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The Weekly Word
November 7, 2004
NEW MEMBER SUNDAY J
LOVE LETTERS
: What I Love About St. Matthew’s Is… "I love St. Matthew’s people who live as true disciples."† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †
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.orgA Very Brief Visitor’s Orientation will be held TODAY immediately after the 10:30 a.m. service. At that time one of the priests will meet with you and answer any questions you may have. If you are visiting and would like to know more about St. Matthew’s and what it has to offer you, please gather in front of the altar at the end of the service
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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An Important Reminder: St. Matthew’s stewardship campaign
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*Items marked with an asterisk (*) are run for the first time today.
TODAY after the 10:30 service, join the Newcomers Council
in welcoming the newest church members into our parish family at the
Parish Get Acquainted Lunch.
All are invited to this delicious catered meal where you can meet new and old members alike! After going through the serving line, please sit at the tables in the front of Huffman Hall before filling up the other tables.
*Today is the First Sunday of the month, and that means Coffee & Conversation with our visitors and new members. It is a time to gather together to express what your needs and expectations are in a church home and ask questions and it is the Newcomers Council’s opportunity to listen. The coffee will be at Pat Boon’s house, 6809 Edgefield Dr. 78731 at 4:00. Pick up a flyer at the Welcome Table in the Commons and come.
*TODAY Cursillo Closing. Closing ceremony for Cursillo #207 is today at 4:00 p.m. at All Saints Chapel, Camp Allen. St. Matthew’s candidate is Ted Stratton. If you cannot make closing, consider joining Ted, his sponsor, Steve Ryder, and a host of others at the Cattle Company in Elgin for a bite to eat around 7:30 p.m. And don’t forget the Ultreya held to welcome Ted back into the community on Monday night, Nov. 8, 7:00 p.m. in Huffman Hall.
Men’s Fellowship to Meet on Thursday, November 11! Come for an evening of Mexican Food ($6) and hear Texas Ex Randy Peschel relive the 1969 Football Game of the Century, where #2 Texas pulled ahead of #1 Arkansas in the last four minutes of the 4th quarter to win the National Championship. All men in the parish are invited to come and mix at this macho social event! Look for the clipboard on the credenza in the Commons and sign up today so we will know how much food to prepare.
*Youth Council meets Thursday, Nov. 11, at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Bldg.
If you are a parent, an adult who's interested in our youth, or a youth, please consider this your invitation to attend! Email Kristi Robison (Youth Council chair) at kristi_robison@gsdm.com if you have questions.
*Deadline for the December issue of The Word is Friday, November 12.
Please send your articles to betty@stmattsaustin.org
*Youth Ministry Training Day, Saturday, November 13, 9 am – 4 p.m.
An excellent opportunity for adults to network, share ideas, and develop ministry skills. All adult volunteers are encouraged to participate. Call Phil Webster or Barbara Pitts for more information. 345-8314.
*Women’s Story Circle, November 14 The Women's Story Circle, a monthly women's sharing group, meets on the second Sunday of the month for a light luncheon ($5, pay at the door). Our speaker for November will be The Rev. Susan Barnes, "After Ordination, What’s Next?" Child-care, including lunch and activities, is provided. Reservations may be made by email to cmynes@austin.rr.com or after church in the Commons
*Sunday, November 14, at 4:45 p.m. the Rev. Jim Williams will teach on the practice of silent prayer. This teaching prepares worshipers for the 5:15 p.m. Contemplative service.
*Sunday, November 14, at 5:15 p.m. Contemplative Eucharist. This is a 45 minute liturgy which includes readings from Scripture, the Holy Communion and at least 15 minutes of absolute silence. Quiet and peaceful evening worship.
*Help Habitat for Humanity! Be sure to order your briskets (by the Holy Smokers)! Complete an order form today in the Commons right after church! The briskets you order today will be available on Sunday, November 21, at the Square Foot Lunch so tell us how many you want. Money from the brisket sale will go to support the Habitat for Humanity Project.
Child/Youth Sexual Abuse – Austin Area Prevention Training Schedule:
3-Hour Course for Church Ministries: Registration Forms in Commons
St. Michael's, Nov. 14 – 3:00 pm
1 1/2 –Hour Course for Day School Parents and Interested Parishioners:
St. Matthew’s, Nov. 8 – 9:15 am
*Calling all parishioners! Our next Rite-13 Ceremony is to be held on Sunday, November 14. The group leaders are asking for "petals of wisdom" to guide them as they embark on their passage into young adulthood. This "petal" could be a favorite scripture, a pearl of wisdom that has guided you in your life, or a simple message of love and encouragement. Please pick up a flower petal in the Commons and, after writing your message (signed or not), attach it to the poster board with double sided tape. The "flowers of wisdom" will grace the walls of our classroom throughout the rest of our Rite-13 journey. Thank you!
Attention St. Matthew’s Youth interested in serving as an acolyte! We are in need of mature, responsible team members for this important ministry. Training for the Advent and Christmas seasons will begin soon. Please call Judy Myers (835-6570) or Janet Williams (244-6980) for more information.
The Bible in Many Languages: More copies of the Bible have been printed and purchased than any other book on earth…and our Level III, 4th and 5th grade, Sunday School children is very interested in studying copies in various dialects of other languages! Do you have such a volume you would be willing to donate or lend to us? Afrikaans to Cherokee, Hebrew to Vietnamese to Zulu…you get the idea! Please contact Barbara Pitts at 345-8314, if you might be able to make such a donation or loan. Thanks!
*Items AWOL from Kitchen: Marge and Louise have completed the inventory of kitchen items and the items listed below are missing. Please look to see if they may be in your things and if so return to kitchen ASAP! 2 8-gallon stock pots, 1 deep-fry system with strainer, 2 large round glass platters, 2 large round plastic platters, 2 large oval-shaped plastic platters, 1 cookie sheet, 2 jelly-roll pans, 2 half-size sheet pans, 2 colored plastic serving bowls, I plastic plate to match the bowls, 1 covered plastic container for coffee service items, 1 small plastic and 2 small glass containers for serving sugar/sweetener packets, one straw and 2 plastic baskets, and 1 screwdriver.
*Thanksgiving and No Plans? New to Austin? No family in town? Don’t spend this day alone. The Extended Family Community of St. Matthew’s invites you to share I a Thanksgiving Meal with them in Huffman Hall at 4:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Not new to Austin or have family in town? You can join us too! Contact Dyke Miller, 974-9032
*Have you considered being a member of the St. Matthew’s Vestry?
Five new vestry members will be elected at the Annual Parish Meeting on January 9. After your prayers for discernment, why not stop by the office, or look online (www.stmattsaustin.org) for information on nomination.
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Today is Good Faith Sunday….
All gifts are sincerely appreciated.
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Adult Education in November
7:30 a.m. - noon Bride’s Room, B-6, open as a quiet place
for individual contemplative prayer
9:30 a.m. Education for Adults, Children and Youth
Three learning opportunities for Adults:
Our Rector, Merrill Wade, teaches a Discovery Class called "Connecting Sunday to Monday." This class focuses on new members and visitors but all are welcome. We study the ways and means that our Sunday services prepare us for serving Jesus Christ in our homes, jobs and relationships. We give significant attention to the Holy Eucharist and the meanings of Baptism.
This class meets in Room B-14
"Listening To Your Life", is led by a team of facilitators, to find the blessings hidden in our own stories of struggle. This class provides 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 meets in Room B-18
Traditional Bible Study, led by Bill Donnell and Clive Smith.
Selected scripture from the Book of Acts and commentaries are studied. Study questions are used to prompt discussion of how these words speak to us in our day to day lives.
This class meets in Room B-21.
