The Weekly Word

The Weekly Word
July 25, 2004
Assigned Vestry Members for July: Debbie Meleski and Kevin McGillicuddy

Stewardship Tip The ability to tithe has more to do with faith
than with income.

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

Excellent, Experienced Child Care for Your Young Children is Offered from 7:45 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. At 7:45 a.m., all children are kept in the Education Building. At 9:00 a.m., the nursery for children 0-18 months is located in Huffman Hall on the parking lot side of the hallway. The nursery for children 18 months - 4 years remains in the Education Building. There is also a comfortable, soundproof room in the church balcony (sanctuary) for adults who wish to keep their babies with them during the service.

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.

Personal 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.

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 the church office at 345-8314.

The Good Samaritans Ministry offers love in the form of a hot meal for you and your family if you are in the hospital, sick, or recovering from adversity. In addition, other pastoral care services are available if you will just call the church office, 345-8314 with your needs and requests. In case of emergency, St. Matthew’s clergy may be reached by calling 771-0680.

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 #3
prepared by members of the St. Matthew’s Staff,
ably assisted by volunteers from the Xplorers.
From 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. in Huffman Hall.
The cost will vary each week – break even prices!
Bring your appetites and meet new friends!

Next week’s hosts: Members of the Vestry
"Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day"

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

HOT OF THE PRESS! The August issue of The Word is now on the website www.StMattsAustin.org Faithful web servants Steve Ryder and Jeri Muhich do their utmost to keep our website current – are you being a good websteward by updating your organization’s information? Please review your web page(s) and send your up to date info to Jeri and Steve.

*The Rev. Greg Rickel to preach on Sunday, August 1 Ever wonder about the true meaning of Stewardship? Like to know more about how we can all demonstrate stewardship in our lives, as individuals and together as a congregation? Then come and hear The Rev. Greg Rickel, Rector of St. James Episcopal Church, Austin and Member of the Diocesan Committee for Stewardship, preach on Sunday, August 1. Prepare to be inspired!

*Welcome Children! This summer we have been painting, cleaning, moving classrooms, training teachers, and planning – all for You! We are putting on the finishing touches - Come and See! Sign up for fall Sunday School on Sunday, August 8 or 15 – in Huffman Hall at the parish breakfast – or in the Commons before or after the 10:30 service. And at last, your classes kick off on August 22! We can hardly wait to see you!

*Youth on a Roll – Continuing the momentum built up over the summer, our youth go into August helping to plan their fall schedule. All youth are welcome to gather on Wednesday, August 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Building to meet with our new Director of Religious Education, Barbara Pitts and with Susan Barnes. Parents meet the following Wednesday, August 11, at 7:00 p.m. in B-14. RSVP to Barbara@stmattsaustin.org Barbara at 345-8314 x 221.

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St. Matthew’s Youth SUMMER FUN

Climb A Wall With Us! Tomorrow -- 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. Permission slip and waiver form required. For details hit www.stmattsaustin.org/y2004July.htm If you plan to participate, email: betty@stmattsaustin.org and copy the Rector at Merrill@stmattsaustin.org

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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*Attention parents of teens - Tired of being an unpaid chauffeur on Wednesday evenings? Want to spend some quality time with other adults? Why don't you stay at church and participate in EFM, while your teen attends youth group? Save some gas and expand your understanding of the Christian faith, all at the same time. If this sounds interesting or you just want some more information, please call Kathy Vail at 343-7367.

*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.

Daily Evening Prayer in the Cauley Bell Tower Chapel Continues every night at 6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer is led by a lay reader of the church. Lasting 12-15 minutes, the service involves the reading of a psalm, a scripture lesson and includes prayers and intercessions for the church and the world.

*First Friday Golf, August 6 at Star Ranch! Members of all ages and ability are welcome to join this fun excursion. Call Jack Eccles 925-6659 or Milt Williams 345-0499 for details and registration.

*Sunday, August 8, all women are invited to join the Women’s Story Circle immediately following the 10:30 a.m. service. Featured speaker will be Jeri Muhich. See your August issue of The Word for more details.

*Sunday, August 8, New Members of the parish are invited to join Merrill and Crystal Wade in their home for a Dessert Party at 7:00 p.m. Please see Dedee Norman for more information – or give her a call, 345-8314 x 219 to RSVP.

*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
10:J0 a.m. – 11:J0 a.m. Wednesdays 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

REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICES AT ST. MATTHEW’S
8:00 a.m. Traditional Holy Communion (Rite I)
9:00 a.m. Christian Education for Adults and Children
10:00 a.m. Fellowship Time for Adults in Huffman Hall
10:30 a.m. Holy Communion (Rite II) Choir and Worship Music Team
The nursery is open each Sunday from 7:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.
Childcare is cheerfully provided for those little ones from birth to age 4.

SEMINAR AT GOOD SHEPHERD --
The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd invites you to participate in a two-part workshop on Spirituality and Aging -- Sunday August 15th from 4:00 to 6:00 pm and Monday August 16th from 6:30 to 8:00pm. Leading the workshop will be Psychotherapist and Certified Gerontologist Nancy Lamb who works with Austin's Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care. This should prove to be an enlightening, thought-provoking and fun workshop for ALL adults, including the over-40 crowd, the middle-agers with children entering adulthood, the late middle-agers with aging parents, and the elderly!! Nancy Lamb is a wonderful leader! Come join in!