Welcome to the announcements section! This section of the website will be used to keep you informed of what’s happening at St. Matthew. We will be listing concerts and events, as well as, closings and cancellations. So, check back frequently.

Guests, Visitors & Friends
YOU ARE INVITED!

If you are reading this and are not a member of any church or congregation or are looking for a church that is the “right  fit”, please accept this
invitation to join us again at St. Matthew Lutheran Church for Worship and Sunday School.

Sunday School is scheduled for Adults and Children at 10:00 a.m. 
Our Contemporary Worship is held at 9:00 a.m.,
with the Traditional Service at 8:00 a.m.
and the Festival Service at 11:00 a.m.
Child care with "parent pagers" are available for infants to age 4 yrs. during all worship services.

Stop by the Welcome Center in the lobby as you enter from the rear parking lot. 
Someone will be happy to help you.
Hope to see you soon!

Sunday School at St. Mathew...a long tradition.  One little known fact in the history of St. Matthew Lutheran Church is that it started as a Sunday School for the children in the west end of York City.  A few years later, worship services were added and the church we know today was born.  Throughout the uninterrupted 125 year tradition, Sunday School classes for children, youth and adults have been the norm.  Today, in addition to classes for new born children through grade twelve, seven different classes help our adults continue to learn from the ancient Biblical text and learn ways to apply those principals to everyday life.  In addition to class time, classes also take advantage of opportunities to serve our church, the community and missions throughout the world.   
We also have a new Young Adults Class offered for those whom just graduated from high school, are going to college, starting a vocation or still deciding.  You are welcome to come and meet downstairs in Room 12 at 10:00 a.m.  Join this  group for discussion and Bible study.  Teacher, Ben McIntyre, promises a worthwhile result for the simple step of joining in something new.

Our Sunday School classes will collect Peanut Butter & Jelly for the month of September.

UPCOMING SUNDAY SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

  It’s that time again to return to our regular routine and make a commitment to attend and bring our families to Sunday School.
September 12-Children and Youth Sunday School Promotion Sunday There will be no lesson time. We will be meeting in the auditorium with singing, offering and the orchestra.
September 12-SCS Teacher Installation at 9:00 & 11:00 a.m worship services.  Special recognition and commitment of teachers to serve.
September 19-First Graders Receive Bibles at 9:00 a.m. worship service only.  Bibles will be presented by Kindergarten Teacher, Miss Donna, who has taught these young children this past year. 

Youth Group is for all youth 7th through 12th grade.  Find out for yourself why so many youth attend to join in fun, fellowship and crazy games.  Participate in service projects, shore trips and Bible study.  Be a part of our prayer circle and learn that YOU are important to the group, but, you’ll never know until you "try" and "participate" and we will never get to know you until you do.  Be a part of it!!

In order to attend any retreats and the National Youth Gathering, you must be an active member of the League.  This means attending at least one (1) event or meeting per month AND helping with Fair Parking and other fund raisers.  If you have a conflict because of school or sports, please feel free to talk to Danelle prior to missing the event.  Thanks!

Friends are always welcome! 

Kids’ Kingdom welcomes ALL new 3rd. Graders

Kids’ Kingdom is a youth group for students in grades 3 through 6.

This group usually meets once per month.  You will receive a monthly newsletter to keep you informed of the activities. 
Activities include fun, service, trips e.t.c.  You never know what the "e.t.c." may be!!!Join the fun and fellowship. 
Friends are always welcome if it is okay with your parent(s).  Your parents are welcome to come to activities and events if you would like them to do so.  That is your decision. 

Your lead advisors are Mr. Jon & Miss Debbie Frey, with help from Mr. Kevin and Miss Karen Herman and Mr. Charlie and Miss Tracy Bollinger too!

We hope to see you there beginning in September

Our first event will be our Kids Kingdom Kick-off on Sunday, September 26th
We will be heading to Lake Tobias Wildlife Park.  We will meet at the Youth Center entrance at 1:00 p.m. Be sure to eat a lunch before arriving. 

We will travel approximately one hour to Fisherville, a small town north of Harrisburg, near Halifax, PA.  Drivers will be needed.  Parents are asked to contact Miss Debbie if you can provide transportation. 

Admission to the Park will be provided by Kids’ Kingdom.  Please bring money to stop for a fast food supper on the trip home.  We will leave the Park at supper time.  Stop for supper and head back to the church. 

Cell phones will be available for youth to call parents to give an approximate time of arrival back at church.  Lake Tobias is a zoo and includes a petting zoo.  The reptile building is closed for the season and would cost extra.  The safari is also an extra cost and time won’t allow us to add that to our day. 

We will see African lions, bears, tigers, alligators, 4:00 p.m. feedings, monkeys, kangaroos, zebras, wallaby, cougars, baboons, peacocks, tortoises, llamas, little horses and more.  Animals are free roaming.  You may pet them, but please DO NOT  chase them. 

FOR OUR NEWER MEMBERS

What is "Nawakwa" you ask!! Translated, the word means "Camp in the Woods".  the camp is a Lutheran Church Camp in Arendtsville, Pa. near Gettysburg.  For over 50 years, the St. Matthew Congregation, of which YOU are now a part, has gathered for a retreat at this camp over the Labor Day weekend. 

Beginning Friday evening with get-acquainted activities, announcements, devotions and snack, the retreat runs through Monday morning with closing worship. 
Between Friday and Monday, campers staying in cabins, lodges or campers, have fun, fellowship, meet new friends, attend sessions each day on a "GREAT" Topic, attend worship at beautiful locations and of course EAT!!

You may register for the entire weekend, 1 or 2 days or you can commute and just visit.  

 In August, envelopes will be opened by lottery to assign housing.  Please be sure to fill in your choices in order of preference.  The lottery system has worked very well for two years and we thank everyone for their cooperation.  About 2 weeks before camp, those registered will receive a mailing containing a lot of information needed for preparing to attend the retreat as well as a schedule of daily happenings.  There will be activities on Friday evening, so plan to arrive as soon as you can.  There will be food for those arriving early, so you don’t have to leave camp to go for supper.  There will be a snack later in the evening after our activities and closing devotions. 

Don’t miss a thing because 2010 promises to be another great retreat.

"A New Beginning-A New Attitude"

According to the American Red Cross (Mississippi), there are still in excess of 5,000 homes that need repaired due to Hurricane Katrina which occurred 5 years ago this August.  Presently there is no federal funding left for the homeowners of these homes.  Volunteers have stopped going to the Gulf Coast because a lot of people do not realize the help that is still needed for these victims. 

How can you help?  Join the Biloxi Brigade for it’s next mission trip. The trip is planned for October 9th through October 16th.  We are in need of volunteers to make this trip.  The trip will be a little different this time due to the closing of Camp Biloxi.  We will be staying in Camp Victor in Ocean Springs MS.  Parents are also invited and now allowed to bring their children over the age of 14 years old on the trip. 

We have 30 airline tickets reserved for this trip and we have 10 people signed up so far.  Please prayerfully consider joining the Brigade to help those less fortunate living on the Gulf Coast. 

Final airline reservations must be made by the last week in July, so please contact the church office or Denny Reigart to sign up for this mission trip. 

Grief Share is a friendly, caring group of people who with the direction of a facilitator will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences.  The goal of this ministry is to provide ongoing, effective ministry to people in our community who are grieving the death of a loved one.  You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. 
The Grief Share program will be built around three components:

 Video Seminar
 Support Group Discussion
 Personal Study and Reflection. 

You’ll gain access to valuable Grief Share resources to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life. 
A weekly program for those dealing with grief will begin on Tuesday, January 5th 2010 here at St. Matthew.  The morning sessions will begin at 9:45 AM to noon and the evening sessions will begin at 6:45 PM until 9:00 PM.  This is open to anyone dealing with grief.  Members of the church and the community are welcome.  You are welcome to begin attending the Grief Share group at any session.  Each is "self-contained." so you do not have to attend in sequence.  You will find encouragement and help whenever you begin.  You will be able to continue with Grief Share through the next cycle and view any of the videos you have not seen. 

Those in need, please call the church office at 717-845-2721

GRIEF SHARE WILL NOT BE MEETING IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, BUT WILL RETURN TO THEIR REGULAR SCHEDULE ON SEPTEMBER 7.

Articles and photographs for the next issue of  ST. MATTHEW TIDINGS are due Monday, October 4, 2010

Send information to stmatttidings@yahoo.com or

deliver a hard copy to the church office

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE AS OF JULY 1, 2010

You can still sponsor or purchase a hymnal for just $20.00 each and payment, cash or check, is expected at time of ordering. You may also stop by the church office Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (closed 12:00-1:00 PM). 

We still have 152 hymnals available.