Anno Domini 2025 January 18

Beloved of the Lord:

Today is Saturday, 18 January, in the year of our Lord 2025. The scheduled services are as-follows:

• Sunday (tomorrow): 8:30  AM, Deacon's Liturgy, Epiphany II.
  10:00  AM, Mass, Epiphany II.
• Monday: 10:00  AM, Mass, Saints Fabian & Sebastian, Martyrs.
• Tuesday: 6:30  PM, monthly Parish Requiem.
• Wednesday: 12:10  PM, Mass, S. Vincent of Saragossa, Martyr.
• Thursday: 6:30  PM, Mass, Saint Raymond of Pennaforte, Confessor, Soup & Study to follow.
• Friday: 9:00  AM, Mass, Saint Timothy, Bishop & Martyr, with the Gregorian Canon.
  Immediately following, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
• Saturday: 10:00  AM, Holy Communion, Conversion of Saint Paul.
• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00  AM, Mass, Epiphany III.

The next few weeks will be quiet, per the Kalendar  ~ a nice respite. However, three weeks from tomorrow, we will begin Pre-Lent, with Septuagesima Sunday. This seems awfully quick, though it isn't, really, as we will have Celebrated five of the potential six Sundays in Epiphanytide. Time marches-on....

One week from tomorrow, we will have the monthly Parish Brunch. After the Ten o'Clock Mass on that day (26 January), we will depart the Parish, and meet at Uno's Pizzaria, in Kiln Creek. We've been there a number of times, and it has always been a positive experience.

Jurisdiction-wise, the next gathering will be a Clericus, in Florida, at S. Martin's Parish, where Canon Sokol is the Rector. It will run over parts of four days, beginning with meetings on Wednesday, 19 March, and ending before Noon on Saturday, 22 March. The final event, on Saturday morning, will be a most joyous one, as Canon Sokol will be Consecrated a Bishop on that day. This will complete our efforts to build a solid base to support the future growth for which we pray, as we will then have Episcopal coverage for the entire South, from Florida to Virginia, and across to Oklahoma.

As I'm certain everyone is aware, I was Consecrated Bishop on 21 December, Ember Saturday in Advent, and the Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle and Martyr. To-date, my Episcopal responsibilities have not interfered with Parish life, nor do I expect them to do so, in the immediate future. As the Convocation of Anglican Churches grows, that will change. Even then, however, Saint Matthew's will remain a clear priority for me.

Last Sunday was held the Annual Parish Meeting, which was a marvel, in several regards. Everyone who has served on the Vestry has heard me say that I dislike meetings, as a rule, and that the more quickly they can be completed the better. I've always striven to keep the 'Annual Meeting to thirty minutes, or less. I've come very close, but, previously, have never met that goal. This time the meeting was opened, fully conducted, and closed, in nineteen minutes! Let us fervently pray that this pattern continues.

Of business, the financial report for the year just-ended, and the proposed budget for the coming year, were the chief items. AD 2024 was a very good year for the Parish. We had an excellent report on income, and we added a number of new, voting members. The reports were accepted, and the budget was passed. The full minutes will be posted on the bulletin board.

In a recent 'Weekly Post, prayer was discussed. Clearly, by the successes of last year, many of you are praying for Saint Matthew's. Our first priority, as a family in God, must always be to pray for our Parish. This year, I would ask that you also, as often as possible, pray for the CAC. We have done all that we may to build the superstructure. Now, please, pray that the people will come. I remain

in His praise,

The Rt. Rev'd T. L. Crowder

Pastor, Saint Matthew's Parish