Study and Fellowship Groups
Adult Education - Our Sunday morning class is held at 9:00 am in the Eaton Room. Dr. Philip Johnson of Multnomah Biblical Seminary is now teaching a course on the life of King David.
Bazaar Workshop - Join us for quilting, sewing, painting, knitting,
embroidering and great fellowship. If you have a special project,
we have lots of fabrics, yarn, crochet thread, wood, etc.
to help you complete it. We welcome new ideas and
new people! Please bring a sack lunch if you come on Tuesdays. The
third Tuesday of each month is a potluck lunch.
Children's Ministries - We long for the children in our church to grow up
to know and love the Lord Jesus and to be his faithful followers
throughout their lives. Toward the beginning of our 10:00 am service,
children are invited to come to the front of the church for "A True
Story from the Bible." After this, they go downstairs with their
teachers for Sunday School and Nursery.
We also are pleased to offer
Bible fun days, which take place on occasional Saturday mornings.
Recent Bible fun day themes have included the Cross, the Parable of the Two Builders, and a morning learning about
missionaries - and, in particular, the missionary family we support in
Madagascar.
Men's Breakfast / Study Group - All men
are welcome to meet on the first Saturday of each month for breakfast, followed by a Bible
study conducted by Mike Gurney, Professor of Theology at Multnomah Bible College. (In the summer we meet for breakfast only.)
Moms' Breakfast / Prayer Group - All moms are welcome to join us on the fourth Saturday of each month at Elmer's restaurant (1001 NE Sandy Blvd.) to
enjoy fellowship and to pray for our children together. (Moms
only please, no kids!) We pray specifically for our children, for the
children in our parish, and for ourselves as parents. Moms of all ages are welcome. Children grow up, but
motherhood is for a lifetime!
Prayer Chain - The Prayer Chain welcomes new members to join in prayer daily for the concerns of our church family and friends. See the Contacts page if you would like to take on
the discipline of daily prayer. It is a great joy to be able to
pray for one another.
Prayer Group - Church members are welcome to come
and pray for our parish, our community and the world.
Women's Bible Study
- All women are welcome to join us each week for a time of study, fellowship and prayer. We have recently studied the books of Ruth, Esther, Psalms,
Jonah, Philippians, Colossians, Revelation - and also examined over several weeks what it means to be a woman of God.
Youth Ministries - It is very important to us that we equip our young people to live for Christ as they grow up. In addition to meeting on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am, we also enjoy a variety of social activities. These include everything ffrom games evenings to sledding on Mount Hood. A number of our young people enjoy a wonderful week together at camp every summer.
Service Groups
Acolytes - Acolytes assist the
priest so he may celebrate the Holy Eucharist
and other rites of the Church with simple dignity. These tasks may
include lighting and extinguishing candles, carrying the cross or
torches during the procession and recession, as well as assisting with
during the offertory.
Altar Guild - The Altar Guild prepares the church for the administration of the sacraments. These tasks
include the care for and preparation of vestments, linens, vessels,
furniture and other items used in our worship services.
Brotherhood of St. Joseph - The Brotherhood of St. Joseph is a fellowship of men who are caretakers for our building and grounds.
Choir and Musical Programs - We are blessed with an excellent organist and choir. They provide music during our services and at special events throughout the year. New singers are always welcome!
Episcopal Church Women - The
National Board of Episcopal Church Women exists to support women in
their mission and ministry in the world.
Greeters -
Greeters help make everyone who comes to worship at St. Matthew's feel
welcome. They distribute service
bulletins and make sure everyone is seated comfortably.
Layreaders - Layreaders read scripture lessons, lead the Prayers of the People and
assist in administering the chalice during the Eucharist.
Nursery - Infants to pre-school children are lovingly and safely cared for during the 10:00 am service.
Ushers - Ushers invite the congregation, by rows, to go forward and receive the bread and wine of the Eucharist.
Vestry Commissions
Commissions are chaired by members of the Vestry and include other lay
volunteers in the parish who have an interest in the commission's area of
concentration. All commissions report to the Vestry.
What is a Vestry?
The name
"vestry" comes from the room in the church building in which the vestments
(clothing worn by people who conduct the worship service) were
kept. Centuries ago in England, the room was used for meetings at
which all members of the parish could discuss church affairs with their
rector and wardens. Such meetings were called "vestry
meetings." As time went on, the system developed of having the
members of the parish represented, in such meetings, by a smaller group
called the "select vestry." Those who made up this group were called
the "select vestrymen." Still later, the word "select" was dropped,
and the name vestrymen came to refer to that small group of laypersons
who, as representatives of all the members of the parish, met periodically
with the rector and wardens to discuss affairs of the parish.
Strictly speaking, the term "vestry" refers to the total group including
the rector, wardens and the other vestry members taken together.
Who is eligible to be on the
Vestry?
Parish by-laws for St. Matthew's specify that the
vestry can include up to twelve members. Each member is to serve for
a term of no more than three years. Ideally the vestry is made up of
three groups of four each serving in their first, second, and third year
respectively at any one time. Vestry members in their third year
rotate off at the annual meeting in January of the following year. New candidates are nominated by the vestry and voted in by the parish at
the annual meeting.
Education
The
Education Commission is responsible for all forms of small group
education and Bible study, from pre-school to adult.
Evangelism
The
Evangelism Commission is concerned with enthusing our congregation with
the task of making the Gospel known to others and providing
opportunities for the good news to be heard.
Management
The
Management Commission takes an overview of the running of the church and
the maintenance of our buildings and grounds.
Missions
The Missions
Commission's task is to enthuse and educate the congregation about the
purpose and reality of taking the gospel to the end of the earth, and to
encourage the church to support missionary work through prayer and
finance.
Nurture
The Nurture
Commission oversees fellowship activities that bring together and
encourage the church family in our love for one another.
Outreach
The Outreach
Commission oversees the practical ways in which our congregation
demonstrates Christ's love in our community, nation and
world.
Stewardship
The Stewardship Commission
is responsible for encouraging the congregation to give proportionally
and sacrificially to the ministry of the church.
Worship
The Worship
Commission is concerned with what takes place during our Sunday morning
services and works to make these services meaningful and valuable
experiences.
