Visiting a Church for the first time can be a scary thing. You might see a Church while driving home from work and your curiosity says, "Maybe I should visit that Church someday." However, all you know is what you have seen from the comfort of your car. You don't know what the worship service is like. You don't know what the congregation believes. You don't know what the people will be like. You don't know the size of the congregation. There are a lot of uncertainties about coming to a Church. That is why we offer this webpage. We want to answer some of the questions you may have upfront and to help you realize that St. Matthias is a Church you shouldn't miss.

We want to answer these typical questions for you:

1. What are the people at St. Matthias like?
2. Is St. Matthias a big or small Church?
3. How long is your service?
4. We have young children. Is that a problem?
5. What is worship like at St. Matthias?
6. What is your pastor like?
7. Can we come to Communion?

• What are the people at St. Matthias like?

We live in a fast paced world. We run from work to home to the grocery store to the soccer fields. Often times, we don't have the time to stop and enjoy each other's company. At St. Matthias, we make time to fellowship with one another. Not only do we spend time talking and laughing before and after services but we also fellowship outside of Sunday morning. A few men regularly go golfing or hunting together. The women of the Church (aka, The Cathedral Auxilary) have activities such as wine tastings, Southern Living decorating parties, card-marking events, antique shopping trips among other things.



The entire Church enjoys a potluck brunch after services several times a year. A common misconception is that Church goers, especially those of a traditional Church, are stuffy and standoffish people who don't like newcomers. Nothing is farther from the truth at St. Matthias. We want you to experience our fellowship and closeness firsthand. We want you to feel comfortable and to enjoy worship even if you aren't familiar with our service.



• Is St. Matthias a big or small Church?

The best way to answer that question is to say that we are a growing Church. For many years we were called a Mission Parish since our membership was around 10 people. We have been growing and our regular Sunday attendance is anywhere from 25 to 40. One of the advantages of joining a Church like St. Matthias is that it is like the hit TV show "Cheers". St. Matthias is a place where "everybody knows your name".

• How long is your service?

There is a saying that goes something like this - "People listen as long as their behind can sit." Since our service is one that is the same every week (from the Prayer Book), the length is pretty much the same. The only thing that varies is the length of the sermon. Father Jason typically preaches for about 10 to 15 minutes each week. That makes our service roughly one hour long.

• We have young children. Is that a problem?



Over the past several years, we have seen an increase in the number of young children and we are thoroughly delighted with that. We encourage children to be a part of the worship service. Worship involves the entire family and worship is essential in raising our children in the ways of God. Sometimes that means the worship service may be a little loud or a little distracting. We also understand that sometimes children can become overly distracting on any given Sunday. In such cases, we do have a cry room in the rear of the Church that you can take your children to during those moments.

• What is Worship like at St. Matthias?

We are a traditional Church. What does that mean? It means that we have things like candlesticks, traditional hymns, bells, organ music, pews, and ornate garments. We do not use things like drums, keyboards, and overhead projectors during our primary Sunday morning worship service. We may, however, use them for non-worship services. We also use a Prayer Book that leads us through the service each week.



This may seem "old-fashioned" and boring to some people today. However, these things are there because they have been used by the Church throughout history. We don't often realize it but a Prayer Book was used for service by the Jews before the time of Jesus and continued to be used by the Church after Jesus.

In connection with the historical tradition, these things also teach us about God, Jesus, and the Gospel. Just as an example, the candlesticks teach us about Christ being the light of the world and the white garments teach us that we are washed clean in the blood of Jesus. As Revelation tells us - Those arrayed in white robes were those washed in the blood of the Lamb. If you're unfamiliar or curious about the meaning of these things -- don't be afraid to ask!!

• What is your pastor like?

Our pastor's name is Jason Grote. He was born in 1973 in Pennsylvania and was raised in New Jersey. Growing up he played football and he competed on the state level in the javelin (track and field). He married his wife, Elizabeth, in 2004. They had their first child, Aidan, in November of 2005 and their daughter, Avery, on January 30, 2008. He has been our pastor since 2000.


Father Jason (right)
His brother Josh (left)

Father Jason is a normal "down to earth" guy who enjoys many different things. He is an avid golfer and is always looking for an opportunity to play a round with anyone who wants to join him. He also enjoys rooting on his favorite football team - The Philadelphia Eagles.

Not only does Father Jason pastor St. Matthias but he is also a computer programmer and a bookkeeper.

• Can we come to Communion?

St. Matthias is a Church that invites everyone to Communion provided that they are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost and that they love the Divine Lord Jesus Christ with all sincerity.