Many of us are passionate about issues of poverty, homelessness, hunger, racial and economic inequality, sexism, homophobia and other social justice concerns.  As in Micah 6:8 : "Do justice, have mercy, and walk humbly with your God," we believe that it is our responsibility as Christians to incorporate outreach, advocacy and study into our spiritual faith.  Our current major social justice ministries are:

The Blue House - providing support for a Ugandan orphanage that houses and schools girls who have lost parents to AIDS. St. Matthew's has a special relationship with the Blue House, because it was founded by a longtime parishoner and minister at St. Matthew's, Beatrice Garubanda. 
 
Loaves & Fishes - Six times a year, we serve meals to the homeless as part of the Loaves and Fishes program at the Dorothy Day Center in downtown St. Paul. We are expanding this ministry from four to six times a year because we have found it to be a meaningful way for all generations at St. Matthew's to see first hand the effects of poverty in our area. We need volunteers to serve and cook, donate cookies and bars, and prepare food the day before.
 
Tutoring - Every Monday night during the school year, from 6:15 - 8:00 p.m.,  we provide homework help and a meal for school-aged students wanting to improve their work. Many of the students taking advantage of our program are recent immigrants, but all students are welcome. This program uses lots of volunteer support to tutor in various subjects at all skill levels.  Volunteers are always needed for this, particularly those with math and science skills. For more information, please contact Linda Lopez.

 Project Home - As part of St. Paul Area Council of Churches Project Home, each night in August we offer our downstairs as an overflow shelter for homeless families when the regular shelters are full. Sadly, the last couple of years, we have been very busy. We need volunteers to staff the shelter during the evenings and nights.
 
St. Barnabas Apartments - St. Barnabas Apartments opened in April 2005 and provides 39 efficiencies for homeless and at-risk youth and 13 for low-income working adults. Services are provided on site, 24 hours a day, to assist youth in achieving their employment, education and self-sufficiency goals.  St. Matthew's members were instrumental in its founding, and several serve as mentors there.

Mission Trips - In the summer  St. Matthew's youth participate in a Group Workcamps home repair camp in a needy area.  (In past years we have gone to West Virginia, Missouri, and South Dakota) Here, students join with others to repair the homes of the elderly and poor, sharing fellowship and ministry as they work.

In addition, we support a number of other ministries including the St. Phillip's Food Shelf, Episcopal Relief and Development, CROP Walk, Adopt a Family for Christmas, and Bread for the World Offering of Letters.

We welcome anyone who would like to join share in this ministry.  To volunteer or to learn more, please fill contact Social Justice Ministry Chair, Sarah Larsen,