The Weekly Word

The Weekly Word
September 26, 2004
Assigned Vestry Members for September: Jerry Ballard and Kathy Vail

LOVE LETTERS: What I Love About St. Matthew’s Is… "for always providing loving care and programs for our children so that we can worship and participate in church as a family."

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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.

*The October issue of The Word is now posted on the St. Matthew’s website. For your advance reading pleasure see www.StMattsAustin.org

*TODAY is SAC (Senior Activity Center) Recognition Day. St. Matthew’s is proud of the Senior Activity Center as it celebrates its 10^th anniversary. Don’t forget to see their exhibit in the Commons and join Lucy Boyea and her SAC members after the service for punch and cookies in the Courtyard.

*TODAY Reminder to Daughters of the King: Today at noon the St. Cecilia chapter of Daughters of the King will have lunch in B18. Following lunch Sandy Carlman, a Daughter and artist from St. Luke's on the Lake, will facilitate the program for us.

*THIS EVENING we hope you will 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. Very different from our usual Eucharist service, this service has periods of silence built in to help focus on words of scripture and prayer.

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.

*Young At Heart/Senior Activity Center "First Friday" luncheon/speaker series will meet on Friday, October 1,2004, at 11:00 A.M. in Huffman Hall. October speakers are Jean DeMoll and Betty Mitchell who will reply to the question "Where Were You On 9/11/01 ?" The presentation will be followed by a covered dish luncheon at 12:00 noon. Bring a dish to share-casserole, meat, vegetable, salad, bread, dessert or whatever-and partake of food and fellowship.

*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 meets once a month after the 10:30 service for study. We are always happy to have new folks and visitors! We will have a potluck lunch after the service in Huffman Hall TODAY and have a little mini-study on OT history, led by Jay Robison. Next: Dinner with Susan Barnes, October 2, 6:30 p.m., at John & Amanda's. Contact Heather Walter, 627-6938, for more info or email Kristi Robison, kristi_robison@gsdm.com, to get on our email list and receive our fall schedule!

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In case you were not here last Sunday, or maybe just overlooked turning in your pledge card for 2005, there is still time to act. Simply get a card from either credenza in the Commons and fill it out. Drop it into the collection plate or, if you prefer, mail it to the Church Office, attention Dave Bowman. Your pledge enables us to plan budget and programs for the coming year.

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*It’s time to plan the next Get Acquainted Lunch! Calling all Newcomers Council members and all NC "wannabes" to our Parish Get Acquainted Lunch planning meeting, right after church next Sunday, October 3, in Room B-14. Bring snacks to share and come prepared to plan a fun time for the parish to welcome in our newest church members.

*Now Is An Opportunity for you to invite your friends and neighbors to the "Newcomers Coffee and Conversation" to be held the first Sunday of the month at Pat Boon’s house. C and C is a time for visitors and new members to gather together to express what their needs and expectations are in a church home and it is the Newcomers Council’s opportunity to listen. Our gathering will be on Sunday, October 3 at 4:00 p.m. Pick up a flyer at the Welcome Table in the Commons and hand them out to everyone!

*What's the buzz? The buzz is for this year's returning Children's Chorus! If you or your child (grades 2 through 5) are interested in getting in on the action and hearing more about this year's program, e-mail Shannon Magee at donhmagee@aol.com Details are coming soon! 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.

*Conspirare, led by Craig Hella Johnson, opens its 12th season with a diverse program of compelling choral music, including the choral masterpiece, Lamentations of Jeremiah by South American composer Alberto Ginastera, and various works by American composers. Come together for this feast of music and words, breath and spirit. October 10, 4:00 p.m. at St. Matthew’s. For tickets and information, call 476-5775 or email info@conspirare.org

*Friday Golf for October will be October 8 (Second Friday) at Bluebonnet Hill with tee times starting at 8:30 a.m. For more information call Jack Eccles at 345-7396

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Youth News

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.

Youth movie night is TONIGHT, 6-8:30 p.m. in the youth building. All youth, 6-12 grade, are invited for fun, pizza, and little movie discussion. Okay, we know it's an old movie, but this time we're watching the comedy Mr. Mom. Come hang out and enjoy with us! Call or email Robisons for more info: 339-4063 or kristi_robison@gsdm.com.

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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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.

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St. Matthew’s School/St. Matthew’s Church
Celebration October 3
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School
25^th Anniversary Celebration
Remembering the gift of 25 years of students, parents, teachers and staff

Sunday, October 3

Child Friendly Church Service 10:30 a.m.
Open House 12:00 noon