St. Matthew's Episcopal Church (San Francisco)

St. Matthew's has 1,259 members in 528 households, 140 of those with children. The average age of adult Sunday morning attendees is approximately 50. The congregation includes many civic and industry leaders, retired senior military officers, and growing numbers of young professionals. As with many churches today, St. Matthew's is also seeing a resurgence of families with young children. The sounds of babies during both services on Sundays is a strong sign that the parish will grow into the 21st century. Currently, St. Matthew's Sunday morning worship begins at 8:00 AM with the service of Holy Eucharist Rite I. The organist accompanies congregational hymns. Approximately 90 people attend this service. At 10:15 AM we celebrate Holy Eucharist using Rite II. Our choir leads the congregation in hymns and canticles, and provides offertory music. Approximately 125 people attend the later service. On festival days, such as Christmas and Easter, additional musicians playing timpani, winds, brass or bagpipes back out choir and organist. Day School chapel services, led by the Chaplain at 8:20 AM each weekday morning during the school year, are open to all parishioners. Wednesday services include a Holy Eucharist with healing at 12:10 PM. Lay Readers, Lay Eucharistic Ministers I (LEM-I) and Acolytes of all ages assist in our worship services. We also have Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEM-II) who have received advanced training to go out into the community to visit with, conduct a small worship service for and administer communion to members who are unable to attend services because of age, health or other infirmity. A strong Altar Guild helps in preparing for all of these services along with baptisms, weddings and funerals. Along with our parishioners and Day School families, many people in the San Mateo community choose to receive these sacramental rites at St. Matthew's. A special touch that the Altar Guild provides is that its members arrange the flowers. Spectacular fresh decorations for Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving are a 'must see'.