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The Weekly Word
November 13, 2005
LOVE LETTERS: “I love St. Matthew’s because of the joy that radiates from Susan and Merrill. I can see the love in their eyes for God and for the congregation.”
[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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Thanksgiving Eve Service, Wednesday, November 23, 7:15 p.m.
Join us for our annual celebration of the Holy Eucharist with friends
from Trumphant Love Lutheran Church. The service will include
special music, a sermon and prayers of thanksgiving.
A reception will follow.
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*Items marked with an asterisk (*) are run for the first time today.
*TODAY - Cursillo # 211 finishes today with CLOSING at 4 pm, All Saints’ Chapel, Camp Allen. A Closing is not only for the current Candidates but for all Cursillistas "new" and "old" as a time to renew and celebrate the Cursillo experience. There is still time to make your plans for today, and if you have not been to Camp Allen this year, a visit is worth the drive. Of course a bonus is a Bluebell stop on the way. Another way to be involved is to have a snack with returning Convocation candidates in Elgin at the Cattle Company (US 290) about 7:30 to 7:45 pm. While St. Matthew's has no candidates this time there are candidates from Christ Church, Cedar Park. Submitted by Dyke Miller
*TODAY ECW Story Circle is today – November 13. Come after church for a light lunch ($5) and enjoy hearing Laura Huffman Powell. Laura is one of three daughters of Chuck and Caroline Huffman and came to St. Matthew's in 1972 when Chuck was called to be our rector. She will be speaking about her connection with St. Matthew's, her life in general (including her divorce) and her experience in this summer's play "Annie Get You Gun". As an added bonus, Laura will close with a song!
*Our Sincere Thanks to those who have completed their pledge cards. As of November 9, we have received 276 cards including 60 new pledges, representing total pledges of $939,930.21. This is an exciting early response. We anticipate we may yet receive another 35 pledges. 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.
*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.
This Saturday we plan to attend a movie at Alamo Drafthouse together. Check
your email for details. NEXT Sunday we will go out to eat together to Central
Market Café after the 10:30 service. Meet in the Commons to carpool or follow
each other to CM. We are always happy to have new folks and visitors! For more
information, contact Heather Walter, 627-6938, or Kristi Robison, kristidoglady@yahoo.com.
*Jewish Christian Relations Group will meet on Tuesday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m. in Room B-14. Featured speaker for the evening will be our Rector, The Rev. Merrill Wade, “A Christian Reflects on His Journeys to Israel.” All are welcome to attend.
*New Adult Education Offerings - November 20, Marty Novak will teach in Huffman Hall on “Bishop Ussher and the Dating of Creation.”
*AND on November 27, December 4 and December 11, Merrill Wade will teach on our revised mission statement, “To Know Christ, Grow in Christ, and Share Christ’s Love.” The Rector will weave Scripture, theology, hymn lyrics and his own thoughts together to offer a serious reflection on our mission together.
St. Matthew’s participates annually in Angel Tree Christmas, an outreach project developed by Prison Fellowship Ministries. Angel Tree works by connecting parents in prison with their children through the delivery of Christmas Gifts. Church members can buy two modest gifts for a child and give them in the name of the parent. Most of the children, who range in age from infant to sixteen years, are needy. Gift requests have included, jeans, coats, shoes and pajamas. An age-appropriate gospel booklet is included as a gift from our church. Last year, St. Matt’s gave seventy five children a gift of love and hope! To volunteer call Janet Williams as 2444-6908.
St.
Matthews Alternative Gifts Market-Sunday, November 20!
Frustrated about finding that perfect
gift for someone who has everything? Longing for a way to experience more of
the real spirit of Christmas? Then don't miss the Alternative Gift Market on
November 20. There you will be able to buy meaningful gifts to honor special
people, and you'll also be helping to build a better world. Imagine giving the
gift of education to young people in Honduras in honor of Aunt Sarah who is a
school teacher, or support for an orphan and caregiver in Uganda in honor of your boss who is a single parent. Come and celebrate the true spirit of
Christmas. Remember, it's on November 20 at Huffman Hall right after church, 12
noon to 1:00 P.M. We'll serve you a bowl of soup and have entertainment by the
local African percussion group, the Djembabes. . Questions? Contact suzannemccurley@mac.com
November is United Thank Offering (UTO) Month! Our ingathering at St. Matthew’s will be on Sunday, November 20, and members of the ECW will be passing around the blue collection baskets during the 10:30 a.m. service. You may, however, turn in your UTO offerings at any time during the month of November. Please remember to indicate “UTO” in the memo line of your check as you give generously to this worthwhile cause.
*Deadline for the December issue of The Word is Friday, November 18. Please send your articles (500 words ) to betty@stmattsaustin.org by 4:30 p.m.
The Order of the Daughters of the King – No regular meeting in November. The retreat on spiritual direction is November 19, in B-18 from 9 until 3 including lunch. Cost $10 Please register by contacting Diane Sparks at 345-7757 or diane_sparks@sbcglobal.net Prospective members are encouraged to attend.
*November 20 – Join us for a very special Thanksgiving Youth Celebration at 5:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This celebration, led by the youth of St. Matthew’s, is sure to touch your hearts as we give thanks for our abundant blessings.
*Maybe you can help . . . and other news. The St. Matthew's Endowment Committee (formerly the Special Gifts Committee) would like to find out who in the congregation has experience in grant-writing. There are many charitable foundations that provide funding for programs like the St. Matthew's Permanent Endowment, and the Endowment Committee would like assistance in the art of applying for and obtaining grants from those foundations. If you can help or know of someone who can, please contact a member of the Committee: Mark Monroe, Larry Simons, Mike Affleck, Jack Eccles, Tony Hatheway or Bert Hooper. And remember, a rewarding way to pay tribute to someone is to honor that person with a gift to the Permanent Endowment. Also, Marjorie and Bert Hooper have become members of the Legacy Society by providing a bequest to the Permanent Endowment. Everyone who does the same and notifies Business Manager Dave Bowman is eligible to be a member.
*Coed Golf is Legal on Friday December 2nd – Mark Your Calendar!
Now that fall temperatures may be approaching in early December the Men & Women of St. Matthew’s will return to the links for a First Friday Golf outing. This month we are going to Bluebonnet Hill Golf Course, 9100 Decker Lane, just south of Hwy 290 E. Bluebonnet Hill offers full practice facilities, putting green, sand and chipping area, driving range, and golf shop. Known as "the home of the four-hour round," Bluebonnet Hill is a wide-open course of rolling hills with highly respected Bermuda grass greens and fairways. If you would like to play with us please contact Dave Bowman at the church office, 345-8314, ext 213, or send an email to David@StMattsAsutin.org.
The St. Matthew’s Women’s Spiritual Retreat, led by renowned retreat leader Jeanie Miley, is Feb. 3 – 5, 2006 at Camp Allen. Registration forms are available at the sign up table in the Commons, the church office, and on www.stmattsaustin.org Please contact Diane Sparks at 345-7757 or diane_sparks@sbcglobal.net or Debbie Marshall at 926-5424 or dmarshall@sacheminc.com if you have questions.
Helping IHN at Thanksgiving. A new Interfaith Hospitality Network church, Metropolitan Community Church, is hosting for the week of Thanksgiving at Highland Park Baptist Church, 5206 Balcones Drive and they need some extra volunteers. They 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.
JOIN US FOR THE THANKSGIVING MEAL. An Extended Family group is planning on sharing the Thanksgiving meal with anyone that would care to join them. Thursday, Nov. 24, at 4:00 p.m. in Huffman Hall. This will be a 'pot luck' meal so plan on sharing your time and providing to the meal. Contact Dyke Miller at 794-9032 Submitted by Dyke Miller
THANKSGIVING AFTERGLOW. Why not consider spending the Thanksgiving weekend, November 25-27, at the Well Springs Wessendorff Ranch on the Little Blanco River with the Extended Family Ministry of St. Matthew's. Lunch Friday through lunch Sunday. Relaxation and fun with Morning Prayer on Sunday. Interested? Contact Dyke Miller, 794-9032
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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: Contemplative Eucharist in the Sanctuary with Fr. Jim Williams
Next Week November 20: Youth Led Celebration Eucharist in the Sanctuary
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Outreach in Action
*Four parishioners have gone to help our brothers and sisters in Christ in Silsbee this weekend by clearing trees and brush left from Hurricane Rita. Please keep them in your prayers for a safe return after a job well done. They will be on the lookout for more opportunities to help in the wake of the hurricane. Stay tuned.
LOOKING FOR A DOG? Jay Robison says that if you are looking for a dog to add to your family, please check out www.dogboys.com/rescuedogs.php These dogs were also victims of Katrina and are looking for a good home.
Thanks to you,
St. Matthew’s Outreach has touched these families:
Katrina Families Bios [Updated 11-9-05]
Bob (Wilbern Henley) came for peace - Judy Neely helped Bob move out of the
Austin Convention Center on 9/21 when an apartment was found for him; all his
earthly belongings fit in a shopping cart. Bob had been stranded in New Orleans for days in his 4th floor apartment without his medications. He was
hospitalized twice soon after coming to Austin. A widower for many years,
Bob had no family. Judy and Sandra, a Red Cross volunteer, helped Bob
navigate multiple systems, got him a recliner, a bed, and other household
items. Unfortunately, Bob was soon back in the hospital and then placed
in St. David's assisted living facility. Vickie Blumhagen recruited some
of the wonderful gentlemen of St. Matthew's to go visit Bob in what turned out
to be his last days (including Jim Sparks, Will Brown, Tony Hathaway, and Reid
Kirchem). Bob said repeatedly, "I don't know how to thank you for
all you've done for me." The Rev. Susan Barnes gave Bob Last Rites
on Sunday, October 30th; he died soon after. St. Matthew's had
a memorial service for Bob during the 10:30 service on November 6th. Bob
blessed us as much as we blessed him.
Early Robinson came to stay - Early and her children were stranded in
the attic of their two story house when they were rescued by valiant citizens
in boats. Looking out on the rising flood with dead bodies floating by
was like "the end of the world". Ms. Robinson plans to stay in Austin. She is glad to be away from the violence in her old neighborhood; she lost
two teenage children in drive-by shootings. Early is taking advantage of
special job programs through WorkSource; she really wants to work in the lucrative
computer industry so she can stay in the nice 2-story house off North Lamar
where she, her sons Kevin (19), Darnell (17), and Terrance (14), her
daughter Audra (15), and a daughter-in-law live. Kevin is also
job-hunting. Ms. Robinson also has a daughter and grandchildren living in
Waco; she hopes to get together with them at Thanksgiving. Early
created a special prayer room in her new home; the walls feature some of the
drawings she and her son both create. St. Matt's has helped with
furniture, kitchen supplies, transportation, and specific needs.
Janet & Melanie have been making the best of a crowded house - Our
other two St. Matt's adopted families were living together--13 people in one
home. Janet Beraud came as a caregiver to an elderly man who is now in
hospice care. She obtained her home through IHN; University Presbyterian
is providing the nice home at 4013 Vineland. Janet is a Certified Nursing
Assistant who will be attending ACC in the spring to obtain a Surgical Tech
certification. Her son is a senior in high school; her daughter, Bronwen,
has four children (7,4,3,2); son and daughter are seeking employment.
Janet has a caseworker. St. Matt's has helped with furniture, kitchen supplies,
and specific needs. Melanie, Janet's sister, delivered a baby 11/2; she and
her husband, Dwayne, have 4 other children (16,14,12,10). Melanie and
Dwayne have found Section 8 housing (through help from IHN) and will move to
1180A Greenwood Avenue, Austin 78702. Susan Robertson visited with
them earlier this week and is recruiting baby things for the newborn.
Melanie & Dwayne have a caseworker; St. Matt's is helping with furniture,
kitchen supplies, and specific needs. All the members of both families
need coats now that the weather is cooler.
