Sundays at 10 am · Details

  36 New Canaan Rd., Wilton, CT 06897  ·   (203) 762-7400  ·       Give

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
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Meg's Ordination to the Priesthood

Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,

I'm so glad to share with you the wonderful news that our former seminarian, Meg Stapleton Smith, has been given a date for her ordination to the Priesthood. This such an important moment in Meg's life - and such a gift to all of us who have loved her and supported her along the way.

Godwilling and the people consenting, Meg will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests in Christ's one, holy, catholic and apostolic church at 6:30pm on February 14th, 2023 at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Bethel, CT. I hope you'll all mark your calendars and plan to attend - we're fortunate that it's going to happen so close to us! I know that many of you will want to go and support Meg with your prayers and presence that night. My heart is heavy with the truth that I may not be able to be there, so it will do me good, too, to know that you are there in person to love and support her.

There's one other concrete way that you can help support her, too. There are many different customs and practices around ordination, but one of them is for a community like ours to buy the vestments that Meg will put on at her ordination. Not only will she wear the white chasuble and stole that night, in her first moments as a Priest, that set will travel with her throughout her ministry. Each time she puts it on, she will be reminded of you, of her time here, of what she learned from you, and how much we love her. I can tell you from my own experience that this tangible symbol of love that I carry with me is both a comfort and an inspiration.

You can contribute to this gift for Meg by clicking here. Mention in the gift field that your gift is for Meg's ordination. You can also mail in a check or put a check in the plate on Sunday, please mention in the memo line that it is for Meg's ordination. By giving her this last gift, help us continue to raise her up. Also, please find a time in the next few weeks to sign the book in the Narthex that we'll give to Meg along with her gift. You can share with her your prayers, wishes, memories of her, and gratitude.

I'm glad to say that Meg will be with you some in the coming weeks while I'm on leave. So, you will get to celebrate with her and congratulate her in person. I know that all of you who know Meg will rejoice with me in the gift that she will be to the church. If you're newer to our congregation and don't know her, I hope you'll take this chance to introduce yourself to her and get to know her. I know she'll be happy to meet you.

Know, too, that I give thanks for the gift that you - the community at St. Matt's - have given the church in Meg by forming her, welcoming her, and loving her in this place. It is a gift to us, of course, to have had Meg among us, and it is also a gift to her and to the larger church that you have been her companion on the way. God's love truly is abundant when we share it together. Thank you for all you do.

Faithfully,

--Marissa +


Tags: Welcome from the Rector

Sermons

  • Mar 19 | The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
    Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 19, 2023
  • Mar 5 | The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
    The Second Sunday in Lent: March 5, 2023.
  • Feb 26 | The Rev. Dr. Meg Stapleton Smith
    The First Sunday in Lent: February 26, 2023.
  • Feb 22 | The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
    Ash Wednesday: February 22, 2023.
  • Feb 19 | The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
    The Last Sunday after the Epiphany: February 19, 2023.


St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
36 New Canaan Rd., Wilton, CT 06897
(203) 762-7400

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Service Times

Sundays at 10 am

Holy Eucharist Rite II
Church School & Nursery Care during worship


Location

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
36 New Canaan Rd.
Wilton, CT 06897

Contact Us
(203) 762-7400

Newsletter Signup

Visit Children & Youth Service Times Getting Here

St Matthew’s is a community of disciples and we are on a journey together. We are called to participate in God’s mission. We learn and dream, worship and pray, laugh, cry and serve together. St. Matt’s is a place where we learn about God and learn to be disciples. It’s a place to call home. A place to belong. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome.

Welcome from the Rector

At St. Matthew’s, we are committed to cultivating a faith-filled space that warmly welcomes all, as we seek to grow in our knowledge, love and pursuit of Jesus and his way, together. We believe our Children and Youth, rooted in Christ, are equipped to start leaving their mark in our communities and across the world.

Learn More

Sundays at 8:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II
A quiet, informal service held around the Altar

Sundays at 10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II with choir & organ (September–June)
Church School & Nursery Care during worship

Summer (July and August): Sundays at 10:00 am (click here for details)

Learn More

We are located at 36 New Canaan Road in Wilton. After you park your car, walk ahead through the walkway to the courtyard, and we our sanctuary is located on the left side of the complex.

Our parish office is located in the middle building connecting St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and Wilton Presbyterian Church, and you can enter through the door marked Parish Office in the courtyard.

Directions
Give Now Pledge Flowers Amazon Smile Rector's Discretionary Fund

“For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you” (1 Chronicles 29:14, NRSV)

Many Episcopalians know this line of scripture because we say it in our Eucharistic liturgy every week. It reflects our deepest understanding of thanksgiving and stewardship - God gives us everything! When we give to God, others, and the church, we are really giving back what is originally a gift from God. We are all stewards of the resources, abilities, and opportunities that God has entrusted to our care, and s caretakers of these gifts, we support our church and God’s mission by using our time, our skills, and our financial resources.

Donate Now Learn More about Giving

A pledge is a spiritual promise, a commitment to the life of a faith community, a commitment to which God calls each one of us. Pledges help with orderly financial planning and they make possible all the programming and fellowship that we enjoy together, including: children’s and youth ministries, music, building operations and maintenance, clergy and staff compensation, mission engagement, fellowship, and much more. YOU are the heart of St. Matthew's. Your generous gift makes all of our programming possible.

Make a Pledge Pay 2022 Pledge Pay 2023 Pledge

It is the tradition of St. Matthew’s to use fresh flowers at our altar every Sunday for worship as well as other special occasions. Prepared by our Flower Guild, you may sponsor the flowers on a date of your choosing in memory of a loved one, in thanksgiving, or other purpose for a suggested donation of $75. Those named in memory or in thanksgiving are also included in the prayers of the people on that Sunday. Following worship, our Petal Pushers deliver the flowers to members or friends of St. Matthew’s, bringing our prayers from our altar to their home.


Flower Donations

Your Amazon purchases can help to support St. Matthew's! For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to St. Matthew's!

How to Set Up Amazon Smile

Title III, Canon 9, Section 6(b6), of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church (2015) is generally interpreted to mean that, at a minimum of one Sunday a month, the loose offering at the Holy Eucharist is designated for the clergy discretionary fund. Congregations may wish to set aside a budgeted amount for the discretionary fund in addition to or as a substitute for the above method. Congregations may designate that all fees or gifts received for weddings, funerals, and baptisms are contributed to the discretionary fund. Individuals may also contribute to the fund with occasional gifts.

Rector Discretionary Fund