The Weekly Word

December 4, 2005

Good Faith Sunday

 

LOVE LETTERS: “I love all the wonderful, bright colors of St. Matthew’s, which remind me of all the wonderful, bright personalities of the people of St. Matthew’s.”

 

[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 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.

 

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

 

 

Today is Good Faith Sunday….

On the first Sunday of each month the loose offering and designated checks are given to the Good Faith Fund.  Your generous gifts enable us to assist  many people who need financial help to get through a crisis. 

All gifts are sincerely appreciated.

 

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

 

Annual Parish Meeting News

 

Sunday, January 8 should be a red letter day in your new calendar! That is the day of the Annual Parish Meeting and Chili Cookoff.  It is now time for you to get your chili cookers organized and be thinking of how you will WOW the judges this year!  If you plan to enter the competition this year, please let us know --  email betty@stmattsaustin.org

 

On January 8, members will elect:

5 new members to the Vestry

2 delegates to the Diocesan Council and

5 members to the Endowment Committee

(formerly named the Special Gifts Committee).

Nomination forms are available today in the Commons. 

Stop by the Visitor Welcome Center credenza today, pick up a nomination form, read through the requirements to hold office and prayerfully consider the possibility of running for one of these positions.

 

Endowment Committee membership increased.  The Vestry at its November 29 meeting approved a proposal by the Endowment Committee to increase the Committee from seven members to ten.  It is expected that increasing the size of the Committee will broaden the scope of experience and expertise available to the Committee and help increase support for St. Matthew's endowments.  Currently, the seven-member committee is composed of six elected members, plus the Senior Warden who serves ex officio.  Under the ten-member proposal approved by the Vestry, there will be nine elected members, plus the Senior Warden.

 

Election of members to the Endowment Committee.  With the Vestry-approved increase in the Endowment Committee membership from seven members to ten, there will now be nine elected positions.  The Senior Warden (who already serves ex officio on the current seven member Committee) will serve ex officio as the tenth member.  In order to retain the system of staggered terms for members of the Committee, one of the new positions will be for a full three-year term, the second new position will be for a two-year term, and the third new position will be for a one-year term.  A member of the Committee can be elected to serve two consecutive terms.  The terms of two members on the current seven-member Committee are also expiring, so there will be five positions on the Committee up for election at the 2006 annual parish meeting on January 8.  If you would be interested in serving and would like to find out more about the Committee's work, please feel free to contact any of the Endowment Committee members, who are Mike Affleck, Jack Eccles, Larry Simons, Mark Monroe, Tony Hatheway and Bert Hooper.

 

At the Parish Meeting, an up to date, revised directory of St. Matthew’s members will be distributed.  Please stop by the table in the Commons this morning to check your directory listing for accuracy.   Directory errors cost us money –

please stop by and be sure yours is correct!

 

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

 

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

 

*TODAY  December 4 and December 11, Merrill Wade will teach in Huffman Hall 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.

 

*TODAY If you are a visitor or if you have questions regarding St. Matthew’s parish, you are encouraged to come to the Bride’s Room, B-6 (in the basement) immediately after the 10:30 am. today for “coffee and conversation”.  Please feel free to bring your questions and concerns and we will be there to try to provide answers.  Or simply stop by for a short visit – we would love to get to know you better! 

 

*Safeguarding God’s Children: The final 2005 Austin area sessions for this child sexual abuse prevention and intervention training program are scheduled to occur at St. Luke's on the Lake, December 4, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm and at Grace, December 17, 9 am - 12 noon. Register through the Diocese of Texas, www.epicenter.org. Screening interviews need to be scheduled by contacting R.C. Thompson at rcthompson@austin.rr.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 group for young adults that meets for social times and does service projects together.   Our annual Xplorers Xmas Xtravaganza is this coming Friday, Dec. 9 at

7:00 p.m. at the Walters'. We'll wrap Angel Tree gifts, exchange white elephant fun gifts and eat appetizers and dessert. We are always happy to have new folks and visitors! For more information, contact Heather Walter, 627-6938, or Kristi Robison, kristidoglady@yahoo.com.

*The Austin Civic Orchestra Holiday Concert will be here at St. Matthew’s on Saturday evening, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.  The program will feature Bob Cannon, trumpet, and seasonal musical selections, Babes in Toyland and Sleigh Ride.  Tickets are $10 General Admission, $8 Students and Seniors, $3 Children under 12.  Plan now to bring your family and enjoy this musical treat! For a complete program notes please go to www.austincivicorchestra.org 

 

*Youth, grades 6 –12, there will be a December movie night! Sunday, December 11, 6 –8:30 p.m., come to the Youth Building to watch the movie Santa Claus The Movie (from the '80s), have free pizza and a good discussion. Feel free to bring friends! Contact Jay and Kristi Robison, 339-4063, if you have questions or need information.

 

*The Daughters of the King regular meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 6:00 in B-14.  In honor of the season, The Rev. Susan Barnes will lead us in a meditation on the Magnificat.  Come a few minutes early for time to visit over cheese and crackers.  Contact:  Diane Sparks at 345-7757 diane_sparks@sbcglobal.net

 

*Club 4-5 goes to the new movie release of The Chronicles of Narnia on December 19, with ice cream afterward. To get your 4^th or 5^th grade child in on the fun, send your check for $10/child by Tuesday, December 13, to Marti Price, 3702 Hillbrook Drive, Austin, TX 78731. For details, check your Club 4-5 email or contact Marti at pricegals@aol.com.

 

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.

 

Laity Lodge, Phyllis Tickle, April 21-23, 2006

It’s time to start planning for St. Matthew’s annual Laity Lodge adult retreat on the week end of April 21-23, 2006.  Phyllis Tickle, an accomplished retreat leader, author of several books and contributing editor in religion to Publishers Weekly, will be the speaker.  We expect that interest in attending this retreat will be high; therefore, if you need to arrange care for children in order to attend then the earlier you plan the better. Perhaps that would be a good time to visit grandparents or maybe a favorite aunt and uncle.  Questions??? Call Jim Myers 608-6836 

 

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

 

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, December 11: Contemplative Eucharist in the Sanctuary

 

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

 

Outreach In Action

 

Angel Tree Christmas, is 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 at 244-6908.

 

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

 

*A Katrina Christmas……St. Matthew’s is in the process of creating a Christmas experience for our three “adopted” Katrina families. Sally Byrom has agreed to coordinate this project.  We would like to provide a gift for each family member.  There are many ways to help. If you would like to be a part of this effort, please email Marti Price at pricegals@aol.com

 

Drivers wanted: IHN-Katrina has over 350 sets of new furniture to be delivered by Dec. 9th.  For the bargain price of $200, St. Matthew's Outreach Council has sponsored 3 trucks (14ft Enterprise-type) for a day of delivery. Each truck comes with 2 semi-professional helpers to load/unload courtesy of Goodwill/WorkSource/St. Vincent de Paul. All we need are drivers over the age of 21.  So if you are comfortable driving a large vehicle, are available  9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a weekday before Dec. 9 and would like to help please call Karen Millet 453-6570, or Amy Novak 795-8089

 

A note from Sarah Malik who was coordinating warm clothing/blanket donations from local churches to be sent to Pakistan to help those at risk for hypothermia after the earthquake ......The donations from St. Matthew's were amazing!! Our first shipment of 4.5 tons arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday (it even made national news there), and our second shipment (about double that) was just sent.  Thank you so much for all of your help! It was so wonderful to see all of the hand knitted shawls, caps, and scarves. They are going to keep many people warm this winter!

The Alternative Gift Market got off to a roaring start last Sunday, with over $2,000 in receipts, and many children "adopted" for the Angel Tree. Thanks to Suzanne McCurley who is chairing it, all those who volunteered to staff the market tables and "stalls", and to Louise Waddill, Diane Sparks and other Daughters of the King who prepared that delicious soup!   Shopping for the Market will continue through Advent with a table in the Commons. Contributions of any amount are welcome and you may take as many gift cards as you need.