Spring Small Groups are almost ready to launch! Visit www.stmatthewsvf.org/small-groups for what’s being offered this spring.
On April 21, 2024 following the 11am worship service, we will be hosting a Lunch & Learn: Safe Sanctuary at St. Matthew’s. This will be a time to learn about the Safe Sanctuary program, share best practices, and learn more about how you can be involved in helping to provide a safe environment for all who gather within our banner of ministry at St. Matthew’s.
The Arch Street United Methodist Church recently suffered a fire. In addition to the smoke damage throughout the building, the main electric service was burned out, four inches of water flooded the basement and significant cleaning of the upholstered pews, organ, and high ceilings is required.
As they continue to understand the scope of work ahead and to provide services to the unhoused/unsheltered neighbors, ASUMC will be holding a fundraiser on April 17th at the Masonic Temple, Library and Museum. In addition to attending the fundraiser, they are also looking for sponsors to support their efforts.
If you know a graduate that you would like to recognize on Sunday June 2nd (time TBD), please forward the following information to Vica at dcm@stmatthewsvf.org. Submissions are due May 28th
High School Graduates
Name
School graduating from
Upcoming plans
Current picture
College Graduates
Name
School graduating from
Degree graduating with
Upcoming plans
Current picture
April 14, 2024, the 3rd Sunday of Easter, is Native American Ministries Sunday. 100% of all offerings collected at St. Matthew's on this day, whether cash or check made out to St. Matthew's UMC, will be given to support this United Methodist outreach ministry.
Funds will be used directly for urban ministries with Native Americans, UM seminary scholarships for Native American students and annual conference Native American ministries.
Your donation changes the world one life at a time!
Wado (thank you in Cherokee)
Grades 6th through 12th are welcome. Bring your friends!
The next class will be Tuesday, March 12th, from 7 - 8:30 PM. Please arrive by 6:30. We are still welcoming additional individuals who may want to take this next class.
Cost: $65 in cash or in a money order will ONLY be accepted.
If interested, please email Anita Robinson at anita.robinson1234@gmail.com.
If you’d like to attend, please contact Janice Conner at jconner12@comcast.net or Jennifer Vastardis at jennifer.w.vastardis@gmail.com.
Celebrate all the feels of the season with St. Matthew’s at the 1st Annual Christmas Festival. Free to all who would like to attend, come and enjoy a Christmas movie, spend time in the beautifully decorated sanctuary or participate in any or all of the following activities.
Cookies With The Claus’s: Share a cookie and have your picture taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Crafts for all ages and abilities
Carol Singing
Christmas Cafe offering a variety of light food & beverages
Happenings In Bethlehem: An interactive news briefing where visitors can get a first hand account from those present at the first Christmas.
Holiday Helping Hands: Participate in the true meaning of Christmas and help give holiday cheer to the lives of children in Philadelphia by wrapping toys collected for Midtown Parish.
Donations of new and unwrapped toys are welcome!
During the 1st Sunday of Advent worship service the St. Matthew’s community comes together to decorate the sanctuary for the Christmas season with the Hanging of the Greens.
Adding to this special service will be the beautiful sounds of the church’s Handbells, Choir & Children’s Choir and a special video performance by the Notables.
Each year Midtown Parish United Methodist Church collects toys to be distributed to children in Philadelphia. As in previous years St. Matthew's conducts a toy drive in support of Midtown's wonderful service.
We invite you to donate unwrapped toys for boys and girls ages 1-12 as well as $5 Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's, Target and Walmart gift cards. Donations of wrapping supplies (especially tape) are also appreciated.
The collection will be held through the morning of December 17th. Your generous donations can be dropped off at St. Matthew’s at 600 Walker Rd.
All are invited to be part of the St. Matthew’s team as we help cut back invasive weeds and clear trails. Contact John Schmidhauser at jcschmidhauser@gmail.com for more information and to volunteer.
Please consider donating a complete dinner, or any of the items needed. Items can be left in the wire bin next to the elevator and frozen turkeys can be put in the freezer in the kitchen next to the Fellowship Hall.
Complete Dinner
12+ lb. frozen turkey
2 cans green beans
2 cans sweet potatoes
1 can cranberry sauce
2 cans fruit
1 box/bag stuffing mix
Potatoes (box of instant or 2 cans)
2 jars or packets of gravy
1 box of biscuit or bread mix
1 dessert
Color Wars is a fun outdoor event where participants play games using colored powder–to the end of simply making a mess together. This event is the perfect opportunity for teens to invite their friends. It will take place in the church’s backyard.
The fun begins at 4:00 pm and will end by 5:30 pm. Wear clothes that can get messy. White t-shirts & safety goggles will be provided.
This event is for all youth in 5th Grade-12th Grade.
All students are invited to start the new school year by having their backpacks blessed at the 9:30 AM worship service.
Wind-driven wildfires on Maui have prompted evacuations and caused significant loss of life and widespread damage. UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief) is coordinating with the California-Pacific Annual Conference to process an initial grant for emergency supplies such as shelf-stable food, water, hygiene items and tools to help survivors recover belongings. As first responders continue to provide initial aid in the area, please join UMCOR in prayer for those affected. Gifts can be made in the following ways:
Through St. Matthew's
Via the St. Matthew's Online Giving Portal. (Available 8/29)
Place a check in the offering plate or drop it off in the church office. Checks should be made out to Global Ministries/UMCOR with Advance #901670-Hawaii written on the memo line.
Directly through UMCOR
Call toll-free to make a donation: 1-888-252-6174
Online at UMC Mission
Mail a check to Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY, 10087-9068.
When you give through UMCOR, 100% of your donation goes to those impacted by the disaster to which you are directing your gift. Our church apportionments cover any administrative costs for UMCOR. No other charity or disaster response agency can claim this.
In conjunction with the Blessing of the Backpacks on 8/27 at the 9:30 AM worship service, children who attend worship that day will put together homework kits for the students of St. James Middle School. Donations can be dropped off at St. Matthew's.
You can also donate via the AMAZON WISHLIST
Registration is now open for VBS 2023 – Cokesbury’s Hero Hotline: Called Together to Serve God
Due to air quality concerns and dry conditions, the Summer Kickoff Bonfire has been postponed to Saturday June 17th. The bonfire will not be as big and no papers will be burned, but we'll still celebrate with s’mores around a campfire.
Show your Philly spirit and donate to the St. Matthew’s Spring/Summer Clothing Drive. Gently used men’s and women’s spring/summer clothes can be left in the wire bins in the church foyer by the elevators. Thank you for your generosity!
This celebration will focus on the diversity of God’s people. We will affirm the sacred worth of persons, not determined by their sexual orientation or gender identity, but by their identity in Christ. The service will be marked with rainbows, as they represent the covenant of love God initiates with Noah after the flood.
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. (Genesis 9: 12-13).
Give yourselves a well deserved break!!
Whether you need a date night…or a quiet evening on the couch…bring your children to Parents Night Out at St. Matthew’s for Fun and Spending Time with Friends.
Scavenger Hunt
Movie - Minions - The Rise of Gru
Snacks
Outreach activity - we will make sock and snack packs to be given out at local charities
Please send questions and RSVP by Wed. 4/26 to arnottx5@verizon.net
Friends are welcome. Max capacity is 25 children.
Adult and teen volunteers are needed. Please reach out to Jennifer Arnott at arnottx5@verizon.net
Donations can be made in cash or by check (made out to
St. Matthew’s UMC), or online through the FaithLife portal (please select Special Offering - Native American Ministries in the drop down menu).
