Women's Story Circle 2008 Speaker Series
Noon in Huffman Hall
Next WSC: May 18 with speaker Barbara Cauley
 The Story of the Charlotte Cauley Gray Bell Tower Chapel

In the center of the St. Matthew’s campus rises a majestic stone structure, the Charlotte Cauley Gray Bell Tower Chapel. Each evening at 6 p.m., a Lay Eucharistic Minister enters the small chapel and prays for each person on the St. Matthew’s prayer list by name. And periodically, the bells at the top of the beautiful structure strike the hours. The Cauley Chapel is one of the landmarks of St. Matthew’s and Barbara Cauley will tell its history when she addresses the Women’s Story Circle on Sunday, May 18.

Barbara and her husband Dab Cauley donated the Cauley Chapel in 1981 in memory of their daughter Charlotte. In her talk, “This is My Story: God is Faithful,” Barbara will tell about the decision to dedicate a chapel in their daughter’s name and about the theme of the beautiful windows that are a part of it.

The Cauleys have been married about 53 years and have been members of St. Matthew’s for 44 of them. They joined the church when the founder, the Rev. Malcolm Riker, was the priest and the church was a small parish on Ridge Oak Dr. They have seen and been a part of many changes and transitions for St. Matthew’s over the years and have been active in many different roles. The Cauleys are also founding members of the Tuesday Night Bible Study group, which has been meeting for more than 33 years.

Barbara’s talk comes at a time when St. Matthew’s is celebrating its 50th anniversary and we are focusing on the history of our church. With the Cauley Chapel at the very center of our campus, it will be a fitting program to end the 2007-08 Women’s Story Circle program of lunches and talks.

The Women’s Story Circle meets monthly, September through May (except December) for a light lunch (donation $5) and talk by a woman in our parish who tells her spiritual journey. The Women’s Story Circle is held immediately after the 10:30 a.m. service in Huffman Hall. Babysitting is always provided and lunch is provided for the children.

To hear Barbara Cauley speak, please reserve your lunch by sending an email to Janie McMahan, president of the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church Women, jmcduncan2@austin.rr.com, or to Leslie Kjellstrand, speaker coordinator, lkjellstrand@austin.rr.com, or call the church office.
The Women’s Story Circle is a monthly luncheon and fellowship event for women of all ages, featuring a woman from our parish telling her spiritual story. A donation of $5 may be made for the lunch. Most WSC events are held on the second Sunday of the month following the 10:30 a.m. service. Babysitting is always provided and children are fed lunch.
Reservations are suggested by calling the church office, 512-345-8314, or emailing Janie McMahan at jmcduncan2@austin.rr.com, or Leslie Kjellstrand at lkjellstrand@austin.rr.com. You may also sign up (through either of the above contacts) to be put on the WSC notification list, so that you can be notified by email of upcoming Women’s Story Circle events and other events sponsored by ECW.

The Women’s Story Circle features an inspirational talk by one of our women + lunch.

If given the opportunity, women minister to women.  This is a natural trait of womanhood and helps give women the strength and reserve to get through life’s toughest situations.  Each month after church, one woman from our St. Matthew’s family will share her story with other women.  At these informal sessions we will have a light lunch then hear about how women in our church have lived through cancer, divorce, loss of a child, health problems and other challenges.  Or we may hear about women who made choices for themselves about their careers, religion, marriages and retirement.  Some women will bring wonderful success stories; others stories of overcoming hardships and yet others of finding a new life due to a different career or family change. 

Sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of St. Matthew’s, the Women’s Story Circle will typically be held the second Sunday of each month in Huffman Hall.  A light lunch will be served at a cost of $5 per person. 

Babysitting will be provided and lunch will be served to children as well.  Reservations for lunch and childcare are requested and will be taken by email to Janie McMahan, jmcduncan2@austin.rr.com or 512-496-8494, or in the Commons after church. However, enough food will be available so you can attend and pay for lunch even if you have not made a reservation. 
Text from Previous Speakers:
Laura Myers-Doughty March 9, 2008
Nan Harrison February 10, 2008
Louise Waddill January 13, 2008
 Mary Lynn Polk November 11, 2007
Susan Robertson September 9, 2007
Jessica Lyon April 15, 2007
Beth Ann Sikes November 12, 2006
Cheryl McLay (aka Dr. Coldwater) October 8, 2006
Phaedra Kline September 8, 2006
Jeri Muhich August 8, 2004


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