Upcoming Events

Housing  the Homeless: St. Matthew’s will be housing the overflow homeless guests of Christ Lutheran Church through Sunday morning, Jan. 4. There will be approximately 25 guests. If you are able to help during this period, please contact Linda.

God and Me and God and Family: Pastor Jackson will be conducting “God and Me” and “God and Family” as part of the God and Country Program. “God and Me” is for boys and girls in grades 1-3; and “God and Family” is for boys and girls in grades 4 and 5. An information meeting will be held on January 4 at 2 PM in the Sanctuary and a schedule of the future dates will be given out at that time. If you have any questions or would like to register for this program, please contact Elaine Steele.  Both programs will meet on Sunday afternoons January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 8, and 15.

New Adult Classes: Beginning Jan. 4 the series “Forty/Sixty--A Study of Midlife Adults” will be held at 9:50 AM in the Pastor’s Study. In Room 106 at 9:50 AM, the new class “John Wesley and Our Understanding of Grace” will begin.

New Adult Class: Beginning Jan. 8 an 8-week Bible study on Jesus and the early church-entitled “Invitation to the New Testament” will begin at 7 PM in the Pastor’s Study.

Adult Handbell Retreat: January 10-11 (Alleluia, Mitchell and Peace Ringers)

St. Matthew’s Computer Training  Classes will be conducted on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM, January 13 through February 19, 2009, in Room 202 located in the lower level beneath the Social Hall. Following is the class schedule: Jan. 13 & 15: Windows Operating System; Jan. 20 & 22: Internet Browsing; Jan.  27 & 29: Sending and Receiving E-mail with Attachments; Feb. 3 & 5: Word Processing; Feb. 10 & 12: Excel Spreadsheets; Feb. 17 & 19: PowerPoint Presentations.  We plan on covering the same subjects on Tuesday and Thursday. You can attend either class or attend both classes and use the Thursday class as a review.

Camp Highroad Winter Camp: All 3rd through 6th graders are invited to the Pine Lodge at Camp Highroad Saturday, Jan. 17 through Monday, Jan. 19, for a weekend camp including great indoor and outdoor activities (a bonfire, a movie, a challenge course, a nature walk and much more). The cost is $170 per camper; register online (www.CampHighroad.org).

Hands Helping Humanity Knitting Workshop: Afraid to start those Norwegian mittens or Fair Isle socks because you have to use double-pointed needles? This Jan. 19 class will help you overcome the clumsy feeling of two color knitting on double-pointed needles. We will knit a preemie hat in class on double-pointed needles using two colors. All you need to bring is size 4 double-pointed knitting needles. Yarn and patterns will be provided. This workshop will give you the skills necessary for our February workshop on Norwegian mittens--yes, the mittens that Betty Henderson loved to knit. So mark you calendars for February 16. Call Ruth Ann Harrold at 703-573-5968 to reserve a spot. Bring your own lunch; dessert will be provided.

Club 56: For 5th and 6th graders, Monday, Jan. 19, gather at the Church at 9:30 AM to go to Food for Others.

New Adult Class: Beginning Jan. 25 a class entitled “Christianity of World Religions” will begin at 9:50 AM in Room 106.

Jr.  High Ski Trip: January 26-27; Register with a $25 deposit before January 15 and you will get a 12.5% discount off the total cost. Only a couple youth registered by Dec. 15 and got a 25% discount...Don't miss this opportunity. Ski trip space is limited. Register now. For more information contact Herb.

Handbell Dessert Concert: February 8 (Jubilee, Celebration and Carol Ringers)

Yes, I Believe: Youth Musical, Sunday, February 22 (Chapel Choir)

Sr. High Ski Trip: February 27 – March 1; Register with a $25 deposit before January 15 and you will get a 12.5% discount off the total cost. Only a couple youth registered by Dec. 15 and got a 25% discount...Don't miss this opportunity. Ski trip space is limited. Register now. For more information contact Herb.

Sr. High Mission Trips Themes Lock-In: March 6-7

Adult Handbell Festival: March 27-28 in Richmond (Alleluia, Mitchell and Peace Ringers)

Fan the Flame Retreat: March 27-29 for Youth

Easter Egg Hunt: April 11

Handbell Festival: April 17-19, Riverside Church, New York City (Peace Ringers)

Pink Elephant Sale: April 18 to support Youth Mission Projects

Confirmation Class Retreat: April 24-25

Sr. High Dinner Dance Lock-In: April 24-25

Melody Madness Children's Handbell Festival: Sunday, April 26 (Praise, Joyful and Chancel Ringers)

Handbell Concert: May 3 (All handbell ringers)

The Truth Works: Children's Musical, Sunday, May 17 (Wesley and Altar Choirs)

Sr. High Beach Retreat: May 24-26, Sandbridge, VA

Confirmation Sunday: May 31

Handbell Concert Tour: June 19-29 at the University of Maine (Celebration and Carol Ringers)

Youth White Water Rafting: June 20-21

Appalachian Service Project: July 12-18 or July 19-25 (TBD)

Jeremiah Project: July 19-25 for Week 1 and July 26-August 1 for Week 2

YouthWorks: Puerto Rico, July 26 – Aug. 1

YouthWorks: Philadelphia, August 2-8

Prayer in the Chapel: The chapel is available for prayer throughout the day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, or on Sunday from 8 AM-1 PM. You are welcome to come and pray.

Art in the Chapel: This is a new opportunity for artists, both adults and children, to share their spiritual expressions of faith through art. We will display artwork in any medium that represents the artist's inspiration. The art is displayed in the Chapel for a month at a time and includes the artist's name and a brief description of the feelings that inspired the piece. Currently visit Bill Moberly’s display entitled "A Glimpse of God's Creation Through the Lens of William Moberly". If you would like to display a piece of art in the Chapel, contact Cindy Gorgone at (703) 591-0474.