“Living Matthew 25” Series

Each year, the First Presbyterian Church of South Bend puts on a transformative series that seeks to bridge faith with action in the most impactful ways. The “Living Matthew 25” series stands as a beacon of hope and a call to action for the local community and beyond. Inspired by the biblical passage from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31–46, this series invites individuals and communities to embrace its teachings, and serve those in need. 

Through a combination of educational events, community outreach, and service opportunities, “Living Matthew 25” aims to embody the spirit of compassion and service. 

We asked Phyllis Wezeman, the event coordinator, to provide some background on the series. Learn more about it below!

Can you provide us with some background on the “Living Matthew 25” series and when/how it started?

In August of 2020, the Session of First Presbyterian Church of South Bend, Indiana (FPCSB) voted to be designated as a “Matthew 25” congregation in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). “Matthew 25″‘s three components are:

1. Building congregational vitality – by challenging people to deepen their faith and become actively and joyfully engaged with their community and the world.

2. Eradicating systemic poverty by working to change laws, policies, plans, and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor.

3. Dismantling structural racism by advocating and acting to break down systems, practices, and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice, and oppression of people of color.

Since this commitment, the congregation’s Outreach Committee began focusing on incorporating “Matthew 25” into all ministries of FPCSB: education, mission, nurture, outreach, and worship. One of the first steps was for members of the committee to reach out to local organizations to ask the question: “How can First Presbyterian Church of Downtown South Bend be a better community partner?” And, from those talks, ideas emerged for working together to discover and develop ways for groups to work together to offer the community opportunities for education and engagement with the themes of poverty and racism. Coordinated by FPCSB’s Outreach Committee, with help from Congregational Life, Education, Mission, and Worship, a tentative calendar developed for events from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday: Monday Movies, Thursday Talks, Sunday Service, and more. During the six weeks of Lent 2022, 33 activities/events were held in the community to “Live Matthew 25.” In 2023, 53 events were coordinated with approximately 85 community groups. In 2024, 58 are planned with approximately 90 community organizations.

How many different organizations/churches/groups throughout the South Bend community are involved?

About 90.

What type of events are featured in the series

Art

Reflecting on Matthew 25: Soup Supper & Study through Art

Wednesdays, February 21 & 28, March 6, 13, & 20, 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Christ the King Lutheran Church, South Bend

Visualizing Matthew 25

Explore the parable through conversations about works of art and personal reflection in the galleries.

Thursday, February 22, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 24, 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame

Brushstrokes for Hope: Watercolor Techniques*

3-week class with artist Lee Bauman

Tuesdays, February 27, March 12 & March 26, 1:30–3:00 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church, South Bend

Books

Book Discussion Group

Fridays, 10:00–11:30 a.m.

February 23: The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times (Michelle Obama)

Olivet A.M.E. Church, South Bend

March 1: A Woman’s Life Work: Labors and Experiences of Laura S. Haviland (Laura Smith Haviland)

Civil Rights Heritage Center, South Bend

March 8: The First Ladies (Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray)

OneRoof Southeast Neighborhood Center, South Bend

Author/Book Event: Junkyard Dogs with Katherine Higgs-Coulthard

Thursday, February 29, 6:00 p.m.

OneRoof Southeast Neighborhood Center, South Bend

Teen Event: Junkyard Dogs with Author Katherine Higgs-Coulthard

Real talk about how poverty and homelessness affects kids in our community and what we can do about it.

Sunday, March 3, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

South Bend City Church, South Bend

Events

Saint Margaret’s House 25^th Anniversary Winter Walk

Sunday, February 18, 2:30 p.m.

Saint Joseph County Public Library, South Bend

Soup Supper & Vesper Service

Wednesdays, February 21 & 28, March 6, 13 & 20, 6:00–7:15 p.m.

Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, South Bend

Becoming Neighbors, A Refugee’s Journey: United Religious Community Awareness Event

Saturday, March 2, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Saint Joseph County Public Library (Ballroom), South Bend

Unity Gardens Growing Summit: Classes, Demos, Vendors

Saturday, March 9, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Saint Joseph County Public Library, South Bend

Re-entry Simulation: A Day in the Life of a Returning Citizen

with The Beacon, Dismas House, Goodwill Industries, Life Outside, South Bend Community Re-entry Program, University of Notre Dame Center for Social Concerns Education-in-Prison Program

Friday, March 22, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Saint Joseph County Public Library, South Bend

The Way of the Cross: Good Friday Stations of the Cross Walk (2 locations)

Friday, March 29, 10:00 a.m.

Downtown South Bend – Meet at First Presbyterian Church, South Bend

Southeast Side of South Bend – Meet at Broadway Christian Parish, South Bend

Movies

Mondays at the Movies: Weekly screening of films addressing community issues with pre and post talks by local leaders

(Coordinated with Browning Cinema, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, University of Notre Dame)

Mondays, February 19 & 26, March 4, 11, 18 & 25, 6:00 p.m.

February 19: Eighth Grade [2018, R, 1 h/33 m, Bo Burnham]

February 26: Sidewalk Stories [1989, R, 1h/37m, Charles Lane]

March 4: Women Talking [2022, PG13, 1h/45m, Sarah Polley]

March 11: Pariah [2011, R, 1h/26m, Dee Rees]

March 18: Roma [2018, R, 2h/14m, Alfonso Cuaron]

March 25: How to Die in Oregon [2011, Not rated, 1h/47m, Peter D. Richardson]

Saint Joseph County Public Library (Auditorium), South Bend

Performances – Music/Theater

Si me amais: Bilingual Family Celebration of Song & Story on Love, Kindness & Unity

Friday, February 16, 2023, 6:30 p.m.

LaCasa de Amistad, South Bend

Shared Roots, Sacred Stories: A Concert featuring Vesper Chorale and Children’s Choir of Michiana*

Jeshua Franklin and Geoffrey Carter, Conductors

Sunday, February 25, 3:00 p.m.

Kern Road Mennonite Church, South Bend

South Bend Symphony Brass Quintet @ REAL Services Senior Meal Site

Friday, March 8, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

Charles Black Community Center, South Bend

MUSIC (Music for Unique, Sensitive, Intelligent Children): A Concert by Adaptive Arts for All Ages & Abilities

Sunday, March 10, 3:00 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, South Bend

The Piano Lesson by August Wilson*

Friday, March 15, 7:30 p.m.

South Bend Civic Theatre, South Bend

Who Is My Neighbor?

A Hymnfest with Composer Adam Tice, Conductor Jeshua Franklin and the Vesper Chorale, and organist Jonathan Hehn

Sunday, March 24, 3 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church, South Bend

Service

Hope for the Hungry Pop-up Pantry

Saturdays, February 17 & March 16, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Near Northwest Neighborhood Center, South Bend

Senior Suds: Food Pantry, Health Screenings, Laundry, Lunch

Tuesdays, February 20, March 5 & 19, 2:00–5:00 p.m.

Burton’s Laundry on Western, South Bend

Party with a Purpose: International Women’s Day Service Project & Feminine Hygiene Products Collection

Thursday, March 7, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Indiana University South Bend (Fireside Room), South Bend

Casseroles/Dinner served by First Presbyterian Church of South Bend

Monday, March 11, 2023, 5:30 p.m.

Hope Ministries, South Bend

Assemble/Sort Items at Food Bank

Thursday, March 14, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Food Bank of Northern Indiana, South Bend

Make Meals at Cultivate Food Rescue

Thursday, March 14, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Cultivate Food Rescue, South Bend

Easter Baskets for Children at El Campito Child Development Center, Hope Ministries & LaSalle Park Homes

Sunday, March 17, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church, South Bend

Spring into Service: Welcome Kits for Guests of Center for the Homeless, Dismas House, Hope Ministries, Our Lady of the Road, St. Margaret’s House, Upper Room – Men’s Residence, Upper Room – Women’s House, and YWCA

Saturday, March 23, 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Holy Cross College, Notre Dame

Speakers

Minute for Mission Talks Highlighting Local Not-for-Profits

Sundays, 9:45 a.m. (Beginning of Sunday Worship Service)

February 18: Connect 2 Be the Change

February 25: Busy Hands of Michiana

March 3: Kuyamba Ministries

March 10: YWCA

March 17: Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County

March 23: CASA

First Presbyterian Church, South Bend

Community Partners’ Lunch: Update on Hunger in Michiana

Thursday, March 21, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, South Bend

What do you look forward to the most when putting on this event or what is your favorite aspect of the “Living Matthew 25” series?

Opportunities to build community in the South Bend area through learning and serving.

What do you feel is the most challenging aspect of planning the series and the most rewarding?

I’m a volunteer and putting 58 events together with nearly 90 groups is really a full time job. I have other jobs – work for the University of Notre Dame admissions, lead part of a project management class for Mendoza each semester, direct a nfp called Malawi Matters that works in 220 villages and 1600 schools in Africa, consult and write for groups and publishers, serve on the pastoral care team at St. Paul’s Retirement Community, and I have a big family.

Are there any messages/feelings you’d like the community to take away from their experience when attending the various community events in the series (films, concerts, speakers, tours, etc.)?

Keep learning, growing, serving. We may learn cognitively–with our brains–but we often act when we are touched affectively–through our hearts.

How long does it take to plan for this community series?

At least July through April for this 2024 series.

Do you have a favorite or memorable experience from previous years?

Some stories:

When Rachel, volunteer coordinator, from the Center for the Homeless responded to one of the “Monday Nights at the Movies,” she was introduced to Tre, adult programming coordinator, at the Saint Joseph County Public Library. They decided to continue to meet to develop positive, productive activities for the unhomed population that frequent the library during the day.

Some of the participants in Lee’s three-week art class, “Brushstrokes for Hope,” were guests of St. Margaret’s House, a day center for women. When the class ended, Lee and Doni, from SMH, worked together to write a grant to continue art lessons for all women at the center. This resulted in a show at the South Bend Museum of Art for the public to enjoy.

During a Dismas House simulation on life outside, members of FPC, SB met men from the South Bend Community Re-entry program. Now the men work with church members to care for the grounds and to share a hot meal together.

When one session of the civil rights book group was held at Olivet A.M.E. Church, the oldest African American congregation in South Bend, members from several churches decided to continue meeting and Olivet’s pastor will be the preacher for the community Maundy Thursday service.

During Indiana University South Bend’s “Party with a Purpose,” students not only made reusable sanitary pads for women and girls in Malawi, Africa they also organized a campus and community-wide menstrual product collection and distributed the items to eight local facilities that serve the needs of women.

Do you have any words of encouragement that you would give to members of the community to inspire them to attend the “Living Matthew 25” series?

It’s one thing to read Matthew 25:31–46 in a Bible, or to hear the passage preached as a sermon, or to study the words in a class. It’s another thing to explore and experience the themes of “Seeing Jesus” and ministering to and with the hungry, thirsty, stranger, poor, sick, and imprisoned with a congregation–and a community–in interactive ways. “Living Matthew 25,” a series of multi-disciplinary approaches to engage with “The Parable of The Sheep and the Goats” is First Presbyterian Church of South Bend’s offering to friends and members of the downtown congregation, the entire Michiana community, and beyond.