Weekly Word

The Weekly Word
September 8, 2002

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

Quality Care for your Children is available from 8:00 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. 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 you hit the wall and life's challenges take center stage, 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

Unable to make it to Church? Homebound? Shut In? 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.

To keep up to date on what’s going on at St. Matthew’s to receive emails of parish-wide events, subscribe to the Communications Commission Email Notification Service by sending a blank email to
StMattsEMail-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

For all the news that’s fit to print (at least in this parish,) simply go to our website, and get the information you’ve missed! www.StMattsAustin.org

Did you wear your nametag today? If you answered "Yes" – We Thank You! If you need a new nametag 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.

*Visitor’s Orientation will be held every other week. At that time one of the priests will meet with you to greet and answer questions you may have. If you are visiting today and would like to know more about St. Matthew’s and what it has to offer you, please gather at the front of the sanctuary NEXT WEEK immediately after the 10:30 service.

*today (and every Sunday) Prayer Teams are available during Communion at Prayer Stations on either side of the sanctuary. One station is located on the east side, by the windows, and the other station is on the west side in the gallery. Prayer requests and discussion are completely confidential.

*today A New Adult Education Class Continues This Morning at

9:00 am Merrill Wade is teaching a six-week course on the Synoptic Gospels, a comparative study of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Please bring your Bible (preferably the Revised Standard, the NSRV or Jerusalem version. Contemporary paraphrased Bibles are less useful for this setting.) The class will meet in Huffman Hall. The full compliment of adult classes will resume October 13.

*today CURSILLO NEWS: PALANCA PARTY, Room B-18, at 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. No pizza snack tonight. Come to Huffman Hall at 5 p.m. and enjoy meal compliments of St. Matt’s Youth in support of Rite 13. If you do this, call Kathy Dugat for a reservation. Otherwise, come to the Party at 5:30 p.m. This will be the final palanca party for this year. Submitted by Dyke Miller

*today Registrations for EFM are due today, Sunday, September 8. There are openings in the seminar group. If you are still undecided or want to turn in your enrollment, meet with Kathy Vail during the coffee time, after the 10:30 service in the Commons, or call 343-7367.

*Diocese Sponsored Outreach Programs, funded by member church contributions, for 2003, will be discussed following the evening service, September 11, at approximately 7:00 p.m. in B-14. The Outreach Committee will be studying the presentation by member Joyce Scott, but all members of St. Matthew's are invited. For further information, contact Holly Decherd 328-3944.

The Austin Civic Orchestra kicks off its fall season with a concert honoring the heroes lost and fallen on September 11, 2001. Please come Sunday, September 15, at 3:00 p.m. to St. Matthew’s sanctuary. Admission $8 adults, $6 seniors and students, $3 children. Tickets available at the door. For more information please visit www.austincivicorchestra.org or call 990-8ACO,

The ECW Diocesan convention needs HELP! The Women of St. Matthew’s will be the hosts this year. Volunteers are needed for paste work on putting the "Goodie Bags" together. It’s quick, easy and if ya’ll come it won’t take long. On September 18 we need you at 1:00 p.m. in Huffman Hall. If you can bring Elmer’s clear glue, or contribute some cash to the glue fund it will be greatly appreciated, as will your help. Please call the Church Office, 345-8314, to get on the volunteer list.

The Parish Community of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church will join with the The Rev. Merrill Wade, on Monday, September 23, 2002, with the Celebration of his New Ministry as our Rector. (See Book of Common Prayer p.559) The service, with The Rt. Rev. James Brown, begins at 6:30 p.m., and will be followed by a reception in Huffman Hall. We hope you will be with us to celebrate this joyous occasion.

*RECEPTION MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 23. The Hospitality Committee needs your help. We are planning a dessert reception following the service for Celebration of A New Ministry. We need "finger" desserts, such as cookies, brownies, bar cookies or the miniature éclairs or cream puffs that Sam’s makes. Please call or e-mail Louise Waddill if you can make or furnish some of the above. We also need help at the event so let Louise know if you can help. Contact her at 343-7696 or lwaddill@austin.rr.com

<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>

What is this "Rite 13" I keep hearing about?
The first two years of the youth curriculum, Journey to Adulthood, is entitled Rite 13. It addresses the ever present and increasingly important issue of self, sexuality, spirituality and society, The Rite 13 liturgy celebrates the passage from childhood to womanhood or manhood, serving as the foundation from which the young person is invited into a mature relationship with Christ.

*A retreat for those in the Rite 13 program begins *today. Please keep our Journeyers in your prayers as they fast, meditate and spiritually prepare for their Coming of Age Ceremony to be held next Sunday, September 15, at the 10:30 a.m. service. At that time, in lieu of the regular Prayers of the People and Confession, we will have a ceremony in celebration of our Rite 13 class. During the ceremony, we, as a congregation, will commit to help these young people on their journey.

September 11, 2002
St. Matthew’s Remembers with Three Services
7:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
12:00 noon Holy Eucharist with Healing Prayer
6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Sermon, Music

St. Matthew’s Day Has Just Become a Two-Day Event!
Here is the Schedule for your Datebook…
Sunday, September 22 One Church Service at 10:30 a.m.
Festival Eucharist with Special Music
(Nursery and Child Care Available at 9:30 a.m.)
Parish Picnic in Huffman Hall with lunch by the Holy Smokers and Children’s Activities.
Presented by the awesome Associate Vestry.

Monday, September 23 Celebration of a New Ministry
at 6:30 p.m. with Bishop James Brown presiding
A reception in Huffman Hall will follow the service.