ways to grow

Feeling fulfilled at St. Matthew's is about more than just attending one of our weekly Eucharists. Those who feel most connected and nourished also learn in one of our classes and make friends in one of our study or social groups. Explore the ministries that help you grow and build fellowship below.

Contact Julie Mushkin, the Ministry Coordinator, for more information on how to contact the leaders of the ministries listed below that help us grow. 

For many years, the people of St. Matthew's have gathered for regular small-group meetings to discuss and learn a world of theological and scriptural topics and more. During the pandemic, we quickly pivoted to online gatherings, using Zoom for hour-long adult discussion groups on weeknights and on Sundays after the Sunday morning online Eucharist. Now we have settled into a mix of hybrid Zoom and in-person Clingman Forum meetings on Sundays from 1 a.m.-Noon, a Virtual Adult Education conversation on Zoom on Mondays from 6-7 p.m., and occasional Pub Theology gatherings in person, usually on a third Thursday.
One thing is certain: Whenever we gather, in person or virtually or in blended sessions, in which some members gather around a table while others join in via Zoom, we come together collegially to dig into progressive Christianity and issues, the intersection of the news and issues of the day, and the impact of our baptismal covenant on our everyday lives. The team of Susan Brokenshire-Prater, Amy Tidwell, and Robin Garr organizes and hosts these Adult Education groups. fI you are interested in participating in any of them, we invite you to register. We will keep you informed about all sessions via email or text, and you are warmly welcome to take part in any or all. Contact Robin Garr or Julie Mushkin to add your name to the email list. Join us! For more information, visit the link below. 

The biannual Dimensions of Faith Lecture Series at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Louisville, Kentucky, invites distinguished theologians, thinkers, and writers to lecture on the interface of religion and culture to encourage our parish to challenge our minds and renew our spirits. The purpose of the series is to offer intellectually stimulating and provocative forums on social, ethical, and theological issues. It is intended to reflect the Episcopal tradition of being open to diverse points of view.

For more information, visit the Dimensions of Faith page using the link below. 

Our youth confirmation class is composed of seventh and eighth graders who make a six-month commitment to attend class on Sunday mornings, guided by adult volunteers. Each confirmand has an adult sponsor who supports the youth candidate on his/her journey. The curriculum explores all aspects of Christian faith and involves the Book of Common Prayer as well as scripture. We typically have one field trip as well as a confirmation retreat with the clergy.
Our adult confirmation/reception class is held March-May and explores a similar curriculum as the youth, but in a faster pace. Adults who have already been confirmed in another denomination may also be received into the Episcopal Church. Confirmation and reception for youth and adults generally occurs on Pentecost each year. For more information, contact Julie Mushkin. 

Foyer--a French word meaning 'hearthside'--implies the warmth of a close group of friends sharing a common love and concern for each other. There is something about gathering around a table.  We relax, enjoy a meal, get to know each other, and strengthen the bonds of community. That is a foyer group!

Home Foyers
After taking a break during the pandemic, some former members of  the home foyers group are now brainstorming ideas and are excited about getting this social ministry going again at St. Matthew's. We invite individuals or couples of all ages to participate in this wonderful evening of fellowship, food, and good conversation in  parishioners' homes. We usually divide into groups of 7 to 10 people who meet in the home of one of the members of their group each month and share a simple meal, like soup and bread, wine and cheese or whatever works for that specific host. We’re hoping we might even start off this fall with a “Kick off wine and cheese Home Foyers” for  the whole group in someone’s home or the courtyard of Saints Hall.

This Bible study takes place on Monday mornings in the library during the program year. We gather at 10a to visit with one another and ask questions about what is going on in our parishes and in the larger church. At 10:15a, we begin the study with a prayer. We take turns reading through the text and then ask questions together. Examples include the following:
When was it written?
What is happening in the text?
What did it mean for the original audience?
What kind of literature is it?
How does this passage connect with other passages in the Bible?
What does it mean for us?
Where was it written?
What does it tell us about God?
Most of the time, the study is spent asking questions of the text and then searching for answers. This group has been led by at least 3 different rectors and numerous interims. Currently, the Monday Bible Study is reading through Ezekiel.
The Monday Bible Study is beginner-friendly, for we rely on the wisdom of the group to increase our biblical knowledge and understanding. The study ends at 11:00 with the group praying the Lord’s Prayer together. We usually have a Christmas party in December, and in February, we take a field trip to the Temple. Contact Kelly Kirby for more information.

Going Deeper is a group of parishioners  (usually less than 20) who meet for fellowship and support as we participate in various book studies that lead us deeper spiritually. Depending on the study, we may have one leader for the study or several leaders who use a Leaders Guide in a shared leadership. We meet from 9:45a – 11:30a on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, except during Advent and Lent, when the group meets weekly, via Zoom. Starting in October,  we are looking at also having an in-person social gathering  on the first or third Thursday of each month. Our meeting location for this year will be available in the weekly eSpirit. This is our program of studies for September 2023 - May 2024:
September/Fall – meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays. Our book will be The Rebirthing of God, Christianity’s Struggle for New Beginnings, by John Phillip Newell.  
 Advent – meet every Thursday. Our book will be An Apartment Next to the Angels:  Interfaith Imagination, Discernment, Spiritual Legacy, by Melanie-Prejean Sullivan.
January and February – Meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays. We will read Moonlight Sonata at the Mayo Clinic, by Nora Gallagher
Lent – Meet every Thursday. We will once again follow the Living Compass.
Next Spring/Summer – Meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays. Our book will be Church of the Wild, How Nature Invites Us Into the Sacred, by Victoria Loorz.
Anyone is welcome to join us anytime. The beginning of a study is an especially good time to start. We value different perspectives, and we look forward to seeing new members.
For more information, to be added to our group email list for meetings, or to join a Zoom meeting, contact Peggy Woolley or  Denee Bannister.

Women in Conversation is a lay-led conversation group that discusses topics of interest. We meet on most Tuesdays at noon for 1½ hours. The group usually discusses a source, such as a book or podcast, which may or may not cover a religious topic. When we read a book, we discuss a chapter a week. Our conversations often branch out from our chosen source into our daily lives or topics in the news. Ordinarily, we meet at the church, but this year we have sometimes met outdoors or by Zoom due to the pandemic. All women are welcome. For more information, contact Judy Fischer or Julie Mushkin. 

Men in Conversation Breakfast is a group of men of St. Matthew’s that meet the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 8 AM to enjoy a good breakfast and an inspirational time of sharing. The focus is on caring for one another as well as discussing topics of interest and concern. Currently, the group meets at Big Bad Breakfast, 5050 Norton Healthcare Blvd. Please watch the eSpirit for meeting updates and contact John Shelby or Julie Mushkin if you wish to be included in the email notices.

The Ladies Lunch Bunch, open to all women in the parish, meets every month on the third Thursday at 12 o'clock P.M.  We gather at The Irish Rover on Frankfort Ave to enjoy each other, good conversation and a tasty lunch at this local restaurant.  It is not unusual when life-long friendships are formed.
Keep your eyes open for news of our next outing.  Information appears monthly in the Sunday bulletin and the weekly e-spirit.  Join us when you can.  Reservations are of course necessary and can be made with Peggy Enriquez. 

Although there is an intergenerational focus after church, The St. Matthew’s Youth Group will have plenty of opportunities to meet as a smaller group. The Youth Group meets regularly 2-3 times a month for service, social and spiritual engagement. Youth enjoy serving the community at the Food Pantry, performing in the Christmas Pageant, and leading the Youth Sunday Service. In addition to service projects, the youth enjoy creating programming that will foster community at the church. The Youth program is a chance for children to connect with and support each other. We will follow each other’s passions as we look for ways to engage and connect with our community. For more information, contact Lindsy Serrano (lserrano@stmatthewsepiscopallouisville.org) or visit the Youth page below. 

Christian formation for our children in kindergarten through 4th grade is provided using Godly Play. Through this program, we share stories of our faith from the Bible, church history, and our liturgy. We use simple materials in a Montessori-style, allowing all present to be one with the story. Godly Play seeks to give each child the vocabulary to express their inherent relationship with God and encourage their faith journey in our community. For more information, visit the Children's Worship page. 

Skill sharing is a social enterprise gives parishioners and community members a chance to teach about one of their callings—and giving our whole congregation a chance to learn a new skill - while donating money to alleviate poverty and disparity in our city. This year, all proceeds of our Skill Sharing classes will support Simmons College, a Historically Black Community College (HBCC) in Louisville.

For more information about Skill Sharing, visit the Skill Sharing page below. 

It is our belief that each one of us who claim to follow Jesus is charged by Jesus to be ministers, to have a ministry, and to use the gifts that have been bestowed on us by God.  EfM is the basic training that can help prepare us for our ministry.
EfM is an in-depth adult educational opportunity that combines the study of scripture, church history, and theology. The four-year course is intended to help lay church members gain a strong understanding of the Bible with a full year devoted each to the Old Testament and one covering the New Testament. The study of church history covers the growth and development of the church from its very beginning to the recent past. The study of theology helps students develop an understanding of their own beliefs and challenges them to think and study their understanding and beliefs about God and Christ. Students learn to reflect from a theological perspective on issues that face us daily. At the current time, the EfM class meets virtually one day a week, beginning each course year in January through June. EfM then takes the months of July and August off and then meets again from September through November. For information, contact Deacon Harvey Roberts by email (harveyrobertsky@gmail.com).

Book Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 1:00p. in the lounge at the church. There is no need to purchase, as we read from local library book kits. Genres run from fiction to non, history, biographies, mystery and local writers. The focus of the group is lively discussion of the books and any other subject that may present itself. Join us; watch for notices in the Sunday bulletin and eSpirit. Contact Susan Kimbrough or Julie Mushkin for more information.

The library, with its organized collection of materials, provides an accessible and inviting space for study and research for individuals and groups. It circulates almost 3000 books and media to parishioners of all ages. In addition to its Sunday morning hours between and after services, the library is available by appointment.
The library committee is led by librarian Lindsy Serrano. Many parishioners assist with the library’s operation.

The Archives of St. Matthew’s were developed over 35 years ago to collect and organize materials that are part of our church history. The Archives include documents, photographs, oral histories, scrapbooks, reports, minutes, pictorial and other directories. It also includes items in print, media, and ephemera. Some of the material is in digital format, and some historical information can be accessed online.

For more information about the Library and Archives, visit the pages below.