The Weekly Word
July 18, 2004
Assigned Vestry Members for July: Debbie Meleski and Kevin McGillicuddy

Stewardship Tip Tithing is a means to an end and not an end in itself. Welcome to Our Guests! 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. 219 and visit our web site at www.StMattsAustin.org

Receive weekly info and breaking parish news by subscribing to St Matt’s email. Just send a blank email to: StMattsEmail-subscribe@yahoogroups.com then respond to the confirmation email.

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TODAY! We hope you enjoyed Fellowship Building Breakfast #2
prepared by members of the Thursday Morning Men’s Bible Study Group.
From 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. in Huffman Hall.
The cost is $3.00 for adults, and $2.00 for children 12 and under.
Bring your appetites and meet new friends!
Next week’s hosts: The Office Staff and the Xplorers
"Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day"

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*The Xplorers, a fellowship/study group for young adults, invite you to come join with us after the 10:30 service today to go out to eat at Jason's Deli. Are you a young adult at St. Matt's looking to connect with friends and fun? Xplorers may be for you. Join us today to see if you'd like to become an Xplorer. We'll meet in the Commons outside the sanctuary to organize going to Jason's Deli. Contact Heather Walter, 627-6938, or Kristi Robison, kristi_robison@gsdm.com, for details or more info.

*Registration is beginning for Education for Ministry (EFM) for the 2004 -05 school year.  Classes will begin in September on Wednesday evenings.  To register, please contact Kathy Vail at 343-7367 or kvail@austin.rr.com.  More information  is available in the July issue of The Word and on the St. Matthew's web site, www.stmattsaustin.org

Our friends at El Buen Samaritano are always in urgent need of supplies to maintain their food pantry which serves 60-80 people daily. Please bring your donations of rice, dried beans, peanut butter, tuna, Vienna sausages, canned fruits and vegetables, pastas, tomato sauce, sugar, flour, soups, cereals. Place your donations in the baskets in the Commons. They will be blessed and delivered to El Buen. Muchas gracias.

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Hey, kids going into 6th-12th grades (or recently graduated): Do you like movies? Do you like hanging out with friends? How about free pizza? Then come join us in the Youth Building for our monthly movie night TONIGHT from 6-8:30 p.m. or so. We're watching Pirates of the Caribbean this month. If you've never been to a movie night...no big deal! Come watch and hang out for the discussion afterwards. Need more information? Contact Jay and Kristi Robison at 242-4636 or kristi_robison@gsdm.com.

Climb A Wall With Us! July 26, Monday, 7 – 10:00 p.m. 9^th through 12^th graders meet at the Austin Rock Gym for an evening of rock wall climbing and community building. For details hit www.stmattsaustin.org/y2004July.htm

6 – 8^th Grade Games Night II Thursday, July 29, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in Huffman Hall. A non-stop, action-packed night of laughs We will continue to find ways to get to know one another and to share Christ’s love in fun and meaningful ways. Snack only – bring your friends! Please RSVP to Betty at 345-8314 x 215 or by email to betty@stmattsaustin.org and copy the Rector at Merrill@stmattsaustin.org

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*College Camp 2004—Camp Allen, August 16-18 For the third year in a row the Division of College Ministry in the Diocese of Texas is sponsoring a summer retreat for students either going to college for the first time or who are currently college students. If you are going to college for the first time, you will have the opportunity to meet students who are already in school as well as learn about Episcopal college ministry in this diocese. The cost for the event is $60 which includes two nights at Camp Allen’s conference center, all food, and many workshops and fun events. You can register for the retreat at www.episcopalcollegeministry.org. If you have any questions, please contact the Rev. Miles Brandon at (512) 477-6839 mbrandon@utepiscopal.org

St. Matthew’s Story Hour for Pre-Schoolers and Elementary Children in the Sanctuary
10J 0 a.m. – 11J 0 a.m. Wednesdays in June, July and August
Bring your children and join our talented story tellers for an interactive Bible story, music and a romp on the playground.
Questions? Call Kathy Dugat at 343-7989