Pastoral Care is a central ministry in our parish. The prayer chain and prayer vigils help to meet the needs of the congregation. We provide transportation to those in need when their travel capabilities are limited as well as meals to elderly, ill, or bereaved members, and to new parents. Greeting cards, letters, and other messages are sent as reminders that others in our community are concerned about their welfare. Finally, receptions for weddings, baptisms, funerals, and special events are organized and graciously presented by our caring parishioners.

We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.

Outreach Ministry is the way St. Matthew Church extends itself into the community. Activities include financial support of community charities and activities as well as hands-on ministry. The Outreach Committee meets at 4:30 pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month in St. Matthew’s Parish Hall. All are welcome!

Cascade Blood Bank Bloodmobile - Bi-monthly
St. Matthew’s Outreach Committee sponsors a blood drive once every two months. It is held on the first Monday in every even numbered month. We encourage blood donors from the community as well as the church to “Give the Gift of Life!”

Habitat for Humanity – Building on Faith Campaign
Each year Pierce County churches work together in fund raising and providing labor to construct homes in cooperation with the needy families who will own them.

Emergency Food Network (EFN)
EFN is the sole nonprofit food distribution center in Pierce County. In addition to providing food and money, St. Matthew encourages participation in ‘Abundance’ and the Empty Bowls project in October of each year. Purchase a ceramic or glass bowl, enjoy a bowl of gourmet soup and take your bowl home as a reminder that our community continues to help fill the "empty bowls" of children and families in need. EFN has other service opportunities at the farm and in the cannery project.

Nativity House - Monthly
On the third Friday of the month, St. Matthew’s church kitchen is used to prepare a hearty lunch for Nativity House, a day-center for the homeless in downtown Tacoma. There are opportunities to help prepare and/or serve the lunch, or to prepare an additional meal yourself.

Tacoma Rescue Mission - Monthly
On the second Sunday of each month, St. Matthew provides farm fresh chicken for the Rescue Mission’s evening meal. Volunteers from our church serve the dinner once it has been prepared by the Mission’s staff.

Adopt-a-Highway - Year-round
Our congregation is part of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Adopt-A-Highway program. Periodically throughout the year we clean up litter from the part of highway 509 that runs about 1½ miles North and South of the Church. 

The Deacon’s Chest – Rotating Monthly Projects
In the Episcopal Church, Deacons are given the responsibility of seeing to the needs of the less fortunate. Traditionally they collect money as well as needed articles such as warm clothing for the homeless, food for the hungry, books for schools, etc.  St. Matthew parish does not have its own Deacon but we do have a Deacon’s Chest! This is placed just outside the entrance to the sanctuary. The Outreach Committee designates a program or project for us to help each month and members of the congregation provide what is needed as the Spirit moves them.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing - Christmas Season
St. Matthew parishioners help the Salvation Army raise funds by staffing some of their red kettles during the holiday season.

American Cancer Society Relay for Life – May/June
Each year St. Matthew Church fields its GodSpeed Team of runners/walkers for this fundraiser. Teams keep one of their members walking or running continuously in 30-minute intervals on the designated track for a total of 24 hours. Each team member solicits pledges for the American Cancer Society.

Kairos Prison Ministry - Spring and Fall Cookie Baking
Kairos is an ecumenical Christian prison ministry, which offers weekend spiritual retreats inside local Washington prisons. Every day of a retreat, all inmates, whether they participate in the retreat or not, and every prison staff member, are given a dozen home-baked cookies. These are to symbolize the reality that the Christian Community outside the prison walls has not forgotten them. Several St. Matthew members serve on Kairos teams. Each team member is responsible for providing at least 100 dozen cookies and raising $150 for each retreat.

Faith Homes - Fall and Christmas
Faith Homes is a residential program for abused and troubled young women and their infant children. In addition to making a financial contribution, St. Matthew provides school supplies and backpacks for the school-age girls. At Christmas the congregation cooperates with inmates at the Washington State Corrections Facility in Purdy to fill stockings that the prisoners have sewn for the children.

BRIDGES – Annual Campaign
Bridges is a counseling program for grieving children who have lost a sibling or parent. The program is run through Mary Bridge Hospital. St. Matthew’s members sponsor a bereaved family through at least a year of counseling with their annual donations.

Episcopal Public Policy Alert, EPPN  - Ongoing
The Episcopal Public Policy Network is an agency of our National church working on Peace and Justice issues. St. Matthew’s parishioners (who sign up) receive action requests via email. Generally these are requests for us to lobby our local Congressional Representatives and Senators on pending legislation that the EPPN believes relates to the larger issues of Peace and Justice in our own country and the world. To subscribe, see: www.episcopalchurch.org/eppn

All knitters, or want-to-be knitters, please join us in the Prayer Shawl Ministry. We begin with prayer and meditation that the work of our hands and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in our Lord’s sight. The fellowship of knitting together and visiting with one another has been a blessing.

When finished, shawls will be given to parishioners who are experiencing trying times. Their purpose is to provide love and comfort. Anyone interested in joining us is welcome.

 

 Prayer Shawls being blessed
(click image for a larger photo)

It takes a committed congregation to keep a church active and functional. In this case, it's far more than the priest and church leaders, it's the people who do the everyday things that keep the church running and the fellowship alive. The Altar Guild washes the tablecloths (amonst many many other things); The Music Ministry picks out the songs and plays - or sings - the accompaniments during the service; Ushers hand out the Sunday bulletins and direct people to communion. There are dozens of various "jobs" that need to be done during the week and on Sundays, and the volunteers handle most of them. Would you like to help? Please call the office at 253-927-9808 (or by email by clicking here) and mention that you'd like to get more information or want to help out.