We began this school year with the motto of "Dream Small And Watch God Work In Big Ways", based off the Scripture verse "With God, all things are possible" (Mark 10:27).
Throughout this school year, we have been in awe of the tremendous and BIG blessings that the Lord has showered upon us and the opportunities that He has presented for us to do great things in His name.
As I sat and reflected with a group of students and teachers, we came up with the following list of memorable 2018/2019 blessings:
- 7th Grade Bake Sale raised over $3,000 to support Mr. Czinder's marathon for World Vision
- 4th Grade collected and assembled 190 LWR School Kits
- Continued sponsorship of our Compassion International Child, Virginia
- Monthly cards sent to congregational Shut - Ins as classes rotated this project
- Grades K - 5 each have International Prayer Partners that visit each other at least four times per year and share cultural and Gospel experiences
- Progressive Dinner funds raised over $1,000 for Mr. Carlton, a former teacher who is currently battling leukemia
- 6th Grade packed 2,600 lbs of food at the Forgotten Harvest Warehouse
- 7th/8th Grade picked 13,000 lbs of corn for Forgotten Harvest Farm
- First Grade made many gifts and Easter crosses for International Cooking Class and sang them a special song
- First Grade sent cards to an army officer in Afghanistan
- Student Council's Turkey Trot for Project Compassion led the highest amount in St. Matthew history by collecting $9,200 for needy families!
- 175 people attended our traditional Pancakes with Pastors Outreach event
- Preschool & Kindergarten presented Christmas in the Kitchen Advent service and family activity
- Second grade made "Care Packages" for military unit
- Second grade made gifts for Children's Village
- 8th Grade went and played Bingo with Nursing home residents
- Preschool/Kindergarten collected items for Hurricane Victims
- 100 people attended our Family Outreach event to make 400 lunches for NOAH Project, a local homeless shelter in Detroit
- 5th Grade organized food drive for St. Paul, Pontiac
- Grades 2 - 4 raised plants for Wixom Community Garden
- Grades 6 - 8 did "Spring Clean Up" before Easter services
- Grade 8 set up and returned red upholstered chairs for guests at Christmas and Easter services
- Collection of goodies for St. Paul Pontiac Easter baskets
- 4th and 7th Grade DI Teams participated in Project Outreach, which led to the 4th grade team raising money for homeless children to have birthday parties and a local dog rescue mission
- Grades 6 - 8 partnered with Wild Wednesday and made more lunches for NOAH project. 8th Grade went the following day and served the guests at the NOAH shelter.
- Sixth Grade currently working on their $5 Project to see how they can multiply the $5 entrusted into their care for feeding the homeless at local homeless shelter
And these are just the highlights! There are a multitude of daily blessings as well, and for all of them, we give God the glory!
The staff of St. Matthew Lutheran would like to thank you for the wonderful 2018/2019 school year, and we look forward to all that the Lord has waiting for us in 2019/2020!
Have a wonderful summer and have sun in the "SON"!
In His love,
Mrs. Palka