The Weekly Word

The Weekly Word
September 12, 2004
Assigned Vestry Members for September: Jerry Ballard and Kathy Vail

LOVE LETTERS: What I Love About St. Matthew’s Is… "that wonderful ‘essence’ that makes St. Matthew’s so unique."

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

*You just received an important item in the mail –
your pledge card for 2005.
Please prayerfully consider what your offering will be for the coming year. Next Sunday, St. Matthew’s Day, you will have an opportunity to bring your card and lay it on the altar.

*"Developing a Prayerful Life That Can Work For a Busy Modern Person Who Isn’t a Nun or a Monk." The Rev. Barbara Crafton, Episcopal priest and noted author, is scheduled to speak at St. David's Episcopal Church, Friday and Saturday, September 17 and 18. A group of St. Matthew's women will meet at Berryhill Grill on Hwy. 360 prior to the Friday night session, which is free and open to the public. Tickets must be purchased through St. David's for the Saturday program. Please call Crystal Wade at 250-9161 if you would like to join the group meeting at Berryhill. In the meantime, you can check out Barbara's website at www.geraniumfarm.org.

*DAUGHTERS OF THE KING TRAINING: The Daughters of the King is an Order for women who are members of the Episcopal Church. St. Matthews’s chapter, known as St. Cecilia, will be offering training for women interested in learning about the Order and how the promises made at Confirmation interface with a life-long commitment to prayer, service and evangelism for Christ’s sake. For further information contact Mary-Lynn Polk, President at 258-3359 or marylynn78750@yahoo.com.

TODAY Women’s Story Circle: 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.

LOVE LETTERS! Do you remember on Pentecost when Susan Barnes asked you to complete this sentence, "what I love about St. Matthew’s is…..", and you wrote your comments on a 3 x 5 card? Well, the resulting composite Love Letter was amazing and, beginning today, selected comments from your cards will be printed each Sunday. Thank you for your awesome input!

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Youth News

*This Evening – 9 – 12 Graders meet at 5:00 p.m. with Merrill and Phil in the Youth Building to go to All Saints Episcopal Church for the 6:00 p.m. UT Student Center evening service. We will be back here by 8:30 p.m. and supper will be provided.

*Youth Council meets Thursday, Sept. 23, at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Building. If you are a parent or just an adult who's interested in our youth, please consider this your invitation to attend our first meeting of the school year! We have a Christian ed. director and a new youth minister, and we're raring to go, so please join us if you'd like. Email Kristi Robison (Youth Council chair) at kristi_robison@gsdm.com if you have questions.

*Parent and High School Youth Brunch – Sunday, Sept. 26, 9:15-10:15 a.m. – Youth Bldg. Plan to join our high school adult leaders at 9:15 for breakfast tacos, followed by a time of team introductions and information regarding the year ahead. Learn what this new year has to offer YOUth! Bring family calendar.

*High School Faith Pilgrimage – Wednesday, Oct. 6, 7:00 p.m. – B-18 Youth, parents, and all parishioners interested in learning more about the 2005 spiritual pilgrimage to Iona, Scotland, are invited to this initial all-important information meeting.

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*Come Sing with UsJ Choir rehearsals are on Wednesday nights from 7-9 p.m. in the Choir Room. We want you and need you to join the fellowship, fun, and work preparing to lead worship at St. Matthew’s. If you have been considering joining the choir, now is the time to make the move to get involved! Come check out the new guy. Our new Music Minister, Tim Smith, is anxious to meet you!

Young adults! Are you looking to connect with friends and fun at St. Matt's? Xplorers may be for you. The Xplorers is a fellowship/study group for young adults that meets for monthly social outings, does service projects, eats together, and will meet once a month after the 10:30 service for study. We are always happy to have new folks! Our next event is a games night Sept. 17, 7:00 p.m. Contact Heather Walter, 627-6938, for details or more info or email Kristi Robison, kristi_robison@gsdm.com, to get on our email list and receive our fall schedule

*The Thursday Night Bible Study group invites all adults to join us for study and discussion each Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Room B-14. The group is congenial, interesting, stimulating and eager to learn! You would fit right in! No reservation necessary – just grab your Bible and show up!

It's time to turn in your applications for Education for Ministry (EFM). There is still room in the seminar group for a few more members. Please call Kathy Vail (343-7367), if interested. Application forms are available from the church office or http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/EFMhome.html (see student enrollment) and should be turned in to the office or Kathy Vail. Class will start Wednesday, September 15 at 7pm.

Calling all 4th & 5th Graders! This years' first Coffee House is almost here. Join Michele Mann and Barbara Pitts at 9:30 on Sunday, Sept. 19, as we conclude our study of saints and psalms a bit early, in order to have hot chocolate and Krispy Kremes and to have some extra time for socializing and playing games. See you in Sunday School!

*Mark Your Calendar – Please save either Thursday, September 30, 6:30-9:30 or Saturday, October 23, 9:00-12:00 to participate in a diocesan-sponsored sexual abuse prevention training program. While this is mandatory training for all individuals working with children or youth, St. Matthew’s strongly encourages every adult to learn the warning signs of such abuse to support our youngsters. Registrations forms for Safeguarding God’s Children are located in the Commons, the main church office, and the basement. Questions can be directed to Barbara Pitts, 345-8314.

September 26 will be the next Baptism Sunday at St. Matthew’s. If you, or someone you know, would like to be baptized, please call Betty Mitchell in the Church Office, 345-8314 x 214 or email betty@stmattsaustin.org

*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!

*Copies of the 2004 St. Matthew’s Budget are available in the Commons

this morning. Please stop by the East Credenza and pick up a copy if you wish.

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!

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Adult Education in September
7:30 a.m. - noon Bride’s Room, B-6, open as a quiet place
for individual contemplative prayer

8:45 a.m. Coffee and informal Bible Discussion Questions available in Huffman Hall

9:30 a.m. Education for Adults, Children and Youth

Three learning opportunities for Adults:

Our Rector, Merrill Wade, will teach a Discovery Class called "Connecting Sunday to Monday." This class will focus on new members and visitors but all are welcome. We will study the ways and means that our Sunday services prepare us for serving Jesus Christ in our homes, jobs and relationships. We will give significant attention to the Holy Eucharist and the meanings of Baptism.
This class will meet in Room B-18

"Listening To Your Life", will be led by a team of facilitators, to find the blessings hidden in our own stories of struggle. This class will provide a time for sharing, meditation and reflection on the Christian spiritual journey, studying Sr. Joan Chittister’s book, Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope.
This class will meet in Room B-14

Traditional Bible Study, led by Bill Donnell and Clive Smith. Selected scripture from the Book of Acts and commentaries will be studied. Study questions will be used to prompt discussion of how these words speak to us in our day to day lives.
This class will meet in Room B-21.

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Special Schedule For St. Matthew’s Day, September 19!

9:30 a.m. Sunday School for Children and Adults
10:30 a.m. One Church Service for all
12:00 noon Feast Day Celebration, Huffman Hall

Sponsored by the Associate Vestry
Lunch prepared by the Holy Smokers
Entertainment for Kids and Adults

Wear Red! Bring the Kids! Eat Lunch! Stay Late