Midweek Messenger
December 6, 2018
Christmas Stockings Help
Tonight (Friday) at 6 p.m. the stockings will be sorted in Fellowship Hall. Come lend a hand and get into the Christmas spirit of giving.
Deck the Halls and Stocking Project
On Saturday, December 8, come for a morning of Advent fun from 9-noon to help prepare the Church for the season. There will be a group working on decorating the church – hanging wreaths, assembling Christmas trees, hanging lights, etc., and a group assembling stockings for our stocking Christmas project. Adults, kids, and youth are encouraged to help with both projects … your hands are needed.
Special Christmas Edition of Fair Trade Sales
This Sunday, after each service, Fair Trade Sales “Christmas Edition” will take place in Fellowship Hall. There will be lots of ideas for Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers. You can fill an already decorated gift box, so no gift wrap is required and they are easy to ship. There will also be biscotti samples made at The Samaritan Women Bakery in Baltimore. The Samaritan Women operates shelter programs for young women recovering from the trauma and abuse of domestic sex trafficking. The bakery employs these women who earn a fair wage while learning valuable employment skills.
Chelsea and Daniel Ruin Christmas
Daniel and Chelsea will be teaching Sunday School together from 9:45-10:45 a.m. on December 9. There are many parts of the Christmas story that we often exaggerate or parts that are not there at all. Come explore the scriptures on the birth of Christ and see what is there and what is not. This class is directed to adults, but youth are welcome also.
Youth Group This Week
This week’s Advent prayer stations will involve a few group activities and a few individual reflective stations. It will be a relaxed night full of prayer and then a quick movie. Meet in the Narthex at 6:30 on Sunday.
Christmas Caroling
The youth group is going Christmas caroling on December 16 from 5-8 p.m. A few more singers are needed to help us visit more houses. If you are interested in Christmas caroling please let Chelsea know (chelseaspyres@stmatthews-bowie.org).
Food Pantry Needs for Christmas Food Baskets
With Thanksgiving baskets distributed, the Pantry is now preparing Christmas food baskets for the clients of the Pantry. Most needed items are pancake mix and syrup. Please leave donations in the shopping cart by Sunday, December 9.
Gifts for Pantry Teens
Soccer balls, basketballs, kickballs, hats, gloves, scarves, and toiletries are wanted for the teens of clients of the Bowie Food Pantry. Please pick up one or two cards on the table in the Narthex and return them unwrapped to a box in the Narthex no later than Sunday, December 9. Your gifts will be displayed on tables at the Food Pantry for clients to shop for their teens for Christmas.
Choirmaster’s Open House
Come celebrate the Yuletide season, Isaac’s 65th birthday, the anniversary of Beethoven’s arrival in the world, the winter solstice, the end of 2018, and the beginning of 2019, on Sunday, December 9, from 1-4 p.m. Share refreshments and fellowship with Isaac, Jeff, Pat, and the greyhounds Baxter, Maddie, and Weston at 6505 Alexis Drive, Bowie.
Merry Christmas from the Boy Scout Troop
Please join the Scouts for their Annual Choral Sing and Bible readings on Tuesday, December 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Hear the stories you love to hear and sing the hymns you love to sing to get you in the old-fashioned Christmas spirit.
Christmas Poinsettias
The Altar Guild is offering red or white poinsettias for sale at a cost of $12 each. These flowers will beautify our Christmas altar and may be taken home after your chosen Christmas Eve service. Envelopes and dedication forms can be found in the Narthex. Complete the dedication form, enclose it and cash/check payable to St. Matthew’s in the envelope, then place it in the offering plate or drop it off in the church office. The deadline for ordering isWednesday, December 13. Contact Shameka 301-262-1408 with questions.
Auditions for “Annie!”
The St. Matthew’s Theatre Troupe will be holding auditions for the spring play, “Annie!” in the choir room at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 15. Call Jackie Gerard if you can’t make that date or have other questions. Show dates will be March 22, 24 and 29-31.
Special Music
On Sunday, December 23, The Chancel Choir, with string accompaniment, will present BWV 142, a Christmas Cantata formerly attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach, but more likely composed by his predecessor in Leipzig, Johann Kuhnau. Come hear some glorious music at the single 10 a.m. worship service that morning.
Financial Planning and End of the Year Reminder
Direct distributions from your traditional IRA to the church may be tax-free. Also donations of stock directly to the church may result in certain tax advantages. If you are interested in either of these options, please consult with your tax preparer or financial planner. Cash or stock donations must be received and deposited no later thanDecember 31, 2018 at 12 noon. Also, as you make year-end contributions to complete your pledge please remember that personal checks must be received at the church by the same December 31, 2018 deadline. If received after that date, they will be credited in 2019 (regardless of when they are dated). Questions about IRA or stock donations should be referred to Dick Baker at 301-262-3018 or dickbaker@stmatthews-bowie.org.
To ensure that your item is included in the Midweek Messenger, please send it to enews@stmatthews-bowie.org by noon on Wednesday. Anything received after that may be held for the next week’s edition.