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

Excellent, Experienced Child Care for Your Young Children is Offered from 7:45 a.m. until 12:15 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.

Need a Shoulder for Support? 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

Home Delivery of Holy Communion if you are unable to come to church and would like Holy Communion brought to you on Sunday, please call Jim Sparks at 345-7757.

Thanks for Wearing Your Nametag! If you need a new nametag please see Dedee Norman at the Welcome Table in the Commons right after church. Thanks for faithfully wearing your nametag each and every Sunday.

*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.

*With three services planned for Christmas Eve, the Ushers urgently need your help! To fully staff the services with ushers will require 41 people. As many of the regular ushers will be out of town, Team Captains Larry Richards and Joyce Braboy are in a pickle. Would you be willing to help out? Please call Larry 345-4913, or Joyce 250-0638 if you wish to volunteer. Bless you.

*Many Hands Make Easy Work: The Flower Guild needs many hands to "green" the church starting at 2:00 p.m. Monday, December 23. We cordially invite any and everyone to come and help move potted poinsettia plants and put up Christmas greenery to decorate the Sanctuary. With a space as large as our Sanctuary, it will take many people. Please join us!

*The Annual Children’s Christmas Pageant will be held during the

4:00 p. m. Christmas Eve Service. If you have children among family or friends visiting during the holiday, they are welcome to join our parish children as shepherds or angels! Costumes can be provided from home or picked up upon arrival at church at 3:30. All children are also invited to join in singing the anthem and music is in the Advent Take Home Packets.

*There will be no Sunday School for children or adults today or next Sunday, *There will not be a Weekly Word printed next week,

*It’s Time to Sign Up for Children’s Communion Class! Classes begin in January for second, third, or fourth graders who are ready to participate in "formal" communion instruction. For more information, refer to your December issue of The Word or call Barbara Pitts, 345-8314, x 221.

*Attention Episcoplayers: If you are interested in helping with or performing in short drama presentations, please contact Hink Johnson at

258-3304. We have been asked by our Rector to do a 5 to 7 minute vignette during Lent at a Sunday morning service. Other presentations to follow.

Jennifer Allen, Health Services Coordinator for Life Line Screening, who will present a stroke education program, "Protect Your Health, Protect Your Life." The program will be Friday, January 3, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. in Huffman Hall. Young at Heart will host a covered dish luncheon following the program. If you wish to attend, please bring a dish to share. Casserole, meat, vegetable, salad, bread, dessert or whatever. Questions? Call Lucy Boyea 345-8314

*What a wonderful problem! If you are running late and can’t find a parking place in our lot, remember that parking places are always available at Anderson High School just a short walk away.

St. Matthew’s Lenten Women’s Retreat, March 7-9. Susan Barnes will lead a women’s retreat at Camp Allen, including the labyrinth and music by Cynthia Clawson. The total cost (double occupancy) is $175. A deposit of $75 will guarantee your place. Contact the church office.

Exciting Opportunity In Spiritual Formation At Camp Allen. Trinity Church Wall Street is sponsoring a week-long conference featuring national leaders in spirituality, April 7-11. Several members are already planning to go, and your clergy urge you to seize this opportunity. Act quickly! The event was sold out at Kanuga Conference Center last year. For information and registration forms log on: www.campallen.org/html/spiritualformation.htm.

Vestry Nominations are still being accepted for the five places being vacated. Complete information on qualification, requirements and nomination forms may be downloaded from www.StMattsAustin.org Completed forms must be signed and turned into the Church Office. Vestry election is on January 12, 2003, at the Annual Parish Meeting.

Two Alternate Delegates to the Diocesan Council Meeting in Houston, February 6-8, will be elected at the Annual Parish Meeting, January 12. If you would like to represent our parish, please submit a brief bio to the church office as soon as possible. Also, two new members of the Special Gifts Committee will be elected. If you would like to be considered, please let us know ASAP by sending in a brief bio sketch. Contact Jack Eccles 345-7396 or betty@stmattsaustin.org

3:00 p.m. in Huffman Hall

Bring your family to enjoy this festive time of singing,

playing games and decorating the tree.

Infant nursery available.

Hot Chocolate, Christmas Cookies! Yum!

Family Fun For Everyone J

Family to Family:

encourage a St. Matthew's program for this holiday season of giving.

Won't you plan today to join our effort in reaching out to

one of St. Matthew's projects:

+El Buen Samaritano: food basket, toys under $12 before December 11

+Honduras Mission: children's vitamins (no iron)

+Angel Tree: adopt inmate’s child(ren) for Christmas gifts

(see display in Commons)

+Safeplace: baby items; socks, books or toys
Watch for more information about this exciting opportunity!

Watch for Donation Baskets in the Commons and in Sunday School Rooms!

Questions? Call Barbara Pitts 345-8314 or Holly Decherd 328-3944

For the latest information on what’s happening here, please go to www.StMattsAustin.org