Where Faith Builds a
Supportive Community For All
St. Matt's Worship & Events Schedule
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April 3, 2020
Hi friends. How are you doing? These are difficult and changing times
and I hope that you are able to find some comfort amidst it all. We continue to find ways to
ensure physical distance, while maintaining connection. I'm encouraged by this
community and your commitment to distancing, as a form of solidarity and care.
We are navigating our way through the Lenten wilderness by caring for each other,
reaching out and holding hope. And I want you to know
that your St. Matt's community is here for you in the midst of it all.
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This weekend we'll celebrate Palm Sunday, and the entry into Holy Week.
It will be a little different, without the waving of palms and the jubilant palm parade.
But, we have a few options to help us mark this holy day in a new way.
The first is that you can still get your palms and wave them in your home
while we worship online. Our palms arrived and are on John and Marcelle's front porch.
If you live near the church and are out taking a safe walk or drive over the next few days,
grab a few palms from 253 Rushton Rd.
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Alternatively, grab a leaf or branch from a tree in your yard - or somewhere you can
collect safely. And bring it with you to worship! Or, if you're feeling crafty, you can
make your own palm branch by following these simple steps:
Supplies -
-Green paper (or white paper painted or coloured green; tissue paper or newspaper)
-Wooden spoon (or chopstick, popsicle stick or stick from the garden/yard)
-Scotch tape; pen, pencil or crayon; scissors
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1. Find or create green paper (if you paint it, wait until it dries for step 2!)
2. Trace your hand onto the green paper
3. Cut out the hand shapes
4. Tape the hand shapes to the wooden spoon/stick
In addition to your palm branch, don't forget to also have a candle ready to light
at the beginning of our time together. We’ll worship at 10:30am on Sunday,
through the following link: https://www.facebook.com/StMattsUC/
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After worship, we'll have another zoom coffee hour! It was such fun last week to get to see one another, hear each others' voices, and sing some familiar hymns (thanks to Paul for leading this!). So we're going to do this again. Immediately after worship, I'll post the zoom link in the chat box, and we can all migrate over there. We'll take some time to chat and check-in,
and then Paul will be there to lead some singing afterwards.
Betsy (our amazing Pastoral Care minister) and I continue to connect with folks by phone -
including those who aren't online. If you'd like to schedule a phone chat, please don't
hesitate to let us know! We are also working on hosting a weekly conference call
social time, as well as a weekly phone worship for those who aren't able to connect online.
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Friends, I hope that you know that you aren't alone.
God is with us through this wilderness time.
As a St. Matt's community, we journey together, accompanied by Love.
~Rev. Lauren
United Neighbours Syrian Refugee Support
The second Syrian family sponsored by United Neighbours has arrived safely in Canada. Taghrid and Isam Alaalyan have six children and the coming weeks will be busy getting the children in school and the parents in English lessons. We give thanks for the opportunity to work with this wonderful family. We have an apartment and have furnished it with generous donations from our supporters.
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The first Alaalyan family arrived in Canada in December 2016. They are overjoyed to
now have cousins here, safe from the chaos in Lebanon and Syria.
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If you would like to help, we are still raising funds to support this family in their first year in Canada. Our goal is $60,000. You can give through CanadaHelps.org. Search for "United Neighbours." Or drop a cheque to St. Matthew's United Church with "United Neighbours" in the information line.
Get the word out! Please send this along to anyone you know
who might be able to help. Thank you very much for your help in this process –
the continued generosity of our community is inspiring. We look forward to working
with you as we accomplish this task and move towards a successful settlement.
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Learn more about the history of St Matts, our Ministry Team, Youth Group and Good Food Box Program.
Through our worship, we share in story, in celebrations and moments of awe, in concerns, prayers, and song.
St Matts is home to United Neighbours, Wychwood Open Door and Out of the Cold programs.
