From the Rector:
This edition of The Word is packed with significant plans for St. Matthew’s Church and our ministry and mission to the world. Therefore, I am choosing to say as little as possible (believe it or not) because I am asking you to make a sincere effort to read this issue from cover to cover.
Vocation Celebration on Labor Day Sunday
On Sunday, September 4, at the 10:30 a.m. service, you are invited to bring a token of your work or hobby, something that symbolizes your labor, and place it on the altar when instructed during the service. This will be the third year in a row that we have done this and many of us have found it to be deeply moving. Worshipers bring diaper bags, computer mouses (mice?), resumes, priestly stoles, prayer shawls, business cards, tax forms, weekly planners and many other signs of life and labor. On that day, as well, we remember that many people are underemployed or out of work. We recognize that many of us work in fear of a layoff or downsizing. Our prayers of the people that day will reflect those ongoing concerns.
Stewardship Plans
As we begin to make plans for 2006, our efforts turn to pledging and stewardship. Fellow priest and rector of St. James, Austin, The Rev. Greg Rickel, will be with us at the 10:30 a.m. service on September 11. His sermon will kick off our pledge program for the fall. I will be writing you a letter on or around that weekend and I will offer several goals for 2006 that are based on the Vision Day work done on June 11 and the two Sunday morning Stewardship/Vision classes on August 21 and 28. You are a faithful and generous congregation; I will be challenging you to continue to be who you are!
Bob Lively, the Family Conference and Healthy Relationships
I am very happy to announce that the Rev. Bob Lively will continue his role as teacher and writer in residence on our church staff. Bob will be working part-time with us and will continue to office here. He is also working part-time at Austin Recovery Center, engaged in supporting that great ministry as it offers life and wholeness to those facing addiction. Elsewhere in this issue you will find an article about the Family Conference and the class Bob will teach afterwards on Sunday nights. St. Matthew’s is committed to strengthening your relationship with God through the life of prayer and service (notice the attention to spirituality and outreach ministries), and your relationships with other people through such emerging offerings as the “How to Be a Family Conference”, Edge of Adventure classes, Bob’s class on “Breaking New Ground” in relationships, and Keith Millers class on “Forgiveness and Reconciliation”. And we are just getting started.
Edge of Adventure – renewed and ready for you!
Are you looking for a small group experience that will help you make friends and live the Christian life with passion and purpose? As stated in the press release announcing the recent re-publication of the Christian classic “Edge of Adventure”, authored by our own Keith Miller and his friend Bruce Larson, Edge of Adventure groups “help people respond to the gospel, make a serious commitment to God or develop the formational experiences of prayer, devotional reading and sharing of difficulties which lead to confession, forgiveness and reconciliation.” Does that sound too heavy? Not at all. Participants in Edge of Adventure had equal parts fun, joy, prayer, learning and renewed relationships. Take a hard look at joining a group. Notice the article within this issue about the Edge of Adventure groups. The groups will begin to meet the week of September 18!
Brotherhood of St. Andrew
Finally, I want to commend Jim Sparks and over three dozen men of our parish that are right now chartering a St. Matthew’s Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, an association of men committed to a rule of prayer, study and service to the church. You will be hearing much more about this in coming weeks. As for now, just mark your calendar for Thursday, September 8, at 6 p.m. for a meal and speaker in Huffman Hall sponsored by the Brotherhood and open to all men and older teenagers of the parish.
We are blessed and I am blessed to be your Rector!
Faithfully,
Merrill
