The Weekly Word

October 16, 2005

 

LOVE LETTERS: “I love the wonderful community, compassion, generosity, faithfulness and spiritual growth.”

 

[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.”]

 

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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 soon. 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 Barbara or Betty at 345-8314 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 Betty Mitchell 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.

 

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

 

*Our Sincere Thanks to those who have completed their pledge cards.  As of October 11, we have received 232 cards including 39 new pledges,  representing total pledges of $849,395.21 .  This is an exciting early response.  We are eagerly awaiting other pledges not yet received.  If you need a Pledge Card, they are located on both credenzas in the Commons or call the church office to have one mailed to you.  Please place your completed Pledge Card in the offering plate on Sunday, or bring it to the Church Office.

 

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Sign Up Today in the Commons

 

*SIGN UP TODAY Hosted by the Newcomers Council, the entire parish is invited to attend the delicious, catered Parish Get Acquainted Lunch where we recognize and honor our newest members, on Nov. 6 after the 10:30 service!  Because we must give a guarantee soon to the caterer, you are urged to Sign up at the Welcome Table after church today.  Or, call the church office or email your RSVP to Betty Mitchell (betty@StMattsAustin.org). 

 

*SIGN UP TODAY All Saints’ Day will be observed on Sunday, October 30.  On that day a special prayer request bulletin insert will list names of our loved ones who have died.  In the Commons today you will find a basket containing cards where you may print the names of those in your family you wish to have listed.  Fill out a card and return it to the basket.  All names received by Wednesday, October 26, will be printed.  Please print legibly and include your own name so that we may call if we can’t read your writing.  Or better yet, just email your names to betty@stmattsaustin.org 

 

SIGN UP TODAY Men’s Fellowship Welcomes Longhorn Great Jerry Sisemore.  Our speaker for the October 20, dinner at 6:00 p.m. in Huffman Hall, is former Longhorn All-American and Hall of Famer, Jerry Sisemore.  The Holy Smokers will provide a great BBQ dinner and the Brotherhood of St. Andrew will be our host.  All men are invited to attend.  $6 for dinner.  Sign up in the Commons today!

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TODAY *Adult Education Note: Sunday, October 16, the Bible Class will not meet but instead will gather to hear Marty Novak teach in Huffman Hall at 9:30 a.m.  His subject will be “Jesus Confronts the Temple System – the Background to Matthew 21-22”   Marty will address the historical and cultural context underlying the Gospel of Matthew’s account of the Holy Week

Note: Marty will teach again on Sunday, November 20.

 

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*TODAY   YOUth Confirmation: Youth considering confirmation may participate in Sunday afternoon classes in preparation for Bishop High’s visit on Oct. 30. These classes will begin TODAY from 12:00-2:30 and will continue next Sunday, the 23^rd.  Please contact Barbara Pitts for more information:

345-8314 or bpitts@StMattsAustin.org. 

 

*Celebration is TODAY!  The youth band has worked really hard and they sound great!  There will be a youth-led, youth-designed Eucharist at 5:15 in Huffman Hall.  All are invited – young and old.  There will be a dramatic presentation of the Gospel during the service, so don't miss out.  At 6:00 all youth grades 6-12 are invited to stay for some great food and games until 7:30. 

 

*TONIGHT  CURSILLISTAS TAKE NOTE:  Convocation Ultreya, at

6 pm, Episcopal Church of the Resurrection. Come share in worship, music and prayer. Child care is available. See you there!   Next  month,  November 10 - 13, Cursillo # 211.  Get candidate applications in ASAP  See Steve Ryder  Submitted by Dyke Miller

 

*The JEWISH/CHRISTIAN DIALOG Group of the AAIM will be meeting Tuesday, October 18th in Room B14 at 7:00-8:30pm.  Any and all that are interested in sharing in this dialog are welcome.  For further information call Anna Dodge, 339-8011, Kathy Morris 918-9373 or Jim Newman 345-0544

 

*Next Week: October 23, Childrens’ Choir Rehearsals will NOT be held.

Choir practices for children will resume on Sunday, October 30.

 

Boy Scout Troop 511 will once again be taking orders for Holiday Greenery at St. Matthews on Sunday, October 23^,   from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The items being offered will be similar to those last year -- beautiful fresh wreaths, door swags, table centerpieces, and much more! If you are interested in buying greenery but are unable to order on the above dates, please contact Boy Scout Kyle Pence by phone (512/342-7074 on weeknights between 7 - 8 p.m.) or by email (alh@austin.rr.com) and he will be glad to take your order. We will be taking orders until October 27^th. Thanks for helping support Boy Scout Troop 511!

 

*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.
We will go out to eat together to Zen after the 10:30 service next Sunday, October 23. Meet in the Commons to carpool or follow each other to Zen. We are always happy to have new folks and visitors! For more information, contact Heather Walter, 627-6938, or Kristi Robison, kristidoglady@yahoo.com.

 

*Gifts of the Spirit Retreat in Galveston For Men and Women, October 28-29, William Temple Episcopal Center, 427 Market, Galveston, TX led by the Revs. Cynthia Clawson, Posy Jackson and Susan Barnes.   Early Registration Cost is $40 per person thru Oct. 20 - $45 thru Oct. 28. Please call Cleta at (409) 762-8641 for further information or email wtfcleta@sbcglobal.net.

 

Now that we have settled into a routine for the fall season, please check the website (www.stmattsaustin.org) on any ministries in which you are involved to make sure they are properly updated.  To find the page of your ministry on the Home Page, select the Web Site Contents button.  Send any corrections/updates to Jeri Muhich at jerim@stmattsaustin.rr.com

 

 Goin' South of the River for Thanksgiving -- A new IHN church, Metropolitan Community Church, off South First Street, is hosting for the week of Thanksgiving but they need some extra volunteers. The have a very small support church, Taiwanese Presbyterian that will supply a few volunteers but anticipate needing some more because it is a holiday.  If you can share some of your Thanksgiving week with the IHN families, cooking for a meal, visiting as an evening host or sleeping over, call Amy Novak (795-8089) who is assembling the St. Matthew list to share with MCC’s primary coordinator.

 

Help Daughters of the King Help St. James Episcopal School St. Cecilia’s Chapter is collecting Campbell’s labels to redeem for free merchandise, equipment, and educational materials for St. James Episcopal School.  A collection box has been placed on the East credenza in the Commons.  Beside the box is a list of eligible products or you may see the list online at www.labelsforeducation.com.  Besides Campbell’s soups, products such as Pace’s salsa, V-8 juices, Prego pasta sauces, Pepperidge Farm stuffing, rolls, etc., Goldfish crackers, and Franco-American SpaghettiOs are also eligible. Also the Dora, Batman, Goldfish & Jimmy Neutron soups are the bonus labels this year (5 pts each). To date over 1,680 points have been collected among the area churches.  Questions?  See Mary-Lynn Polk.

 

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TRADITION AT ST. MATTHEW’S:
THE 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!

TODAY: Youth Led Eucharist in Huffman Hall

Next Week: October 23: Contemplative Eucharist in the Sanctuary

 

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*The newest edition of “Forward Day by Day” is now on the Tract Table.  “Forward Day by Day” is a booklet of daily inspirational reflections and readings centered on the daily lectionary readings in The Book of Common Prayer.   A very valuable spiritual tool !  The Tract Table is just to the left of the elevator as you enter the West door to the Sanctuary.  (A “Tract” is an informational booklet.)  Come browse the many valuable booklets available.  Donations appreciated.

 

Outreach in Action

Last Call for Kitchen Ware!

You are cordially invited to Give to a

St. Matthew's Kitchen Shower

honoring 40 Katrina/Rita evacuees at the

Huntington Meadows Apartments (at 290 & Decker Ln.)

 

St. Matthew's is working with St. James' Episcopal Church (laundry shower) and All Saints Episcopal Church (cleaning supply shower) to help these families who are still moving and settling into their apartments. While the hurricanes are not always the top news story, the evacuees needs are tremendous. Please bring any of the suggested items (new or gently used) below to Huffman Hall on or before Sun., October, 16th. Our next focus will be "adopting" two families. God bless!

 

-Set of dishes

 

-Set of cups or glasses (plastic or glass)

 

-Cookware (frying pan, sauce pans, cookie sheets, etc.)

 

-Set of flatware

 

-Disposable items: ziploc bags, sponges, paper towels,
  dishwasher detergent, etc.

 

Questions? Contact Vickie Blumhagen, Susan Robertson, or Anne Matthews.

 

*AND…If you have new or gently used furniture to donate, please bring it to Huffman Hall by Oct. 16th (on the south end behind the partitions) and we will see that it goes to those who need it the most!

 

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Safeguarding God’s Children

 

TRAINING UPDATE:

St. Michael's,     Oct. 18,     9:00 am -12 noon

St. Matthew's,     Sat., Oct. 29,     9:00 am -12:00 noon

TO ATTEND,   PICK UP A FORM FROM ST. MATTHEW'S  -OR-  PRINT IT FROM WWW.EPICENTER.ORG.

PLEASE PRE-REGISTER.

 

SCREENING UPDATE:

 Send an e-mail to R.C. Thompson to schedule an interview before Nov. 1, 2005. R. C. will send you dates and times from which to choose:    rcthompson@austin.rr.com     Thank you, and may God bless you, for your part in helping us create and maintain the safest possible environment for all children and youth entrusted to our care.

 

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