Acolytes

Our acolytes serve God and His Church at each service offered at St. Matthew’s.  Through their dedication and service we are all provided with the opportunity to “worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness.”  If you feel called to serve as an acolyte please contact Fr. Charles.

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild serves God and His Church through the ministry of preparation.  Though they are rarely seen the Altar Guild is constantly at work behind the scenes to ensure that everything is prepared for worship.   Additionally, the Altar Guild takes care of the sacred vessels and altar hangings.  If you feel called to join this ministry please contact Kathy Amick.

Brotherhood of St. Andrew

Frequently call “the hood” at St. Matt’s the Brotherhood of St. Andrew is a dedicated group of lay men who meet together monthly and undertake projects of service.  The Brotherhood serves both this parish community and the wider Spartanburg Community.  Each member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew dedicates himself to the discipline of:  prayer, study, and service.  If you feel called to join this ministry or would like more information please contact Doug Hubbell.

Chalice Bearers/Lay Readers

These are dedicated lay people who serve our parish by assisting with the administration of Holy Communion and in the leading of the Wednesday evening Healing Eucharist.  Chalice Bearers are trained by a member of the clergy and licensed by the bishop, The Rt. Rev. Andrew Waldo, for this specific ministry.  Lay Readers are trained by a member of the clergy and and lead the first half of the Wednesday evening Healing Eucharist.  Lay Readers also preach at the Wednesday evening Eucharist.  If you are interested in either of these ministries please contact Mary Margaret Richards.

Cheyenne River Episcopal Mission

Since 2004, St. Matthew’s has been supporting the work of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in White Horse, South Dakota. White Horse is located on the Cheyenne River Reservation, home of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, in central and northwestern South Dakota. We have assisted with school supplies, Christmas gifts for the children of the village, and blankets and coats for both young people and the elderly.  In the summer of 2005 we sent our first mission team to White Horse and offered Vacation Bible School to the children of the community.  We continue to send teams periodically and keep in regular contact with many members of Emmanuel Church.  Please contact Fr. Rob Brown if you want to know more about this ministry.

Daughters of the King

This is a lay order of women who are dedicated to the service of God’s world and commit themselves to a life of prayer, service and evangelism.  The motto of the Daughters of the King is “Magnanimiter Crucem Sustine” or “with heart, mind, and spirit uphold the cross.”  If you feel called to this order please contact Helen Pettit.

Education for Ministry (EFM)

The Education for Ministry (EfM) program, sponsored by the Sewanee School of Theology, University of the South,  provides people with the education to carry out that ministry.  The seminar group is the nucleus of the Education for Ministry program. A group consists of six to twelve participants and a trained mentor who meet weekly over the course of a nine-month academic year. These meetings are usually from two and a half to three hours in length.  The program is 4-years long, but students enroll for one year at a time. Participants in the EfM program study the entire sweep of the Christian tradition from the earliest period to the present. Participants learn the disciplines of biblical exegesis and interpretation, systematic theology, church history, ethics, liturgics, and scetical theology.  Through study, prayer, and reflection, EfM groups move toward a new understanding of the fullness of God’s kingdom. This process can be illustrated by a two-rail fence. One rail is the Christian tradition. The other is the collective experience of the group’s members. The rails are linked by fence posts which represent the seminar sessions where life and study meet. The fence is grounded in the soil of regular worship which is vital to the life of the group.  For more information, please contact Susan Pretulak.

Food Pantry

The St. Matthew’s Food Pantry is a vital ministry in the Spartanburg area.  Each week 75 families come to the church on Wednesday afternoon to go shopping in our miniature supermarket.  This ministry is supported by a core of dedicated volunteers and donations of food or money.  Though only 75 families can go through the supermarket each week no one is turned away empty handed because emergency food boxes are supplied.  In addition to the operation of the supermarket each Wednesday throughout the week people volunteer to acquire food and organize the pantry.  If you are interested in this ministry please e-mail us and if you are in need of food assistance the Food Pantry is open from 3-5 every Wednesday afternoon.

Hospitality

Hospitality is a vital part of the St. Matthew’s worldview.  Each member of the parish is responsible for being an ambassador for Christ at St. Matthew’s and in daily life.  There is a group of people who work hard to ensure that each visitor, and member, feels welcomed and invited.  This dedicated group of lay people organize the two Sunday coffee hours, new comer dinners, receptions for special events, and our annual St. Matthew’s picnic, complete with a water fight.  If you are interested in serving God by assisting with hospitality please contact Rosemary Moore.

Lay Eucharistic Visitors

These men and women are specifically trained by the clergy and licensed by our bishop, The Rt. Rev. Andrew Waldo, to take Holy Communion to parishioners who are unable to attend Holy Eucharist at the church.  If you, or someone you know would like to receive Holy Communion and can not come to St. Matthew’s or if you would like to become a Lay Eucharistic Visitor then, please contact David Rutledge. 

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

There are two NA groups that meet at St. Matthew’s.   NA meets Sundays at 8:00 p.m. and Fridays at 6:30 p.m.

Network of Care

Provides home cooked meals to parishioners who are sick or bereaved.  Members of the parish prepare the meals, along with reheating instructions, and leave them in a freezer at the church.  When someone requires a meal contact David Rutledge and the meals will be delivered.  If you, or someone you know needs a meal please contact David Rutledge.  If you would like to become involved in this ministry please contact David Rutledge.

Saint Claire of Assisi Needlework Guild

This dedicated group of ladies gathers on Saturday mornings to sew and chat.  The  group has undertaken a number of projects for the parish community and also participates in outreach ministries.  If you would like to become involved in this ministry please contact Angie Painter.

Ushers

Are an important ministry of service here at St. Matthew’s.  Each Sunday morning the ushers arrive before just about everyone else and make certain that the pews and bulletins are prepared for worship.  They also assist with any needs that might arrive during the service and with the collection/presentation of the offering.  For more information about becoming an usher please contact David Pretulak.