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 comfortable, soundproof room upstairs for adults who wish to keep their babies with them during the service.

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. In case of emergency, St. Matthew’s clergy may be reached by calling 771-0680

Would You Like to Have Holy Communion in Your Home? 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.

Don’t be left in the Dark! To receive emails of parish-wide event reminders and information updates, subscribe to the Communications Commission Email Notification Service by sending a blank email to
StMattsEMail-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Were you out of town? Did you miss the Weekly Word? Simply go to our website, and get the information you’ve missed! www.StMattsAustin.org

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

*Items marked with an asterisk* are being run for the first time today.

*today NEWCOMERS COUNCIL will meet after the 10:30 service in Room B-14. Anyone interested in making visitors and new members feel welcomed here is urged to attend. The more the better. We will discuss a mentoring program for new members and parish lunch to honor new members.

*today OPENING OUR HEARTS THROUGH THE ARTS Planning Committee meeting in Room B-13 after church.
*today Arts Festival Tee Shirts are available in the Courtyard for $10

*today GOOD FAITH FUND As this is the first Sunday of the month, the loose offering and so-designated checks will be given to the Good Faith Fund through which alms are collected and distributed.

*today Our Co-Music Directors, Suzanne Daniel & Cary Michaels are in Mississippi for the closing Eucharist at the Mississippi Conference on Church Music and Liturgy. They have participated in a week of workshops and clinics focusing on the Great Vigil of Easter. Thanks to guest organist, Corey Candler, and guest praise coordinator, Jason Sommerville. The choir is getting a brief respite and will resume their usual positions next Sunday.

*today CURSILLO CLOSING: Cursillo # 196 celebrates with a Closing Ceremony today at 4 p.m., All Saints’ Chapel, Camp Allen. St. Matthew's has no candidates but why not go to the Closing and renew your own Clausura. Car pool from the Steck Lot at 1:30 p.m. today. No dinner gathering in Elgin tonight either but there is Blue Bell in Brenham. Get ready, we will have four candidates for Cursillo # 197 in September. Submitted by Dyke Miller
*today Final Week! Only five Job Cards remain to be taken! Sanding and nailing; cutting contact paper; copying and cutting; inventorying furniture; and sorting toys. If you would be able and willing to complete one of these projects, please run to B-17 after the service this morning and grab a card. Heartfelt thanks for your support and help.

*today ADULT EDUCATION Great Teacher Series 9:00 a.m. Huffman Hall Holly Decherd and Danny Henshaw speaking on "The Dynamic Duo: St. Matthew’s Evangelism and Outreach and How They Fit Into the Jesus Mosaic."

*ADULT EDUCATION next week, August 11, The Rev. Merrill Wade, "My Experiences of the Episcopal Church."

*ADULT EDUCATION On Sunday, August 18 at 9am, all interested adults and high school students are invited to meet in Huffman Hall to discuss what is necessary to put together a quality fall educational program. Keith Miller will lead the discussion to: (1)Take a look at what we, personally, really want to happen at St. Matthew’s, why we came here, why we stayed, and what kind of "house of love" we want to have as a parish family. (2) To isolate the goals in our mission statement, and make sure that our education program moves us toward those goals by providing classes, materials, outside speakers, and continuing communication opportunities that will enhance our knowledge and abilities to actually accomplish our parish goals. (3) To look very briefly at some of the educational models we have to choose from. Please join us. Child care will be provided for infants and toddlers and an exciting Treasure Hunt is planned for the older kids.

*ADULT EDUCATION Council will meet at noon on Sunday, August 18 in Room B-13, to discuss the results of all the previous discussions and the survey, and to make plans for the school year. Please bring a sack lunch.

*MENS’ FELLOWSHIP Next Meeting: Wednesday, August 21 5:30 p.m. in Huffman Hall. Bar B-Q dinner $6 per person. This will be a re-organizational meeting for the remainder of the year. Your input will be important for future meetings. Rev. Merrill Wade and others will have comments for future meetings. Sign up in the Commons today or call the Church Office, 345-8314 to make your reservation.

*MINISTRY FAIR. It's coming! Mark the date, August 25. Plan your time to be here, 9 to 10:30 a.m. and/or after the 10:30 service approximately 12 to 12:45 p.m. in Huffman Hall. Sunday School is 'Open House' that day so everyone, young and old can attend the Fair. The Rev. Joe DiPaola said that we "abound in the giving of our Time and Talent." Well, this is where it starts. This is the only time during the church year that All the Ministries within St. Matthew's assemble in one place to talk about what they do and help YOU get in touch with your personal ministry. Don't miss this event!

*KAIROS Peggy and Steve Ryder will be serving on the team for KAIROS # 1 at the Boyd Unit in Teague, Texas, on September 11-15, 2002. Prayers, cookies and written agape are needed. Ways you can help, Cookie Instructions, and Guidelines for Written Agape, and other information can be found at: www.jrsys.com/kairos/Boyd/ Please pray for the team, candidates, and about ways you might be part of this powerful Christian ministry.

*COMMUNITY OF HOPE training will begin Saturday, September 14
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Subsequent classes will be held on Monday nights from 6:30-9 p.m. from September 23 to November 11. If interested please contact the church office.

*HOLY BAPTISM The next Baptism Sunday for our parish will be September 29. If you or your child wish to receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, please contact Betty Mitchell in the church office 345-8314 or email her betty@stmattsaustin.org

*DAUGHTERS OF THE KING Quiet Day: The Daughters of The King will hold a Quiet Day on Saturday, August 24, 2002 in B-18. Heather Kohout of The Seton Cove Spirituality Center will lead a day of reflection, contemplation and quiet time with Our Lord. Registration at 9:30 a.m. Program at 10:00 a.m. Sandwich lunch available for $5.00. The day will conclude with Holy Eucharist celebrated by The Rev. Susan J. Barnes. In order to provide lunch we must know by Thursday August 22 if you plan to attend. Look for the sign-up sheet in the Commons on Sunday, August 11 & 18 or call Louise Waddill at 343-7696 or email lwaddill@austin.rr.com. Childcare is available if you call Tracey Nichols at 331-0653 by August 11
Prayer Box: The Daughters of The King (DOK) will soon provide a special box for your prayer requests. The beautiful wooden box, created by our own David Petersen, will be located in the West side entryway near the Tape Ministry table. Prayer requests will be included in the DOK intercessory prayers for a period of one month and can be renewed upon request. The Daughters of The King is an Order for women in the Episcopal Church whose purpose is the spread of Christ’s Kingdom through Prayer, Service and Evangelism.

Vacation Bible School Plates and T Shirts are in the Church Office. If you made a plate or ordered a T shirt, please come by the Church Office Monday through Friday, 9 a..m. - 5 p.m. to pick up your stuff. Thanks!

*LAREDO BUS TRIP 2002 It’s that time again! The St. Matthew’s Laredo
trip is scheduled for October 19-20 at a LOWER cost of $110. This includes bus and hotel but does not include meals. The first 50 to send their checks to Margaret Parker, 3631 Kentfield Road, Austin, 78759, will have their reservation made. Checks will not be cashed until October 1. Questions? Call 345-0495. Would you believe I have discovered another good shopping deal?

*Make ConneXions! Join ConneXions Dinner Groups beginning this fall. About ten people – couples and singles – are assigned to one of nine dinner groups that meet monthly for good food and Christian fellowship. Meals can be brunches, lunches, picnics, swim parties or dinners. One of the longest running activities at St. Matthew’s. New groups form in September and March for a six-month cycle. For questions or to join, call Leslie or Bill Kjellstrand, 331-2121 or email: stmconnexions@hotmail.com. You will automatically be re-enrolled for the next cycle unless you call or email the Kjellstrands.
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