The Weekly Word

The Weekly Word
August 22, 2004
Assigned Vestry Members for August: Susan Robertson and Jay Robison

Stewardship Tip: Healthy congregations know there is more than enough. 2 Corinthians 9:7-8, 11-15

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.

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

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

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION for CHILDREN, YOUTH and ADULTS

Children’s Sunday School Sign up Welcome Children! We have been painting, cleaning, moving classrooms, training teachers, and planning – all for You! Fall Sunday School Begins TODAY at 9:30 a.m.! We can hardly wait to see you!

Beginning TODAY August 22, YOUth Sunday School - YOU've helped plan for it - and now it's here! Middle schoolers, 6th-8th grades, kick off the fall at 9:30 in the Chrysalis Cottage; high schoolers, 9th-12th, get underway at 9:30 in the Youth Building. Both classes dismiss at 10:20, to attend the 10:30 church service. See YOUth there!!

Beginning TODAY Sunday morning adult education will run from 9:30 until 10:15 a.m. preceded by "coffee time" in Huffman Hall from 8:45 until 9:30. This time may be used to socialize and build community or study Bible reading materials, which will be made available

This morning hear the Rector will speak on "Connecting Sunday to Monday." On August 29, the Great Teachers Series will continue with The Rev. John Yeaman speaking on religious freedom, and on September 5, with Peter Steinke speaking on traits of healthy congregations.

Beginning TODAY the Bride’s Room (B-6) is open for quiet and private prayer from 7:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon each Sunday morning.

The Nursery will be open each Sunday from 7:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICES AT ST. MATTHEW’S

7:30 – noon                Contemplative Prayer in Bride’s Room (B-6)
8:00 a.m.                   Holy Eucharist: Rite I
8:45 – 10:30 a.m.        *Coffee and Study Materials in Huffman Hall

*(For August 22, August 29, and September 5, Bible Study materials are available until 9:30 a.m. The speaker is in Huffman Hall at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday until September 5.)

9:30 – 10:15 a.m.          Christian Education for Adults
9:30 – 10:15 a.m.         Christian Education for Youth (Grades 6 – 12)
9:30 and 10:30 a.m.      Christian Education for Children
10:30 a.m.                   Holy Eucharist: Rite II

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.

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

*Lets Go Shopping in Laredo! An open invitation to the women of St. Matthew’s (and men with brave hearts and deep pockets): the annual Shopping Trip to Laredo will be Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17. Cost: $110, No refunds given after October 1. Send check to reserve your spot to Margaret Parker, 3631 Kentfield Road, Austin, TX 78759. Questions? Call Margaret at 345-0495 Come eat ‘til you pop and shop ‘til you drop!

*Attention Choir Members – or those who would like to sing in the choir. Choir Practice will resume on a regular basis on Wednesday evenings at
7:00 p.m. in the Choir Room. All voices are welcome!

*YOUTH GROUPS begin again on Wednesday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m. We will all gather in Huffman Hall for pizza and then the 6 – 8^th grade group will gather in the Chrysalis Cottage with Merrill and the Senior Highs will gather in the Youth Building with Susan Barnes. The 6 – 8^th grade pick up time is 8:30 p.m., the 9 – 12 grade pick up time is 9:00 p.m. Call Merrill or Susan with your questions. A complete calendar for September will be sent out soon to the youth and their parents. We are expecting (keep praying!) to have a new Youth Minister on board by mid-September.

*ON September 5, (Sunday of Labor Day Weekend), we will once again have our Vocation Celebration at the 10:30 a.m. service. You are invited to bring a tangible symbol of your work – whether vocation or avocation – to be blessed at the Altar. You might bring a computer mouse, a book, a musical instrument, or a stethoscope. We will pray special prayers for those who are no longer employed and those who are underemployed. What descriptive symbol will you bring?

*ConneXions Fall Regrouping: A new ConneXions series will begin September 5 at 7 p.m. with a Social Hour in Huffman Hall. Now's the time to join one of St. Matthew's oldest and most popular groups, ConneXions, where many long-term friendships have been made while enjoying wonderful meals. Dinner groups of 10-12 singles and couples meet monthly for brunch, lunch or dinner in members homes over the next six months. To join or get more information, call Bill or Leslie Kjellstrand, 331-2121 or email lkjellstrand@austin.rr.com.

*Women’s Story Circle: September 12, at noon in Huffman Hall, Marilyn Cole will tell us how going to China to adopt their baby Nora turned out to be a spiritual journey as well as a travel experience. A light lunch (suggested donation $5) will be served and childcare is available. Please make reservations with Janice Watkins, janiwat@outerscape.net or in the Commons after church.

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

*If you have had a name placed on the Prayer List, and the person whose name you added has improved or the situation has changed for the better, won’t you please call the Church Office with the good news? To maintain a current prayer list, it is important to remove names as well as add them. Call Barbara Haynes at 345-8314 and let her know of your changes. Thanks!

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

Save the Date: February 4 – 6 ECW Retreat at Camp Allen with
Susan Barnes, Posy Jackson and Cynthia Clawson