Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew (SsAM)

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

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To Make Ourselves At Home program from the Order of the Ascension

Here is an invitation to participate in a program offered by my friends, the Rev. Robert Gallagher and Ms. Michelle Heyne from the Order of the Ascension. I hope all members of SsAM will take the time to read what Robert and Michelle are offering to parishes around the country at this time as we continue to stay home. If you have any questions or want more information, please contact me, Father David.

THE PROGRAM:
To Make Ourselves At Home

On the Feast of the Ascension, members of the Order of the Ascension gathered on Zoom for prayer and conversation. Our Presiding Sister, Michelle Heyne, OA, offered a quote from Father Richard Benson, SSJE.

We must [develop the] habit of at once jumping into our place and finding ourselves at home in it, just as much at home there is anywhere else. … The religious life is not to be a dreamy dissatisfaction with the present state of things, it is not to be a mere not knowing what to do next because things about us are as they are, but it is the consciousness of being able to make ourselves at home under all circumstances and able to turn everything that happens to account. This is what the religious should be – ready; ready but not fussy. —Fr. Benson, SSJE

He is of course correct that one of the tasks of those of us in the Religious Life is “to make ourselves at home in all circumstances.” And to turn that to good account. It’s also the task of every Christian.

The Idea:

The idea for this program emerged after about a month into the nation’s (the world’s) efforts to cope with the pandemic. We noticed an increase in people talking about feelings of loneliness and hostility. For some who lived alone there was an increase of anxiety and depression; for others it expressed itself in excessive drinking or suicidal thoughts. For people who lived with others there was too much togetherness. Both conditions set loose feelings of anger and resentment. And the impact of the pandemic came on top of an already existing decline of close friendships and a growing increase of political polarization. Then came an economic recession and protests over policing and race.

We begin with hostility because it may be the easiest force to see. We all experience hostility. Hostility within ourselves. Sometimes expressed toward others. Hostility directed at us. In these times it may seem that the hostility is on the increase.

The Focus:

The relationship among loneliness, solitude and hostility in my spiritual life. How as Christians we can “make ourselves at home under all circumstances”–including in times of isolation and loneliness, division and polarization, illness and death.

Learning Objectives:

1) To increase my understanding of the spiritual dynamics
2) To learn a few traditional methods of the spiritual life
3) To learn a broader spiritual map

Join Us On Zoom.us

ZOOM: We will gather from parishes across the country on Zoom.
DATES: September 10, 17, and 24, 2020
TIME: 1:00 pm Eastern; 12:00 pm Central; 11:00 am Mountain; and 10:00 am Pacific
EACH SESSION: Will last between 50 and 75 minutes.

PARTICIPANTS: The invitation is being extended to all parishes in which a Professed Member of the Order of the Ascension is involved.
REGISTER: No later than September 1, 2020. Please use the contact form on this website to let Fr. David know your interest. He will forward your email to Robert and Michelle, who will reply to you by email.
FEE: There is no fee
ADVANCE WORK: You’ll be asked to read two or three pages before each session and to consider the issues and questions offered in the reading. The readings will be made available six days before each session.
EACH SESSION: Each session will include –
Prayer
An exercise in which you consider the theme in relation to your life
Small group sharing (share only what you want to share)
A presentation with conversation and Q&A
EXPECTATIONS:
1) Participants need to access the session through a Zoom invitation that will be sent out at least one day prior to each session. You need to have both the video and sound active. We want to be able to see all the participants and have them see one another.
2) The meeting site will be open about 5 minutes before we begin. Please be on time. We will close the meeting at 5 minutes after the hour.
COFFEE & TEA: Made just as you like it, by you, at home
PROGRAM LEADERS: Michelle Heyne, OA & Robert Gallagher, OA.
THE ORDER OF THE ASCENSION: Is a dispersed Benedictine community of the Episcopal Church, founded in 1983. Click here to learn more.

OTHER LINKS:

Learn about our video worship services.

All of Fr. David’s posts.

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
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NEWS

Worship with us this Sunday!

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Reflection – May We All Be One

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First Friday Walks for Justice and Peace in Wilmington, Delaware

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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

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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
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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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