St. Matthew's Church

Saint Matthew's Church

Welcome to the website for Saint Matthew’s Parish! We are delighted that you are interested in learning more about our
Anglican/Episcopal Christian community at Saint Matthew’s, our mission and opportunities
for worship, Christian formation, fellowship and service.

Worship with us!

SATURDAY EVENING SERVICE
5 pm - Holy Eucharist in Chapel.
SUNDAY SERVICES
10:00 am - Sung Eucharist with choir. Children who are attending Church School join in the service after the sermon. Followed by coffee hour and fellowship.
1st Sundays of the month: 8:00 am - Holy Eucharist Rite II. Quiet, casual service. This is usually a small group gathering in the Church.
WEDNESDAY SERVICE
10 am - Holy Eucharist in the Chapel with Prayers for Healing, followed by Bible Study for those interested.
Thanksgiving Eve: Wednesday November 27th
Service of Holy Eucharist in the Chapel
10:00 AM & 7:00 PM

Announcements: December 1-7, 2019
December 1, 2019
The First Sunday of Advent
Saturday: Holy Eucharist in the Chapel at 5 pm.
Sunday: Holy Eucharist in the Church at 8 am
Sunday: Family Service of Holy Eucharist in the Church at 10 am
Inclement weather is predicted for Sunday, but we will hold all services as scheduled.Sunday
9:15 am Choir Rehearsal
10 am Family Service: Commissioning of Liturgical Ministries
  On Sunday, the first Sunday of the liturgical year, we will have a commissioning of the liturgical ministries at St. Matthew's.    This will include Acolytes, Lectors, Intercessors, Chalicists, Eucharistic Visitors, Altar Guild, and Ushers. Their leadership has made worship "in the beauty of holiness" possible at St. Matthew's. Our purpose is only partly to recognize the people who have given generously of themselves for this ministry; we also want to remember as a community that our mission and ministry are grounded in our worship. The faithful service of our Liturgical Ministers brings meaning to all that we do, and makes it possible for us to gather in prayer without distraction.. It's impossible to measure the value of this.

Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Judith Lee
Organist:       Donald Irving
Lectors:          Paris Gailor, Emily Baldwin
Intercessor:   Anita Konneh
Acolytes:       Emily Baldwin, Anita Konneh, Lucelia Ehrich
Chalicist:       Festus Konneh
Usher:            Bengt Albinson
Altar Guild:  Pam Wilson, Kelly MacGregor

This Week:
Monday, December 2nd - OFFICE CLOSED
Wednesday December 4th      7 pm    Sconeheads: We will discuss Waiting for the Wonder by Katerina Whitley
Saturday December 7th          10am-Noon    Knitting & Crocheting Ministry: Gathering & Counting for the Ingathering of gifts fo SWNC. Please bring any items you have collected or created to Robin Chenerak or leave them in the Parish Office before Saturday.

Next Sunday: December 8th
9:15 am                       Choir Rehearsal
9:45 am                       Sunday School Classes
10:00 am                      Ingathering of winter clothing for SWNC
11:30am-12:30pm      Parish Discussion: Waiting for the Wonder
1:00 pm                       Special Vestry meeting: Meritorious Service Award
Christmas Gifts for South Worcester Neighborhood Center: We will have our annual ingathering of gifts for the families of SWNC on December 15th. We welcome a variety of toys for children of all ages so that their parents can “shop” for them: board games, Barbie dolls, books, gift cards, match box cars, toy trucks, etc. Let's see if we can surpass last year's total of 700 gifts. Please give gift cards to Mother Judith, and put unwrapped gifts in the boxes available in the Common Room

Altar Guild Cleaning: Saturday December 14th 9 am - Noon A Polish And Shine…Will Do Just Fine! - PLEASE join members of the Altar Guild to clean our church for the Christmas season! Cleaning supplies will be provided, so all we need is YOU! Coffee and light refreshment will be available and also good conversation…and a few laughs added in for good measure!   The Altar Guild is an “Equal Opportunity” group, meaning no special talent is required, so please consider giving an hour or two to help us make St. Matthew’s sparkle and shine this Christmas season!! Thanks!       ~Charlotte Townsend
Saturday December 14th 9 am Episcopal Church Men will meet
THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the reception for Fr. Freeman last Sunday, especially to Kim Rossi for organizing and setting it up.
THANK YOU to our 4 Corners Friendship Kitchen crew for hosting another successful Friendship Dinner last Sunday. We welcomed about 45 guests and 8 volunteers from the Holy Cross Women's Tennis Team helped with hospitality, serving, and cleanup.
Saturday December 21st - 5 pm Service of Holy Eucharist in the Chapel: Blue Christmas    Instead of the Lectionary readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent, we will listen to readings and say prayers for and with those for whom Christmas is a difficult ("blue") season. This time has been called the "long dark night of the soul" when memories of past experiences and the pain of present loss can become overwhelming. In this service, we offer to God our complicated feelings brought out by this season, in hope for healing and transformation. We pray that we will find hope and comfort in knowing that we are not alone.
Sunday December 22nd - For the 4th Sunday of Advent our hymns will be favorite carols that you choose during the service. Don Irving and our choir will improvise as we share our joy, laughter, memories, and hopes in this St. Matthew's tradition.

Christmas Eve
5 pm Family Service of Holy Eucharist for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord
11 pm Festival Service of Holy Eucharist for the Feast of the nativity of Our Lord
Christmas Day
10 am  Contemplative Service of Holy Eucharist for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord

Sunday January 5th: Epiphany Sunday
8 am First Sunday Service of Holy Eucharist
10 am Family Service: Christmas Pageant in the Church followed by a Festive Coffee Hour
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Prayer for Time of Transition
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor who will care for your people and for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Welcome to Saint Matthew’s.

We are a community of people who have come together from different places in the world and with very different faith experiences to worship and serve God, to learn, and to build relationships. We are deeply rooted in the South Worcester neighborhood. Our landmark building, which has stood on the corner of Cambridge and Southbridge Streets since 1893, houses a beautiful sanctuary, a contemporary chapel, a parish hall with a newly refurbished kitchen designed for community gatherings, and several school rooms.

We are Christians seeking to “see Jesus more clearly, follow him more nearly, love him more dearly…day by day” (Prayer of Saint Richard of Chichester). We value the diversity of our views of Scripture and our expressions of faith, and it is important to us that St. Matthew’s be a safe place where children, youth, and adults can grow and explore new ideas.
We welcome everyone: inquirers, life-long disciples, long-time residents, newcomers, immigrants, college students, children, youth and families, singles, and seekers.

I invite you to join us for worship or for fellowship, to learn or to rest, and to discover that Saint Matthew’s is indeed here for you… wherever you are on your journey. May you find a blessing with us: we will be blessed by your presence.

The Reverend Dr. Judith Lee, Interim Priest

Download our printable brochure:

st_matthews_episcopal_church___profile_brochure.pdf
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Rector Search

"I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" [Isaiah 43.19]

At their meeting on February 16th, your Vestry appointed members of the Writing Committee and the Search Committee:

Writing Committee:  Catherine Goodwin, Chair; Rob Ermanski; George Gailor; Ellie Keohane; Nancy Smith
Search Committee:  Rob Ermanski, Chair; Bengt Albinson, Robin Cheranak, Catherine Goodwin, Stephen MacGregor, Anthony Shekoni

From the Profile Committee:

Think, Pray, and Reflect
The Profile Committee wants to thank the many people who participated in the Parish listening sessions in May. The feedback has helped inform our work.

Prayer for a Time of Transition
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Our Location

695 Southbridge Street Worcester, Massachusetts 01610

St. Matthew’s is located at the corner of Cambridge and Southbridge Streets in the City of Worcester, Massachusetts. Parking is available behind the church and also in the shopping center across the street. Handicapped access from the back parking lot entrance.