There was a fairly good turnout of dedicated parishioners and three guests at the Annual Meeting on January 29. We reviewed the past year and took a peek at what’s coming down the road in 2012. Jack Curtis presented a challenging budget that will be a stretch to meet. But St. Matthew’s folks always have a way of getting things done. Where there is any need, it gets met. Elections were held for Vestry, Day School Board, and Diocesan Convention Delegates:

Vestry – Mary Cruz, Jan Ragsdale, Karon Bonnell
Senior Warden-Karen Lang
Junior Warden-Gary Niccum (again!)
Day School Board – Charles Smith and Mary Niccum
Delegates to Diocesan Convention-Natalie Reeve and Jennifer Plunk (Alternates are John McGarr and Cindy Theis)

The ECW Silent Auction was a lot of fun and raised $911. Many thanks to all who donated devotional books, note cards, pottery, paintings, aprons, mittens, figurines, coffee sets and pies, cakes, cookies, peanut brittle, brownies, jam and heavenly homemade bread! I finally bid enough this year to win a loaf of real live bread made at home with loving hands AND a plate of Cindy Theis’s chocolate chip cookies! Oh rapture!

Members volunteered to chair events for 2012. You might want to mark these dates on your calendar now! If you want information about any of these events you may contact the church office or the chairperson: February 21-Pancake Supper, Hal Cree; February 29-Lenten Soup Lunch (also March 7,14,21,28), Karen Smith; March 24&25-Bishop Mayer’s visitation, breakfast or reception, Autumn Smith; April 7 or 8-Easter egg hunt and party-Michelle Ragsdale; April 8-Easter breakfast-Mark Lang; May 13-Rogation Sunday-John McGarr; July ?-Wizards and Wonders II (Harry Potter VBS)-Jan Ragsdale; August 19 or 26-Parish Picnic,-Charles Smith ; September 23-St. Matthew’s Day Celebration TBA ; October-Stewardship/Every Member Canvass-Craig and Lysette Letz ; October 25-27-Diocesan Con-vention, Gary Niccum; November 11-St. Martin’s Day coat drive and soup lunch-Karon Bonnell & Jennifer Plunk; November 22-Thanksgiving Day dinner-Natalie Reeve ; December 2 or 9-Advent breakfast- Diana McGarr; December 23-Children’s Christmas Pageant-Autumn Smith; January 6, 2013-Epiphany celebration-Jennifer Plunk & Karon Bonnell

January is now behind us and it is time to take a deep breath and jump into a very busy year with the promise of God’s blessing. Remember, God is in the details….and everywhere else.

Gracious Giver of good gifts, thank you for allowing us to discover the spiritual gifts you have given to us, gifts we use even when we are not aware of them as gifts. May we now work more intentionally to use them in meaningful ways for furthering the Gospel Amen

Linda

P.S.- This didn’t make the January newsletter. A heart full of thanks to all of you, my friends in Christ, for your very generous Christmas gift. It will be well used.