St. Matthias' Midlothian

✨ Wisdom Over Fear returns this Thursday, July 16! ✨

What if gratitude isn’t about saying “thank you”… but about changing how we see the world?

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been exploring what it means to shift our inner orientation:
🌿 From oblivious to aware
🤝 From transactional to relational
💛 From consuming to appreciating

This week, we’ll continue that journey by exploring gratitude—not as something we owe, but as a practice that can interrupt the cycle of dissatisfaction and help us reconnect with what truly matters.

Together, we’ll wrestle with questions like:
✨ Can gratitude help us distinguish between genuine need and manufactured desire?
✨ Can it deepen our awareness of what’s already present without ignoring what’s genuinely missing?

If you’re longing for thoughtful conversation, fresh perspective, and a space to grow, we’d love to have you join us.

📅 Thursday, July 16 at 7pm in the Commons

Come as you are. Bring your curiosity.

You are invited to our…
Visitors and Newcomers Social!
Thursday, July 23rd from 6:00pm-7:30pm
Light Refreshments will be provided
Guests are welcome!

📚 Looking for your next great read?

As we prepare to welcome our new Rector, we're making room on the bookshelves! The books previously housed in the Rector's office are now available for anyone to browse and take home.

You'll find a variety of titles covering different subjects and interests—there's a good chance you'll discover something that speaks to you.

Feel free to stop by, take a look, and give a book a new home. Happy reading! 📖✨

Guest Clergy Schedule

During our rector transition, we are grateful to the clergy who will be leading worship with us over the coming weeks.

July 5, 12 & 19: The Rev. David Keill
July 26: The Rev. Canon Jeunée Godsey
August 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30: The Rev. Ralph Kirkpatrick

We thank each of these clergy for their ministry and look forward to worshiping together throughout this season of transition.

As we celebrate the Fourth of July, we give thanks for the blessings of freedom, community, and the opportunities we have to serve one another in love.

Today, we pray for our nation, for those who serve and protect it, and for all who work toward justice, peace, and the common good. May we continue to grow as a people who seek compassion, understanding, and hope for all.

Wishing you a safe and joyful Independence Day filled with family, friends, and gratitude.

"✨ Introduction Friday ✨

Meet the Meservey family — Melissa, Angelynn (“Angel”), and Jaxson! 💙

They joined St. Matthias in 2023, and have already become familiar faces in our parish community. Melissa, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, moved to Virginia with her family and discovered St. Matthias through our youth program. She says she knew right away she wanted that experience for her children.

Their favorite parts of St. Matthias are the youth activities, Vacation Bible School, and simply spending time together with the church community. Melissa especially loves the warmth and kindness they have experienced here, sharing, “My kids just act like it’s home, and I love that they are comfortable doing so.”

We are so grateful the Meservey family is part of St. Matthias! ✨"

Monday Zoom Bible Study Group
The Zoom Bible Study Group is deep into the fascinating story of David in I and II Samuel. Join us! Meet Monday 11:00 to noon weekly. All are welcome, no prior Bible expertise necessary. Zoom #88682100418

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, celebrated on June 29, honors the two towering figures of the early Church whose witness and martyrdom shaped Christian faith and mission. Though remembered individually—Peter for his confession of Christ on January 18 and Paul for his conversion on January 25—the Church joins them in one feast, recalling the tradition that both were martyred in Rome during Nero’s persecution around the year 64. Peter, the fisherman from Galilee, and Paul, the scholar and missionary of the Gentiles, differed greatly in background and temperament. Their early disagreements over the inclusion of Gentile believers gave way to a shared devotion to Christ and the gospel’s spread throughout the world. Tradition holds that Peter was crucified upside down, deeming himself unworthy to die as his Lord did, while Paul, a Roman citizen, was executed by the sword. Together they represent the unity of faith amid diversity of calling—Peter, the steadfast shepherd of the Church, and Paul, the tireless preacher of grace. Their feast invites the faithful to stand firm on the same foundation, Jesus Christ, and to bear courageous witness to the gospel in every generation.

We are in need of people to serve during Sunday services. A very short training and a bit of "shadowing" another Acolyte means you wont start until you are comfortable! In addition to adults, children above 4th grade are invited to explore this ministry!
Contact Nat Wooding or fill out this form! https://tinyurl.com/Stmattiasvolunteer

On this day, we remember Isabel Florence Hapgood, ecumenist and translator, whose passion for unity among Christian traditions continues to challenge the Church to see the gifts in one another. Her liturgical translations and relationships helped build bridges across denominations.

“…that we might look upon one another with a holy envy, to honor whatever is good and right in our separate traditions…”