Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew (SsAM)

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

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      • Clergy Transition
      • Rev. James Bimbi, Interim Rector
      • Rev. Canon Lloyd S. Casson
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      • D-L Casson, Church Administrator
      • David Christopher, Music Director
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      • David Christopher, Director of Music
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      • Jonathan Whitney
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Clergy Transition at SsAM

SsAM is in the middle of a clergy transition process.

The Rev. Jim Bimbi, Diocese of DelawareWe welcome the Rev. James M. Bimbi as our Interim Rector.

On Sunday, February 27, 2022, it was announced that the Rev. James M. Bimbi will serve as Interim Rector of the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew until a new rector could be called. His part-time position with us will be for 22.5 hours per week, and he will participate in ministries and administration. The Parish Administrator and Director of Music will report to him. The Interim Rector will preach two Sundays per month. The wardens and vestry will continue many administrative and ministry duties and will oversee all transition activities. The Interim Rector will have no role with the Search Committee and other transition matters. His pastoral focus will be assisting SsAM with growth, vitality and ministries. Fr. Jim will likely be with us six to nine months as we search for a rector. This arrangement allows others to focus on the search for a full time rector while he gives attention to the other matters. To learn more about Fr. Jim, including his March 4 letter to the parish, click here or his photo.

Nominations for the Rector Search Committee.

Serving on the Rector Search Committee is a wonderful opportunity to serve.  The Vestry will begin its recruitment for Rector Search Committee members soon but you can contact us now if you want.  The requirements for the committee will be posted here. The Senior and Junior Wardens will not serve on the Search Committee.

Clergy Transition ChecklistClergy Transition Checklist

Click here or the graphic to see the Clergy Transition Checklist. This checklist comes from the Rev. Martha Kirkpatrick, Canon to the Ordinary for the Episcopal Church in Delaware. As of April 22, 2022, several of the early items have already been accomplished, including choosing an Interim Rector.

SsAM’s Prayer in a Time of Transition

God of love, in this interim time, we pray for our parish family. Grant us genuine self-reflection, patient discernment, and daring faith. May we be imaginative about our future, open in our search and, in all things, knit together in one body through Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Consultant For Transition

Diane E. Pollard is joining our transition work as consultant, in partnership with Bishop Brown. Diane is an experienced consultant from New York City who serves as Vice Chair of the Finance Committee of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. She brings a great deal of work experience at the national church level and with parishes in transition. Diane’s first meeting with the SsAM Vestry was on February 2, 2022.

Eucharistic visits return soon!

If you want to receive a visit and communion, please click here to contact the church office. Eucharistic visitors will follow appropriate protocols to keep you and themselves safe during this time of COVID.

The Rt. Rev. Kevin Brown, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Delaware, USAVitality Workshop with Bishop Brown was Saturday, February 26.

Vitality is more important than growth! That was one lesson from this workshop with Bishop Brown. We examined the nature of growth and vitality, identified the essential vital signs that every parish should know about itself, identified the vital signs for the Episcopal church overall, and discussed various models of “being church”. Click here to learn more.

A Partnership

We encourage each other to trust in the Holy Spirit, and trust in those responsible for the process of calling a new rector — a partnership with the SsAM congregation, Bishop Brown, the Diocese of Delaware staff, and the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church in Delaware.

Sermon Excerpt from the Rev. Canon Martha Kirkpatrick, January 26, 2022

I further invite you to this, as your transitions officer. In addition to being a year of the Gospel of Luke, it is also a year for the Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew to do your own discernment as you seek the clergy person who will partner with you into SsAM’s future. I began by pointing out that all four gospels lead Jesus’ public ministry with their own story about who Jesus is for them in their hearts and in their lives. So what do you say, when people say to you, “Tell me about SsAM”? What do you lead with?

And I invite you hear – hear — what they are really asking you. They are not asking about your social justice work. Though that is important and necessary, it’s being done in a lot of places. They are not asking about the great people you meet here; they can find social community in a lot of places. In world of so much spiritual hunger, a hunger so deep people don’t know what they are really hungry for, what people are asking you is “how do you find God here?” “Where do you see God at work?” “How is the Holy Spirit empowering your life through this community?” And their deep question is: “Can I find God here, too?”

People know in their deepest places that the world offers all sorts of bogus substitutes to soothe that hunger. People want what is real. They want to know what is in your heart, and they might not ask it again, ever. And that, my brothers and sisters, is your particular moment of Gospel proclamation. How do you see, proclaim, and participate in God’s healing work in the world in this part of the Body of Christ, this community of Saints Andrew and Matthew? And how do you shine that light in this broken and hurting world so others can find God here too?

Worship services on Sundays are in-person and via video, at 8am and 10:30am. Prayer services via video are offered on other days.
Click here to learn more about Sunday and weekday services of worship and prayer.

Ask Others To Pray With You
Click here or the button above to use our Prayer Request form.

Volunteer for a Ministry
Be part of a worship service, work behind the scenes to make the church hum, or reach out to the local community.

Support Our Efforts Financially
You can make a secure on-line donation using your credit card, make a pledge, or make other contributions.

NEWS

Worship with us this Sunday!

You are invited to praise God with us in-person and via video on Sunday at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. is when we … [Read More...]

Reflection – May We All Be One

I was starting down a different path for this piece. And then the news of the school shooting in Texas hit and on the heels of the horror in … [Read More...]

First Friday Walks for Justice and Peace in Wilmington, Delaware

  First Fridays at 5:30 p.m. starting in the SsAM parking lot These walks are a public display of our belief that society needs … [Read More...]

Scholarships Available for SsAM Members

Deadline: July 15, 2022 The Community Advocacy Committee is again sponsoring scholarships for students entering college in the fall of 2022 … [Read More...]

SsAM Presents: Upcoming Events

Here is a list of upcoming events at SsAM or recommended by our church. Worship This Sunday You are invited to praise God with us … [Read More...]

Dr. Joseph E. Johnson Recognized by City of Wilmington, Delaware

Highlands Elementary School has been re-named for Joe Johnson. Highlands Elementary School was re-dedicated and re-named for Joseph E. … [Read More...]

Music Concerts in Wilmington, Delaware

Postponed: Music of America Concert by Delaware Choral Arts Due to illness, the DCA concert scheduled for May 29 has been postponed. The … [Read More...]

2022 Walk to End Epilepsy

Run with Team Johannes on June 4, 2022 at Glasgow Park. Valerie Chow shared the following: What is epilepsy? Is it contagious? What … [Read More...]

Johannes Chow wins Earth Day recognition

Johannes Chow, a 12-year-old seventh grader at Brandywine Springs School in Wilmington, was recognized for the video “We Have Only One … [Read More...]

Reflection – We All Deserve A Chance

by Mary Lou Edgar. Many of you know that I worked in adoption and foster care for my entire career. May is Foster Care Month and I … [Read More...]

Support For Ukraine

Episcopal Migration Ministries Episcopal Migration Ministries welcomes refugees, educates communities, and mobilizes congregations to … [Read More...]

National Issues and the Episcopal Church

Women’s Health May 7, 2022 — Since 1967, The Episcopal Church has maintained its “unequivocal opposition to any legislation on the part of … [Read More...]

Reflection – Listen to the Word Proclaimed

Imagine yourself at the theater, you've settled into your seat, ready for the curtain to open. You have your script of the play open and … [Read More...]

See all the News & Upcoming Events posts

Worship Services

We will be delighted if you worship with us in-person or via video on Sundays at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Click here to learn more!

Visit Us

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.
Office Hours
Monday – Thursday, 9:00 to 4:30
Friday, 9:00 to 1:00

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
  • YouTube Service Videos
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  • Recent Announcements at SsAM
  • Clergy Transition
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  • 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
  • Congregational Development
  • Calendar
  • Visit SsAM on Facebook
  • eNewsletter Sign-up

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

Our main focus is ministry, not money!
We offer a host of ministries for which you can volunteer. You can participate in worship services, help make the church hum, or offer your time and talent to the local community.

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