Stewardship, 2008
As I write this article, we prepare for St. Matthew’s Day and the ingathering of pledges from you, the faithful people and clergy of St. Matthew’s Church. As you know, 2008 is the 50th Anniversary of this great church. The number and quality of events that we can planned for 2008 will, in some ways, be determined by the stability or, hopefully, growth of our Operating Budget in 2008. That is a way of saying that your pledges (and mine) to the 2008 Operating Budget are paramount. Now I say that with some trepidation, both because it is true and because I really do not want you to make a pledge decision strictly on budget needs, ever. I want you to tithe your earnings to God in faith that God is the Source of your blessings and your ultimate concern. I want you to pledge to St. Matthew’s as a sign of your love for God and your desire to fulfill the church’s mission “to know Christ, grow in Christ and to share Christ’s Love.” By the time you have read this, you will have had the opportunity to pledge. If you have not made your pledge at this point, you will likely be hearing from a member of the Vestry or the Stewardship Commission. Please make their responsibility easy and pleasant.
50th Anniversary
As I announced in church a few weeks ago, I have named chairs for the 50th Anniversary Steering Committee. There will be co-chairs, namely Marjorie and Bert Hooper and Kay and Leon Whitney. Working with me, the role of the chairs will be to form a 12-15 person Steering Committee, set the calendar of events, and begin to plan events throughout the year. As members of the church, each of you will be given the opportunity to serve in some way in the festivities and celebrations that are coming over the next 15 months. Chuck and Carolyn Huffman, together with Betty and Joe DiPaola, have graciously agreed to serve as our Honorary Co-Chairs of the 50th Anniversary Team. Their role, working with others, will be to prepare and present an accounting of the history of St. Matthew’s. More details will be forthcoming in the next few months. Two dates to save on your calendars for 2008 are: Pentecost Sunday, which is May 11, 2008 and St. Matthew’s Day, which will be celebrated on Sunday, September 29, 2008. We anticipate that there will be festivities Friday through Sunday, September 27-29.
Our Community
As I ponder our life together, I see a church in motion. I see mission work, local outreach, a new ministry developing with young adults, an renewed emphasis in our youth group, six adult classes on Sunday mornings, a large and happy Children’s Chapel group, a music program that is flourishing and much more. I do have a concern. I believe we need to do a better job of developing relationships. Over the next few months, I will be calling some meetings with the express desire of asking you how we might do a better job of knowing one another and sharing a more intimate community life. I believe that we need to strengthen this aspect of our life together and welcome any ideas you may have! I invite you to gather with me on Sunday evening, October 21, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM (Room TBA) to begin to discuss some ideas that will help us in this regard. Please email me at Merrill@stmattsaustin.org if you would like to help in this effort.
Men's Fellowship Event with Olympic Swim Coach Eddie Reese
Monday, October 8, 7 PM in Huffman Hall.
On Monday, October 8, at 7 PM in Huffman Hall, Coach Eddie Reese, current swim coach of the University of Texas and the Head Swim Coach of the United States Olympic Swim Team, will be our speaker for a St. Matthew's Men's Fellowship Event sponsored by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. In a conversational format I will direct and Coach Reese will answer questions about his history as a coach, the ways he has been shaped by mentors in his life, and his understanding of human flourishing relative to motivation, perseverance, endurance, expectation and coping with loss. Coach Reese is the sixth consecutive fall speaker from the sports world to come and address our Men's Fellowship. Past speakers were Coach Augie Garrido, Lawrence Sampleton, Randy Peschel, Jerry Sisemore and Lance Gunn. I invite all men of the church to attend and I encourage you to bring your sons and friends. Light refreshments will be served. This Men's Fellowship event is sponsored by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew chapter of St. Matthew's, a men's group devoted to a rule of prayer, study and service.
Discovery Class – for Visitors and Newcomers
Beginning Sunday, October 14, I will lead a class designed for visitors and newcomers to St. Matthew’s. It will be held during the 9:15AM Sunday school time. This class is designed to prepare those attending St Matthew’s to become members and be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church, if needed, when our Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly, is present at our 10:30AM service on Sunday, December 16, 2007. This class will run weekly, with a few breaks, from October 14 until December 16. If you are new to the church and want to learn more about me personally as the rector, St. Matthew’s Church or the Episcopal Church, this is a good orientation. You do not have to be committed to join the church to enroll in the class. Please email me and let me know if you are interested or need more information.
Clergy Conference
I want you to know that Kevin, Susan and I will be at Camp Allen October 1-3 for the Annual Clergy Conference of the Diocese of Texas. We will be reachable by phone and will be checking in. Clergy Conference is a time that the clergy of this huge diocese gather with the Bishops for study, reflection, reinforcement of rules, play and celebration. As always, we receive new information about the life of the Episcopal Church and we will pass on information we receive.
Finally, I want to again emphasize the important of the Safeguarding God’s Children program at St. Matthews and in the Episcopal Church. I want to thank Susan Barnes for taking a leadership role in our efforts to make St. Matthew’s a safe and happy place for children. Please carefully read her article in this Word. Take it to heart!
Faithfully, Merrill