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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The teaching of the Church.

Dear friends and members of St. Matts,

As Christians, we are called to live out our faith and live by our conscience in the public square. This has been true since the very beginning of the Jesus movement. In fact, at the heart of the movement is the outward facing command to "love our neighbor as ourself." If living out that commandment has been important in your life, there have doubtless been times when you struggled with others, yourself, and the system that we live in. We can't separate our faith and our responsibility as Christians from the world around us. Instead, we have to try to see the world and our neighbors through the lens of our faith, navigating our relationship with God and community while trying to live authentically. This is a tall task. None of us gets it right all the time. And the Episcopal Church is a big, wide tent. We believe profoundly that each person is gifted with an intimate relationship with God - which puts you in the driver's seat of your faith. I can be your companion, your community can support you, but ultimately your faith is your own to navigate. That's why there's a multitude of opinions on any number of things in the church.

Having said all that, as Episcopalians we believe that we are guided by scripture, tradition, and reason. The teachings, or the doctrines of the church, are founded on this traditionally Anglican understanding - that scripture and tradition have much to teach us and that our God-given reason and intellect can continue to help us discern God's will as we live into ever more modern questions.

Some of you have asked me this week about the Episcopal Church's stance on Roe v. Wade. And so, I'd like to take a moment here to point you all in the direction of that answer, again, with the caveat that we are all charged with navigating our own faith and our own conscience. There are two documents that some of you may wish to read: the first is a statement originally made by the Episcopal Church in 1967 and reaffirmed in 1976. The second is a slightly expanded, slightly more nuanced Resolution that was passed at General Convention in 1994 and continues to govern our life together today.

Both of these documents will communicate primarily two things:

  • As Episcopalians, we believe in the sanctity of life. We believe that God gives us life and that each person is made in the image of God. We believe in honoring life, cherishing it, and helping all people to experience the fullness of it.
  • And the Episcopal Church has taken a strong stance on the fact that a woman has the right to make this and all decisions about her own body. The Episcopal Church is unequivocally opposed to any legislation that would limit a woman's right to make her own informed decision.

This is the teaching of the church. I am grateful for it. In our weekly discussion with our Bishops on Wednesday, our Bishops described this as being "a middle way," and "both pro-life and pro-choice." As they are our chief pastors, I think it's important you hear their voices as well.

I know that this is a difficult, loaded, often triggering subject. And that it is swirling around us right now. I know that for some, this will feel a weightier, more personal issue. I know that some of you are hurting. So, please, if you need someone to talk to, if you have questions, I can be available to sit and talk, to meet on Zoom, or just for a phone call. Please don't hesitate to be in touch.

I hope you'll read through the two links above and spend some time thinking and praying about this if you haven't already. Or even if you have. Whether you have strong feelings or you don't know what to do or how you feel, you can take all of that to God in prayer. And if I can be a companion, I'll be glad to do that. We are all called by our faith to engage in important conversation, and to actively love and serve our neighbor, to be mindful of our neighbor's needs in the ways that we live, work, vote, and pray.

These are difficult days for so many reasons. And joyful days, too, as the year begins to conclude there are many reasons to celebrate. I hope you will continue in this Easter season to see the world through the lens of your faith. And that you will always make that commandment, to love your neighbor, a central part of your life. God loves you. And so do I.

Faithfully,

--Marissa +


Tags: Adult Formation

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