Anno Domini 2024 December 31

Beloved of the Lord:

Today is Tuesday, 31 December, the final day of the secular calendar, in the year of our Lord 2024. The scheduled services are as-follows:

• Tuesday (today): 5:30 PM, Mass, S. Sylvester, Bishop & Confessor.
  6:30 PM, Evensong.
• Wednesday: 12:10 PM, Sung Mass with incense, the Feast of the Circumcision.
• Thursday: 6:30 PM, Mass, Octave Day of the Feast of S. Stephen, Protodeacon and Protomartyr. 'Followed by Soup & Study.
• Friday: 9:00 AM, Mass, Octave day of S. John, Apostle & Evangelist.
  Immediately following, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
• Saturday: 10:00 AM, Mass, Octave Day of the Holy Innocents.
• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 Am, Mass, Vigil of the Epiphany.

We have not only survived, but done quite well during this particular Season of Holy Days (from which is derived holidays). Of-course, we will very soon plunge-into Epiphanytide, followed even more quickly by Great Lent. Thanks be to God for the Kalendar, which keeps us focussed-upon those things that are needful for our salvation and health.

Speaking of the Kalendar, our 2025 Ordo Kalendars are now for sale. They are still only $15.00; please see Charlotte Haden to get your copy, and those you wish to purchase for gifts ~ they make wonderful tools for the teaching of the Faith.

Our Annual Parish Meeting is just-under two weeks from now. It falls on Sunday, 12 January, in the year of our Lord 2025. On that Sunday, there will be only one Mass, at 10:00 AM. The Parish Meeting will be held in the Nave. Afterwards, we will stroll down the hallway, to the Parish Hall, where we will enjoy another wonderful meal prepared by all y'all.

I repeat again my thanks to the people ~ who are the Parish ~ of Saint Matthew's, not only for the immense and generous aid rendered for- and during my Consecration to the Episcopacy, but also for the love and support rendered to me during the time that I've been both Interim and Rector of Saint Matthew's. This July will mark the Fourteenth Anniversary of my arrival here ... time doth indeed fly.

My Consecration is not mine alone, but belongs as-much to the Parish as it does to me. Without the continual encouragement of a strong and healthy Parish, no man may ever be Consecrated a Bishop, nor should he be, if he cannot do his part to support such a relationship. Congratulations to all of Saint Matthew's, for having done your part in promoting another Heir to the Apostles, to sustain and govern His one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I remain

in His praise,

The Rt. Rev'd T. L. Crowder

Pastor, Saint Matthew's Parish