January 2023 Newsletter
I pray everyone had a Merry Christmas. We had wonderful Lessons & Carols Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Thank you everyone who donated for the purchase of the beautiful Poinsettias. Folks were able to make their own Advent wreaths for our December POSM event. We held our Consecration Sunday on December 4th. We still are waiting on a few pledge cards. If you need a pledge card, (or just send Meg the information) please let us know so we can work on next year’s budget.
We lost one of our saints, Roy Walters in December. He was a very big part of St. Matthias and will be greatly missed. Can you believe there were 147 folks inside our sanctuary for his Celebration of Life service? He had such a tremendous impact on so many lives. 879 folks who couldn’t make the service watched it online.
We delivered a truck load of clothing to World Missions, made 3 deliveries of donations to 3rd Street Closet, and one delivery of food to the Food Pantry.
Father Dexter will be available on Epiphany, January 6th, to bless your homes if you live in the local area and provide blessed chalk to others who live outside our immediate area. “Chalking the door,” as it is known, is seen as invoking Christ’s blessing not only on the physical house but on the people who live there and those who visit. There is a long tradition of blessing homes, especially on the Epiphany, which falls on Jan. 6 each year. Traditionally, the chalking is done above the lintel and takes this form: 20+C+M+B+23 - The letters are the abbreviation for the Latin phrase "Christus mansionem benedicat" - "Christ bless this house. The + signs represent the cross, and 20-23 is the year. Please contact Fr. Dexter by January 4th if you would either like your home blessed or receive blessed chalk.
St. Matthias, leading the way in our community, the Diocese, and in the Episcopal Church.