Announcements

 

A Word from Stephen Ministry

True Ministry

In the Spring and Summer a common sound in the Midwest is the sound of tornado sirens. One evening a Stephen Ministry team was in the middle of a meeting when the tornado siren went off. The entire team went to the church basement to wait out the storm.

There was a knock at the door and standing there was a family who lived in a nearby trailer home. When they heard the sirens they thought the church would be a safer place than their trailer. The family was soaking wet.

Seeing a need for care the Stephen Ministers gathered blankets to cover their guests. Toys were found for the children while the Stephen Ministers talked one-on-one with the adults. When the storm was over the family went home.

Much to the Stephen Ministry Team's surprise the next Sunday some members of the family were in church. Church members were able to step in and provide rides to the doctor for one of the family member. Because of the ministry of the church the family eventually joined the church.

This church demonstrates the impact Stephen Ministry can have on people; not just on those who receive care, but on a church who recognizes and meets the needs of their community. If you want to receive the care of a Stephen Minister please speak to Pastor Bob, Pastor Julia, or Kirby Crawford.

 

OUR FOOD PANTRY NEEDS TO BE RE-STOCKED!

Please help us re-stock our Church food pantry. We are in need of the following items: kidney beans, canned carrots, pork & beans, canned soup, crackers, canned fruit, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, canned juices and cereal. We appreciate your continued support of this important service to our community. If you would like to help with the food deliveries, please call Richard or Kay King. Thank You!

 

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

The Prayer Shawl Ministry group knits shawls that are given to those who are experiencing difficult times in their lives, or to commemorate the gift of love, friendship and caring. The shawl pattern is simple and is done primarily on your own time. The group not be getting together during June, July or August, however please keep knitting this summer. The next meeting with be on Wednesday, September 17th at Helene & Steve Bishop’s home. Please contact Helene for more information.

 

NEW OFFICE HOURS FOR THE SUMMER

Beginning in June and through mid-August the church office will be closed on Fridays. Phone and e-mail messages will be checked from offsite in case of emergencies.

 

SIGN UP TODAY!

We have posted our 2008 FRB sponsor signup poster, which gives you an opportunity to help support the input costs of this ministry. This year you may sponsor the acreage in $20.00 increments. The poster is now located on the bulletin board in the narthex. Once you have selected the number of blocks you will sponsor, please submit the total to the church. You may write the check to St. Matthew, and put Foods Resource Bank on the memo line. Thank you for helping to support this important ministry.

 

SENIORS RETIREES CRACKERJACKS

On Wednesday, June 25 at 10 a.m. we are gathering at church prior to car-pooling to the Agricultural & Biological Engineering Research Laboratory on the University of Illinois campus for a tour led by Loren Bode. Lunch will be served there. Cost is $6. The sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex.

 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY! DATE CHANGE!

If you did not get a chance to go to the West Virginia mission trip sponsored by our church, this is your chance to help people in our community. The Champaign County Lutheran churches are cooperating through Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to paint screen and storm doors at Restoration Urban Ministries. Your help is needed! A Care in Communities Thrivent grant is paying for 60 screen doors. We paint the doors. The day is Saturday, July 19th. The time is 8:30 am. The location is 1213 Parkland Court in Champaign. Paint and brushes are provided. A pizza lunch will be served. A sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex. Questions? Please contact Connie or Mason Minnes.

 

AN IMPORTANT THING TO LEARN

St. Matthew will be sponsoring a CPR class on Saturday, June 21 starting at 8am. Jennifer Wilson will conduct our class. The cost is only $2 per person & it is limited to 15 participants. The class is full at this time, but we plan to hold another class in the fall. A sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex where you can please let us know if you’d be interested in a future class. Please contact Mary Anderson or Pam Sellers if you have any questions concerning this important class.

 

CALLING ALL WOMEN!!

This is so fun! We have a great time at BUNCO Night! We will be playing this Thursday, June 26th at 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. Need info on what Bunco is all about? Please see Jen Carter or Peg Warriner. A sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex. Join the fun!!!

 

BINGO PRIZES ARE A HUGE HIT!

Our local Mental Health Center plays Bingo! every Tuesday morning with their clients. Our first collection of prizes were very much appreciated! But now their prize cache is running low again. Do you have some “White Elephant” gifts/prizes at home you could donate? A donation box is located in the narthex. Please call Tina Shaw with any questions. Thank you!

 

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

If you would like to join the women's Bible studies based on the Lutheran Women Today Bible studies (and we would welcome any other bible study ideas) pick up one of the complimentary copies of the magazine today in the narthex and join us on June 26th for goodies and fellowship. Hope to see you then! Thanks ladies, Mary Anderson, Bible Study coordinator

 

ARE YOU A PICTURE PERSON?

There are so many great events and gatherings that our St. Matthew members participate in. We would love to share these within our newsletter. Please tuck your camera in your pocket and bring it with you when you head to events here (special services, CrossTraining, meetings, etc.) or offsite (Youth Bowl-a-thon, Relay For Life, CROPWalk, etc.) and snap away! You can email them to Gayla at gayla.stm@earthlink.net. Thank you!

 

SUMMER SUNDAY BRUNCH

Join us between services in the Fellowship Hall for a Summer Sunday Brunch on June 22 in conjunction with the Congregational meeting. Bring your favorite brunch items for the potluck style gathering....fruit, muffins, breads, bagels, breakfast casseroles or whatever else you can dream up. See you then...

 

CAMPBELL'S SOUP LABELS

Please bring Campbell's soup bar codes for the Navajo Lutheran Mission School, Levi John’s school, in Rocky Point, AZ. Check the box in the narthex to see which products can be used. Thank you for your donations!

 

STITCHERS NEEDED TO ASSIST LSSI’S PRISONER & FAMILY MINISTRY PROGRAM

Many women coming home from prison have nothing but a set of new clothes to wear. As part of the re-entry program of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois’ Prisoner & Family Ministry (PFM), the women receive handmade tote bags from churches throughout the state. The bags are often given to the women when they receive new clothes to wear, so many use the bags initially for carrying clothing. It is a personal, sincere gesture that PFM uses to make the women feel valued and cared for. Recently, some churches have told LSSI that they will no longer be able to continue making the bags. The need for them continues, though, so LSSI is looking for congregations whose members are willing to wield needles and thread to help make the bags. For more information on how you or your congregation can participate, and for patterns and other specifications, contact Loryn Ankeny at 847/390-4481 or Loryn.Ankeny@LSSI.org.

 

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR!

Please do yourself a favor and take home a Faith Stories booklet for your personal devotions. Several of your fellow church members have shared their faith journeys which have been compiled and printed. These booklets are ready for you to take and are located in a basket in the narthex.

 

PLAN NOW TO ATTEND OUR CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

JUNE 22 at 9:40 a.m. to be held in conjunction with the Summer Sunday Brunch Thank You! to all of our WONDERFUL volunteers who helped a fun week filled with Family, Friends, Neighbors, Community and Jesus in SERVE UP