News & Notes

St. Matthew's will serve a hot meal at the Samaritan Center again on Saturday, January 21st. We do this several times a year.  Please consider volunteering to serve the meal and clean up. Your time commitment will be from approximately 12:30 - 3:00pm.  

We are also looking for folks who would like to donate homemade baked goods for us to serve.   We'll also need warm socks, mostly for men, but some smaller for women and children.  Please look for a sign-up sheet at church posted near the kitchen. 

            Thank you!

We're looking for a person or two with some computer skills to assist Sarah Alamond in keeping our website up to date.  If you would be able to help with this, please contact Sarah Alamond thealamonds@yahoo.com

With thanks, The Episcopal Relief & Development has received a contribution in honor of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church from Deacon Shelly. With this gift, chosen for you from Gifts for Life, Episcopal Relief & Development is able to save lives and build hope in communities to help heal a hurting world.

            Drought-Resistant Seeds have been purchased in our honor. A family in need will yield a plentiful harvest.

            Thank you, Deacon Shelly!

If you're out and about taking advantage of those after-Christmas sales and you feel like picking up something for the church:

1. Liquid Hand Soap  We like to put out nice pump hand-soap in our bathrooms.  We can use both girl-y smelling soap and man-soap as well!
2. Pump hand lotion  Hands get so dry in the winter, we also like to have available nice-smelling pump hand-lotion for our restrooms.  It's nice gesture of hospitality.
3. Tea-bags (individually wrapped) Health codes indicate that any tea we serve must be in individually-wrapped tea bags.  If you happen to be by the tea section and see some yummy selections, please feel free to pick up a box for church
4. Kitchen Items  We're always in need of ziplock bags of all sizes for our kitchen as well as cute paper plates and napkins.  Most of our coffee hour hosts bring those items and leave then left-overs, but it's nice to have a supply in stock in case someone forgets.

Thank you!

The Gregory J. Harris Military Courtesy Room opened July 29, 2008 and was established for the use and relaxation of all active and reserve military personnel traveling through the Central New York area. Our military often have to spend long hours waiting for their flights, sometimes overnight, when heading home on leave, moving to a new duty station or returning to their place of deployment. As part of St. Matthew's Outreach Commission, Lisa Sager is heading a project to help provide donated items to the courtesy room that the service men and women can use while waiting for their flights. Non-perishable goods that are regularly needed are Beverages: Powerade, soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled water; coffee, tea, hot chocolate. Snacks: Individual snacks such as chips, crackers and cookies, etc. Breakfast Danishes, Hot Pockets, Ramen Noodles, Chef Boyardee products, individual pizzas, granola bars, beef jerky / Slim Jims, and fruit cups. Comfort Kits: (with personal hygiene items) - deodorant, shaving cream and razors, pocket tissues, toothbrushes, paste, floss, shampoo, Q Tips, powder, Handi-Wipes, hand sanitizer, combs, brushes, clippers. DVD's & books welcomed. Collected items are delivered monthly to the courtesy room on behalf of St. Matthew's. Lisa already has delivered several boxes to the courtesy room.  

VOLUNTEERING: If you would like to volunteer at the Courtesy Room, please see Lisa for an application or the application can be completed on the website, at www.GregHarrisMCR.org and emailed. You will need an e-mail address that you regularly check, as this is the communication mode used with the volunteers. The purpose of the volunteer is to provide comfort, a smile and a positive setting. You probably would make coffee and help keep the area orderly and clean and assist our military however possible. Volunteers are scheduled in pairs; a new volunteer with one of experience. If you are interested in volunteering visit the website. For more information or questions, please contact Lisa Sager, 699-7250.

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS FOR 2011 are on the desk in the hall. Please pick up your copy. Questions? See Sue Turo or call 457-4633 (church) or 622-3235 (home). Thank you.

PARISH DIRECTORIES are on the desk in the hall. Please pick up a copy for your use.

CONTACT INFO? As we begin a New Year, do you have updated information that should be passed along to the office for our records (i.e. new address, phone number or any additional family information)? If so, please contact the office (457-4633) at your earliest convenience. Thank you for helping us to keep our records current.

E-MAIL ADDRESSES If you have an e-mail address you would like added to our parish records, please complete the following and put it in the collection plate or the secretary's mailbox. Thank you.