LOVE LETTERS: What I Love About St. Matthew’s Is… "the feeling of acceptance and love for our God and each other."

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.

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

TONIGHT CURSILLO ULTREYA! Turn out for the Convocation Ultreya at St. Luke's on the Lake, 6 p.m. Bring a future candidate, someone you sponsored. Have you been to an Ultreya this year? Child care will be provided.  Submitted by Dyke Miller

*Sunday, September 26 is SAC (Senior Activity Center) Recognition Day. We hope that you will attend and help recognize the many volunteers who contribute to the success of the program. If you are a member of SAC, please wear your name badge. Questions? Call Lucy Boyea 345-8314 x 226

*Sunday, September 26, plan to attend the Contemplative Eucharist in the Sanctuary at 5:15 p.m. A spiritual way to wrap up your weekend with a quiet, reflective time of worship.

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.

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!

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!

*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. Registration 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 x 221.

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!

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!

Boy Scout Troop 511 will once again be selling Holiday Greenery at St. Matthew’s on Sunday, October 10 and October 24 during the morning. Stop by the display on those dates to see new items this year that can be mailed directly to someone as a gift. For more information please call Brian Lackey at 418-1699.

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-14

"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-18

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.

Sunday, October 3