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“I am confident we can turn this situation around.” Becky Hill reports that “as a band member I have the privilege of observing your smiles and reactions during worship and I know first hand that St. Matthew’s matters to you!” Barb Connor, long time member, points to all the projects that SMLC has been able to joyfully accomplish in the past and says, “I look forward to more exciting and fulfilling adventures in store for our St. Matthews family.” While we consider the situation to require action, we will continue to be a community of hope, living by faith.

We will also be up front with you. Leighton Lien, Treasurer, reports “our actual giving continues to fall further behind the expected/budgeted amount – at the end of June we are now over $34,000 short for 2010 . . . Please realize that [furlough] is a temporary action to get us through 2010.” Chuck Burr, President, says “We have discussed lots of options to make the congregation aware of the looming crisis but have failed to make an impact on increasing giving to make ends meet.” Karla Lassen, a newer Council member, “could not believe what I was hearing from our treasurer when he reported that . . . almost half of our church family is not participating financially to support this church. We cannot go it alone . . .”

This is what furlough will mean. Beginning immediately, all full time and/or salaried employees will take one month off without pay during the last half of 2010. The staff will try to work out a schedule to minimize disruptions, but it will result in less availability of the staff and some discontinued programs. We will save about $32,000, but will need to reevaluate staffing and all programs for 2011.
You will also notice some effects around the church in those places where cuts are possible. We will not water the lawn (pray for rain!) We will minimize worship handouts, cutting the bulletins and Weekly. We will try to limit mailing expenses, and so ask that you sign up to receive this Messenger over the internet if you are able. We intend to cut our coffee service, to serve as a reminder of what is at stake for St. Matthew’s. We do not want to lose our ability to be a place of grace, where everyone is welcome!

We leave the last word to our President, Chuck Burr: “If all of us would just take a moment and reflect on what a great place St. Matthew’s is and what we have to lose, I’m sure that all would agree that it would take very little on all of our parts to keep it. Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated. God Bless.”

We have uploaded some pictures from the event to Flickr. Check them out here:

Sunday June 13th, 6-7:30pm: All Youth BBQ at Coulon Park
All high school and middle school students – come celebrate the end of the school year! Meet and get picked up at Coulon by the tennis courts.
Cost: $5

Sunday June 13th: High School Graduates Recognition in worship
All high school graduating seniors are invited to come with their families to the 11am worship service, where they will receive a short blessing and a small gift and be recognized for their achievement.

Sunday June 20th: 5th Grade Graduates Recognition in worship
All soon to be 6th graders and their families are invited to the 11am worship service, where they will receive a short blessing and be recognized as they enter an important new life stage.

Invest in your youth!
Beginning June 13th, you have an opportunity to invest in our youth who are going this summer to work at an orphanage and school in Tijuana, Mexico. Stop by the table in the narthex to purchase “stock” in our youth. $20 per person, or $40 per family will earn you a ticket to the Fiesta Luncheon on August 22nd, where you will have a chance to enjoy some Mexican food and hear more from the students about the trip.

Friday May 7th: Nerf Night IV, 8pm -8am, $5.

Saturday May 8th: Help assemble corsages to raise money for the Mexico mission trip!  11am at St. Matthew’s.

Saturday May 8th: Just Another High School Play.  Meet at St. Matthew’s at 6:30pm, $5.

Sunday May 9th: No SMACK (Mother’s Day)

Sunday May 16th: Mission trip meeting after 11am service.  SMACK 6-7:30pm.

Saturday May 22nd – Monday May 24th: High School @ Holden Village

Sunday May 23rd: No SMACK tonight (Holden)
Sunday May 30th: No SMACK tonight (Memorial Day weekend)

Click here to sign up for the 2010 Baobab Blast VBS