The Messenger

Vol um e 1 Issue 9

December 2014

C hurch Se ason: Advent

St. Matthews is an Episcopal Community of Diversity, Inclusion and Embrace

Inside this issue:

ADVENT 2014 AND OUR CALL TO A GREAT

AWAKENING THROUGH THE WATERS OF OUR
BAPTISM

PIMIL

Bishops Visit

Stewardship

This Months Readings

This Months Calendar

Father Joseph Kovitch

I believe and I will
When I ask you the question, Who are you? you might answer any number of ways from
your name to your family of origin to your nationality, etc. The question of identity is at the
core of belonging and existence and how you answer will serve to define your relationships.
When I ask you the question, Whose are you? you might bristle at the implication that you
are the property of another. The question of belonging to might be more complicated and
carry with it baggage of being owned, and thus the assumption of power and privilege might
arise.
When it comes to God and our baptismal covenant, the answers to the questions of who and
whose we are are found in the promise. I believe in God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit establishes who you are, and the words I will and I ask God to help and guide me speaks to
whose you are. The truth is that you are a child of God and your identity is found only in
God alone, also, you are owned by God and belong to God alone. You are Gods property,
and if you live your life radically in this relationship, you will quickly realize that every aspect of
your identity and belonging is found in the covenant of your baptism.
As we enter a new Church Year, let us reconnect with our identity to God found in questions, Do you believe? And will you? Your answer will define the core of your commitment
to following Jesus Christ. I challenge all of us to a new great awakening in our relationship
with God, and it begins by recommitting ourselves to our covenant with God in the waters of
our baptism.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Eucharist
At the Central College Chapel
December 24
7:00pm & 11:00pm
December 25
10am

Pray.

Think.

The Messenger is a monthly

newsletter published for the
congregation and friends of St.
Matthews Episcopal Church,
Westerville, Ohio.
Fr. Joseph Kovitch, Priest-inCharge
jkovitch@gmail.com
Michael Shimko, publisher
mshimko@columbus.rr.com

Love.

PIMIL RICE CAMPAIGN UPDATE

PIMIL is giving thanks for a successful year, for the sponsors, and most recently, for the successful rice campaign to
relieve hunger in the PIMIL children and their families in Liberia because of the Ebola virus. Presently, we have raised
$4,354 exceeding the goal of $3000. Thanks St. Matthews for being the home of PIMIL! Give thanks to
[Him] and call upon [His] Name (Ps. 100: 4).
Blessed Christmas and a purpose-filled New Year of 2015!

BISHOP BREIDENTHALS VISIT TO ST. MATTHEWS

Bishop Breidenthal of the Southern Ohio Episcopal Diocese visited St. Matthews on Sunday, November 16. It was a
celebration of our continued growing relationship and the diocese, and the Bishop was very pleased with not only our
worshiping community, but also our mission and ministry to Westerville. Just one day after the Diocesan Convention,
the Bishop continued his message of the need for parishes to make connections and build new ministries. Following
our worship, the Bishop engaged in conversation with parishioners over coffee, and then visited the Episcopal House
for a tour and blessing. As the Bishop toured the house with 15 of our members, he remarked at the how the house
exemplified his vision for new initiatives in ministry. On the whole, it was a great day for St. Matthews Episcopal
Church.

Stewardship Theme:
From Scarcity to Abundance
The disciples were reacting to the problem, offering a quick fix in the hope that the problem - and the crowd - would go away.
Jesus responded to each reaction with a challenge for the disciples to act out of their abundance. His was a challenge fraught
with risks: the risk that they just wouldn't get it or that the tension Jesus introduced would cause the disciples to turn on him.
Jesus continually took this risk of drawing people into abundance and challenging them to move from a cash economy to a kingdom economy. In this challenge he sought to reframe reality for the disciples and for all of us. (Bp. Beckwith)
Let us celebrate all that God has blessed us with and serve the world out of abundance and not scarcity. God deserves our best and the world needs our offering.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDESS TREE

Visit the Random Acts of Kindness Tree in our gazebo at the Episcopal House. During Advent, we are inviting the
community to share an Act of Kindness with the community, and then share their experience on St. Matthews Facebook page. The tree will be laden with ornaments, each encouraging one act of kindness for the bearer to perform
for the sake of others. This is St. Matthews offering to the Uptown Westerville community.
Page 2

Volume 1 Issue 9

Community Eucharist @ Old Bag of Nails Sunday, December 14,

5:00pm
As we continue to introduce ourselves to Westerville, we will offer an Advent Community Eucharist at Old Bag of
Nails on Sunday. We will meet on the third floor at 5pm, and following worship we will gather for dinner and wine.

Advent Rally at All Saints New Albany, Sunday December 7th

St. Matthews congregation is invited to All Saints New Albany for an Advent Rally on Sunday, December 7th. The
event starts with a potluck dinner at 5 p.m., followed by Advent workshops for children and adults from 5:30-7:20.
The evening will conclude with a Taize worship at 7:20.

December Readings:
December 7th, 2nd Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2,8-13
2 Peter 3:8-15
Mark 1:1-8

December 14th, 3rd Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11
Psalm 126
1Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8,19-28

December 21st, 4th Sunday of Advent

2 Samuel 7:1-11,16
Canticle 15
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38

December 25th, Christmas

Day
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Psalm 96
Luke 2:1-14

December 28th, 1st Sunday after Christmas

Isaiah 61:10-62
Galatians 3: 23-25, 4:4-7
Psalm 147
John 1:1-18

The MISSION of St. Matthews is to love as Christ loves us through worship, teaching and serving with the purpose
of inviting individuals into a life-giving relationship with Christ

Mailing Address
23 East College
Westerville, Ohio 43081
office@StMattsWesterville.org
Sunday Worship
Chapel at Central College
975 South Sunbury Road
Westerville, Ohio 43081
Office
23 East College
Westerville, Ohio 43081
614.882.2706
Priest
The Rev. Dr. Joseph G. Kovitch
RevJoseph@StMattsWesterville.org
(cell) 614.499.6588

The VISION of St. Matthews is to be an Episcopal presence in Westerville that values God as expressed through
the inclusive caring love of Jesus Christ - a welcoming community of diversity, acceptance and openness.
The MINISTRY of St. Matthews is to equip a growing, healthy faith community to live as Christians on a global
stage while serving as an incubator for the Diocese in identifying the role of church beyond our doors to a consumer-driven population. This ministry stems from our being a diverse faith community with many young families.
Vestry
Clifton Flemister, Senior Warden, Worship and Prayer
Marc Hopper, Junior Warden, Strategy
Kevin Aldridge,
Jerrilyn Kaiser
Donna Johnston
Harold Patrick
Nadya Richardson
Mary Kathryn Smith
Bryan Swift
Rebecca Wright, Treasurer
Staff

An Episcopal Community of Diversity

Inclusion and Embrace

The Rev. Dr. Joseph G. Kovitch, Priest

The Rev. Abeoseh Flemister, PIMIL Director

www.StMattsWesterville.org

The Rev. Robert Matheus, Retired Assisting Priest

Cynthia A. Murphy, Organist
Bill Phythyon, Building Manager
Kristen Lawson, Communications/Outreach
Bernice Gruel, Office Manager

The Messenger

Page 3

December 2014
Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

12

13

19

20

26

27

Evening Prayer
Chapel
7 p.m.

Sunday Service
Barn
08:00
Family Service
Chapel
10:30

14

10
Evening Prayer
Interfaith PrayChapel
er for Peace
7 p.m.
Gazebo
12:05-12:20

Pub Theology
Old Bag of Nails
7.p.m

11
Pub Theology
Old Bag of Nails
7.p.m

Evening Prayer
Chapel
7 p.m.
15

16

Sunday Service
Barn
08:00

17
Evening Prayer
Chapel
7 p.m.

18
Pub Theology
Old Bag of Nails
7.p.m

Family Service
Chapel
10:30

21

22

23

Sunday Service
Barn
08:00

24
Christmas Eve
Service
7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Chapel

Family Service
Chapel
10:30

28
Sunday Service
Barn
08:00
Family Service
Chapel
10:00
10:30

29

30

31
Evening Prayer
Chapel
7 p.m.

25
Christmas Day
Service
10 a.m.
Chapel