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.
Living as God’s People in a Time of Crisis
Our Bishop Fisher has shown us the way in saying, “The Church is not closed. The church building is closed.”
On Sunday, September 20, Saint Matthew's Vestry voted to approve a plan to reopen the church to in-person worship which has been prepared over the past few months.
Further details on the plan and its implementation will be forthcoming,
At the present time, as of the last days of October, the upswing in cases in the Worcester area has made it inadvisable to use the interior of the church for worship. We continue to pray that we will be able to worship together inside soon.
In the meantime, if weather allows, we will plan to pray Morning Prayer together outside in the church parking lot next Sunday, All Saints Day, November 1, 2020. Check here and on our Facebook page through this last week of October for further news.
Note that online church services will continue to be presented from Saint Matthew's. Details on any changes in the schedule will be noted both on this website and on Facebook.
Our belonging to one another as God’s people in Christ never ends. There will be ongoing opportunities for prayer and meeting together. We will be using both Facebook and the Zoom platform.
On Facebook, search for two pages: @StMatthewsWorcester and @StMatthewPastor. You can download Zoom free and use it on a cellphone, tablet or computer. When we meet on Zoom there is also an option to call in from a landline phone to hear all.
For convenience, notice of upcoming times of prayer and meetings will be published here and on Facebook.
Let us continue to pray constantly for one another for all the world.
And please, continue to do the simple things that can help contain the spread of Covid-19 as we move into a new season and cooler weather. . This is the way to contain the spread of this ongoing disease.
Blessings to you and to all whom you love!
On Sunday, September 20, Saint Matthew's Vestry voted to approve a plan to reopen the church to in-person worship which has been prepared over the past few months.
Further details on the plan and its implementation will be forthcoming,
At the present time, as of the last days of October, the upswing in cases in the Worcester area has made it inadvisable to use the interior of the church for worship. We continue to pray that we will be able to worship together inside soon.
In the meantime, if weather allows, we will plan to pray Morning Prayer together outside in the church parking lot next Sunday, All Saints Day, November 1, 2020. Check here and on our Facebook page through this last week of October for further news.
Note that online church services will continue to be presented from Saint Matthew's. Details on any changes in the schedule will be noted both on this website and on Facebook.
Our belonging to one another as God’s people in Christ never ends. There will be ongoing opportunities for prayer and meeting together. We will be using both Facebook and the Zoom platform.
On Facebook, search for two pages: @StMatthewsWorcester and @StMatthewPastor. You can download Zoom free and use it on a cellphone, tablet or computer. When we meet on Zoom there is also an option to call in from a landline phone to hear all.
For convenience, notice of upcoming times of prayer and meetings will be published here and on Facebook.
Let us continue to pray constantly for one another for all the world.
And please, continue to do the simple things that can help contain the spread of Covid-19 as we move into a new season and cooler weather. . This is the way to contain the spread of this ongoing disease.
Blessings to you and to all whom you love!
A Celebration of New Ministry
We are happy to announce that Bishop Douglas Fisher and Canon Richard Simpson will be with us next month to celebrate the ministry at Saint Matthew's of the Rev. Dr. John McGinty. This celebration was to have taken place originally on May 13th.
On Saturday, November 14 at 5:00 pm the Bishop will lead an Evening Prayer at which the ministry of Father John will be celebrated, beginning as it has in the midst of pandemic and a difficult year. Only those who have an active role in the service will. be in the church, but the service will be live-streamed so that all others can participate as well. Further information on the livestream will be forthcoming.
We are grateful to Bishop Fisher for coming in person to us the evening of the same day that he will celebrate ordinations earlier.
From the service in the Book of Common Prayer . . .
The Bishop then says
John, do you, in the presence of this congregation, commit
yourself to this new trust and responsibility?
New Minister I do.The Bishop then addresses the congregation
Will you who witness this new beginning support and uphold
John in this ministry?
People We will.
Let us then offer our prayers to God for all his people, for this congregation, and for John their Rector.
On Saturday, November 14 at 5:00 pm the Bishop will lead an Evening Prayer at which the ministry of Father John will be celebrated, beginning as it has in the midst of pandemic and a difficult year. Only those who have an active role in the service will. be in the church, but the service will be live-streamed so that all others can participate as well. Further information on the livestream will be forthcoming.
We are grateful to Bishop Fisher for coming in person to us the evening of the same day that he will celebrate ordinations earlier.
From the service in the Book of Common Prayer . . .
The Bishop then says
John, do you, in the presence of this congregation, commit
yourself to this new trust and responsibility?
New Minister I do.The Bishop then addresses the congregation
Will you who witness this new beginning support and uphold
John in this ministry?
People We will.
Let us then offer our prayers to God for all his people, for this congregation, and for John their Rector.
Gargoyle at St. Matthew's Church | Photo by Sharon Healy Yang
Worship with us!All in-person worship is suspended until further notice. Pray with us online. Opportunities to Pray Together Through the Week All weekday prayer will take place on Facebook; visit www.facebook.com/StMatthewsWorcester 10:00 am Sunday, Morning Prayer, Liturgy of the Word, or Eucharistic Celebration (on Zoom); invitations to participate will be received at your email address on file. Though we cannot gather together, we can pray together. Opportunities to Talk Together 1:00 pm Tuesdays and 7:00 pm. Thursdays, Front Porch Chat (on Zoom), a chance just to see one another, to talk, and to support one another. If you would like to participate, just email Father John on Tuesday or Thursday before 10:30 am and an email invitation will be sent your way! |
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I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? [Isaiah 43:19]
“Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.”
~ Thomas Merton (1915-1968)
www.stmatthewsworcester.org
www.facebook.com/StMatthewPastor
https://www.facebook.com/St-Matthews-Worcester
Saint Matthew’s Online Worship Schedule
10 am Sundays, either Eucharist or Morning Prayer, followed by a virtual Coffee Hour
6 pm Tuesday Evening Prayer
9 am Wednesday Morning Prayer
6 pm Thursday Evening Prayer
9 am Friday Morning Prayer
12 noon Saturday Noonday Prayer
Saint Matthew’s Online Life in addition to our worship opportunities
1 pm Tuesday Front Porch Chat
7 pm Thursday Front Porch Chat
In addition, stay tuned for occasional and ongoing learning and enrichment opportunities for children, youth, and adults. Some will be developed here at Saint Matthew’s, others will be linked to great content from other churches and organizations.
8 pm Every night. Compline|Night Prayer with Bishop Fisher or another diocesan leader.
Please note that weekday prayer is on Facebook Live at facebook.com/StMatthewsWorcester. Most other opportunities will be on Zoom unless otherwise noted.
“Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.”
~ Thomas Merton (1915-1968)
www.stmatthewsworcester.org
www.facebook.com/StMatthewPastor
https://www.facebook.com/St-Matthews-Worcester
Saint Matthew’s Online Worship Schedule
10 am Sundays, either Eucharist or Morning Prayer, followed by a virtual Coffee Hour
6 pm Tuesday Evening Prayer
9 am Wednesday Morning Prayer
6 pm Thursday Evening Prayer
9 am Friday Morning Prayer
12 noon Saturday Noonday Prayer
Saint Matthew’s Online Life in addition to our worship opportunities
1 pm Tuesday Front Porch Chat
7 pm Thursday Front Porch Chat
In addition, stay tuned for occasional and ongoing learning and enrichment opportunities for children, youth, and adults. Some will be developed here at Saint Matthew’s, others will be linked to great content from other churches and organizations.
8 pm Every night. Compline|Night Prayer with Bishop Fisher or another diocesan leader.
Please note that weekday prayer is on Facebook Live at facebook.com/StMatthewsWorcester. Most other opportunities will be on Zoom unless otherwise noted.
The latest from our Facebook page.
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.
In this hard season of pandemic we are joined in prayer wherever we are. May God grant us strength, courage, and loving commitment to one another in hope for the future.
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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.
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.