Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew (SsAM)

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

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Where are you in your Lenten observations?

We are now at the third Sunday in Lent, halfway through the Lenten season, with Holy Week and Easter less than a month away. A mid-point in any activity is always an opportunity for review of the current moment and the chance to look ahead for course corrections.

Where are you in your Lent?

For some, Lent is much like New Year’s Resolutions, intentions are good but life moves quickly on and so does the intent. For others, it’s a mix of day-to-day attempts to follow a Lenten practice that’s hit and miss; for still others, it’s nothing in particular.

Whether you have long, short, or no experience of Lent, it isn’t really about giving up chocolate but rather the renewing of, or the beginning of, a relationship with God in Christ with the Holy Spirit. Too often we have an old idea of Lent as hiding away in the dark and drear of a spirit-less dungeon counting our sins like we count those nocturnal sheep. Instead, it is a time to reflect on ways to re-organize our spiritual closets, clean out the cobwebs, discard all that no longer fits, and try on some things not worn for a while that hang there waiting to be noticed.

One way to approach these next few weeks is to pick one small thing to do, and do it. Try one or two chapters of Proverbs each day. There are 31 very short chapters and you have to love a book of scripture that contains surely I’m too stupid to be human. See if you can find it ~ without Google. Or maybe it’s to re-read the appointed Sunday scriptures throughout the week as you ponder the sermon. Try thinking through each part of the Sunday service as it happens with a fresh perspective. Or, simply set a few minutes each day for prayer.

The Book of Common Prayer is an amazing resource that we use in our hands all too infrequently. A priest friend of mine was sending a text about something in the Prayer Book and it auto-corrected to “Power Book.” “YES,” she said, “that’s what it is!”

You can also go online and search for prayers for a specific topic, or pick up a Bible and read through a few Psalms such as Psalms 23, 62, 121, or 139. I’m closing this with my all-time #1 favorite prayer. It was written by Thomas Merton, a Trappist Monk who lived a wild and worldly life before choosing to enter a cloistered monastery where his wise abbot encouraged him to write. And, thankfully, write he did!

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.” ~ From: Thoughts in Solitude by Thomas Merton

Over the next few days think about what kind of spiritual development you want for your soul and test out various ways to see what might work for you. There are uncountable numbers of pages on Facebook with meditations, prayers, etc., for you to discover and taste, pick up a Forward Day-by-Day booklet at the Church, or explore ideas that libraries hold. There’s no right or wrong way to do Lent if you are truly interested in growing closer to God, or if you think you want to try. Lent is less about giving up and more about taking on fresh ways of walking toward Christ. So what you think about the simply human prayer shown above as you put one foot in front of the other each day?

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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 usually worship God on Sundays at 8:00 and 10:30am, Click here to learn more.

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NEWS

Worship God with us in downtown Wilmington, Delaware

You are invited to worship God with us in person on Sunday at 8:00 or 10:30 a.m. in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. The 10:30 a.m. service … [Read More...]

Clergy Transition – Our Search for a New Rector

June 2, 2023 — Throughout the month of June we will be welcoming our semi-finalists to visit SsAM. In those visits, they will get to know … [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

Worship God with us this Sunday, June 11 at 8:00 or 10:30 a.m. Click here to learn more about worship services at the Episcopal Church of … [Read More...]

Scholarships Available for SsAM Members

The deadline is July 15, 2023 to apply for $1,000 college scholarships. The Community Advocacy Committee sponsors scholarships for students … [Read More...]

Vikings, Grimaces, and Cobble Stones

A reflection by Danny Schweers for June 2, 2023. As Vikings cheered, riders grimaced their way over the cobblestones and up Monkey … [Read More...]

Children’s Chapel continues on June 11 at 10:30am.

Children’s Chapel will meet on June 11 at 10:30am. Chapel is usually on every second and fourth Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in Crypt … [Read More...]

Steps to Peace and Justice

Discussion Series on Peace, Justice, and Race, Third Wednesdays at 6:30pm via Zoom. by Norwood Coleman, Sr. For the next few months on … [Read More...]

First Friday Walks for Justice and Peace in Wilmington, Delaware

The next walks are on Friday, June 2 and July 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the SsAM parking lot, 713 N. Shipley Street. Join us for this peaceful, … [Read More...]

Chris White Art Gallery and Shipley Artist Lofts.

Edward Loper Jr. receptions at Chris White Gallery, 5-9pm, Fridays,  July 7 and 14. Here are three chances to see “Wilmington 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 this Sunday. 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

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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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