Matthias Anglican Church Dothan, Alabama - A Parish of the Anglican Province of America

Fr John Klein can be reached at (334) 663-2985 / [email protected] Fr Stephen "Steve" Miller, Curate, can be reached at 832-657- 6366 / [email protected] Churchwarden Andrea Granger at (334)792-7295 / [email protected] St. Matthias Anglican Church, P. O. Box 1048, Dothan, AL 36302

Newsletter #9 Epiphantide In this Issue:  The Stewardship Campaign  Annual Meeting - February 14  The Presiding 's Visitation - March 14  A mid-week Study at Saint Matthias  Tuesdays at Ten  Some Words from the Vicar  The APA 2021 Holy Land The Stewardship Campaign We began our stewardship campaign last evening before church. Fr. Klein gave a brief, five minute address on stewardship as a spiritual discipline, using our time talent, and treasure as Christian disciples. This, of course, is at the core of my Bounden Duty: "My Bounden duty is to follow , to worship God every Sunday in his Church; and to work and pray and give for the spread of his kingdom" (BCP 291). On the next two Sundays similar talks will begin before Mass and last only five minutes. Pledge cars will be distributed and there is also one below, which can be filled it, cut off, and placed in the alms basin at church. We have plain envelopes available for their insertion as well. ______

I pledge to Saint Matthias’ Church $______per week / month / or year 2021 A.D.

Signed and printed name: ______

______The word steward come from "sty-ward" or the keeper of the pig sty. Just as in animal husbandry, we Christian stewards are responsible for caring for all God's gifts entrusted to us. As Saint James said: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" (James 1:17). All things are God's, his creation, his gift, his trust to us. The Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery, is also entrusted to us. We are to give as we are able, to support and extend the mission of Christ Church to Earth's remotest ends.

The Annual General Meeting

On Quinquagesima Sunday evening, February 14 we will have our annual meeting following the 5:00 PM Eucharist. This meeting is tremendously important for all who love Saint Matthias Church and all are welcome to attend. All those members previously recorded as well as all those received from the Episcopal Church by Bishop Chad are entitled to voice and vote. It is Father Klein's intention to extend to those regularly attending Saint Matthias but not yet received, voice without vote. Those eligible to serve in the various offices to be filled must be baptized, confirmed, contributors of record, and regular in attendance. The importance of this meeting cannot be overemphasized. We will, God-willing, re-elect the three existing vestry members and elect three new vestry members all for one year terms. In many ways this is a defining moment for Saint Matthias as we are further blending two congregations into one. This hybrid brings together those who labored long and hard to preserve historic, traditional, orthodox Anglican with those who rejected the religion of the world and came to join them. Both were momentous decisions. Now we move onward toward the future with a priority of stability and wisdom. The three existing vestry members are: Andrea Granger Betty Peters Luana Ramsey.

Those nominated by the Vestry for a one year term are:

David Dennis Bill Elliott Thomas Merritt

There will also be nominations allowed from the floor. In placing names in nomination please be sure that you have ascertained they meet the requirements listed above and that you have the person's permission to nominate. We will also elect representatives to the Diocesan Synod and the APA Synod.

New bylaws will be adopted. These new articles are intentionally broad with enough latitude so as to not tie us down as we move forward. This new construction will, of course, be modified in the future but for now we want to opt for stability and growth into a future with possibilities not yet completely revealed. The Treasurer will give a complete report and the Budget for 2021 will be presented for review and questions. The six-member vestry as newly constituted will be the actual approving agent after input from the congregation.

The Agenda is as follows: The Vicar's Address will be given at Mass in place of the sermon. Then immediately after the last hymn (we will stretch, take a necessary break for five to ten minutes) then Fr. Klein will call the meeting to order with Prayers Approval of the Agenda, with voice extended to regular attendees who are not members, an appointment of tellers for ballot counting if necessary. Approval of the Bylaws Election of Officers: six vestry. Election of delegates to APA Synod and Diocesan Synod. Senior Warden's Report Curate's Report Treasurer's Report Presentation of The Budget for 2021 with review and questions from the congregation - to be approved later by the Vestry Old Business New Business Adjourn with the Blessing

(Then the Vestry, as newly constituted, will meet to elect their officers: churchwardens, clerk, and treasurer)

The Presiding Bishop's Visitation March 14th 2021, the Fourth Sunday in Lent, at 5:00 PM Bishop Grundorf is our Bishop Ordinary, which is our diocesan bishop, and the Presiding Bishop of the entire Anglican Province of America. He has devoted almost his entire ministry to building up the APA. Certainly one of his fondest projects has been the Alabama Mission. His coming to Saint Matthias is to help us going forward and to thank us for all God's grace has done for this mission thus far. We have been blessed by his vision in the Lenten Appeal that has brought us a superb priest, our curate, Fr. Stephen Miller. His insights as to the things that worked in similar missions will be of inestimable help to the Vestry. We are now on the cusp of change, all for the better, as we conquer this invisible enemy COVID-19 and expand our missionary and evangelistic ministry in Dothan. Please mark your calendars for Bishop and Mary Grundorf's visit. Bishop Grundorf will also receive into this branch of Christ's One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church any of those who were not received by Bishop Chad exactly one year ago. Please tell Fr. Klein or Fr. Steve or your desire to join the APA. And, if someone is desirous of Confirmation, please notify us as soon as possible. After the liturgy, Bishop Grundorf will greet everyone at the church door and then dine with the new Vestry alone. This is in order to give the Vestry members time to ask questions pertinent to our expanding mission. On Monday morning Father Steve will have breakfast with Bishop and Mrs. Grundorf alone. This is time designated for our curate (and Jen) to meet with his bishop. All COVID-19 protocols are still in place.

Morning and Evening Prayer from the 1928 Prayer Book Can be easily read daily on your computer at: http://www.commonprayer.org/offices/morn_n.cfm http://www.commonprayer.org/offices/even_n.cfm

A Bible Study of Saint John's At long last we have a mid-week study of Saint John's Gospel. The Bible study group will meet at Suzanne Hanahan's home - 205 Ashborough Cr., Dothan - at 10:00 AM on Wednesdays. If you ever wanted to closely examine the "Great I AM Sayings" or study the "Signs" in the Fourth Gospel, this is the study for you. Fr. Stephen Miller, our new curate, will take you through the entire Gospel week by week from the Prelude to the Passion Narrative and Resurrection appearances. This is a wonderful chance to explore Christianity more deeply.

Tuesdays at Ten Every Tuesday morning, since the coronavirus plague hit in full force, Fr. Klein has been leading a Bible study from his home online. We are broadcasting on St Matthias APA Facebook page. We are presently tackling Saint Paul's to the Galatians. Each weekly study is saved on our Facebook page and you can view the studies on your own schedule.

Some Words from the Vicar What can I say? I am so proud of you! Saint Matthias is really a congregation to be proud of. Sandra Thornburg, my Senior Warden (the Vicar's Warden at Saint James the Great) joins me in congratulating you as a congregation pulling through all these obstacles and standing up for in the process. In the words of Saint Paul: "3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace" (Philippians 1:3-7). Fr. John William Klein, SSC, Vicar

The Holy Land Pilgrimage in November 2021 We are going again. Thanks be to God. https://www.explority.com/groups/nli/5cae54390300f4000481dd3b

This notice will be updated with exact dates and fares but the URL above will give you an idea of what to expect. The APA Holy Land Pilgrimage has become an annual journey with many enthusiastic . Join Bishop +Chad and me to venture forth following and Prophets, Christ and his to celebrate the Eucharist daily at the very holiest sights, to pray Morning and Evening Prayer as we go, and to build a Christian community fellowship that you will never forget. And, you will never read or hear the Bible the same way again after walking in the footsteps of Christ in Galillee and . This is simply not to be missed. So mark your calendars for November 2021 and start saving your shekels for the journey of a lifetime. Call Fr. Klein at (334) 663-2985 for more information.

℣: Pray for us Saint Matthias; ℟: That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.