Celebrating the the Birth of Christ

Monday, December 24th	Christmas Eve
	Pageant and Eucharist, 4 pm
	Carols, 10:30 pm
	Festive Christmas Worship and Eucharist, 11 pm
Tuesday, December 25th	Christmas Day
	Worship and Eucharist, 10 am

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There is no easy, simple answer to this question, but there is an answer! In an article that was published in the June 2006 issue of the Episcopal Voice, our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner, described this very topic as part of a larger article on the issues facing the church at the 2006 General Convention:

Sometimes we hear it said that the Episcopal Church is a thinking person’s church. What that means is that in the Episcopal Church reason, intellect, curiosity, questioning and wondering are a welcome part of the way we come to understand our relationship with God. In my column this month I consider reason, the third leg of the three-legged stool, the often-used expression to describe the basis of Anglicanism that includes Scripture, tradition and reason. When we consider reason, it is important to recall the work of Richard Hooker, 1554–1600, an Anglican theologian who, along with Thomas Cranmer, was foundational for Anglican theology.

Bishop Vincent Warner

Hooker’s best-known work is Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie. This book argued for a middle way (via media) between the positions of the Roman Catholics and the Puritans. He argued that church organization, like political organization, is one of the “things indifferent” to God. Minor doctrinal issues were, he said, not issues that damned or saved the soul but rather frameworks surrounding the moral and religious life of the believer. Thus, what mattered was the piety of the people.

Hooker stated that reason and experience (as well as tradition) were involved when interpreting the Scriptures. He noted that it was important to recognize that the Bible was written in a particular historical context in response to specific situations: “Words must be taken according to the matter whereof they are uttered.” He sought to prove that things not commanded in Scripture might still be lawful.

Hooker called us to wholeness. He realized that the divine communicates with us in and through creation and history in many and various ways, including Scripture, tradition and reason and much, much more. He said, “Whatsoever either men (and women) on earth, or the Angels of heaven do know, it is as a drop of the unemptiable fountain of wisdom, which wisdom hath diversely imparted her treasures unto the world. As her ways are of sundry kinds, so her manner of teaching is not merely one and the same. Some things she openeth by the sacred books of Scripture; some things by the glorious works of nature with some things she inspireth them from above by spiritual influence in some things she leadeth and traineth them only by worldly experience and practice. We may not so in any one special kind admire her that we disgrace her in any other, but let all her ways be according unto their place and degree adored.” Hooker’s emphasis on reason, tolerance and inclusiveness had considerable influence on the development of Anglicanism.

The Episcopal Church, in its General Convention this June, will find itself trying to balance the three-legged stool of Scripture, tradition and reason. Our relationship with the whole Anglican Communion and our understanding of our Episcopal roots, born in revolution, will be tested. We must take time together to move away from faction and agenda and toward Scripture, tradition and reason. Is it reasonable to erect barriers when we base our ministry on the baptismal covenant including the promise to respect the dignity of every human being? Is it reasonable to continue moratoriums that shut out people when we are called to be radically inclusive? Is it reasonable to think we might believe that God’s love, as reflected in us, might be so wide that we can be united in a faith in Jesus Christ even when we don’t agree on the way each of us chooses to live it out?

My prayer for our church and for this General Convention is that we can see the face of Christ in each other, know and acknowledge that we are made in God’s image and balance Scripture, tradition and reason so that we are able to grow and extend God’s love out into the edges of society.

Faithfully,

Vincent W. Warner
Bishop, Diocese of Olympia

The exciting news about the worship committee is that it involves all of us because worship is an action in which we all take part in mind and body. We engage our minds because we hear, proclaim and then contemplate the word of God. We also worship with the wholeness of our body by using all five senses to worship God. We see color and movement; we hear music and silence and rhythm; we touch each other by clasping hands or embracing; we taste the bread and the wine and occasionally we smell the incense.

The worship committee started in the early church when Jesus sent Peter and John, the patron saints for worship committees, ahead to prepare a room for the Last Supper. It is the one committee assigned by Jesus Christ, and his wording was to prepare, not plan. Worship has a designated format, planned by Jesus. We only prepare for it, to honor what takes place.

Worship is a time for us to bring our whole selves. We come to church, sometimes feeling brokenness and despair; sometimes we are doubtful, sometimes joyful and sometime hopeful. But we come with love for one another and love for Our Lord. We bring all these thoughts and feelings into Our Lord's presence. Then we ask God to transform us. An Episcopal priest said, "If we don't want to be continually transformed by God, worship is a meaningless activity." At worship, we open ourselves and let God come in.

Our Lay Eucharistic Visitors are a devoted, well-trained, and licensed group who deliver Holy Communion each Sunday to members who are shut-in or hospitalized. This ministry is composed of five teams of two people each who serve on a rotating basis.

The Altar Guild supports St. Matthew’s worship activities and is entrusted with the care of its treasures.  Also known as the Guild of St. Martha, much of its work preparing for worship services is done behind the scenes.  The Altar Guild sets up the altar, grows and arranges flowers, bakes Communion Bread, cares for Vestments, silver, and Altar Linens, and decorates the altar area for church celebrations and special services.

Some Altar Guild Events can be found here

The Music Ministry is the group of people who select and then lead or accompany all the music and hymns that are played during church services. No only the Sunday service, but also weddings, funerals, and other special events. If you play an instrument or like to sing, please join us!