To know Christ, grow in Christ, and share Christ's love.
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To know Christ, grow in Christ, and share Christ's love. |
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January 2007 – A New Year, New Beginnings
Annual Meeting - 2007
With deep gratitude for our life together this past year, new opportunities in 2007 and the presence of God in our midst, persuading us to fulfill our calling and mission, I write to invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of St. Matthew’s Parish on the evening of Sunday, January 7. Our Annual Meeting is always a special event. Here are some details for the evening. We will gather in Huffman Hall at 5:00 PM that afternoon for our 18th annual Chili Cook-Off, a time to share and enjoy many, many recipes of chili. Please note Jack Ryfle’s article elsewhere in this edition of the WORD and on the web site for more details about the Chili Cook-Off. At 6:00 PM, I will call our Annual Meeting to order. We will elect five new members to the Vestry, three new members to the Endowment Committee and two alternates for the 2007 Diocesan Council. We will hear, through many voices, the “state of the church” in January, 2007. It is your responsibility, if you are 16 or older and a baptized member of this parish, to attend this meeting and exercise your responsibility to elect leaders for the parish.
Capital Stewardship – Youth Center – Building and Grounds Renovations
Thank you one and all for giving your opinions, views and support or non-support for the many capital projects under consideration. You have responded to Cargill Associates with significant information that has allowed your vestry to make an important decision. After study of the Cargill Associates Feasibility Study released to us on November 28, the Vestry has decided that we the people of St. Matthew’s will enter into a Capital Stewardship Program this spring. The Vestry is very, very excited about building a new Youth Center in conjunction with the Day School. We will spend the months of January and February giving patient prayer and study to the plans for a Youth Center and other capital projects that demand our attention. If you would like to review a complete copy of the Cargill Feasibility Study Report, please send an email to the church office asking to be provided a copy. Send your request by email to: David@StMattsAustin.org and place in the Subject line of your email, "Request copy of Cargill Report" followed by your name. No other message will be necessary. Please read Senior Warden Kevin McGillicuddy’s article giving some more details about our plans for 2007.
New Men’s Study and Fellowship Group Forming at the Church
Men of the parish and their friends are invited to gather with me on Thursday afternoons at 2:30 PM in Room B-14 for fellowship building and study. Beginning on Thursday, January 18, for five consecutive Thursdays we will discuss topics such as the “Pros and Cons of Retirement”, “Now what do I do?” and “Staying Healthy and Fit.” Please understand that I will not try to pass myself off as an expert on fitness, decision-making or retirement. I’ll just get the conversation going. My concern is that we have many senior and retired men that do not know one another and would very, very much enjoy each other if you had a chance to meet and spend some time together. Please give this serious consideration! Contact me at Merrill@stmattsaustin.org if you have any questions and to let me know you are planning to attend. These meetings are open to men of all ages, though I recognize that this time will be most convenient for those who are retired or work evenings.
2007 Bishop’s Visits
I was delighted to present 28 adults and teens to Bishop Dena Harrison for confirmation and reception on December 10. What a great day in the life of our church! Please note that Bishop Harrison will return for confirmation on Ascension Day, May 17, 2007 at 7:00 PM. At this point there are several persons preparing for that confirmation service. As well, Bishop Don Wimberly will make his visit to St. Matthew’s on Sunday, December 16. Please mark your calendars.
Music Leadership
I want to thank Jim Henderson and Jean Fuller for rapidly and effectively meeting our needs for great leadership now that Tim Smith has moved to Corpus Christi. Our Sunday music has been deeply inspiring. Please let them know how you feel about their efforts. We are so blessed to have them!!
I wish you a wonderful and blessed New Year, as we seek to fulfill our mission “to know Christ, Grow in Christ and Share Christ’s Love.”
Faithfully, Merrill
