singing: Father Coke stated it is still in process. New Business Budget Building Discussion: Kristy went through the budget development and analysis
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report with the Vestry. Adjustments were made as needed to build the church budget for 2014. At the January meeting the Vestry will finalize the budget. A copy of the church budget will be presented at the Annual Meeting. Father Coke received St. Matthew’s Church Faith Asking for 2014 from the Diocese of Nebraska. It decreased from $17,391.00 in 2013 to $15,703.00 in 2014. It was moved to accept the Church Faith Asking for 2014. The motion carried. Payments will be made quarterly. Election of Vestry Members for 2014: Mark Cover’s term as Senior Warden will end. Mike Dietrich will be nominated for Senior Warden and Dean Huckfeldt as Junior Warden. Adjournment: The Vestry meeting was adjourned at 8:54 PM. The next meeting will be Tuesday, January 14, at 6:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Melba Dickenson Clerk of the Vestry
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