A warm welcome to our visitors! We pray that your visit to St. Matthew’s will richly bless you and that you will come back again. Please fill out the Welcome Card located in the chair slot in front of you. Place the information portion in the offertory plate and affix the name tag so that we may identify and welcome you. And we have a special gift for you so please stop by the Welcome Table in the foyer after the service. For information about St. Matthew's, call Dedee Norman at 345-8314 Ext. 229 and visit our web site at www.StMattsAustin.org

St. Matthew’s offers nursery care from 8:00 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. on Sundays. Nurseries for children 0-18 months are located in Huffman Hall on the parking lot side of the hallway. The nursery for children 18 months - 4 years is in the Education Building. There is also a cry room upstairs for parents with unhappy babies.

When life's challenges appear overwhelming, we encourage you to call on your St. Matthew's family for love, prayer, the support of a friend, or a meal in time of need. With loving respect and confidentiality, we offer these and many other pastoral care services to our church family. Contact the church office, 345-8314, with needs and requests.

Homebound? If you or someone you know are unable to come to church and would like Holy Communion brought to you on Sunday, please call Jim Sparks at 345-7757.

Flowers on the Altar are given to the Glory of God by George McClure in memory of his wife, Jane, on their 50^th Wedding Anniversary.

*Please Come to Huffman Hall Today Immediately Following the 10:30 service for a Welcome Reception in honor of Merrill and Crystal Wade and their children, Patrick and Caroline! Louise Waddill and her Hospitality Committee have pitched in to host a delightful light luncheon for everyone in the parish family.

*Did you wear your nametag today? If you need a new one please see Dedee Norman at theWelcome Table in the Commons right after church.

*For the Women (ECW) of St. Matthew’s and their guests: A retreat led by The Rev. Susan Barnes. Beginning Friday, August 1, starting with dinner, and continuing through early afternoon on Saturday, August 2, in Huffman Hall. Susan’s message will be "Taking Genesis 1 Seriously: What Does It Mean To Be a Woman Made In the Image of God?"

*OUTREACH COMMISSION will meet this Thursday at 5:30, July 18, in B-14. Visitors welcome. Report from Youth Mission trip as well as budget management for current year and next year will constitute the agenda. For information, call Holly Decherd.

*There will be an Adult Education Council brainstorming and planning session on Sunday, July 21 at noon in room B-13. Anyone interested in adult education at St. Matthew’s is encouraged to participate. Please bring a brown bag lunch and your ideas.

If you would like to write to Joe and Betty Di Paola, their address is:
2529 Avenue O, Galveston, TX 77550. Joe’s new email address is: padrepreacherman@aol.com

*Have you ever wanted to study the Bible, church history, and recent theology in depth? EFM is an international continuing Christian education program for adults, offered by the University of the South School of Theology. Study is done independently at home. Tuition is $325/year. There are some partial scholarships available based upon financial need. The St. Matthew’s EFM group meets on Tuesday nights during the school year, starting in September. Registration for the 2002-03 year will begin in August. Please contact Kathy Vail, 343-7367 (evenings) or for more information.

*Job Cards Need You! We have completed the posting of our annual parish-wide "Job Cards", in order for you to help prepare for fall Chapel and Sunday School. Furniture needs to be cleaned, materials freshened, paper cut, curriculum sorted, and errands run. Thursday Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study are cleaning baseboards and sweeping out cobwebs and pill bugs for the fourth year in a row. Would you be willing to give an hour or two, also? Follow the notices and signs to the door of B-17, where Job Cards are posted!! Thanks so much.

*Planning Meeting for Fall Children’s Chapels – Thursday, July 18, at 7:00 p.m., in B-6. All parishioners involved in, or interested in, this facet of St. Matthew’s children’s ministries are encouraged to come be a part of this meeting.

*And Speaking of Fall…Is it your time to help work with our children? All training and materials are provided. Also provided is the reward of watching the almost imperceptible – but real – signs of spiritual growth in our children. Chapel, Sunday School, and special events will have a place for your caring participation. Call Barbara Pitts, 345-8314, x221.

*Attending a Cursillo weekend at Camp Allen is a great way to grow spiritually, deepen one's faith, and learn how to serve effectively in God's kingdom as a layperson. You will also be part of a community of 8,200 who have attended Cursillo in the Diocese of Texas. Upcoming dates are August 1-4, September 26-29, and November 14-17, 2002. Download an application at www.texascursillo.org

*Attention Singles: There will be an Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social with homemade ice cream and cookies on Sunday, July 21, at 4:00 p.m. at Rather House at the Episcopal Seminary. This party is sponsored by St. David’s Church --- please RSVP to tudy@st.dave.org

*Club 345 Family Swim party: Friday, July 19 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. We will meet at the Fugate's house for swimming, food, fellowship and lots of fun. We ask that an adult stay with the child(ren) they bring to the party. Sign-up sheet, forms, and maps to the Fugates are available at the Commons display on Sunday or in the church office during the week. Feel free to contact Heather (418-9343 or hookem02@texas.net for any questions. Can't wait to see you there!

The Episcopal Church Women are compiling a cookbook and we’d like to include your family favorites! The book will be a fund raiser for both the September arts festival, Opening Our Hearts to the Arts, and for the ECW 2002 Annual Meeting on November 1 and 2 at Camp Allen, sponsored by St. Matthew’s ECW. To send your recipes see instructions in the July issue of The Word but please use a different email address (oops!) Send your recipes to smcookbook@hotmail.com

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