Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew (SsAM)

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

  • Welcome To SsAM
    • Guiding Principles, Statements of Mission and Vision
    • News & Upcoming Events
    • Online Calendar
    • Visit SsAM on Facebook
    • eMail Sign Up
    • Worship at SsAM
    • Sunday Documents: Leaflet, Bulletin, Weekly Vision, Readings
  • Who We Are
    • Diversity
    • Clergy
      • Clergy Transition
      • Rev. James Bimbi, Interim Rector
      • Rev. Canon Lloyd S. Casson
      • The Rev. Deacon Clay Brown
      • Sermons
    • Vestry
    • Staff
      • D-L Casson, Church Administrator
      • David Christopher, Music Director
    • Children’s Ministries
    • ECW: Episcopal Church Women at SsAM
    • History of the Parish
    • Member Photos
      • Photo & Video Archive
    • People Who Pray
  • What We Do
    • Services of Worship
      • Sunday Documents: Bulletin, Weekly Vision, Readings
      • Prayer Services at SsAM
      • Baptisms
      • Weddings
        • Wedding Guidelines
        • Wedding Fees
      • Funerals
    • Children’s Chapel
    • Adult Education
    • Reflection Essays
    • List of Health / Wellness Posts
    • Season of Creation
    • Sacred Jazz at SsAM
    • Annual Reports
  • Get Involved
    • eNewsletter Sign Up
    • Volunteer in the Community!
    • Volunteer at Worship!
    • Volunteer Behind The Scenes!
    • Health / Wellness Posts
    • Invite Welcome Connect
    • Financial Contributions and Stewardship
    • Stewardship Posts
    • Pledge Form 2023
    • Member Resources
  • Music
    • Spiritual Music in Wilmington, Delaware
    • Katherine Esterly Organ
    • Choral Music at SsAM
    • Sacred Jazz at SsAM
    • Drumming Circle
    • Music Staff
    • Artists in Residence
      • Jonathan Whitney
      • Delaware ChoralArts
    • Our Approach to Music and Liturgical Design at SsAM
  • Contribute
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Directions

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 ready to follow as the curtain reveals the actors, and the dialogue begins. The lines on page one move quickly and as the actors are speaking, there’s an uneven rustling of yours and several hundred other pages being turned, the spines of the scripts are being pressed down in small waves of sound that obscure parts of the dialogue from the stage as you continue to read along. The play darts along swiftly, page 5, 6, 7, and on and on through to the intermission, picking up afterward until the play ends. You fold the script in half and toss it in a bin on the way out or leave it in the car for a month.

What a silly scenario! Or is it? Those of us attending Church in person do it every Sunday. As the service leaflet replaces the Prayer Book (good news/bad news … watch this space for more on that another time), we have all we need in hand to follow the liturgy easily and conveniently and to know when and what to respond. At the 10:30 liturgy, except for a piece from Lift Every Voice And Sing, we rarely use the hymnal, as the music and lyrics are also provided. Yet, while we read everything as the liturgy progresses¸ perhaps we can let go of reading the Lessons, specifically the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Gospel, in order to simply listen. (Oh, and have you noticed there are slightly different sources of the readings in this season of Eastertide?)

As we verbally respond to the Psalm, naturally we need that in our hands. And, of course, if you have hearing problems, that’s a different matter. Otherwise, here’s a challenge: put the service leaflet in your lap and listen to the readings. You may be surprised to hear a word or a phrase differently when it’s spoken than when you are reading. You may notice more quickly that some of those words and phrases from the readings find their way into the sermon, even the hymns, and those prayers of the people.

It’s time to truly Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s People. Listen to the Word proclaimed. And then, take that service leaflet home and over the following week, read the lessons, and then, read through the words of the opening and ending collects, the words of the consecration, and the other prayers, even the lyrics of the hymns that are specifically chosen for that liturgy.

Sure, much of it is so familiar you can recite many of them but have you really listened and, outside of Sunday, read through them? Think on them. Ponder them in your heart. Offer your thoughts on them in prayer. Discover the Word of the Lord in a new way, again! And you won’t miss the crumpling paper sounds at all.

When Our Worship is over, Our Service to the Lord Begins! (And yes, I’m guilty of leaving my leaflet in the car for a month or possibly longer.)

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:16

_____________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Every week, Christina Brennan Lee writes the Prayers of the People we use in our worship services on Sundays. She also leads weekday prayer services. Click here to see her People’s Prayers website.

Click here to see all the Adult Education posts on this website.

We worship God on Sundays at 8am and 10:30am and offer prayer services other days.

Visitor CardLet us know you visited!

Use our Prayer Request form.

Minister to others in worship services, behind the scenes, and in the community.

We are looking for 100% participation this year rather than a financial goal.

Make a secure on-line contrabution..

NEWS

Clergy Transition – Our Search for a New Rector

SsAM IS NOW RECEIVING NAMES FOR OUR NEXT RECTOR! If you are a clergy person and interested in our open rector position, we invite you to … [Read More...]

The Rev. Deacon Clay Brown

The Rev. Deacon Clay Brown will be ordained a priest on Saturday, February 4, at 11am. He joined the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew … [Read More...]

Worship God with us this Sunday in downtown Wilmington, Delaware

You are invited to worship God with us in person this Sunday at 8:00 or 10:30 a.m. in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. Our newly-ordained … [Read More...]

Welcome To SsAM. You are invited!

SsAM, the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, welcomes you. Come to God’s Table! Come, you … [Read More...]

SsAM Presents: Upcoming Events

Silent Walk for Justice and Peace, 5:30pm on Friday, February 3 Join us for this peaceful, prayerful walk through the center of … [Read More...]

The Extraordinary Life of Rosetta Henderson

An interview with Rosetta Henderson and a digital exhibit exploring her life and accomplishments is now at the Hagley Museum and Library. … [Read More...]

Reflection – Things kept going wrong but that didn’t bother us.

A reflection by Danny Schweers for January 29, 2023. Why did our companionship, in spite of events, continue as cheerfully as ever? Why … [Read More...]

First Friday Walks for Justice and Peace in Wilmington, Delaware

The next walk begins on Friday, February 3 at 5:30 p.m. in the SsAM parking lot, 713 N. Shipley Street. Join us for this peaceful, … [Read More...]

Spiritual Music in Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington Children’s Chorus Teaching Fellowship applications are due February 10. The Wilmington Children's Chorus is accepting … [Read More...]

Children’s Chapel continues on February 12 at 10:30am.

Children’s Chapel will meet on February 12 and 26, and on every second and fourth Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in Crypt Hall. Children have several … [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 this Sunday 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 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
  • SsAM on Facebook
  • Recent Announcements at SsAM
  • On-Line Calendar
  • Annual Reports
  • Clergy Transition
  • 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.

SsAM Logo

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2023 The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew · Log in