From the Rector:
Celebration of Vocation and Avocation on Labor Day Sunday
On Sunday, August 31, at the 10:30 a.m. service, you are encouraged to bring a token of your work or hobby, something that symbolizes your labor and passion, and offer
it on the altar when invited during the liturgy. This will be the sixth consecutive Labor Day weekend Sunday that we have offered symbols of our labors and it has become, in my estimation, an important and meaningful custom in the life of our church. Worshipers bring diaper bags, computer equipment, 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.
St. Matthew’s 50th Anniversary Weekend
Elsewhere in this edition of the Word you will find information about the St. Matthew’s weekend, September 27-28. Here are the plans for Sunday morning:
8:00AM – Service of Baptism, Confirmation and Reception into the Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Dena Harrison presiding. We anticipate a handful of baptisms and somewhere between 30-40 confirmations and receptions into the Episcopal Church. This will not be a celebration of the Holy Communion as all those newly baptized, confirmed and received will be attending the 10:30AM celebration to receive communion with the whole congregation.
If you or someone you know is interested in being confirmed or received into membership at St. Matthew’s and the Episcopal Church, there will be confirmation preparation classes for adults and youth led by Susan Barnes and Kevin Schubert. Those classes are described on page ? of this edition of the Word.
9:15AM – No Sunday School today. Classes for all ages resume on the following Sunday. Bishop Harrison will meet with the newly baptized, confirmed and received.
10:30AM – 50th Anniversary Celebration – Holy Eucharist Rite II, Bishop Harrison will preside and our Rector Emeritus, Chuck Huffman, will be the preacher. As usual, Children’s Chapel will begin at 10:30AM and the children will come into the service just prior to the announcements time in the service.
Approximately 11:45AM – St. Matthew’s Day Picnic Lunch and Celebration in Huffman Hall and on the grounds, described elsewhere in this edition of the Word.
I trust that you are in the process of making the arrangements to be present both for the Saturday night party and the events of Sunday morning. I am deeply grateful to all those who are hard at work preparing for these festivities.
Youth Center and Day School Addition
As you can see, the new building and expanded parking lot on Mesa are taking shape. As your Rector, this new construction is powerfully important to me for many reasons. Here are just a few:
*The rapport and fellowship between the Day School and the Church is excellent and this project is evidence of both the School and the Church’s commitment to children and youth for the long haul. I cannot conceive of a more sure and certain commitment than this joint project.
*The new space will help us in one of our most crucial needs, community building. We need space to get together and grow together, not just the children at the school and the youth of the church, but all of us. These new rooms will help us build community and to freshly weave relationships.
*The new space will help us be a resource to the Episcopal Church in Austin and the Diocese of Texas. Our Curate, Kevin Schubert, is a highly respected leader in the diocese. Kevin will use the new youth space for the benefit of St. Matthew’s and will respond to diocesan needs as well.
*The new space will give us several new Sunday morning classrooms for Christian education.
* The new expanded parking lot will be an immediate benefit, to say the least.
The projected completion date for the new building is late October. Plans are underway for a dedication of the new building and that will be announced as soon as possible. In the meantime, I continue to marvel at your patience and good humor as the construction interrupts our lives on this campus. Thank you so much!!
We are now, obviously, incurring the vast majority of the costs of this project. Many of you made pledges to enable us to undertake this construction. I ask you, as well as you are able, to make every effort to remain current on your Building on our Sure Foundation pledge, or to pay it in full. If you have not made a commitment or donation to the new construction, please consider doing so. Do not hesitate to call me to discuss this!
Rector’s Class Continues
Finally, I will continue to teach in Huffman Hall in the month of September, with classes on September 7, 14 and 21. I will do 15-20 minute talks about Christian life and faith, followed by small group discussion. Other excellent adult classes will begin on Sunday, September 7. Please read through this Word to see what is in store for you in adult education at St. Matthew’s!
God bless you one and all!
Merrill