The Weekly Word

The Weekly Word
December 12, 2004
Assigned Vestry Members for December: Reid Kirchem and Debbie Meleski

LOVE LETTERS: What I Love About St. Matthew’s Is… "our community and service to others."

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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.

*TODAY Discovery Class Continues 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., in Room B-14. 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

*TODAY Angel Tree Sign up in the Commons to share your blessings with children whose parents are in prison. See Janet Williams to sign up today!

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TODAY
Advent Quiet Afternoon
Sunday, December 12

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
with Fr. Jim Williams in Room B-18
5:15 p.m. Contemplative Eucharist

An Invitation to Silence and Prayer

Advent – calls us into simply waiting, quietly, to prepare with expectant hearts to receive what God is really doing in our lives, and in God’s world.

Advent – calls us into solitude, to be present now, listening with expectant hearts to the
One who is eternally present with us, and in us.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. God with us.

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TODAY 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 in Room B-13. 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.

TODAY Youth movie night is Dec. 12, 6-8:30 p.m. in the Youth Building. All youth, 6-12 grade, are invited for fun, pizza, and a little movie discussion. We're watching Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas (in the spirit of the season). Come hang out and enjoy with us! Call or email Robisons for more info: 339-4063 or kristi_robison@gsdm.com.

*Offering envelopes for flowers to "green the church for Christmas" have been placed in the pews in the Sanctuary. Perhaps you would like to dedicate your offering in memory or celebration of a person or an event. If so, please write your name and the names or occasions of those you wish to honor on the back of the envelope and drop it into the offering plate All dedications received by Monday, December 20, will be published in an insert in the bulletin on Sunday Dec.26. Any amount you donate will be greatly appreciated. You do not have to have an honoree. Thank you so much for your continued support of St. Matthew’s Flower Guild. We love doing what we can to Glorify our Lord in our Worship space. Sincerely, Harriet Houston, Chair

*St. Cecilia Daughters of the King will meet Tuesday, Dec. 14 in Room B-14. The previous two meetings have focused on Prayer and Evangelism. We will conclude this series with a discussion about Service led by Margaret Carpenter. Try to be there a few minutes early for "visiting" as we will begin promptly at 6 p.m.. If you have a question, please call Mary-Lynn Polk at 258-3359 or email her at marylynn78750@yahoo.com.

*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! Gather in the Commons after 10:30 church today -- we're going out to eat together! Also, our Xplorers Xmas Xtravaganza party is this coming Saturday, Dec. 18!! 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!

*The Flower Guild will green the church (Decorate for Christmas) on Thursday, the 23rd of Dec. Starting at 1:00 p.m. and staying until we finish. ALL FLOWER GUILD MEMBERS please come. Everyone else is invited to come for a short time or to stay until finished and all are very welcome. A lot of moving things around, bow tying, wreath making, and cleaning is required. In advance, thank you so much for your time and help. Flower Guild Chair ,HH

*A Special Treat is in store for you on Sunday, December 26. That morning, our new Junior Chorus will perform during the service. Choral Director Shannon Magee has been working with our talented and enthusiastic children to deliver a lovely presentation that all will enjoy. Chuck Huffman will be the preacher for the day.

*"Amazing how fast 2004 has gone by." A familiar phrase at this time each year. To use another familiar phrase, "It's time for year-end tax-planning." After you take care of your annual pledge (if you haven't already done so), set your sights on the future. What better way to do that than to make a year-end tax-deductible gift to the St. Matthew's Permanent Endowment, a gift that will endure - permanently. Just mark your payment to St. Matthew's "For the Permanent Endowment," and deliver it to the Church by December 30.

Please note: The office will be closed on December 31. Mail postmarked December 31 will, indeed, make the deduction deadline.

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.

January 9 is the next scheduled Sunday for Baptisms. If you, or someone you know, adult or child, desires to be baptized, please call Betty Mitchell at 345-8314 x 215 or email betty@stmattsaustin.org as soon as possible.

Immediate! Urgent! Heads Up Please We are required to leave clearance for emergency vehicles in both parking lots and unless the colored curbs are left vacant, this is not possible. If we were to need the services of fire trucks and/or ambulances, they could not pass. If the lot is full when you arrive, please park at Anderson High School and walk in. By all means, please do not park along our red or yellow curbs. Thanks so much for your cooperation.

There is Room at the Inn! Two IHN families will be living at St Matthew's January 2 to January 9. We are taking in these families to fill a critical holiday season gap when alternative shelter is very difficult to find. Since this is very short notice, we would like trained volunteers for the Evening and Overnight hosts. Anyone can help with the meals, however the Diocesan course "Safeguarding God’s Children" is required of those working with the children.

Interfaith Hospitality Network Family Reunion. Thursday, January 13, 6:00 p.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church on 620. Open to all graduate families and volunteers. Come celebrate the successes of the families in their new homes. Lisa and her family have a nice duplex so the boys can walk to the elementary school and they just got a car.

*February 4 – 6 Women’s Retreat at Camp Allen – Have YOU registered? Signup today in the Commons for this significant beginning to the Lenten season. Space is going fast – don’t be left out!

*Baby gifts for El Buen: In this season of giving, ECW asks your financial support for its ongoing project of providing baby gift packets to needy moms in Austin through El Buen Samaritano. Each packet, containing diapers, wipees and baby items, amounts to about $25, and 12 are taken each month to El Buen. Give one baby gift or more by marking your check in the memo "ECW baby gifts." These gifts mean so much to needy mothers. A sample baby packet will be displayed in the Commons this month.

*As a Reminder, please note these dates on your calendar – there will be no Sunday School classes on December 26 and January 2. All classes, for adults and children, will resume on Sunday, January 9. On that Sunday morning a new adult classes will begin, featuring Bob Lively with lessons based on his book, Simple Steps…Costly Choices. The class is entitled: "The 12 Steps to Inner Peace". Other adult classes will be announced soon. What a great way to begin the new year!

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You and your family
are invited to an

Old Fashioned Family Christmas Party
Sunday, December 19
3:00 p.m. in Huffman Hall

We’ll make decorations and trim our Christmas tree;
we’ll sing your favorite carols and
enjoy homemade treats; and
we’ll share the warmth of hot cocoa and good friends.

There will be craft tables for the kids and the traditional
story time with Jolly Old St. Nicholas.

3 – 4 p.m. Kids’ crafts, cookie decorating, kid-made ornaments to trim the tree. Warm cocoa, homemade treats and
sharing of holiday cheer.

Crèches from around the world.

4 – 5 p.m. Story Time with Old St. Nicholas,
Christmas carol sing along with surprise soloist!

Your Associate Vestry hopes to see you there!

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