The Weekly Word

November 26, 2006

To Know Christ, Grow in Christ, and Share Christ’s Love.

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. For information about St. Matthew’s, call Barbara 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.

10:30 AM Children’s Chapel " It IS a beautiful day -- and we invite you to join us to celebrate the day, and the fact that God loves us and we love God in Chapel each and every Sunday in Choir Room (B-7) at 10:30. Children age 3 and older, parents, and anyone who is looking for a little change of pace in their worship style are welcome to join us. We will all come upstairs at the Peace to share communion together. Questions? Contact Kathy Dugat -- 343-7989 or kdugat@austin.rr.com

Thanks for Wearing Your Nametag! If you need a new nametag please visit 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. Prayers will also be offered immediately after church by the team stationed near the windows. 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.

If you have articles for the Weekly Word please email your articles to Office@StMattsAustin.Org and to JeriM@austin.rr.com The Weekly Word deadline is noon on Wednesday.

Receive weekly info and breaking parish news by subscribing to St Matt’s Email Notices. From the address you want to receive the email, send a blank email to: StMattsEmail-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .

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

*Brotherhood of St. Andrew: The Rev. Merrill Wade will hold a special Eucharist at 6:00 Thursday, Nov. 30th, in celebration of St. Andrew Day. While this is a Brotherhood of St. Andrew celebration, all people are invited and encouraged to attend

We missed you at the Vestry meeting October 24. Can we expect you Tuesday November 28? A merry time is had by all.

Family Preparation for the Advent Season:

Kathy Dugat and I invite you to join us in B-18 on Sunday, November 26, at 4:00PM to make Advent wreaths to take home and use during the Advent Season, December 3 - 24. I will give a brief, child-friendly teaching on the meaning of Advent and, as well, pass out a simple devotional outline to be used by families and individuals in their homes. We will move upstairs at 5:15PM for a Family Service that will include story-telling and singing. The cost for this event will be $5.00 per family to cover the expenses for the wreath and candles. If you plan to attend, please email Betty Mitchell at betty@stmattsaustin.org and let her know so that we can order ample supplies for the wreaths. This event is an opportunity for all in the parish who want to keep Advent devotions this year. Please plan to come and let Betty know!! Submitted by Merrill Wade

Alternative Gifts Market, 2006
Next Sunday, Dec. 3

For the second year in a row, St. Matthew’s will host an Alternative Gifts Market during Advent. The purpose is to give us all the chance to “shop” for gifts that will help to change the world.

Chaired by Suzanne McCurley and put on by the Daughters of the King and the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, the Alternative Gifts Market will have its kick-off on December 3. Come to Huffman Hall after church for a light lunch and see how your holiday gift-giving can support God’s ministry to the neediest in the USA and abroad. This "kick-off" event fully supports the Millennium Goals for Episcopal Relief and Development through Alternative Gifts International (AGI). Missions are chosen from careful analysis of the world's needs, and you will have the opportunity to choose the missions that touch your heart. See you there!

Women of St. Matthew’s

*Ushering in the Advent season, the ECW Advent Coffee is a time to celebrate one of the most important times of the church calendar—the preparation for the birth of Christ. The event will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at the home of Crystal Wade, wife of our rector Rev. Merrill Wade. The advent message will be given by a former member of St. Matthew’s, Anne Matthews, who recently became the vicar of St. Thomas in Rockdale. The annual event also serves as a major fundraiser for the “Baby Bundles for El Buen” project. This long-term project provides low income, new mothers who are served by El Buen Samaritano in East Austin with a $25 packet of diapers, onesies, and more. Of course, the Advent Coffee includes an elaborate brunch buffet table put together by many excellent cooks in the parish.

The St. Matthew's ECW 2007 Annual Women's Retreat will be held March 2-4,2007 at Camp Allen. Registration began Oct 1st and will run through Jan 15th. Payment of 50% of the registration fee is due at registration. The balance is due by Jan 15th. Registration forms are available in the Commons or Church Office. You may also download the form from the www.StMattsAustin.org website. Please contact Debbie Marshall at 926-5424 or Janie McMahan at 341-7432 if you have questions.

Youth Group Life

Please remember that Wednesday Night Youth Group will resume this week on Wednesday, November 29th. We will be meeting at the same time and same place: Youth Building at 7:00 p.m. Also, this week dinner will be provided. We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! See you at Youth Group!!

*LIBRARIES OF LOVE: We are collecting books for Ugandan Orphanages! Please bring Elementary and Middle School level books that are in good condition to the Youth Building on Sunday mornings any time between 9:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. Also, books can be dropped off at the Youth Office on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

*Angel Tree Ministry: Again this year, St Matthew’s will be supporting the nation-wide Angel Tree Prison Ministry reach out to the nearly half million children of incarcerated parents in the U.S. with hope and the promise of the love of Christ. Beginning today there will be a table in the foyer after the 10:30 Sunday Services and at the Alternative Gifts Market where you can sign-up to purchase, and deliver Christmas gifts to the child of an incarcerated parent. If you would like to help but don’t feel that you can shop for\deliver gifts. Your donation of a Wal-Mart gift card or check/cash will be given to Angel Tree volunteers to purchase gifts for the children of felons in some the very poor areas of South East Texas. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help coordinate the Angel Tree Ministry, call Susan LaValley at 345-3942.

*Come and Volunteer at This Year's Trail of Lights Festival!!! The Family Life Fellowship Group is hosting a volunteer event this holiday season by serving as volunteers for the Trail of Lights Festival in Zilker Park. What better way to give back to the community while having fun in a marvelous Christmas setting. We will serve on December 17 from 5:15PM until 10:15PM. Duties will include walking the trail and assisting visitors. This event is not limited to participants of Family Life and is open to all members of the parish. To sign up, please contact Scott Murphy in the Narthex or call 336-9879.

Bishop’s Visit, December 10 – 10:30AM Bishop Dena Harrison, the newly consecrated Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Texas, will make her first visit to St. Matthew’s on Sunday, December 10. The schedule for the day is as follows. She will meet with those being confirmed and received before the service and will be the Celebrant and Preacher for the 10:30AM service. After the 10:30AM service, we will have a reception in Huffman Hall honoring the newly confirmed and received, and Bishop Harrison. The visit of a bishop to a parish is one of those “command performance” events in the life of the church and I urge you to make every effort to be present to greet Bishop Harrison on her first visit to St. Matthew’s.

Friends, Please consider running for the Vestry. Don't wait for us to ask as we do not know those of you who would like to serve their God and their church. The experience allows you to become acquainted with every facet of church life; and remember you will be a part of the governing body where important decisions are made and where you will have a say in our growth and improvements.. Applications may be picked up from Barbara Haynes at the Office, or downloaded from the St. Matthew's website www.StMattsAustin.Org, Blessings, Babs, Jr. Warden

*Endowment Committee Elections on January 7 . . . Three of the nine elected positions on the Endowment Committee will be filled by election at the annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, January 7, 2007. The term is three years, and the office is open to adult communicants of St. Matthew's. Vestry members are not eligible to serve on the Committee except for the Senior Warden who serves ex officio. The Endowment Committee oversees the management and investment of the Church's endowment funds and fosters legacy giving. For additional information, contact any of the following members of the Committee: Larry Simons, Steve Ryder, Kathleen Niendorff, Mark Monroe, Kevin McGillicuddy, Hink Johnson, Jack Eccles, Kate Canby, Mike Affleck, or Bert Hooper.

Help wanted! Our Money counters are in need of a little help on Monday mornings. We need someone to come to the Office about 9: a.m. and alphabetize and photo-copy all checks received in the prior week. It is estimated that this work can be completed in an hour to an hour and a half, depending on which week of the month the work is being done. Hopefully, more than one of you will offer to assist us and then no one will find it necessary to come in every week. If you are interested in helping, or need more information, please call Dave Bowman our Business Manager, at 345-8314, or you may call Clyde Carman at 740-5743.

New IRA's Laws Promote Your Generosity: People 70 and 1/2 years old and older can now give to St. Matthew's from their IRA accounts without having to report the amount as income. Gifts may be up to $100,000.00 per year per person and may be made only in 2006 and 2007. For more information please contact Vestry Representatives Reid Kirchem at 821-1866 or Allen Keith at 467-7171(work) 454-1677(home) or our Business Manager, Dave Bowman, at 345-8314.

November is UTO (United Thank Offering) Month! You may turn in your UTO offerings at any time during the month of November. Please remember to note "UTO" on the memo line of your check as you give generously to this worthwhile cause. UTO money funds projects and programs which meet compelling human needs and/or expand the mission and ministry of the church. For more information visit www.episcopalchurch.org/uto/

Children's Sunday School: Roots and Shoots! From the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation, the Bible is full of stories about God’s great love for and faithfulness to His people. As children of God, these are stories about our family…stories of promise…stories of hope…stories of forgiveness…stories of love. Join us Sunday mornings from 9:15 - 10:15 as we examine “classic” Bible stories from the Old Testament.. Questions? Contact Kathy Dugat (343-7989 or kdugat@austin.rr.com).

Preschoolers (3 and 4 year olds) B16

Kindergarteners and First Graders Ed Bldg Rm 6

Second and Third Graders B17
Fourth and Fifth Graders B13

We have wonderful news!...our 10:30 Chapel service is now held in the Choir Room. Precious Words,.. Interactive Liturgy. .Child-oriented lessons and songs….! Hope you will join us! Questions? Contact Kathy Dugat(kdugat@austin.rr.com)

We're looking for Angels! Our Chapel Teams are staffed by "Angels" -- folks just like you! -- who serve one Sunday a month to bring the Love of God and wonder and majesty of our liturgy to life for our children. We need your help! No teaching involved...no musical skills needed...no prep...just a willing heart and warm smile and 45 minutes once a month will change the life of a child. PLEASE...contact Kathy Dugat for more information or to volunteer (343-7989 or kdugat@austin.rr.com)

Prayer for the Parish, on October 23, the Vestry approved the use of this Prayer for the Parish at weekday services, on Sundays. We invite you all to include it in your daily devotions, too. Copies may be found at the Welcome credenza in the Commons.