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Church of St. Matthew

A visible expression of God's love

Parish Pastoral Council

Parish financial reports – October 2024

Our annual St. Matthew's financial report was mailed out in early October. It summarizes our parish finances for the fiscal year 2023, which ended June 30. If you did not receive this mailing, please notify the parish office. Optionally, you can download PDFs of Parish Pastoral Council reports, notes and agendas at st-matts.org/parish-pastoral-council For your convenience, here are links to the latest financial reports and the FY 2025 budget: Financial Report-charts-St. Matthew 9-25-2024 Financial Report-Letter to Parish October 2024 Church of St Matthew fiscal year budget … [Read more...] about Parish financial reports – October 2024

St. Matthew’s Parish Council: Are You Called to Serve?

Download bulletin insert: St. Matthew bulletin insert April 28 2024.pdf In June, four of ten Parish Council seats will become available. We are asking members of our faith community to consider whether they are being called to help lead our parish community. The Parish Council is made up of individuals who combine their diverse gifts, experiences, knowledge, and perspectives to form a team that supports our entire community and advances the mission of St. Matthew. What is the role of the Parish Council at the Church of St. Matthew? The Parish Council represents the voice of the parish … [Read more...] about St. Matthew’s Parish Council: Are You Called to Serve?

Parish Council Agenda 3-21-2024

Download Parish Council Agenda March 21 2024.pdf More Parish Council info here: st-matts.org/parish-pastoral-council Church of St. Matthew Parish Council March 21, 2024, AGENDA 6:30 p.m. In-Person Meeting Parish Center Garden Room  Council Members:  Jerald Dosch, Kathy Goldenstein, Phil Grant (ex-officio), Maggie Lee, Anthony Minus, Tiffany Monita, Tara Perron, Ellen Schneider, Katie Shetka, Karen Thompson (trustee) Facilitator: Maggie Lee   Note taker: Kathy Goldenstein Reflections/Treats   Ellen Share an event, thought, or experienced that happened … [Read more...] about Parish Council Agenda 3-21-2024

St. Matt’s Future Planning: parish wide meeting report, 1-25-2024

Download PDF: St. Matt’s Future Planning parish wide meeting January 25, 2024 Revised recap of Future Planning kick-off meeting: Parish Council Future Planning Kick-Off Recap_v2 Goal: What do we want St. Matt’s to look like in 3 years? What do we need to do to achieve that vision? Culture Inclusivity & Diversity Seek to increase age diversity throughout our faith community Welcoming diversity - All are welcome here Ensure St. Matt’s is a place where everyone, no matter their gender, race, etc. feels both welcomed & loved, and are free to be their authentic self A … [Read more...] about St. Matt’s Future Planning: parish wide meeting report, 1-25-2024

Parish Council Future Planning Task Force

1st Meeting - Thursday, Jan 25, 2024 at 6:30 pm in the Social Hall Building on the synod process, St. Matthew’s Parish Council is assembling a task force made up of diverse members of our community to address the following questions: What do we want St. Matthew’s parish to look like in three years? What do we need to do to achieve that vision? Beginning in January and over the next 3-4 months, the Task Force will work together to develop a future vision for how we will grow as a faith community over the next three-years. It will also identify specific steps we must take to bring the … [Read more...] about Parish Council Future Planning Task Force

From the Parish Council 2-23-2023

St. Matthew’s Parish Council met on December 7. Here are a few highlights: Listening Sunday – We received a comment that kneelers are too close together and there is not enough room to accommodate people comfortably. We’re looking at how to space out the kneelers so people don’t feel crowded. Future Planning – Building on the recent synod process, the council discussed ideas to engage the parish community around the questions:  What do we want St. Matthew’s parish to look like in three years and what would we need to do to achieve that vision? St. Matthew’s Youth Group – Council members … [Read more...] about From the Parish Council 2-23-2023

Parish Pastoral Council – December 2023 update

The Parish Pastoral Council is a group of lay leaders who gather  to guide and oversee the pastoral direction of the parish. The Council meets monthly and operates on the principle of consensus to conduct its work. Send your comments and suggestions to the Parish Pastoral Council via the contact form on our contact page. Additional contact info here: Contact Us The following items are on this page: st-matts.org/parish-pastoral-council Pastoral Council Members Finance Council Members Parish Council Agenda Parish Council Meeting Notes Constitution and Bylaws Social Media … [Read more...] about Parish Pastoral Council – December 2023 update

Community Conversation November 28, 2023

All are welcome to join in our next West Side Community Conversation on Tuesday evening, November 28. This will be our fourth such meeting. Once again, we’ll gather as members of the West Side community to listen to other members. As Fr. Steve has reminded us more than once, it is important to listen! As I’ve listened to the stories of others in our community, I’m learning much about local history and possible futures. It’s also good just to connect with neighbors, for mutual support and friendship. The session on the 28th will be held at Humboldt High School. Plans are for supper at 5:30 … [Read more...] about Community Conversation November 28, 2023

Parish financial reports – October 2023

Our annual St. Matthew's financial report was mailed out in early October. It summarizes our parish finances for the fiscal year 2023, which ended June 30. If you did not receive this mailing, please notify the parish office. Optionally, you can download PDFs of Parish Pastoral Council reports, notes and agendas at st-matts.org/parish-pastoral-council For your convenience, here are links to recent files: Financial Report-Letter to Parish October 2023 Financial Report-charts-St. Matthew 9-25-2023 Church of St Matthew fiscal year budget 2023-2024 Parish Council Agenda October 26, … [Read more...] about Parish financial reports – October 2023

Who will answer the call?

The Community of St. Matthew includes more than parishioners. Loaves and Fishes, St. Mary’s Clinic, Casa Guadalupana, People of Praise and Quantum STEAM Academy all benefit from St. Matthew’s presence on the West Side. And these programs serve many people, well beyond the parish membership. We need strong parish leadership to continue to be the Good Samaritan on St. Paul’s West Side. We will have 5 vacancies on the Parish Council this spring, and are looking for replacements: people who care about the parish as well as the community around us, people who want us all to thrive. Will you … [Read more...] about Who will answer the call?

Social Media Policy

The Church of Saint Matthew has a website, a Facebook page, and a Twitter channel.  In the future, the church may have a presence on other social media platforms. It is important that any and all things posted on the Church’s website or other social media platforms adhere to the policies and practices of both the parish and the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis. The oversight of these postings will be the responsibility of the pastoral administrator or others in positions of authority as designated by the pastoral administrator. Those with such oversight will exercise good judgment … [Read more...] about Social Media Policy

St. Matthew’s Parish Pastoral Council

We invite all parish members to consider serving on the Pastoral Council. Serving on the council is a ministry to the whole parish. There are nine members who serve a 2 year term with a maximum of 6 years. We operate by consensus. Consensus decision-making is a group decision-making process in which group members develop, and agree to support, a decision in the best interest of the whole. Council members should be willing to commit their time, talent and wisdom in a consultative and collaborative manner. Members are asked to attend monthly meetings. Typically we have ten meetings each … [Read more...] about St. Matthew’s Parish Pastoral Council

Pentecost and Beyond! Part 4, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew

This past weekend we were blessed with the wonderful opportunity to commemorate the 50thanniversary of the 1968 fire from which a community emerged to regroup, rebuild, and resume their faith-filled lives. A sincere and abundant thank-you to Karen Thompson and all the people she worked with who made the remembering possible and “blazing forward” a real possibility. With the completion of our review of the parish constitution and bylaws this weekend, we have a clear pathway through which the Holy Spirit will inspire us on Pentecost and beyond.    BY-LAWS OF THE CHURCH OF ST. MATTHEW SAINT … [Read more...] about Pentecost and Beyond! Part 4, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew

We Flourish! Part 3, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew

The warmth of spring is finally here! People are beginning to dig in their gardens preparing the soil for seeds and plants that will be watched over and cared for as they grow. It is likely this agricultural image that inspired Jesus to proclaim, “I am the vine you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in them will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing”.  It is also an image that we can reflect upon as we continue to review the by-laws of the Church of St. Matthew that serve as a cooperative way to grow and to prosper as a parish. With the words of Jesus to support us … [Read more...] about We Flourish! Part 3, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew

Still “Blazing Forward!” Part 2, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew

The mid-April Snowstorm of 2018 may have dampened but it did not extinguish the “Blazing Forward" spirit of organizers and volunteers led by Karen Thompson to commemorate the 1968 Easter Monday fire that destroyed the Church of St. Matthew. It is the same spirit that joined parishioners, including many of you, to rebuild a brick and mortar building as well as a flesh and blood faith-filled community following the pastoral documents from the Second Vatican Council (1962-65).  I believe that the same spirit invites us to remember the loss but more importantly to blaze forward into the … [Read more...] about Still “Blazing Forward!” Part 2, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew

Our Mission: Part 1, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew

Over the next few weeks, we celebrate the life-giving resurrection of Jesus, look forward to the eternal promises of Easter, and welcome the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. During this time, I believe it is important for us to take a look at the Constitution and By-Laws of the Church of St. Matthew ratified on April 5, 2006. I believe that a review of our mission statement, the make-up of the Parish Pastoral Council, the way our parish is organized, and the means by which we can collaborate together will encourage people to become more actively involved in directing the life of our parish.    … [Read more...] about Our Mission: Part 1, Constitution and Bylaws of the Church of Saint Matthew