Folding of the Palms - 04/20/24
The tradition continues at St. Matthew with the folding of palms. Our youth are becoming quite the pros!
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St. Matthew's Sunday School program collected donations to support the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center for our Lenten Outreach Project this year. The parish generously donated an estimated $1300 worth of items to help fill the Grassroots pantry and the children sorted and helped deliver it. The Sunday School also made cards to wish the residents a happy day!
On February 5th we were blessed with a Hierarchical Liturgy with Metropolitan Tikhon. In the Narthex, His Beatitude was greeted by the youth of our parish with flowers and icons. Additionally, he was presented bread and salt. He vested in the sanctuary. Joining Fr. Constantine for the liturgy were: Fr. Chterion Z., V. Rev. Joseph Woodill, Dcn. Peter Ilchuk, Dcn. John J., Sdn. Lawrence Basalyga, Sdn. Patrick T., Sdn. Alexander Woodill, as well numerous adult and youth altar servers.
During liturgy our Sdn. Michael was ordained to the Diaconate by Metropolitan Tikhon. It has been a long journey for Dcn. Michael. In fact 30 years ago, His Beatitude was Dcn. Michael's instructor at seminary. Dcn. Michael's family came to witness this important step in Dcn. Michael's life. Axios! May God Grant Dcn. Michael Many Years! Please pray for Dcn. Michael and his Service.
After liturgy, there was a celebratory luncheon. It was a joyous gathering for our parish and Dcn. Michael.
The OCSM Sunday School gave a beautiful performance of the story of Christ's Nativity on Sunday, December 11. The production included 27 children, and in addition to acting out the Nativity, the kids sang beautiful hymns including Of the Father's Love Begotten, O Who Loves Nicholas the Saintly, and the Troparion and Kontakion for the Nativity of Christ. You can watch the video of the Pageant here.
Our Sunday School celebrated St. Nicholas Day with a festive and fun workshop. The kids baked cookies, made ornaments, heard the story of St. Nicholas, brought gifts and goodies to residents at St. Matthew House, decorated the Parish Christmas tree, and had a special visit from St. Nicholas!
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The Sunday School hosted an Easter Egg Hunt on May 1st for the Sunday School children. A good time was had by all!
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Our Beloved Protodeacon Sergius fell asleep in the Lord on March 16th, 2022. Fr Sergius joined Saint Matthew in March of 2011, and was raised to the protodiaconate on Holy Saturday, 2017 by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon. His obituary details a life dedicated to the Orthodox faith.
We were blessed to have Metropolitan Tikhon with us to serve for the Panikhida. His heartfelt Homily can be viewed here.
Our resident Iconographer Wayne blessed our parish with a new icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh, written in remembrance of Protdeacon Sergius. Fr. Constantine presented the icon to the parish after liturgy on March 27th. The scroll is inscribed with "through the fiery trial the gold is revealed"
Memory Eternal!
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St Matthew Sunday School Christmas Pageant
The St. Matthew Sunday School children performed a beautiful Christmas Pageant after Liturgy on December 12th. Such a wonderful celebration of the birth of Jesus, and we were especially blessed to both have in-person attendance as well as a live stream for those unable to attend. The children were incredible! You can see the live steam of the pageant here.
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Our 2021 GRASSROOTS Giving Campaign has completed. We had a very successful campaign. The generosity of our St. Matthew family continues to amaze. Our parish donated $2,600 in gift cards! This will be such a help those to with great needs during this Christmas season.
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September 11 Commemoration - 09/12/21
We remembered the victims of 9/11. Subdeacon Michael and Father Constantine arranged a fitting memorial setting at the entry to the church. Father Constantine included many remarks about 9/1l and the victims in his moving sermon. At the end of the liturgy, we held a memorial prayer. Several members of the parish read the names of those who perished that day. May their Memories be Eternal.
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On Sunday, July 18th, our Parish was blessed to worship with Metropolitan Tikhon and visiting clergy. Deacon John was ordained and Readers John and Luke were tonsured. It was a glorious day, thanks be to God!
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During Metropolitan Tikhon's visit, he also bestowed his blessing on four parishioners, Gus P., Tom L. Beth J., and Wayne H., who were acknowledged for their dedicated service to the St. Matthew community. Congratulations!
Undaunted by COVID-19, the Parish held a virtual Chili Cook-Off this year. We had good participation, and some unique varieties of chili! We look forward to coming together as a Parish next year to participate in this event, sponsored by Junior FOCA!
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3 Bean Chili Rolls - the rolls are the best part! |
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Beautiful Chili in a beautiful bowl!. |
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Father C. has his own methods for making Chili! |
P.O. Box 2003
Columbia, MD 21045
Columbia, MD 21046
Sat
14Dec5:00 Great Vespers
5:30-7:30 - Salmon DinnerSun
15Dec9:15 3rd Hour
9:30 Divine Liturgy
Sunday School Christmas PageantThu
19Dec7:00 pm Parish Council Meeting (Virtual)
