Pentecost Celebration
On Saturday 10th May, the eve of Pentecost, the city centre churches are holding a special ecumenical celebration with an outdoor service at 2.30 pm on the steps of the City Hall and in the evening at 7.30 at the Salvation Army Citadel on Psalter Lane. The preacher will be the Right Revd David Hawtin and services will include music and drama. Please support this event.
May Day Sponsored Walk
Pat West has kindly agreed to take part in the Annual Christian Aid May Day Trek. Sponsors are warmly invited. If you would like to sponsor Pat please sign the form at the back of the church
Balloons
Balloons for Pentecost are £1.30 each. If you would like to order one please sign the list at the back of church.
Early Mass
Please note that pending a formal decision of the PCC that the 8.30 am Mass on Sundays has been suspended with immediate effect.
Thought for the Week
"...it could well prove to be a major turning point in our life if we would... ask ourselves if we really do intend to be life students of Jesus. Do we really intend to do and be all of the high things we profess to believe in? Have we decided to do them? When did we decide it? And how did we implement that decision?" - Dallas Willard 'The Divine Consnirarv¹

Reading Group
The Reading Group next meets on Monday 2nd June at 7.30 pm in the Vicarage. We will be considering the issues raised in the novel entitled 'We need to talk about Kevin' by Lionel Shriver. If you want to come along just read the book and turn up! Refreshments provided. Copies may be available via Amazon and if you would like to order a copy please have a word with Fr Simon.

Special Diocesan Service
On the occasion of Bishop Jack’s final service as Bishop of Sheffield, there will be a celebration of the Eucharist in the Cathedral Church of St Peter & St Paul, Church Street, Sheffield, at 7.30 pm on Monday 9 June 2008. This is a very special service because, as well as rejoicing in his episcopal ministry, it is also the fortieth anniversary of his Ordination. It is hoped that as many people as possible will join him in this celebration. There are limits as to how many people can be seated in the Cathedral, therefore, entrance will be by ticket and if you would like to attend the service, please have a word with Sue Lewin the PCC secretary.

Letter from St Luke's
We have recently bought a new crib set, and the PCC agreed to donate our old figures to St Luke's Hospice. The Spiritual Care Co-ordinator writes:
I am writing to express the thanks of all the patients, staff and volunteers at St Luke's to the Congregation of St Matthew's for their very generous gift of the crib figures, which was made on your behalf by your PCC.

The figures formed the centrepiece of the Hospice's Christmas celebrations. At the Christmas Eve Service, each figure was placed into the stable created from the Altar by different people and this brought the ancient Christmas story to lief within the context of the Hospice in 2007.

The yearly use of these figures will remind us here at St Luke's of the generosity of the Congregation of St Matthew's and will underline the ongoing hope of the Christmas message.

Mike Reader