A Family of Faith Anchored in the Cross and Resurrection
Sunday Worship: 10:30 AM, Sunday School 9:30 AM
Pastor Rev. Dr. Karl F. Fry
Telephone: (440) 967 9886
Email: stmatthewlutheranvermilion@yahoo.com

In the service today, May 13th, we welcome Nancy Konery as she joins the fellowship of St. Matthew Lutheran Church as a disciple in her public profession of faith. Congratulations to Nancy on the birth of her first grandson, Brody Maxwell Konery, son of Brian and daughter-in-law Brandy. Brody weighed 8lb 10oz and was 21 inches long.

Anyone interested in joining into the Fellowship of St. Matthew, please see Pastor.

Ascension Day Service – Thursday, May 17th at 7:00 PM. Please do not miss this opportunity to celebrate one of the Church’s major Feasts.

Mission Outreach opportunity. Thanks to all those who supported the Power of the Penny freewill offering for the orphanage for Haitian children in the Dominican Republic, brought to us by Lisa Gallo. We thank the Lord for this opportunity to reach out. St. Matthew donated $315 of the total $1,400 raised for the trip. As promised, we will welcome Brian and Donna Boucher and their children, Grace, Claire and Nathaniel, to come and worship with us on July 8th to share their mission experience.

Prayer Shawl Ministry – In the service today a shawl will be blessed for Sue Pohorence. If anyone wants to be involved in this outreach ministry, or knows someone in need of a shawl, please see Debbie Bahr or Christine Krupp.

What is our Mission? There are still a few people who have not returned their sheets from the Mission Fest Sunday handout to let us know where they would like to serve. Please do this soon. Thanks to those who have, as we are incorporating them in areas where they may serve the Lord.
Mission Fest Follow-On – We will be looking at “Courageous Churches: Refusing to Decline, Trusting in the Lord to Grow.” This program focuses on change, as well as encouraging commitment and effort on the part of individual disciples of the Jesus’ Church.

The Men’s Bible Study continues to meet on Thursday mornings at 10am.

The Altar flowers roster chart is available on the elevator door in the Narthex. Now is the time to use flowers or plants from your garden to give to the Lord on Sundays. You do not have to be a professional flower arranger – the Lord is happy with your special gift.

On April 21st the St. Matthew Drama Group presented the mystery dinner theatre “And so They Had None”. “Well Done!” to all who were involved in this. Not only was the show sold out, but of the 80 people attending, we had 38 visitors who do not regularly attend St. Matthew. What a wonderful evangelism event to let people know where St. Matthew Lutheran Church is. $1,115 was raised for the Lord’s service. Thank you to the Ohio District Church Extension Fund for their financial support towards our costs.

Please continue to pray for those who are ill or home-bound: Ardie Meilander (Texas), Kathy Schroeder, Jean and John Alspach, Joan and Jon Fahrney, Luke See, George and Eleanor Krueger, Alice Weichman, (Marblehead) and Kim Montgomery’s sister, Debbie Kendren (Florida), Pat and Warren Novotny, Sushila Mangla, Mel, Chester Zarzecny, Luther Marquart, and Gertrude Hicks (Phyllis Yousko’s Mom). The Lord Jesus gave us this wonderful gift of PRAYER. Let’s use it now!

Thanks to everyone who donated their socks & cat toys to Operation Happy Socks. Girl Scout Troop 819 has made 250 catnip toys to date! Check out our picture poster in the narthex.

GoodSearch.com – Please continue to do your internet searches through this site. Make sure to select “St Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church (Vermilion OH)” as the group you want to support. You can also use Good Shop while making online purchases for a percentage to go to St. Matthew.

Thrivent Choice Program – We are part of this program and have now received $1041. Thank you to those Thrivent Members who have designated their Choice Dollars to St. Matthew. For all Thrivent Members, please check if you can also be part of this. Go to Thrivent.com and look up “Choice Dollars” or call 1-800-847-4836 and ask about “Thrivent Choice”. This donation can occur repeatedly, so please check again if you’ve done it in the past. Thrivent have asked to hold their Advocate training meeting on June 9 at St. Matthew.

Recycling - Please continue to bring your paper (including card, cereal boxes, phone books, etc.) and aluminum cans for recycling.

Summer Rosters – Now that it is vacation time, please let Pastor know if any changes need to be made to the Roster, so that it can be amended. Please see Pastor if you are willing to join the Holy Dusters (once every 6 weeks), or Jim Dickey if you are willing to cut the grass (once a month), to cover vacation schedules. Thank you.

Offering Envelopes – If you are on vacation, please remember to continue to fill your weekly Sunday offering envelope and bring it when you return, or mail them to the church’s post office box, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 774, Vermilion, OH 44089. This allows us to maintain our weekly budget.

Thanks to those who have already brought donations for the Vermilion Food Pantry. May is our Month to support this outreach. Bring your non-perishable food donations to the table at the front of the sanctuary. Please, see Pastor Karl if you would like to help deliver these gifts to the food pantry at the end of the campaign.

Sunday, May 20th – Last day of Sunday School for Spring Term. Teachers and students will be recognized during the service. Also, Please come and join us for the Ice Cream Social and Lunch after the service. This will be an opportunity for fellowship. Please see the sign-up sheet in the narthex.

Sunday, May 27th – No Sunday School – Memorial Day Weekend

Saturday, June 2 – Ladies Friendship Tea (formerly known as the Mother-Daughter Tea). Invite your family and friends for a fun time of fellowship. Starts at 3:30 PM. Tickets are $5. See Aimee Holmes or Lisa Gallo for tickets, and check the sign-up sheet in the narthex for donations of food and door prizes. All ladies welcome. Entertainment/Speaker to be announced.

Sunday, June 3 – Worship Service time changes to 9:30 AM for June, July & August.

Sunday School Teachers Meeting after the worship service. The VBS will be one of the topics.

Sunday, June 30 – BBQ Chicken Dinner. Tickets will be available soon. See Debbie Bahr to help, and check the sign-up sheet in the narthex.

July/August events for your calendar
July 15 Outdoor Service at Mill Hollow with Picnic and Annibirthday, at 9:30 am. (Family Ministries (FM) and Evangelism and Fundraising (EF)). Thank you to Brian Holmes for booking the Amphitheatre and Shelter for us. We will be having a collection nearer the time to help cover the costs. Please make a note of the amended date on your calendar.
Thurs. July 26 Adult and Children’s Vacation Bible School Event at Schoepfle Gardens (FM). More details will be forthcoming.

August 5 Friendship Sunday with brunch after the Service (EF). This is a chance to invite your friends and families to a special service celebrating friendship and our faith in God.
August 25 Annual Rummage Sale and Bake Sale (Updated date). Please start putting aside your rummage sale items.

For your information:
Budget needed each week (approx.) - $2000 ($8000 a month)
January Income: $10,204.07
February Income: $7,272.06
March Income $10,560.80
April Income $10,862.17
Year to Date: Received: $38,899.10, Needed: $32,000 (+$6,899.10)*
Thank you to everyone for your continued support and giving.
Acts 5. v. 32, “Now the company of those who believe were of one mind and soul.”
*Please note that this report does not include our expenditures. This will be included in a
forthcoming financial report, as agreed at the Church Council meeting in February.

Healing Service – We will continue to hold this service on the third Sunday of each month. Thank you to all those who have let us know how much they have appreciated this Service of Healing.

Please continue to invite your friends and family to all of our services, fellowship and community outreach events.

We hope that everyone received the update of our Financial Action Plan from the Stewardship Group. If you did not receive a copy or have any questions, please see Jeff Krupp or Pastor Karl. Thank you.

Thank You to all who regularly serve on the Servants of the Church Roster. If you are interested in serving in any capacity, please see Pastor Karl.
A special thank you to Christine Krupp for typing the Newsletter and Rosters for Pastor Karl.

Upcoming Events for your Calendar:

September 2 Return to 10:30am Service (no Sunday School)

September 9 Sunday School Kick-off 9:30am, Outdoor Service 10:30am After Service Lunch and Annibirthday for July-September) (FM)

September 16 Children’s Sunday – Children assist with Service (FM)

October Food Pantry Month (Everyone)

October 7 Sunday School sponsored Bake Sale (FM) (meet at Church October 6 to bake cookies/cup cakes)

October 24 Bratwurst Dinner and Game Day Basket drawing(EF)

November 18 Casserole Lunch and Pie Auction (need 20 pies) (EF and FM)

November TBD Thanks for Giving Cookie Tray with invite to Church/Sunday School to nursing homes, etc. (EF)

December TBD Christmas Caroling (EF)

December Salvation Army Tree and collecting hats, scarves and mittens for the “Coats for Kids” collection for Vermilion School Children

December 8 Cookie Walk and Candle Sale (EF)

December 9 or 16 Sunday School Christmas Play, Cookie/Coffee Fellowship 9:30am (FM)

December TBD Dramatic readings or special music for December?

NEW CHURCH CONTACT DETAILS:
The Eriecoast email addresses are no longer valid as the company went out of business. Please update your records:
Pastor’s Email address: stmatthewlutheranvermilion@yahoo.com