Welcome to the announcements section! This section of the website will be used to keep you informed of what’s happening at St. Matthew. We will be listing concerts and events, as well as, closings and cancellations. So, check back frequently.

Guests, Visitors & Friends
YOU ARE INVITED!

If you are reading this and are not a member of any church or congregation or are looking for a church that is the “right  fit”, please accept this
invitation to join us again at St. Matthew Lutheran Church for Worship and Sunday School.

Sunday School is scheduled for Adults and Children at 10:00 a.m. 
Our Contemporary Worship is held at 9:00 a.m.,
with the Traditional Service at 8:00 a.m.
and the Festival Service at 11:00 a.m.
Child care with "parent pagers" are available for infants to age 4 yrs. during all worship services.

Stop by the Welcome Center in the lobby as you enter from the rear parking lot. 
Someone will be happy to help you.
Hope to see you soon!

Sunday School at St. Mathew...a long tradition.  One little known fact in the history of St. Matthew Lutheran Church is that it started as a Sunday School for the children in the west end of York City.  A few years later, worship services were added and the church we know today was born.  Throughout the uninterrupted 125 year tradition, Sunday School classes for children, youth and adults have been the norm.  Today, in addition to classes for new born children through grade twelve, seven different classes help our adults continue to learn from the ancient Biblical text and learn ways to apply those principals to everyday life.  In addition to class time, classes also take advantage of opportunities to serve our church, the community and missions throughout the world.   
We also have a new Young Adults Class offered for those whom just graduated from high school, are going to college, starting a vocation or still deciding.  You are welcome to come and meet downstairs in Room 12 at 10:00 a.m.  Join this  group for discussion and Bible study.  Teacher, Ben McIntyre, promises a worthwhile result for the simple step of joining in something new.

JULY-AUGUST SUNDAY SCHOOL

Don’t forget that during the summer months our Sunday School classes of all ages will continue as usual.  Watch for special electives.  Even the children and youth will be offered electives to learn about the ministry of Puppets, Drama, Liturgical Dance and Singing

Watch for a date and time in June for the 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School class Steeple Climb.  Parents are invited along with 5th and 6th graders who have not had the adventure! 

AUGUST 8 & 15--Bible Basics with Jon Frey-An overview of the "Story" of the Bible and how the individual "stories" fit together.  Meet downstairs in Room 15.

AUGUST 15--Children’s Sunday School Carnival on the lawn.  Children’s Sunday School classes will play Bible Games for cool prizes and also a Bounce House. 

AUGUST 22--LITURGICAL DANCE WITH SUZANNA ERDLEY-If you are interested in Liturgical Dance, meet in the Auditorium at 10:00 a.m.  This is for those with a real interest in Liturgical Dance and for those who were unable to attend the June elective. Suzanna Erdley will be leading the discussion and planning for upcoming events for the fall and winter. 

AUGUST 29--Singing with Jon Noel-What is singing in the choir all about and is it for me?  Just come to find out and sing for fun.  You will meet in the Music Room downstairs. 

Kid’s Kingdom is our Youth Group for children in grades 3 through 6.  Friends are always welcome!

August 1-Service Project of preparing food for and serving dinner to the homeless in York City through the Compassion York organization.  All Kids Kingdom kids who are planning to help prepare the food, are to meet in the Fellowship Hall by 3:30 p.m.  If you cannot be here for the preparation time, please be here by 4:30 p.m as we plan to leave by 4:45 p.m.  Kevin and Karen Herman will be your advisors for the event and if you have any additional questions about the Compassion York organization, please see Kelly Ott. 

Your Help Is Greatly Appreciated!

Youth Group is for all youth 7th through 12th grade.  Find out for yourself why so many youth attend to join in fun, fellowship and crazy games.  Participate in service projects, shore trips and Bible study.  Be a part of our prayer circle and learn that YOU are important to the group, but, you’ll never know until you "try" and "participate" and we will never get to know you until you do.  Be a part of it!!

On Sunday, August 29 the League will have our Parents meeting and first Youth Group meeting of the new school year. 

Friends are always welcome! 

Recently, one of our ChristCare groups learned of the growing need for            Adult Comfort Kits by the American Red Cross.  The group, www.Christcare.God, decided to fill 40 kits as a mission project.  However, the group needs our assistance in filling the kits and that is where YOU come in.  The following items are needed and they MUST BE TRAVEL OR TRIAL SIZE to fit into the bags provided for the kits.
Items needed are, Razors, Shave gel, Toothbrush with cap, Fluoride toothpaste, Soap bar, Shampoo, Bottle of lotion, Deodorant, Pack of tissues, Washcloth, Comb and Slipper socks.  The ChristCare group will be collecting these items in the Gathering area from August 8 through August 15. 
Comfort kits are distributed to people displaced by disaster. 

Your help is greatly appreciated!

Bring your family to see the Disney-Pixar movie "UP" on Friday, August 20th at 8:00 p.m.  We will be meeting on the lawn, so bring your blankets or lawn chairs.  Popcorn and drinks will be provided. 

This is a Congregation and Community event sponsored by the Evangelism Committee

FOR OUR NEWER MEMBERS

What is "Nawakwa" you ask!! Translated, the word means "Camp in the Woods".  the camp is a Lutheran Church Camp in Arendtsville, Pa. near Gettysburg.  For over 50 years, the St. Matthew Congregation, of which YOU are now a part, has gathered for a retreat at this camp over the Labor Day weekend. 

Beginning Friday evening with get-acquainted activities, announcements, devotions and snack, the retreat runs through Monday morning with closing worship. 
Between Friday and Monday, campers staying in cabins, lodges or campers, have fun, fellowship, meet new friends, attend sessions each day on a "GREAT" Topic, attend worship at beautiful locations and of course EAT!!

You may register for the entire weekend, 1 or 2 days or you can commute and just visit.  

 In August, envelopes will be opened by lottery to assign housing.  Please be sure to fill in your choices in order of preference.  The lottery system has worked very well for two years and we thank everyone for their cooperation.  About 2 weeks before camp, those registered will receive a mailing containing a lot of information needed for preparing to attend the retreat as well as a schedule of daily happenings.  There will be activities on Friday evening, so plan to arrive as soon as you can.  There will be food for those arriving early, so you don’t have to leave camp to go for supper.  There will be a snack later in the evening after our activities and closing devotions. 

Don’t miss a thing because 2010 promises to be another great retreat.

"A New Beginning-A New Attitude"

According to the American Red Cross (Mississippi), there are still in excess of 5,000 homes that need repaired due to Hurricane Katrina which occurred 5 years ago this August.  Presently there is no federal funding left for the homeowners of these homes.  Volunteers have stopped going to the Gulf Coast because a lot of people do not realize the help that is still needed for these victims. 

How can you help?  Join the Biloxi Brigade for it’s next mission trip. The trip is planned for October 9th through October 16th.  We are in need of volunteers to make this trip.  The trip will be a little different this time due to the closing of Camp Biloxi.  We will be staying in Camp Victor in Ocean Springs MS.  Parents are also invited and now allowed to bring their children over the age of 14 years old on the trip. 

We have 30 airline tickets reserved for this trip and we have 10 people signed up so far.  Please prayerfully consider joining the Brigade to help those less fortunate living on the Gulf Coast. 

Final airline reservations must be made by the last week in July, so please contact the church office or Denny Reigart to sign up for this mission trip. 

Grief Share is a friendly, caring group of people who with the direction of a facilitator will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences.  The goal of this ministry is to provide ongoing, effective ministry to people in our community who are grieving the death of a loved one.  You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. 
The Grief Share program will be built around three components:

 Video Seminar
 Support Group Discussion
 Personal Study and Reflection. 

You’ll gain access to valuable Grief Share resources to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life. 
A weekly program for those dealing with grief will begin on Tuesday, January 5th 2010 here at St. Matthew.  The morning sessions will begin at 9:45 AM to noon and the evening sessions will begin at 6:45 PM until 9:00 PM.  This is open to anyone dealing with grief.  Members of the church and the community are welcome.  You are welcome to begin attending the Grief Share group at any session.  Each is "self-contained." so you do not have to attend in sequence.  You will find encouragement and help whenever you begin.  You will be able to continue with Grief Share through the next cycle and view any of the videos you have not seen. 

Those in need, please call the church office at 717-845-2721

GRIEF SHARE WILL NOT BE MEETING IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, BUT WILL RETURN TO THEIR REGULAR SCHEDULE IN SEPTEMBER.

Articles and photographs for the next issue of  ST. MATTHEW TIDINGS are due Monday, August 2, 2010

Send information to stmatttidings@yahoo.com or

deliver a hard copy to the church office

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE AS OF JULY 1, 2010

You can still sponsor or purchase a hymnal for just $20.00 each and payment, cash or check, is expected at time of ordering. You may also stop by the church office Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (closed 12:00-1:00 PM). 

We still have 152 hymnals available.