Ministries, Studies, Missions, and Small Groups
At St. Matthew, ALL of our ministries, missions, groups, and activities are open to ALL people in the community.
No matter
who you are,
where you’ve come from,
where you’re going,
whom you love,
your beliefs,
your doubts or questions,
your skin color,
your abilities and limitations,
your skills,
your education level,
your religious affiliation,
your political views,
your gender identity,
your socioeconomic status,
your age,
your citizenship status,
or
your personal history,
God loves you. You are welcome here!
Lay Ministries within St. Matthew
Local Missions of Love to the Community
St. Matthew has always been proud of its music program. Everyone is invited to join--you don't even need to know how to read music! If you're interested, we will teach you to ring or sign!
Note: Our music groups are currently on summer hiatus, but some are meeting infrequently. Please contact each director for more information. Most rehearsals will resume the week of Labor Day. In the meantime, we’re inviting individuals and small groups to offer music during worship on the 2nd through 4th Sundays of June, July, and August. If you sing, play an instrument, or know someone who would like to participate, please email Ben Shafer at ben@stmatthewmesa.org. We’d love to feature a variety of voices and talents this summer!
Sanctuary Choir is open to 9th graders through adults. We are an SATB choir singing (typically) modern church choral music with occasional classical pieces. We rehearse at 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays during the school year. Contact our director, Ben Shafer, if you're interested!
Bells of Joy handbell choir is open to all ages. We are a 5-octave choir currently ringing with 3+ octaves, and we're always looking for new ringers--no experience necessary! We rehearse at 7:00 p.m. Thursdays during the school year. Contact our director, Anne Kelley, for more information. Come join the fun!
Hands of Praise youth sign language choir is open to all hearing, Deaf, and hard-of-hearing youth and children age 7 through high school. As a group, we perform to pre-recorded music using ASL signs. We'll teach you! Ask our director, Rosemary Glithero, if you have questions. We'd love to learn with you!
If you have musical talent you'd like to share, but you can't commit to weekly rehearsals (or you're not a vocalist), please reach out to Ben Shafer, our Director of Music; he'll find a place for you! We always love to hear soloists and ensembles!
St. Matthew UMC provides Christ-centered learning activities for children aged 4-11 years old. Special fellowship opportunities are available for youth aged 12-18. All youth and children are welcome to join us in a judgment-free environment where doubts can be expressed openly and questions are celebrated! Contact Tonia for more information.
In addition to fellowship, youth at St. Matthew are encouraged to participate in the music program, in our community ministries (such as food boxes or missions), in Bible studies, and in any other work area to help further the ministries of the church.
Sunday School is offered for youth and children each week during our regular Sunday service. Children are invited to sit in the pews with a parent or guardian, then leave with their class for Sunday School after the Children's Moment.
Baptism and Confirmation - Children or youth interested in being baptized, and youth interested in being confirmed (taking classes and formally joining the church), may talk to Tonia or to Pastor Joel to ask questions and learn more about the process.
Hands of Praise youth sign language choir is open to all hearing, Deaf, and hard-of-hearing youth and children age 7 through high school. As a group, we perform to pre-recorded music using ASL signs. We'll teach you! Ask our director, Rosemary Glithero, if you have questions. We'd love to learn with you!
Girl Scouts - St. Matthew has been proud for many years to support a multi-age-level Girl Scout troop that meets on our campus weekly. Girls learn leadership and life skills through earning badges, performing acts of service, camping, going on summer trips, and (of course!) selling cookies. If you want to add excitement and adventure to your life, just ask our troop leader and we'll hook you up!
Summer camps - St. Matthew is part of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, which is blessed to have two camps: Mingus Mountain (north of Prescott Valley) and Potosi Pines (southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada). Children and youth from St. Matthew and their friends may go to either camp. Register soon--our camps fill up fast! (Financial assistance may be available; please contact Tonia or Pastor Joel.)
Mingus 2025 summer camps
Potosi Pines 2025 summer camps
United Women in Faith
(formerly United Methodist Women)
(formerly United Methodist Women)
The United Women in Faith (previously known as UMW) is a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.
Our vision is to turn faith, hope, and love into action on behalf of women, children and youth around the world.
Membership in United Women in Faith is open to all women. We are a Christian organization that welcomes spiritual women of all faiths.
If you have questions or would like more information, ask our UWF contact, or check out our UWF webpage. We'd love to have you join us!
Stephen Ministry
The St. Matthew Stephen Ministry seeks to provide support in a confidential and nurturing environment to those who are hurting. Our Stephen Ministers are trained caregivers who work one-on-one with people who are working through a crisis or difficult time, such as divorce, grief, loss of a job, loneliness, hospitalization, terminal illness, or any number of other life difficulties.
If you or a loved one are in need of comfort, please contact the church office and ask for a Stephen Minister.
If you are a trained Stephen Minister looking for a new church home, or are a person with compassion who might be interested in the training, please contact Gordy ((480) 234-2330).
Sponsoring a medical student
St. Matthew UMC, along with residents of Friendship Village, have found an opportunity to provide a village in Tanzania with a cardiologist! We are sponsoring the education of a young woman from Africa who is attending medical school. She has completed her Bachelor’s degree in medicine, and is now working on her Master’s, specializing in cardiology. She expects to finish in August of 2026! If you wish to contribute toward her education or living expenses, please contact the church office for more details.
“...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me...”
—Matthew 25:35 NRSV
Food Boxes
Everyone needs a little help from time to time, so St. Matthew collects and shares food for families in our neighborhood needing a temporary hand up. With donations from church members and partnerships with Midwest Food Bank and Waste Not, St. Matthew fills boxes with food to feed a family of four for 3-4 days. An enthusiastic group of volunteers—many of them past recipients of food boxes themselves—hand out boxes to upwards of 60 families every other Saturday.
Sack Lunches
For over ten years, St. Matthew has created sack lunches for the East Valley Men's Center in Mesa. Volunteers shop, make sandwiches, pack 96 lunches, and deliver them to the shelter on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. The Center provides a temporary place to live to men who make the commitment to become self-sufficient and move back into the community. Donations of food, money, or time are always appreciated!
Habitat for Humanity
A few times a year, St. Matthew joins other United Methodist Churches (the Mighty Methodist Coalition!) in constructing a house for Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona. There are many ways to help the team, even if you don't want to put on a hard hat yourself! If you want to learn more, please contact the St. Matthew office.
Family Promise
St. Matthew partners with Family Promise of Central Phoenix and other churches to provide living spaces for unhoused families. Every few months, Family Promise brings a group of families with children to the church for a week, where we share rooms to sleep, an evening meal, and friendly conversation. If you would like to visit with our guests or help prepare a meal, please contact Rosemary. We'd love the company!
Page updated 6/15/25
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