The Weekly Word

August 14, 2005

 

LOVE LETTERS:  “I love to serve as a Lay Eucharistic Minister and distribute the blood of Christ to our people.”

 

[Note:  The quotes printed here each Sunday are randomly selected from remarks written by parishioners in response to the question, “What do you like most about St. Matthew’s.”  ]

 

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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. From there, step out to the porch and enjoy a cup of coffee or a cold glass of lemonade with the church family. For information about St. Matthew's, call Dedee Norman at 345-8314 Ext. 219 and visit our web site at www.StMattsAustin.org 

 

The Church Offers Excellent, Experienced, Child Care for children ages infant to four years of age.  Because of the small number of children who attend the 8:00 a.m. nursery, all children ages infant to years of age four are in the Education Building nursery beginning at 7:45 a.m.   At 9:00 a.m., children below two years old are taken to the Huffman Hall Nursery (located on the parking lot side of the hallway) and children from two to four years are cared for in the Education Building nursery.  Both the Huffman Hall and the Education Building nurseries close at 12:15 p.m.  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.

 

If you attend church but are unable to walk to the altar for Holy Communion, please notify an usher and the communion elements will be brought to where you are seated.

 

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.

 

*Deadline for the September issue of The Word is Friday, August 19.

Please submit your articles (500 words max) to betty@stmattsaustin.org

 

*Cursillo Community Ultreya: Remember to come to the Convocational Ultreya tonight, at St. Richards, in Round Rock at 6:00 p.m.  Meet the newest Cursillistas and enjoy music, prayer, and fellowship.  Child care available.  Submitted by Dyke Miller.

 

*There will be an important meeting of the Vestry and the Vision Committee this evening at 6:00 p.m. in Room B-18 immediately following the 5:15 contemplative service. 

 

*Registration for the Education for Ministry (EFM) 2005-2006 class year
is beginning.  Please come see the EFM presentation in B-14 during the
Seven Acre Showcase on August 14, or contact Kathy Vail at 343-7367
(evenings) or kvail@austin.rr.com, for more information.  The seminar
group will begin meeting after Labor Day on Wednesday evenings at St.
Matthew's.

 

*The ECW Story Circle will resume on Sunday, August 21 with Cynthia Wilson speaking on, “Blessings and Rough Patches.”  As always, a light luncheon will be served, with a suggested donation of $5 and babysitting is provided.  The program, which begins immediately after the 10:30 a.m. service, is sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women and is part of its ministry for women.  All women of the church, along with any female family/friends they wish to invite are encouraged to attend.

 

*Dessert Party for New Members will be on Sunday, August 28,

7:00 p.m.  If you have joined the church within the last year and have not yet attended a New Member Dessert Party, be on the lookout for your invitation.  If you don’t receive an invitation but would like to attend, just call Dedee Norman at the church office  345-8314 x 219 by August 24. 

 

*Have a good tape recorder you no longer use?  Tape Ministry is looking for a tape recorder for Huffman Hall and the Sanctuary.  Preferably a stand alone unit (not portable) recorder with two tape ports.  Contact Tony Hatheway @ thatheway@juno.com or at 512 453-6284.

 

Outreach in Action: The Caritas pantry runs low as folks go on vacation and food drive quantities go down.  Please help the food pantry by bringing the following basic food items: peanut butter, sugar, cereals, oatmeal, pastas, breads and dry box items. Collection baskets are in the Commons. 

 

Daily Evening Prayer in the Cauley Bell Tower Chapel Continues every night at 6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer is led by a lay reader of the church.  Lasting 12-15 minutes, the service involves the reading of a psalm, a scripture lesson and includes prayers and intercessions for the church and the world.

 

For additional information on any of the items mentioned here please go to the St. Matthew’s Website

www.stmattsaustin.org

 

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   A TRADITION AT ST. MATTHEW’S

OUR SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE

Each Sunday evening there will be a service

in the Sanctuary at 5:15 p.m.

Some days it will be Contemplative Eucharist, some days it will be Youth Led Worship.  It may be Compline, it may be Taize music or a Healing service.  Whatever the service, it offers you an additional opportunity for Sunday worship at St. Matthew’s.  And to fit into your family schedule, we will do our best to complete the service in 45 minutes.  Please join us!

Tonight’s Service:  Contemplative Eucharist with Fr. Jim Williams

 

Next Week, Sunday, August 21:Contemplative Eucharist

with Fr. Jim Williams

 

Sunday, August 28: Youth-led Eucharist featuring the Youth Band

 

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*VOLUNTEERS IN PROGRAMS INVOLVING CHILDREN OR YOUTH, if you have not yet completed the Safeguarding God's Children program, including the interview,  please be sure to visit the program's table in the breezeway outside the office during Seven Acre Showcase.

Austin
St. Matthew's, Thursday, August 25, 9:00 am - noon
St. Matthew's, Thursday, September 8, 9:00 am - noon
*St. Matthew's, Friday, September 9, 9:00 am - 10:30 am

*St. Matthew's, Thursday, September 22, 9:00 am - 10:30 am

*St. Matthew's, Friday, September 23, 9:00 am - 10:30 am

*(For occasional volunteers only)

Pflugerville
St. Paul's, Saturday, August 13, 9 am - 12 noon.

 

There is no charge for this program.  Registration is through the Diocese of Texas at www.epicenter.org   Forms may also be picked up in the Church Office but must be mailed or faxed to the diocesan office.

 

*The Sacrament of Holy Baptism will be administered on Sunday, September 18, at the 10:30 a.m. service.  If you or one you know desires to be baptized at that time, please call Betty Mitchell in the Church Office, 345-8314 x 215 or email betty@stmattsaustin.org

 

 

O__R Sunday School is Saving
a Place for Ur Children & Youth!

August 14  

  8:45-10:15       Fall registration during Seven Acre Showcase

10:30-11:05       Summer Sunday School for 3-yr-3^rd Gr. concludes:

                         Kinney Outdoor Chapel

August 21                     

 9:15-10:15        Youth: 6-8^th Gr. ~ Day School Breezeway;

                          9-12^th Gr. ~ Youth Bldg.   

 9:30-11:05        Children: 3-yr-5^th Gr. ~ Basement classrooms

10:30-11:05       Children: 3-yr-3^rd Gr. ~ Basement classroom

 

Remember, without U, O__R family is incomplete.
See you in Sunday School!

 

 

*The Edge of Adventure   Last September three Edge of Adventure groups met for thirteen weeks in a pilot study to help with editing and revising the small group study course called The Edge of Adventure.  Revision is now complete, and the new edition has been published. New Edge of Adventure groups are now forming, to meet for 13 weeks beginning the week of September 18.  Sign-up began today at the Seven-Acre Showcase and continues at the Edge of Adventure table in the commons after the 10:30 service.  The cost per person will be approximately $30 for study materials. Please contact Keith Miller (at keith@keithmiller.com) or Andrea Wells Miller (at Andrea@keithmiller.com) for more information.

 

Vision Day Presentations

on Sundays, August 21 and August 28

at 9:30 a.m. in Huffman Hall

in lieu of Regular Adult Sunday School

Be with us as we prepare to follow through

on your ideas from Vision Day!

 

*Follow up to the Contemplative Weekend of Prayer:  The four weekly follow up sessions for the Contemplative Prayer Weekend (Sandy Casey Martus) will be scheduled for September.  Look for the announcements and details in the September issue of The Word. Those who attended the prayer weekend will be notified individually.

 

*Invitation into Prayer and Silence   This is your distant early warning for the next Quiet Day which is scheduled for Saturday, September 24, from  9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. It is on the Saturday before the Feast of St. Matthew.  It will be our first Quiet Day for the fall season and will be conducted by The Rev. Jim Williams. Mark your calendars.

 

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Save the Date for this Exciting Offering in September

St. Matthew’s First Annual Family Conference

“How to be a Family”

Beginning September 11 at 7:00 p.m.

and running through Wednesday, September 14.

 

Featuring four experts in the area of family health

Dr. Bob Lively

Dr. Bob Moats

Dr. Nancy Willbern

Dr. Janettee Henderson

 

This is your unique opportunity to hear these professionals

at no charge.  A parallel program will be run for youth

by Ms. Sherry Davis, an experienced high school counselor.

 

Do your family a favor and put these dates on your calendar now!

 

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We need to be intentional about it.   The St. Matthew's Permanent Endowment, is an ideal vessel to enable St. Matthew's to continue and expand its many religious and charitable activities that serve the Austin community and beyond.  Commemorative gifts, bequests during our lives and testamentary gifts of funds and other assets added to the endowment will, over time, grow to be substantial.  The Permanent Endowment is a means for you to participate in St. Matthew's future.  For additional information, contact Bert Hooper, or any member of the Special Gifts Committee.