Volume 68, Number 3 March 2016 Internet Web Site: www.stmattspringfield.org

From Our Pastor In Christ, Pr. Karl M. Richard I want Jesus to walk with me * * * * * I want Jesus to walk with me All along my pilgrim journey I want Jesus to walk with me Easter Schedule

hese are words to an African American spiritual. They are Maundy Thursday, March 24, 2016 plea for the presence of the Lord to be known and felt as 12:00 p.m. Service of Holy Communion Tone travels through the trials and tribulations of this world. 7:00 p.m. Service of Holy Communion They are a prayer for Jesus to lead to him at the end of our The Stripping of the Altar struggles. Good Friday, March 25, 2016 As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, 12:00 p.m. Community Service sponsored by the we are reminded of the difficulties of life and our struggles with sin Springfield Ministerium held at Saint in this world. We hear stories of people in need who cry out to Matthew Jesus, and we see how Jesus heals , encourages them, forgives 7:00 p.m. Good Friday Evening Service them, and sets them free. We are reminded that Jesus walked this road with his people, for his people. Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016 8:00 a.m. Festival Worship Service These stories are not just about what Jesus did long ago. 9:30 a.m. Easter Breakfast They are stories into which we can place ourselves. They are our 11:00 a.m. Festival Worship Service story of our journey. They are our plea, our prayer. They are (No Sunday Bible School) encouragement to us that Jesus promises to walk with us, and Jesus walks with us not just in this season of Lent, but all along our * * * * * pilgrim journey. Our Journey in March We journey through Lent and receive such reassurance, because we also walk with Jesus. We walk his journey to the uring the weeks up to Palm Sunday, we will continue to cross. We witness his resurrection from the dead. We walk with have mid-week Lenten services on Wednesday evenings at him on the road to Emmaus. We celebrate and wonder as we see D7:00 along with our regular Sunday schedule. Evening him re-ascend to God the Father in heaven. services are conducive to quiet reflection and prayers and we hope you will make them part of your routine this month. The journey we take through life is made easier when we realize we do not walk . We walk with other people whom Palm Sunday is the beginning of the holiest week of the God gives us to know and to love. We walk with Jesus as he year. It is an emotional week as we celebrate Palm Sunday with comes to us by his Spirit, giving us strength to carry on, giving us palms and hosannas, only to travel the path into betrayal, pain and joy on our way. This pilgrim journey is not all struggle and worry, despair and then rejoice again on Easter Sunday. but joy and grace as we walk with the One who promises new life, who promises us a destination to our journey. There is no Wednesday evening service during Holy Week. We will have Maundy Thursday services at both noon and May we be strengthened and encouraged, comforted and 7:00 p.m. with absolution and communion at each service. At the delighted as we walk through life with Jesus our Lord! 7:00 p.m. service the altar will be stripped. others are new. I have rehearsal CDs for The Final Hours which On Good Friday, Saint Matthew will be the host for the are extremely helpful in learning this new work. community service for the local Springfield churches. This service will be held at noon with participation from the clergy, choirs and Pat McHugh congregations from our neighborhoods. * * * * * Saint Matthew will also hold an evening Good Friday service at 7:00 p.m. where the choir will be an integral part of the Family Ministries’ Easter Egg Hunt service with The Final Hours, a Suite for Holy Week. amily Ministries is hosting our annual Easter Egg Hunt for There will not be a Saturday evening Easter Vigil service children 7 and under on Saturday, March 19, at 1:00 p.m. this year. FPlease join us for arts and crafts, music, refreshments, and tons of family fun! R.S.V.P. to Nicole Smith at Rather, we will begin our Easter celebration with a service [email protected], or by signing up in the church at 8:00 a.m. when we will process in with our new Paschal Candle hallway by March 12. to start this day of celebration. Our traditional Easter breakfast follows this service as we time with family and friends. Our * * * * * second Easter service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Each service will be a celebration of the Glory of the Risen Lord with music, song, Altar Guild word and communion. he Altar Guild at Saint Matthew is a group of 20 people who Please travel with us on this journey and invite family and are working together all year, performing a very vital friends along as well! Tministry at our church. The following article, “Spirit of Altar Guild” written by The Rt. Rev. Dan T. Edwards, explains the * * * * * dynamics that can shape an Altar Guild. This ministry goes well beyond just making sure the church is prepared for services. Some Musical Opportunities for Lent, Holy Week, very strong friendships have grown while we do what we can to make sure the church is welcoming and inviting. By being a part and Easter of this group, we are connected to our church through each other. If you would like to become a part of our ministry, please contact he anthems for the season of Lent are poignant and haunting Paulette Stark or Janice Gardner. and beautiful - both the words and the music. While at times Tduring other church seasons I may struggle to find an The Spirit of Altar Guild appropriate choir anthem, during the Lent season the problem is by The Rt. Rev. Dan T. Edwards, Bishop of Nevada which of many anthems to choose. It is a meaningful journey for the choir as we prepare these anthems and sing them on Sundays I have known and been blessed by a lot of altar guilds over to share in the worship experience. I hope that you find them the years. Of course, they all do the behind the scenes work meaningful in your Lenten journey as well. necessary to make worship happen for the rest of us. For that good ministry, most of us are grateful, and should probably be more On Good Friday, Saint Matthew will be hosting the grateful than we are. Altar guild service is an underappreciated community service at noon. All singers (choir members or not) ministry. from the community are invited to join with our choir in the anthem for that noon service. See me if you want to check out the Your altar guild is far more of a force in the parish than music beforehand. We will have a combined choir rehearsal of the the holy housekeeping tasks they perform. It is a spiritual anthem on Good Friday at 11:30. community - the spirit in which it lives ripples out to affect the feel of the whole congregation - for better or worse, depending on its For our 7:00 p.m. evening service on Good Friday, the spirit. choir is rehearsing a work that is new to us. The Final Hours was composed by Lee Dengler with words by Susan Dengler. This is Some altar guilds are dominated by over functioning a suite of three beautiful anthems with narration which will be perfectionists surrounded by a cluster of nervous assistants. That incorporated into our evening Good Friday service. In this work, model may get the work done but it does not build up the members we are led through music and word to reflect on Jesus’ final hours of the guild. It does not grow their competence and confidence so on earth and the realization that Surely, This Was God’s Own that they experience the dignity of Christian service. Son. The Denglers have local ties as graduates of West Chester University. Other altar guilds become real teams. The senior members are neither rulers giving orders nor doers taking care of everything I welcome anyone to come sing with us during this Lenten themselves. Instead they are leaders and teachers, bringing along season; some of the anthems are well known and well loved, while others and valuing their formation more than perfection.

2 Another spiritual issue is hospitality. Some are closed of the suffering of Christ. groups. If they have the services covered, there is no room for new members. That keeps new people at the edge of the congregation, We are encouraged to spend more time in prayer. but others welcome new members and use altar guild service as a way to build relationships. Those altar guilds make the mood of This is a good time to study scripture to find out what God the church considerably warmer. wants us to do.

Some altar guilds are fretful, burdened, or resentful, but Christ and his disciples spent a lot of time helping others; others make service a spiritual discipline much as Brother you can do this too. Lawrence found God in the Carmelite kitchen in Practicing the Presence of God. When such altar guilds do their work, they instill Purple is the designated color for Lent; be sure to look at a spirit of prayer in the very fair linens and the vessels. One can the vestments and paraments. feel the difference at the altar. A certain spirit floats out of every sacristy the way an aroma floats out of the kitchen. It sets the tone Dear Parents, of the worship and more than that it sets the tone of congregational life. I have known vestries that were strong leaders for good or for Lent provides a wonderful time for you and your child to ill, but I have also known vestries that were not really the leaders discuss prayer, self examination, fasting, spiritual growth, and of the congregation. They were mere placeholders. However, I commitment to the Christian life. Following are a few Bible verses have never known an altar guild that was not at the heart of the that will help you integrate daily living with Christ and his parish. promises: Exodus 34:27-28 1 Kings 19:1-18 Matthew 4:1-2 Luke 4:1-2. What number did you see in these verses? You might want My hope is that altar guilds grasp the depth and to encourage your child to “give up” something that he normally complexity of their role as spiritual facilitators of the parish. A enjoys (vegetables don’t count); increase participation in church- well-set service with the corporal and lavabo bowl in just the right related activities; and help those who are not as fortunate as you. place is a good thing, but there are more important intangibles in this ministry - care for each other, building up another’s Sylvia Yost competence and confidence, welcoming and including new * * * * * members, and above all prayer. Men’s Breakfast Paulette Stark * * * * * ur March Men’s Breakfast will be held at Saint Matthew on Saturday, March 19, at 7:15 a.m. Rick Link and his kitchen Children’s Corner Ocohorts will work their culinary magic as more than 100 men will enjoy the full buffet breakfast for which Saint Matthew Dear Children, has become famous.

ell, here we are in March - the Christmas lights are Our guest speaker will be Paul S. Hoffecker, Founder and stored, the Christmas cookies are long gone, and perhaps CEO of Renovating Hope, an organization committed to the Wthe gifts that were so coveted now have found a space mission of improving the lives of our service members, our back in the closet. As you know, the seasons of the church are in veterans, and their families. Since Renovating Hope’s inception in a constant stage of change and we are now in Lent - not as joyful 2008, Mr. Hoffecker has devoted himself and his career to the as the Christmas season. Many of you are aware that Lent began administration and leadership of this national nonprofit by in February with Ash Wednesday and will last until Easter, which including best in class corporate partners, philanthropic is the 27th of March. The forty days of Lent (do not count the foundations, private donors, and like-minded sponsors to help fund weekends) give us ample opportunity to remember The Easter those living in homes that are well below their and dignity. Story and all of God’s promises. Christ lived and died to free all of us from sin, and now our lives are new again without any sin All of the men of Saint Matthew are invited to bring a and we can live with Jesus forever. Keep those promises in mind friend to this special program. Men from other Lutheran as I list a few of the many facts about Lent: congregations in Delaware County will be invited.

Early Christians had to acknowledge their sins in public. * * * * *

The early Christians also had to fast and were not able to Christian Education Committee attend any joyful events. hank you to all the Sunday School youth who helped with the Presently some people “fast” (this means giving up Souper Bowl of Caring event in February. A grand total of something) during this period as this practice reminds us T$244 was collected in the soup containers. We also want to thank everyone for donating food, delivering flyers, collecting bags

3 of food, sorting the food items and packing them into boxes, and Crop Walk Follow-Up loading boxes into trucks. Every job was very much appreciated. very Fall, CROP Hunger Walks are organized by local Parents of young children should be looking for special volunteers to raise money to end hunger. Sponsored by mailings for their littlest ones. In January we reinstituted the EChurch World Service, these walks help the millions of Cradle Roll. Families with children under age 3 will receive people in the world who struggle on a daily basis with hunger, by monthly mailings from a program entitled Splash! Each month a raising funds and raising awareness of the need. This past October parent page will be mailed suggesting ideas for faith-filled play, a team from Saint Matthew participated in the Swarthmore- worship, meals, and prayer. Once a year each family will receive Wallingford 10K CROP Walk. Our seven walkers raised $967! a CD with age appropriate songs and music. This is another way Thank you to walkers Madison Wesley, Patti Wesley, Danielle our congregation can stay connected to young children and their Lazaro, Meredith Harris, Dan Lazaro, Dawn Liscom and David families. Thanks to Ginger Heck for coordinating this outreach Liscom, and to everyone who sponsored us. The final tally for the program for us. Swarthmore-Wallingford CROP Walk was 43 walkers and $3,753 raised. A reminder that Adult Bible Study will resume Easter. For the early risers we have a class at 6:30 a.m. There is There will be another CROP Walk this October. Won’t also another class at noon. The noon group takes turns serving you join us? light refreshments! Consider joining one of these studies led by Pastor Richard. You’ll learn a great deal and enjoy Christian Dawn Liscom fellowship. * * * * * There will be no Sunday School classes on Easter Sunday. We encourage families to attend one of our worship services on that day. First Thursday Friends (“FTF”)

Carol Penjuke he First Thursday Friends will gather on March 3, 2016 at 11:30. We will be dining at Maggie O’Neill’s in Pilgrim * * * * * TGardens Plaza, 1062 Pontiac Road, Drexel Hill, PA 19026. Please contact John Stefl if you intend to attend so he can make Saint Matthew Christian reservations. Please contact him if you would like a ride. Nursery School News * * * * *

arch will be another month Looking for Work? containing many activities appropriately developed for the M re you looking for full/part-time work? Consider working various happenings of March. We will for KenCrest, a top work place in Philadelphia. KenCrest discover if March “comes in like a lion” and “goes out like a is a non-profit, human services agency that supports lamb.” All classes will celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with A children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. We shamrocks, rainbows and leprechauns. We will also have a visit offer full and part-time positions working with people of varying from the Philadelphia Zoo and have our school pictures taken by ages: Mike DiTrolio - Active Image Photography.

Support Staff/Community Companions - working All of the children continue to learn to recognize and print the letters of the alphabet, printing their names, doing fun with individuals in their homes, assisting with life skills or activities activities and making new friends along the way. We will be in the community singing new songs during music with Mrs. Heidi Starr, and the children just love coming together to sing and march with the Resident Advisors/Direct Support Professionals - instruments. working in a group home setting, handling daily support and activities School will be closed for Spring Recess on Monday, March 21, through Monday, March 28. We will re-open on KenCrest has many locations in Bucks, Montgomery, Tuesday, March 29. Registration is now under way for the 2016- Delaware, Chester, and Philadelphia counties. 2017 school year. We offer a 2 day class for three year olds, a 3 day class for four year olds, and a 5 day class for the five year Applications are only being accepted online so please visit olds. Have a wonderful, Blessed Easter season. www.kencrest.org/jobs.htm, and then click on “External Candidates.” Linda M. Maylie, Director * * * * *

4 Pilot of the Ships entered the harbor. How many times this was repeated over the years in all kinds of weather is a tribute to those men doing their duty. addy Pop and Matey, my Mom’s parents, lived in a graceful Victorian house at Waikenae Beach in Gisborne, “Men who go down to the sea in ships,” said the poet to DNew Zealand. They had a large flower garden with a honor such souls with wonder. I look back at their service with gazebo and trellises and a boardwalk which led to the sandy shore respect and reverence. There is so much to learn and cherish from of the Pacific Ocean. reminiscences such as these. A legacy for us to inspire ourselves in our lives today. I remember the ladies, my relatives all of them, wearing summer dresses and pretty sun hats gathering for family get- May His Peace be with us all. togethers under blue skies in that lovely garden. The grandson was a center of attention and, of course, he loved every minute. Daddy Tony Webb Pop had a little dog, a black and white wire-haired terrier, named “Binky” who accompanied him to work each day at the city harbor. P. S. After 55 years, I again visited the harbor, and Taketimu was (Gisborne is the first city on earth to greet the morning sun each there! day.)

* * * * * The Harbormaster and Ship’s Pilot, Daddy Pop would guide the ships into and out of the harbor, often in rough seas with wind and rain. When I was a little older, he made a small wooden Women of the ELCA News seat with footrests which he clamped to the bar of his bike and invited me to ride to work with him. I gripped the handlebars This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and while Binky skipped along beside us. “Wow, I’m riding a two be glad in it. wheeler!” I thought those days would never end. s I sit down to write about our upcoming events, I’m There were so many things to see at harbor-side and I was listening to the weather report for this weekend - minus interested in all those activities. There were nets and ropes and Anumbers. You have been so generous in giving to The cranes with cargo ships unloading alongside. Sights and sounds Welcome Church. May we all keep the homeless in our prayers as filled my little mind with wonder as I climbed onto the pilot boat winter continues. By the time you receive this newsletter, we will “Taketimu.” Crew members, delighted to see me, helped me step have collected the writing paper, pencils, pens and colored pencils. onto the deck and showed me how things worked. I remember the For the month of March we are asking for reading glasses - the feeling of the boat on the water. Everything was in motion as the dollar store has a good supply. engine came alive, the lines were cast off, and we were moving away from the wharf. Activities for March:

Each task performed by the men on board was an March 6 Display of Ronald McDonald important part of a choreography surely to gladden the heart. The Quilts lesson I learned from first-hand observation was the importance of March 9 Board Meeting working as a team to accomplish a mutual task. Each crewman March 12 Lutheran World Relief was happy and proud to show me the “ropes,” so to speak. They Quilting were a wonderful group of men who thought the world of my March 16 Ronald McDonald Quilting Daddy Pop and were always kind to Binky, who loved them all. March 29 Sarah Circle March 30 Esther Circle Memories of these times are filled with the sounds of seagulls, the flush and splash of the waves generated by the moving April 3 will be Women’s Sunday; and keep Tuesday, April boat and the sunlit blue-green water glistening as it glided past. I 19, for the entire congregation to come to dinner and hear Abbas remember how the boat smelled. Here was a combination of Khalif, a former refugee who now works for Liberty Lutheran - a smells that gives a young boy new discoveries not sensed on the very timely and interesting speaker. land. Strong delicious tea was boiled on the primus stove for the crew and served in mugs sweet with lots of sugar. Salt sea air and Joan Krauter hemp ropes, still wet from the water mixed with the smell of the diesel from the noisy engine room. It was a whole new world! * * * * *

I marveled at the way my Daddy Pop handled the wheel, It’s Time to Order Easter Lilies and how the crewmen set to each task without reading any orders. Then, as a ship loomed high above us, Daddy Pop would step aster lilies that beautify our sanctuary and parlor may be lively across to the ladder on the side and climb up to guide that ordered by signing up in the church hallway or calling the great ship into port. Taketimu would follow behind the ship as it E 5 church office. Look for the sign-up sheet in the church hallway. Pastor and Saint Matthew family, The cost of each plant is $10.00, and it may be taken home following the 11:00 a.m. Easter service. The last day to order lilies Thank you for all of the love and concern shown at the is Sunday, March 20. Thank you. passing of our dear Uncle Ed. He was a special man who will be missed by all of us. Your prayers, support and flowers were deeply * * * * * appreciated during such a difficult time.

Library With a grateful heart, The family of Ed Baer e are in the season of Lent. Let us take ,* * * time to attend Lenten services, and Wremember Jesus died so we may be Dear Pastor Karl, saved, forgiven of our sins.

On behalf of the boys and girls we serve, thank you and all “Come Lord Jesus, Come Quickly” is found on Shelf our friends at Saint Matthew for once again choosing to support our 263PAR. The book is written by Constance F. Parvey. It is work. Lenten meditations.

Your December 31, 2015 gift of $125 is most welcomed Lent itself is an intense time, a limited, terminal and dying and helpful to us in bringing education, nurturing, and healing time, but Lent is not fatalistic. Suffering is present, but so is services to vulnerable children from our local communities. It is healing. Darkness pervades the time, but not without a sign of only with the help of supportive congregations, individuals, and light; conflict is violent, but it is not without resolution; death is at others that Silver Springs is able to help more than 1,400 children the center, but it is not an end in itself. “Come Lord Jesus! Come and families each year. We thank you deeply for joining us in this Quickly!” is a cry of hope and affirms the divine mystery of God, important ministry. using the despair, the loss, the exhaustion in our lives as new sources of strength. It is a fitting prayer for Lent. We are very grateful for your ongoing partnership and count you among our blessings. Easter is March 27–the Resurrection of our Lord.

Sincerely, Barbara Kinsey Lynn Unipan, Development Director * * * * * Silver Springs-Martin Luther School

Monthly Mailbag * * *

Dear Saint Matthew Congregation, Dear Pastor Richard and congregation:

Thank you for thinking of me in On behalf of over 1,250 client families and the volunteers such a thoughtful way. Thank you to my church family for all the of Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, we want to thank all of you for beautiful get well and birthday cards. I know without all the your great generosity towards the Pantry. Your donations last year prayers I would not have made it through this illness. Especially, totaled 2,778.69 pounds of food plus fresh vegetables, turkeys, thanks to Pastor and Frankie for their visits. diapers, school supplies, personal care items, and kitchen items. Your ongoing generosity is so thoughtful and needed. Thank you Janice, thanks for gathering all the programs and DVDs also to Rick Link for delivering the donations each week. for me. We have received no state aid for the past six months due Sincerely, to the budget impasse. Because of this, each month is more of a Jackie Calhoun struggle to keep sufficient food on our shelves and in our freezers * * * to help our clients. Also, the USDA (which had increased to about 20% of our need) has had no offering for December or January. Dear Saint Matthew Family, This means we are only getting help from our donors and local food drives. This has made donations such as yours imperative to our I want to thank so many of you for all your prayers and continued operation. caring thoughts upon the death of my mother. The many cards and beautiful altar flowers have been very much appreciated during this Each time we are open, new families come to us who have difficult time. been forced to ask for help as they can no longer afford even the most basic necessities. What this means is a constant influx of new Love, families to Loaves and Fishes. As food prices and the cost of living Jean McGarvey

6 continue to grow, so will our pantry as we do our best to meet expanding need. Your continued support is deeply appreciated for helping us meet our clients’ needs throughout the year. Thank you for seeing their need and being so generous in helping them. What you have done has had a profound effect upon our clients’ lives.

Your thoughtfulness and generosity for our client families means a great deal. May all of you be blessed as you have continued to bless us. We are deeply grateful. We wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.

Blessings, Joanne Castagna, Director Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry

* * *

Dear Saint Matthew Friends,

Thank you very much for the sweet, winter-themed treats and toys for the children in the Residential Treatment Program at Silver Springs - Martin Luther School. The boys and girls were thrilled to receive them! Thank you, also, for the terrific collection of toys. The puzzles, dolls, action figures, stuffed animals, books, and more will make terrific gifts that the children will love receiving.

We are very grateful for your kindness toward the children and faithful support of our ministry. With your support we are able to help vulnerable boys and girls in our care heal, learn, and reach for bright futures.

Thank you again!

Sincerely, Amanda Bryant Development Associate Silver Springs - Martin Luther School

* * * * * Vital Statistics

65th Wedding Anniversary: Stanley and Pansy Stolar March 25, 2016

The Good Newsletter, a congregational newsletter, is published monthly, September through June by Saint Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, 400 Lynbrooke Road, Springfield, Pennsylvania 19064-3599. Please direct all correspondence pertaining to this publication to the Editor, Dr. Carl E. Aronson, at the above address. The deadline for submitting copy is 12 noon on the 15th of each month.

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