Greetings from Leslie
First of all, I hope and pray that each of you is having a marvelous fall season. It was a long time coming this year, wasn't it? Secondly, let me just say one more huge THANK YOU to the congregation for all your support during my time when I was down with back problems. Your calls, cards, prayers, and emails all made me feel very cared for. To those of you who brought meals when I was flat on my back, it was such a help. People who ran errands and helped with child care, Ed and I are eternally grateful. It was an awful time, and one that I hope to NOT repeat, but also one in which I was acutely aware of the grace of God and the fabric of this community undergirding me. The whole experience made me even more aware of the power of a congregation to make a positive difference in peoples' lives. I am so grateful to all of you.
Let me take this opportunity to remind the congregation of an opportunity to make a positive difference in the wider community. The St. Matthew Mission Commission is sponsoring a food drive for non-perishable goods to be donated to Mid-County United Ministries (MUM). MUM relies predominantly on grants from NGOs to stock their food pantry, and the end of the calendar year is always a tight time for them, as new grants do not kick in until the following year. Our food drive is one way that they will supplement their provisions and be able to continue providing food for hungry neighbors throughout 2010. The drive will take place from October 17 through November 21. Any and all donations are welcome at any time, but we are emphasizing certain foods each Sunday. See the weekly bulletin for suggested donations for each Sunday. Buying food for a food drive and bringing it to church is a great way to start educating young children about those who are less fortunate and the importance of helping our neighbors.
Finally - MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Sunday, September 4, 2011. This is the Sunday that we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of St. Matthew. We plan to have the Moderator of the General Assembly, Elder Cynthia Bolbach, be a part of the festivities, as well as Pastor Emeritus Robert Long. We are currently assembling a committee to work on planning the event, so if you or someone you know is interested in helping with the 50th Anniversary celebration, please contact me as soon as possible.
Grace and peace,
Leslie