Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew (SsAM)

Seeking to know and love God in every person, here, now.

  • Welcome
    • News & Upcoming Events
    • Online Calendar
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    • eMail Sign Up
    • Welcome to SsAM Booklet
    • Worship at SsAM
    • Sunday Documents: Leaflet, Bulletin, Weekly Vision, Readings
    • Our Unique Approach to Music and Liturgical Design
    • The use of Expansive (inclusive) Language at SsAM
    • News of Our City, Wilmington, Delaware
  • Who We Are
    • Diversity
    • Clergy
      • Rev. David Andrews
      • Rev. Canon Lloyd S. Casson
      • Rev. Emily Gibson
      • Rev. Peter Huiner
      • Rabbi in Residence Douglas E. Krantz
      • Sermons
    • Father David’s Blog
    • Vestry
      • Vestry Statements, Photos
      • Bernard Fisher, Treasurer, CPA
    • Vestry View
    • Staff
      • D-L Casson, Church Administrator
      • David Christopher, Music Director
    • Children’s Ministries
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      • YYF Blog
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    • History of the Parish
      • History, Diocese of Delaware
      • History of Slavery in Delaware
      • History of Wilmington Garden Day
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  • What We Do
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  • Music
    • Choirs at SsAM
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    • Drumming Circle
    • Music Staff
      • David Christopher, Director of Music
      • The SsAM Staff Singers
      • Jonathan Whitney, Director of Drumming Circle and Artist in Residence
      • Tina Betz, Director of Children’s Chapel Music
      • Berna Holcomb, Music Librarian
    • Artists in Residence
      • Jonathan Whitney
      • Delaware ChoralArts
    • Our Approach to Music and Liturgical Design at SsAM
  • Katherine Esterly Organ
    • Organ Events 2019-2020
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How We Do Church in the Age of COVID-19

FATHER DAVID’S BLOG OF 3/27/2020:

“If you are searching, you must not stop until you find. When you find, however, you will become troubled. Your confusion will give way to wonder. In wonder you will reign over all things. Your sovereignty will be your rest.”
(Gospel of Thomas, saying 2)

Part of my morning practice is to reflect on an ancient text such as the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, or a text such as the Gospel of Thomas. This practice, this sacred reading of the text, is also known as Lectio Divina and is an ancient spiritual practice that I highly recommend and in fact will be offering via Zoom beginning in the next couple of weeks.

What strikes me about this saying is the first two sentences: “If you are searching, you must not stop until you find. When you find, however, you will become troubled.” At the moment many of us are searching for answers to our questions and the answers to our questions are not readily available to us at the moment.

In the Book of Common Prayer there is a wonderful prayer that the priest or celebrant says at the service of Holy Communion at a funeral. I am always moved when I say these words in this prayer:

“For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended.”

Life has changed and not ended are appropriate words to describe where we find ourselves today. To be completely honest with you, I am scared with the increasing spread of COVID-19. Sadly, it is only a matter of time when someone we love will test positive with the virus.

We are all searching at the moment and I have a feeling that through this difficult time we will be changed as individuals and how we do church.

How We Do Church

What I mean by how we do church is more than Sunday morning worship.

As so many have said, this is a time for the church to truly be the church, which means that church is so much more than the physical building. It is praying daily for one another. It is picking up the phone or writing an email to someone to let them know that you are thinking of them. It is taking a walk with someone while practicing social distancing yet still connecting with them.

When we are able to return and worship as the larger community it will be glorious but no doubt we will have been changed. That change, as the text above from Thomas says, might confuse us because during this time we might have to live differently and develop new habits that are meant now to keep us safe but in the long run might lead to us leading healthier and more faithful lives. One thing for sure is my faith is growing even in this age of uncertainty and I hope yours is as well.

So my friends, please take care of yourselves. Please know that I am as well. You remain in my prayers always.

Thank you as well to members of SsAM who have reached out to me expressing concern about our live streaming during this time of COVID-19. For this week Emily and I will celebrate communion from the rectory at 10:00 Sunday morning, March 29.

Peace,
Fr. David

Go to SsAM’s Facebook page to see live streaming of services.

We will celebrate a virtual Holy Week.

All of Fr. David’s posts.

The top quote is one of the wisdom sayings of Jesus from the Gospel of Thomas, one of the Gnostic Gospels unearthed in Egypt in the middle of the 20th century. For more about the Gnostic Gospels, I invite you to Google for more information.


Prayer for People Critically Ill or Facing Great Uncertainty

God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to all
who wait or work in uncertainty.
Bring hope that you will make them the equal
of whatever lies ahead.
Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you.

-Adapted from New Zealand Prayer Book, p. 765

Worship Services Via Video

We are worshiping together via video on Facebook and YouTube. Click here to learn more about Sunday and weekday services!

25th anniversary logo for the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, Wilmington, Delaware

NEWS

Worship With Us Via Video

Use Facebook or YouTube to worship with us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.! Coffee Hour follows using Zoom (but not on Palm Sunday or Easter … [Read More...]

Sunday Coffee Hour at 11:00 a.m.

Coffee Hour resumes Sunday, April 11 at 11:00 a.m. VIRTUAL COFFEE HOURS on Sundays immediately following 10:00 a.m. worship. The Zoom … [Read More...]

Prayer Services at SsAM

Prayer Services at SsAM on Facebook Live and Zoom Click here to see our Facebook Live page. You can watch  these services (and our … [Read More...]

SsAM Presents: Upcoming Events at the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew

Upcoming Events: Our building is closed but we are busier than ever! Our next 25th Anniversary Event is Sunday, April 18, at 3:00 … [Read More...]

Thomas answered him — My Lord and My God! (John 20:28)

FATHER DAVID’S POST OF 4/9/2021 — Thomas’ confession of faith in the Risen Christ comes at the conclusion of the Gospel that we will hear … [Read More...]

Mother’s Day Bake Sale

Saturday, May 8, 11–3, Curbside, 719 N. Shipley Street. Drive up to the curb in front of our church between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on … [Read More...]

SsAM Men’s Fellowship Begins

In the first months of 2021, SsAM formed a Men’s Fellowship Ministry for the purposes of promoting fellowship among the men of the church … [Read More...]

Feed The Hungry

Please make a donation to a local food pantry! Children and families in our community are going hungry. You can help! As the … [Read More...]

Monthly Walks for Justice and Peace

First Fridays at 5:30 p.m. Next walk is May 7. Since June 19, 2020, members from SsAM and other churches have been showing up for silent … [Read More...]

Get The Vaccine!

COVID-19 VACCINE SCHEDULING Requests for appointments for Delaware Division of Public Health vaccination events are now being taken … [Read More...]

Racial Justice: Continuing the Conversation with Three Wilmington Churches

The members of three Wilmington Churches continue their collaboration on issues of racial justice on Sunday, March 7, at 3:00 p.m. Please … [Read More...]

Volunteer To Serve On The Vestry

Our church is looking for four new Vestry members to serve three-year terms beginning in June, 2021. Is that you? Someone you know? The … [Read More...]

Please Make A Donation

You can make a one-time donation or set up a donation that repeats weekly or monthly. A click on the button will bring you to a secure … [Read More...]

See all the News & Upcoming Events posts

Sunday Services

We are worshiping together using video over the Internet. Click here to learn more!

Sunday worship services are at 10:00 a.m. Morning and Evening Prayer are also offered, on other days.

Visit Us

Our church is closed at the moment, but when we can open, even partially, our address is

719 N. Shipley Street
Wilmington, DE 19801

with free parking weekends and evenings next to the church at 713 N. Shipley Street. Click here to learn more about parking and directions.

OUR MISSION

To be an inclusive Christian community which worships God, follows Christ in all aspects of our lives, and serves the Greater Wilmington area through actions and ministries which promote peace, justice, reconciliation and empowerment for all people.

Contact Us

PHONE: 302 656-6628

EMAIL: Click here to use our email form.

FACEBOOK: Click here to see our Facebook page. You don’t need a Facebook account to see it.

YOUTUBE: Click here to see our YouTube Channel. Some smart TV sets will allow you to stream YouTube, so you can watch in your den or living room. Search for “Saints Andrews and Matthew”.

Are You New to SsAM?

If you are new to SsAM, please click here to see the Welcome to SsAM booklet in PDF format. The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew is a dynamic and diverse congregation in downtown Wilmington, Delaware.

Our Vision

The Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew and Matthew seeks to be a dynamic, spiritual center that is active in the pursuit of peace and justice in the community and a place where all God’s people are honored.

LINKS

  • Worship at SsAM: Sunday Documents, Church News, and More
  • eNewsletter Sign Up
  • SsAM on Facebook
  • Recent Announcements at SsAM
  • Vestry View
  • Invite Welcome Connect
  • Episcopal Church in Delaware
  • Episcopal Church USA
  • Michael Curry’s blog: the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
  • Episcopal Digital Network
  • Forward Day By Day
  • Book of Common Prayer
  • Camp Arrowhead, Delaware
  • Order of the Ascension
  • Congregational Development
  • Father David’s Spiritual Journey
  • Calendar
  • Visit SsAM on Facebook
  • eNewsletter Sign-up
  • Vestry View

Donations Are Welcome, and a Necessity

Our ministries are dependent on financial donations. Click here to make a secure credit-card donation on-line or to learn more about making a pledge, texting a donation, special gifts and memorials, remembering SsAM in your will, setting up debit payments from your bank, and using United Way.

Make An On-Line Donation
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