The Weekly Word

The Weekly Word
November 21, 2004
Assigned Vestry Members for November: Babs Clendenin and Bill Donnell

LOVE LETTERS: What I Love About St. Matthew’s Is… "I love the Youth Program!"

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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

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

The December issue of The Word is now online:
www.stmattsaustin.org

The United Thank Offering is today.
In this month of Thanksgiving you can give thanks with a donation to the UTO, an international outreach sponsored by Episcopal Church Women. Your donation will help where there is compelling human need, be it in Western New York or Papua New Guinea, or hundreds of other locations. UTO began as a way to set aside a few coins in thanks for something special in life. Think about all you are thankful for and participate in this wonderful outreach project.

TODAY *Youth Celebration for those in grades 6 – 12. Meet in Huffman Hall this evening at 5:00 p.m. for a high-energy program with food, fun and games before attending the 6:30 p.m. Youth Led Eucharist.

TODAY *This evening at 6:30 p.m. please join the youth of our parish in the sanctuary for a Youth-Led Eucharist. Come enjoy praise music and an inspirational program designed and led by our talented teens.

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*Count your Blessings with us. Thanksgiving Eve, November 24, you are invited to join in the service at 7:15 p.m. at Triumphant Love Lutheran Church, 9508 Great Hills Trail. Each year our parish alternates hosting this service with the Lutherans. Enjoy music, a sermon by our Rector, take Communion, and stay for the reception that follows. Childcare provided at the Lutheran church.

*Thursday, November 25, Thanksgiving Day, the Thursday Morning Men’s Bible Study will attend Eucharist in the Sanctuary at 7:00 a.m. All members of the St. Matthew’s family are welcome to join this group in worship.

*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 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

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*First Friday Golf will be on December 3, at Lions Municipal Course. For more info, or to sign up, call Larry Carpenter at 345-7630

*ECW Advent Coffee-All women of the church are invited to the annual Advent Coffee on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. in the home of Kay Whitney, 3909 Rockledge Dr. (directions are posted on the St. Matthew's website). Come for brunch and an inspirational talk by the Rev. Carol Blaine of St. John's, Marlin, and a former seminarian at St. Matthew's. You can begin the season of giving by supporting the ECW Baby Gifts for El Buen project. New ECW Board Members will also be installed. If you want to contribute food, contact Gidget Fisher at gid92get@yahoo.com.

*Conspirare’s Christmas at the Carillon December 11 Conspirare celebrates the holiday season with its unique and critically acclaimed concerts, Christmas at the Carillon. The Company of Voices joins Grammy and Dove award winner Cynthia Clawson under the direction and programming of Craig Hella Johnson. Described as a "collage" concert, the listener is treated to a provocative and imaginative merging of musical and literary styles in this holiday favorite. Saturday, Dec 11, 2:30 & 8pm, First English Lutheran Church, 3001 Whitis Ave. Tickets 512/476-5775 www.conspirare.org info@conspirare.org

*Attention St. Matthew’s Youth interested in serving as acolytes! We are in need of mature, responsible team members for this important ministry. An important training for the Advent and Christmas seasons will be held on December 12, immediately after the 10:30 a.m. service. Plan to join us for pizza and training by the Rector. 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, 4^th and 5^th 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!

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.

*Attention Chili Cookers! Even though the Annual Parish Meeting and Chili Cookoff is not until January 9, NOW is the time for your group to meet and decide your plan of action. Prizes will be awarded for best chili, of course, but also for best costumed team, best decorated table, and on and on. So give it some thought before the Christmas rush closes in. To officially enter your chili-cookin’ team, call Jack Ryfle 345-3830, or call Betty in the church office 345-8314 x 215.

Discovery Class to Begin Soon
Are you new to St. Matthew's? Would you like to learn more about the Episcopal church? Would you like to become a member of this parish?
The Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly will visit St. Matthew's for Confirmation on Sunday, January 30, 2005. To prepare individuals for confirmation, Rector Merrill Wade will teach a Discovery Class on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m., beginning on November 28. The classes will run through December 19, take two weeks off and resume meeting on January 9, 16, and 23. If you are interested in taking this class, please give Dedee Norman a call in the Church Office, 345-8314, sign up at the Welcome Table in the Commons or email dedee@stmattsaustin.org

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The Square Foot Luncheon is TODAY!

Come join members of the Outreach Commission for
a bowl of chili – on the HOUSE

At no charge to you, the Outreach Commission invites you to enjoy chili and side dishes and learn a little about Habitat for Humanity. You will also have an opportunity to meet the family whose house we helped to complete. And this is your opportunity to purchase
Square Foot Certificates
to show your support!
*Square Foot Certificates are on sale now in the Commons and at the luncheon for only $5 each. It will only take 1,000 square foot sales to fund our portion of the Habitat House. They make terrific stocking stuffers – claim your square feet today!
*If each person buys a certificate, our goal is met!

* The Holy Smoker Briskets you ordered are ready for pick up
today in Huffman Hall at the Square Foot Luncheon.

* In addition to those pre-ordered briskets, there are
a few extra briskets available today for pay and pick up.

Funds raised from brisket sales will go directly to Habitat.

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Bob Lively, noted Austin author and
friend of St. Matthew’s,
will be here on
Sunday, December 5, 2004, at 5:00 p.m.,
to read from, sell, and sign copies of his new book,
Waiting For Bluebonnets, Letters About God’s Love to my Daughter
The Epilogue of the book describes his experience of healing at
St. Matthew’s in Lent, 2002. All are invited.