There is a restaurant in town that Karen and I have eaten at several times. They have very good food, but I am not convinced that the establishment will last beyond the current ownership.
The sign outside by the road is old, faded, and dimly lit. Inside, the decor has beautiful woodwork, but the style seems more appropriate to the 1970’s. The ceiling tiles are faded and grey from age. Whether meaning to or not, the physical and visible communication of the owners seems to say, “We don’t care how things look” and/or “We don’t have a future beyond our retirement”.
Maybe the owners have plans to upgrade. Or perhaps the decline in the building and decor has been so gradual that they are no longer able to recognize the physical decline in their building. Whatever the case, they seem to be sending a message to their patrons. How long with this establishment stay in business?
So, what does our building communicate to people as they drive by on Oakland Ave, or when they walk into our building from our various entrances? We are certainly blessed to have such a beautiful piece of property for which we no longer have a mortgage. We have a wonderfully crafted sanctuary, nave, and chancel area. We have beautiful stone flooring in our hallways and a very useable parish hall. But it might seem obvious to a visitor (and when I candidated, I was one), that parts of our structure are not 21st century friendly.
What the vestry is proposing is that we communicate a resounding: “We aren’t going anywhere” starting with our Landscaping and Beautification project. This is phase I of our physical rejuvenation, and there will be future phases to come.
More next time.
Fr. Tom
Upcoming Schedule
Adult Christian Ed Class Sunday, 9 AM.
Choir Meet/Practice
Wednesdays, 4:30 PM, in the choir/organ loft
Home Sweet Home Project
Saturday, March 23, fundraising dinner
Palm Sunday, March 24th
One service at 9:30 AM
Maundy Thursday, March 28th, 6 PM
Good Friday, March 29th
Noon: Stations of the Cross
6 PM: Good Friday Eucharist
AMORE’ FOR HOME SWEET HOME
Don’t forget to mark your calendar for Saturday, March 23, for St. Matt’s fundraiser to benefit Home Sweet Home’s initiatives to address the crisis of homelessness in our community. “Amore’ for Home Sweet Home” will feature a family-style Italian Dinner with music, cake-walks, raffles, and more. Matt Burgess, Executive Director of Home Sweet Home, will speak and be available for a Q&A roundtable after the program. Doors open at 5:30 for registration, with dinner at 6:00. Join in the evening’s purpose and fun! Suggested donations are $25 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Please make checks payable to St. Matthew’s Church, noting “HSH” on the memo line. Register Sunday at church or online through March 17. Email office@stmattsblm.org.
Finally, an appeal to St. Matt’s members for items needed to boost income:
- For raffles – gift cards, baskets, services, unique items (new)
- For “Cake Walks” – cakes, frozen casseroles & other foods, e.g., boxes of candy
- For a “Wine Pull” – bottles of red or white wine
- Or volunteer to help set up/ clean up
Please register pledged donations on the forms provided on the bulletin board across from the fellowship hall. Thank you! –The Committee: Linda T (Chair), Linda S, the St. Peters, the Pitts.
NEW OUTREACH PROJECT
During these cold winter months, let’s donate to Home Sweet Home Ministries’ programs to house and care for the homeless. The Rapid Rehousing Program helps people in need get into housing quickly by allowing a property owner to lease a unit to HSH, which then vets participants and attempts to alleviate issues that may arise.
The Mission has also been offering shelter, warmth, and food to homeless people living in tents nearby. St. Matthews has been collecting blankets for this effort. We can also collect the following items.
- bottled water
- pop-top cans of soup
- paper towels
- toilet paper
- toothpaste
- deodorant and body wash for men and women
- new bath towels (full-sized)
Please put whatever you choose to donate on our stone counter adjacent to the fireplace. Thank you for helping! The Outreach Committee