The Weekly Word

August 21, 2005

 

LOVE LETTERS:  “I love the friendly congregation that is always welcoming and accepting.”

 

[Note:  The Love Letter 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.”  ]

 

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

 

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 Nurturing, Experienced, Child Care for children who are infants 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 you 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.

 

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

 

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

 

TODAY The ECW Story Circle will resumes today 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 as 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.

 

*Brotherhood of Saint Andrew.  42 men of the church have expressed an interest in joining the new chapter at St. Matthews.  The dues are $ 30. Please make your check out to St. Matthews and in the memo line put "Brotherhood of St. Andrew" and drop it into the offering plate today.  The church will issue one check to accompany the application.  Please submit your check by tomorrow, August 22nd.  Questions? Call Tony Hatheway, Jim Sparks, or Bill Smith.

 

Registration for the Education for Ministry (EFM) 2005-2006 class year
is beginning. For more information contact Kathy Vail at 343-7367 (evenings) or kvail@austin.rr.com,.  The seminar group will begin meeting after Labor Day on Wednesday evenings at St. Matthew's.

 

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 or email dedee@stmattsaustin.org  by August 25. 

 

*Christ Church, Cedar Park Celebrates its 20^th Year! You are invited to the  20th Anniversary celebration on Sunday, August 28, at the 10:30 a.m. service followed by a Hawaiian Luau. This special celebration also welcomes the Rev. Bruce Bonner as new Rector and his wife Kathryn. Christ Church is a "starter" parish from St. Matthew's and many members of our parish were involved from the beginning. Christ Church invites all from St. Matthew's that can attend this joyful celebration for the Service, Luau or both. Please RSVP immediately to: beebo@austin.rr.com  Submitted by Dyke Miller

 

*August 31, from 6 – 9 p.m. you are invited to El Buen Samaritano’s Open House Night.  Bring the family to learn more about El Buen’s programs and services and enjoy a night of food, music and entertainment for the children.  El Buen is at 7000 Woodhue Drive. For additional information call Milagros Figueroa at 439-0731.

 

*On September 4, (Sunday of Labor Day Weekend) we will once again have our Vocation Celebration at the 10:30 a.m. service.  You are encouraged to bring a tangible symbol of your work – whether vocation or avocation – to be blessed at the Altar.  You might bring a computer mouse, a book, a musical instrument, or a stethoscope. We will pray special prayers for those who are no longer employed and for those who are underemployed. What descriptive symbol will you bring?

 

*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 group for young adults that meets for social times and does service projects together. Our next event is our FALL PLANNING MEETING, Sunday, Sept. 11, after the 10:30 service. Please join us as we head over to Mr. Gatti's to eat and discuss: social events, service projects and the future direction for Xplorers. We are always happy to have new folks and visitors, but this is the IDEAL TIME for you to come and have a say in what's next for Xplorers! For more information, contact Heather Walter, 627-6938, or Kristi Robison, kristi_robison@gsdm.com.

 

*Discovery Class: Our Rector will lead the Discovery Class which is for people new to St. Matthew's, new to the Episcopal church, or who just want to get to know us better.  Registration will begin today at the Welcome Table in the Commons.  You can also call Dedee Norman at 345-8314 or email her at dedee@stmattsaustin.org to register. Classes will begin Sept. 18 at 9:30 in B-14.

 

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

 

*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.  .  The cost per person will be approximately $30 for study materials. Please sign up today in the Commons. Contact Keith Miller (at keith@keithmiller.com) or Andrea Wells Miller (at Andrea@keithmiller.com) for more information.

 

*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. in Room B-21.  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.

 

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

 

   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 28: Youth-led Eucharist

featuring the Youth Band

 

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

 

Safeguarding God’s Children

Attention: Volunteers in Programs Involving Children or Youth if you have not yet completed the Safeguarding God's Children program, including the interview,  please note the following schedule.

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)

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.

 

 

*Outreach in Action:  ATTENTION:  Randall’s Shoppers  Don’t forget that if you use a Remarkable Card when you shop at Randall’s, you can add St. Matthew’s Outreach’s number (#8955) to that card, and their Good Neighbor Program will send us 1% of your purchases to be used for Outreach.  All you have to do is go to the Customer Service Office at Randall’s and fill out a form.  You only have to do this once.  What an easy way to support the Outreach at the church.

 

*El Buen Samaritano is actively looking for instructors for English as a Second Language (training is available), for computer use (nothing complicated, just the basics), and for Spanish literacy courses (Spanish is necessary for this course.)  They have many people wanting to take the classes, but they need more teachers.  If you have 1 1/2 to 3 hours a week and can help, please contact Sue Guerrero at El Buen - 439-0731 or at sguerrero@elbuen.org. 

 

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

                  

 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!

 

 

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

 

Vision Day Presentation
Today and

Next Week 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.

 

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

 

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

 

Dr. Shari Davis, an experienced high school counselor.

 

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

 

 

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †