On Reformation weekend, there will be a chance in worship for everyone to offer their financial commitments for the year ahead. Our stewardship lives, however, go beyond the money we give; we also express our faith in our work, and in our family and personal lives. This month, we highlight some of the staff at St. Matthew and how they think about their lives as stewards.

 

Stewardship Spotlight: Pastor Faye Snyder

This is my Father's world, And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres.”

I was raised with a strong sense of God’s magnificent creation from my earliest days. Growing up in the country, I knew that I was an intricate part of it, that I belonged to God, along with everything around me. Bunnies and pigs, chickens and ducks, along with fields, streams and woodlands, the fluffy clouds in the sky,. It was instinctive in me, to love, respect, and care for God’s creation.

“Feed my sheep.” Love and care for my people. With these words, Years later God called me to seminary, and into the blessed life of ordained ministry. And i have been incredibly blessed in ways I never could have imagined to do ministry with you right here at St. Matthew for the past 14 years. Together we remember that all we have – everything- belongs to God. What we give back is out of joy, gratitude and love for God’s generosity.

In God's Love,

Pastor Faye Snyder

 

Stewardship Spotlight: Jane Lawrence, Office Administrator

I began working at St. Matthew over 20 years ago on what I thought was a whim.  My neighbor told me about a position that was available, just “doing bulletins and a newsletter.” As you can imagine, the position turned into much more than that! Over the years, I would tell people, “Most people can say they work for God, but I really do!” I have always felt that I bring glory to God through my job, and I have felt that in a very small way, I help people in their relationship with God.  Whether it’s putting the bulletins together, listening to and sharing with people who come into or call the office, supporting the pastors and other ministerial staff in their positions, or helping to prepare for the funerals of those who leave us, I have always felt that I was using my time and talents to serve God every day. It has been a great honor to serve God through St. Matthew over the years and I am very grateful for the many friendships that have grown as a result of following the God nudge that led me to this place.

 

Stewardship Spotlight: Tim Peck, Youth Ministry

As a lifelong member of St. Matthew, my roots here run deep. I grew up going to church through Sunday school, confirmation, and all aspects of church life. Honestly, I was one of those kids my mom had to drag to church on some Sundays! I went through all the typical griping about getting up early, but as I got older—and watched my older sister enjoy being active in youth group—I came to truly love it.

My journey into formal ministry started when my oldest daughter, Courtney, reached youth group age, and I began helping out alongside the pastor, a path that continued as my daughter, Kaitlyn, became involved. That sparked a lifelong passion for supporting young people and their families on their faith journeys. Watching them grow, seeing their eyes open to what God can provide, and realizing we are not perfect and God loves us just as we are became the most important part of my life.

After 15 years as a dedicated volunteer and now 5 years on staff, it has been deeply rewarding to watch those kids turn into young adults navigating college, careers, marriage, and children of their own. Today, my own family’s legacy continues here: my wife, Christine, and I were married at St. Matthew, our children and grandchildren were baptized here, and you can still find our grandchildren—Nalani, Willow, and Maverick—active in the life of St. Matt's.

Stewardship is about sharing our gifts, our time, and our hearts. Thank you for letting me share in your kids' and families' faith journeys over these many years, and for supporting the ministries that make this community feel like home.

 

Stewardship Spotlight: Ethan Draper, Minister of Music

Growing up in the church, I was naturally drawn to the music—the hymns, the choirs, and, of course, the powerful sound of the organ. Some of my earliest memories in the church are of wearing a red robe and singing in the Children’s Choir alongside peers with whom I am still in touch with nearly twenty years later. As soon as my legs were long enough to reach the pedals and I could begin taking organ lessons, I knew I had found my home and discovered how I wanted to serve through my career.

While music and worship are at the heart of who I am, I believe the community that congregational life fosters is equally important. I feel a special connection to the community at St. Matthew and a deep sense of calling to serve among this remarkable community of faith.

Although I see myself as one of many stewards of St. Matthew’s life and ministry in my role as Minister of Music, I see myself first and foremost as a member of this community. This is more than a job to me; it is a commitment to a community I call home. St. Matthew offers countless opportunities to serve, from our various ministries and extensive mission work as an outward-focused church to the many opportunities we have to gather in fellowship. Like all of you, I consider St. Matthew home, and I am deeply committed to nurturing and contributing to the life of this community.

 

STEWARDSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Rachael Wright, Communications Specialist

Growing up in a town with no streetlights, community is crucial. Loving your neighbors is something taken very seriously, and was well-demonstrated to me for as long as I can remember. A plate from the church potluck taken to a house-bound senior; a bingo fundraiser to help a family in need; the farm community coming together to help rebuild a barn for a young couple who are both going through cancer. The young couple ended up being my parents, thankfully both still alive and healthy, who raised me in this close-knit community. It may be annoying to never be able to leave your house without seeing everyone you know, but that sense of community has always stayed with me.

The old adage is true, you tend to turn into your parents when you get older, especially when you become a parent. After spending years creating digital content for fashion brands, I left my corporate job in search of using my skills for something community (not commodity) based. Since 2016 I’ve worked for public libraries and churches and I’ve been able to use my background in photography, graphic design, public relations, and grant writing for the greater good of the community. Working for St. Matthew Lutheran Church has been such a blessing. Being able to watch the efforts of this church benefit the community in the huge variety of ways makes this job rewarding beyond measure.

 

 

STEWARDSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Dawn McFadden, Office Administrator

I grew up going to church. I went to Sunday school, youth group, sang in the kid’s choir and squirmed in the pew every week next to my mom and my sister Debbie. I always remember my dad being in the choir and sitting in the choir loft. Mom often told me she thought for sure there would be a hole in the pew after the service with all my squirming.

My earliest memory of giving to the church was of Mom putting a quarter into my white-gloved hand with the instruction to put it in the offering plate in the Sunday school classroom. “Hold onto it tightly,” she would say. I remember taking extra special care of that quarter. I clutched it very tightly until it was where it belonged, in the offering container in the Sunday school room. At that time, it was probably with little white plastic church with a hole in the top (like a piggy bank).

The next memory I have, as a youngster, is of watching my mom fill her offering envelopes with cash before church EVERY Sunday. As she did that, she often told me how important it is to put God first, in our finances. She told me she and Dad had always done that since they were married. They paid God first.

As I grew up, I continued watching her fill her envelopes. I remember her reiterating often how important it is to put God first with money. I remember thinking my parents were loaded because we never went without. In actuality, according to my mom, they had many times they weren’t sure how they were going to “make it.” But they continued tithing even through the lean times and she said “somehow, we always got by.”

As high school graduation neared, we all knew I would be needing a car to get to college. After purchasing the car, I remember being very unsure how I would be able to make my car payment and car insurance each month with my salary as a bakery clerk. Mom stepped in and showed me her “envelope system.” There were four envelopes: Church, Car Payment, Car Insurance, and Spending Money. She told me every time I got paid, I should put 10% into the Church envelope first. “Always pay God first,” she said. Then, based on the number of times I got paid per month, divide out the rest of the check into Car Payment, Car Insurance, Spending Money while making sure, after the last time I got paid from work for that month, there would be enough money in the two envelopes to make the car payment and the car insurance payment. Anything left over after each pay period, was mine to spend. Her way of teaching me was amazing! I always had more money left over at the end of the month instead of the money being gone and the month not yet over.

Today, I have continued to tithe my income. There are stories I could share of God’s faithfulness through the lean times. One of them knocked my socks off! (Ask me. I would be happy to share.) I attribute those “gifts of faithfulness” from God to my continued tithing efforts and telling Him how I am testing Him while I write the check(s). According to Malachi 3, our money is the only place where we can test God. For many years, I have done it and I have found it to be an amazing adventure over and over and over. God’s math does NOT make sense. I say that because I can see my bottom line increase as I go. Living on God’s 90% is always better than living on my own 100%.

 

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we approach the end of our fiscal year and prepare for the November Congregational Meeting and next year’s budget, I would like to update you on the financial condition of St. Matthew Lutheran Church.

This past year has brought challenges, both within our congregation and financially. At the same time, we have been blessed with wonderful gifts and talents. We are grateful for the spiritual leadership of Pastor Nancy Goede, our Interim Pastor, and Ethan Draper, our Minister of Music. Both have become an important part of our congregation, and we thank God for their guidance and ministry.

Last year, the congregation approved a significant investment in new flooring throughout much of the church. Recognizing the impact this would have on our Future Capital Improvements Fund, we launched an appeal to replenish it. I am pleased to report that gifts and pledges have reached $157,875 as of August 26, 2026. Thank you to everyone who has contributed.

We have also recently replaced our more-than-20-year-old air-conditioning system, which could no longer be repaired because replacement parts were unavailable. The project is nearly complete, and the new units are operating more efficiently while also providing backup heat should our aging steam boiler fail.

As of the end of August, our Parish Ministry Giving is $339,234, Miscellaneous Income is $104,462, and our investment draw is $320,557. We are approaching our promised maximum investment draw of $385,000.

These numbers highlight an important concern: we continue to rely heavily on the financial resources left to us by previous generations. While many members give generously of their time and financial resources, we ask each of us to prayerfully consider what we are able to contribute as we face the financial challenges ahead.

St. Matthew has been blessed by generations of members who provided gifts that have enriched our congregation—from our magnificent organ and stained-glass windows to Fellowship Hall and many other ministries. In 2004, we established an investment account with Haverford Trust. Through careful investment, sound financial guidance, and continued giving, that portfolio has allowed us to use more than $3.7 million over the years to support our ministries without reducing the principal.

These resources have helped fund our staff, programs, community and world outreach, and efforts to serve those in need. However, an increasing portion of our investments is restricted by donor-designated purposes. Currently, only 41% of the funds in our care are available for general use. The remainder must be used for purposes specified by the donors, such as scholarships or support of the organ. While these restricted funds are valuable, they cannot be used for essential operating expenses such as staff, utilities, heating, or air conditioning. Consequently, our unrestricted resources are being depleted more quickly than in previous decades.

I share this information not to discourage us, but to help us understand the financial challenges before us as we prepare our next budget. These are unusual times for household and congregational finances alike, and our future will depend on the continued generosity and stewardship of our members.

Please keep St. Matthew in your prayers, as we continue to pray for our members, our community, and our country.

In Christ,

Bob Curlen

Treasurer