St. Matt's News


Click for Events Calendar
Add Calendar Feed

Sunday Worship

7:30, 8:30,
& 11:00 a.m.

Education Hour:
9:45-10:45 a.m.

Office phone:
414-774-0441

 

 

Outreach Events

 

St. Matt’s “Fantastic Fall Evening” at Hoyt Park, Sept. 30
St. Matthew’s members, friends, families and neighbors enjoyed the annual Fantastic Fall Fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 30. In addition to having a great time with friends and not having to cook dinner on a Friday night, the event raised money for:

• Kathy’s House, a local nonprofit providing housing to families while their loved ones are receiving long-term, inpatient care at local hospitals

• Kiva, an international organization that provides mirco-loans to individuals in developing countries to start and expand businesses to support themselves and their families

Photos of the event are online [here]

 

Outreach for Hope Family Bike Ride Draws 200
Perfect temperatures, clear blue skies and excited participants, both young and old, combined to make the 4th annual Outreach For Hope Family Bike Ride a resounding success. Pastor Jim Bickel, Director of Outreach For Hope announced preliminary receipts from registrations, contributions / pledges and matching gifts has reached $47,000, with additional funds still being received.

The event, held at Corey Park in Dousman on Sept. 10, brought together 141 bicycle riders, ranging in age from toddlers in burleys to seniors. They represented riders from 33 congregations in the Greater Milwaukee Synod. Plus an additional 10 congregations were represented as part of the picnic and celebration that followed. Riders had choices of a route on the Glacial Drumlin State biking trail as well as 30 or 45 mile road routes. Following the ride, nearly 200 bikers, volunteers and Synod staff celebrated the success with a catered lunch and a highlight of Outreach for Hope ministries and supporters. The program featured OFH congregation, St. Paul's at Wisconsin Ave. and 28th St. in Milwaukee.

The Family Bike Ride has become a signature event for OFH. The event helps support 22 Greater Milwaukee Synod (ELCA) ministries in Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha through funding assistance for a variety of programs that serve communities of poverty. You can still make a donation through the end of September, earmarked for the Bike Ride, with checks made out to 'Outreach For Hope' and sent to 1212 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215. Or you can log on to www.outreachforhope.com and click on “Family Bike Ride” to contribute via credit card.

For additional information about the event or about Outreach for Hope, contact Rev. Jim Bickel (414-671-1212 or by email: jim.bickel@milwaukeesynod.org)

 

Thanks to all who contributed to the Nia Imani Family clothing drive in May 2011
We collected gently used, clean women’s Professional office attire and accessories during the clothing drive. Thanks to all who contributed!

Nia Imani Family, Inc, a nonprofit organization located on 25th and Vliet Street, is a transitional housing program fostering independence for mothers and their children who are recovering from homelessness, family violence and substance abuse. They provide women and children with a safe family setting where they learn personal accountability, life skills, self-examination, goal setting and parenting skills. They have a Dress-For-Less boutique which is mainly a training program for the residents where they learn good work ethics.

They now also focus on providing women entering into the workforce with clothing appropriate for a job interview and the work environment. The Nia Imani website is [here].

 

St. Matt's helps others through collections of many items
Opportunities abound at St. Matthew's for us to help those in need. One of the ways we can do this is through the various collections of food, clothing and other items that are conducted for a limited time or are an ongoing part of our ministry. Thank you for your support of these wonderful ministries!

A list of our current collections at St. Matt's to view, download or print [here].

Please also remember our many recycling opportunities through the Care for Creation team. Information about our recycling collections is [here].

 

ARCW Make A Promise Dinner Gala April 17, 2010
Members of St. Matthew's continued the tradition of supporting medical care, dental care and food pantries for people with HIV/AIDS in Milwaukee by attending the annual Make A Promise Dinner, Dance and Auction on Saturday, April 17 at the Midwest Airlines Center. This festive event celebrated the 25th anniversary of the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin.

The night included a silent auction & cocktail reception followed by dinner and a short awards program. St. Matthew's has been supporting this event for the past five years.

The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin is among the largest and most comprehensive AIDS service agencies in the country. We provide comprehensive health care services and a vast array of social services to more than 3,000 Wisconsin residents living with HIV disease. Through aggressive AIDS prevention programs we make more than 150,000 prevention contacts every year with people who are at risk for HIV.

Mike Gifford of St. Matt's is the Chief Operating Officer of ARCW. Read more about ARCW online [here].

Photos of the 2010 event are below. (Click photo to enlarge.)

 

Benedict Center needs your help
A collection for the Benedict Center has been set up outside the church office. Anything you donate will be most appreciated:

Plan your Shopping: 1st & 3rd Sundays
LWR Fair Trade Chocolate Project Divine Chocolate:
3.5 oz bars $2.75 ea 1.5 oz bars $1.50 ea
Look for the display near the Commons windows on the 1st & 3rd Sundays. Divine Chocolate is made with Fair Trade Certified Cocoa beans grown by Kuapa Kokoo, a 45,000 member, farmer owned cooperative in Ghana. Not only do these farmers receive Fair Trade premiums for their cocoa beans, they are part-owners of the Divine Chocolate brand processing co. Contact Rosie Haas (414-259-1747, or email: rmhaas1@sbcglobal.net)

Mmmm... it’s so good
MT MERU COFFEE is available the 1st & 3rd Sunday in the Commons. Be a part of supporting coffee farmers in Tanzania with “Fair Trade” coffee, which pays the farmers a fair price for their coffee and their living needs. The price of Mt. Meru coffee is 12 oz. @ $9 and 4 lb. @ $40. The Mt Meru Coffee Project has been supported generously by St. Matthew’s congregation, and we thank you for that support. Your purchases of Mt Meru coffee have benefited the lives of many. Try some today. “Justice Never Tasted so Good!”

 

Serenity Inns: Thank for your donations
Many thanks to all who brought in office and school supplies for Serenity Inn. This is a residential treatment program and healing ministry for alcohol and drug addictions. Most residents are moving into employment in 7-8 months.

We also appreciate St. Matthew’s participation in the fellowship suppers once a month. Bill Brown of our congregation has been coordinating this. Please continue coming to share the meal and discussion of leading questions offered by the Inn Keepers. Youth are also welcome as well as younger children. Simply announce their coming in advance. We are very grateful for the combined participation of St. Matthew’s along with many other congregations in support of Serenity Inn’s ministry of healing.