August 26- September 2, 2007

The Church Offers Nurturing, Experienced, Child Care: For the 8:00 a.m. services, the nursery for infants and children up to 4 years old is available in Room 5 of the Education Building Nursery. At 9 a.m. children below 2 years old are taken to the Nursery located down the hallway on the parking lot side of Huffman Hall. The 2 to 4 year olds remain in Room 5 of the Education Building Nursery. Both Nurseries close at 12:15 p.m. There is also a comfortable, sound proof room in the Sanctuary balcony for adults who wish to keep their babies with them during the services.

3 and 4 year old children have two options on Sunday mornings. ALL children, through age 4, are welcome in the nursery on Sunday morning. Those children who are reliably potty trained and developmentally ready for a more structured environment are invited to attend Sunday School from 9:15 - 10:15 in B16 and Chapel in the Choir Room from 10:30 - 11:00.

Thanks for Faithfully Wearing Your Nametag each and every Sunday!
If you need a new nametag, please visit the Welcome Table in the Commons right after church.

Personal Prayer Teams are available during Communion at Prayer Stations on either side of the sanctuary. One is located on the east side by the windows, and the other one is on the west side in the gallery. Prayers will also be offered immediately after church by the team near the windows. All prayer requests and discussions 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 Weekly Word deadline is Noon on Wednesdays. If you have an article for the Weekly Word please email them to Office@StMattsAustin.Org and JeriM@austin.rr.com

Be in the know! Subscribe to the St. Matthew's Email Notification Service. On average, you will receive only one email per week. The parish email keeps you informed about all the important events happening at St. Matthew's. Subscribe yourself by sending a blank email to: StMattsEmail-subscribe@yahoogroups.com You can unsubscribe yourself at any time.

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

St. Matthew's Youth News

The first youth group meeting will be held this evening from 5:30 to 7:30. This meeting will include dinner, group discussion, group covenant, and worship. I encourage all youth from 6th to 12th grade to attend this meeting. It will be extremely beneficial to learn about all of the wonderful activities and events planned for the youth group. Within this meeting we will establish some expectations necessary in the creation of a vibrant loving community. This will be a safe place for the youth to voice their opinions and concerns. We will conclude the youth group meeting with a worship service. For further information regarding the youth program at St. Matthew's please contact The Rev. Kevin Schubert by phone at 512-345-8314 ext. 232 or through e-mail at kevin@stmattsaustin.org

We're dancing! Come join us!

Children ages 3 years (who are potty trained) through those entering fifth grade this fall are invited to join us for Sunday School in the basement of the sanctuary each and every Sunday morning from 9:15 - 10:15. The curriculum for the first "quarter" of the fall is based on the words and lessons found in Sydney Carter's wonderful song, "Lord of the Dance." Each Sunday children will have an opportunity to hear a Bible lesson brought to life and made applicable to their own lives and remember that we have SO many things to dance for in this world! Come celebrate with us as we explore the wonders of the world around us and the joy that comes from growing up as part of God's family. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Kathy Dugat (343-7989 or kdugat@austin.rr.com).

Children's Sunday School classes are found in the basement of the Sanctuary building: Children who are 3 & 4 years old...B 16 (Note: all children must be reliably potty trained) Children who are in: Kindergarten & First Grades...B 17 Second & Third Grades...B 13 Fourth & Fifth Grades...B 12.

A heartfelt THANK YOU from your St. Matthew's family to the following folks who have volunteered to teach our Children's Sunday School classes for the first quarter of the fall semester. Thank you for helping us learn how to dance for joy!
3 & 4 Year Olds (B16), Andrew and Dana Bushong , Carol Webb. Kindergarten & First Graders (B17),Stefani Minnear ,Beth Nelson
Second & Third Graders (B13),James and Dana Young ,Jeff Darby
Fourth & Fifth Graders (B12) ,Kristen Braun ,Allison Dady
Substitutes: Kelly Smith ,Ester Garcia, Rita Eccles

Celebration of Vocation and Avocation on Labor Day Sunday

Next Sunday, September 2, at the 10:30 a.m. service, you are encouraged to bring a token of your work or hobby, something that symbolizes your labor and passion, and offer it on the altar when invited during the liturgy. This will be the fourth consecutive Labor day that we have offered symbols of our labors and many of us have found it to be inspiring. Worshipers bring diaper bags, computer equipment, resumes (are you looking for a job?), priestly stoles, prayer shawls, business cards, tax forms, weekly planners and many other signs of life and labor. On that day, as well, we remember that many people are underemployed or out of work. We recognize that many of us work in fear of a layoff or downsizing. Our prayers of the people that day will reflect those ongoing concerns.

Sharing Christ’s Love: Please join members of the Outreach Commission on Sunday, September 2^nd as we tour the facilities at Casa Marianella and get to know the staff and residents. Casa Marianella is a temporary housing facility for immigrants and political refugees in need of support on their way to self-sufficiency. Plans are to meet after the 10:30 am service in the Bride’s Room, B-6 for a brief Outreach Commission meeting before traveling to Casa Marianella. If you are interested, please contact Esther Garcia at 918-3359 or via email at emgarcia@austin.rr.com for details.

*Safeguarding God’s Children, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., September 4,
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 1500 North Capital of Texas Highway, Austin 78746. Just in time for fall programs!!! A "SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN" is scheduled on Tuesday, September 4, 2007, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Episcopal Church. Please register for this event through the EDOT website www.epicenter.org. Training is presented by the Rev. Janne Alrø Osborne (associate@st-michaels.org or 512.327.1474).

SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN AT ST. MATTHEW'S, Saturday, September 15, 9:00 a.m.-12 noon, B-18. No one wants to believe that child sexual abuse is a problem, particularly at church. Knowledge is the best prevention. We can make sure that St. Matthew's and all our churches are safe places for our children if we take the time to learn how to recognize predatory behavior and stop it. This training is mandatory for all people who work as staff or volunteers with children or youth. Your clergy recommend it for everyone who would like to help make St. Matthew's a safe place . Susan Barnes will lead the training. Limit 25. To register, email: susan@stmattsaustin.org

Guest Speaker for Creative Challenges class: On Sunday September 9, The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Kittredge, Professor of New Testament at ETSS, will teach. Her topics: Women in the Early Church, and the gospel of John (about which she has a book in press). Please join us in Huffman Hall, 9:15 a.m.

Trusting in God: Making and fulfilling a stewardship commitment to return a certain percentage of our income back to God first, before any other bills or expenses are paid, takes great trust. We must trust that God will provide us with all that we need, even as we are returning a portion of our financial blessings to Him. The story is told of an African fisherman who had that kind of trust. One Sunday a missionary in Africa preached to the people about the tithe. He explained to them what the Bible taught, “The tithes of the herd and the flock shall be determined by ceding to the Lord as sacred every tenth animal as they are counted by the herdsman’s rod.” (Leviticus 27:32) Early one morning, several days later, one of the native fishermen arrived at the missionary’s door with a large fish, explaining that he was bringing his tithe to the church. “You must have done well,” said the priest, “if you have already caught ten large fish this morning.” “Not yet,” replied the man. “This is the only fish I have caught so far. I am going back to catch the other nine now.” Now that’s trust!

Contemplative Prayer Introduction: Start the school year off with a new or refresher course in Contemplative Prayer, led by The Rev. Sandy Casey-Martus. All are invited to attend: Parish Hall at All Saints: Wednesday, August 29, 6:30-8:00 or Wednesday, September 5, 6:30-8:00. No reservations necessary.

*Project Katrina! St. Matthew's continues our long-term commitment to the Katrina relief and rebuilding effort. Our next trip to New Orleans is scheduled for October 8-13 and we welcome volunteers. We will be housed and deployed by the Diocese of Louisiana to do whatever work is needed. These trips have been a great time, blending outreach ministry, fellowship, good food, good fun, and good times. Interested? Email Jim and Linda Fryer: fryer602@281.com

St. Matthew's Day

Sunday, September 23, 2007

10:30 AM Service followed by Lunch in Huffman Hall

What a glorious day we have planned on Sunday, September 23! On that day at the 10:30 AM service, we will glorify God by bringing our pledge cards to the altar and offer them and all they mean to our future as servants of Christ. St. Matthew's day is our great festival day. We will have a glorious Eucharist, pulling out all the stops in music and ceremony, followed by our customary lunch and celebration for all ages in Huffman Hall. We will have several guest musicians that day, including two trumpeters from the University of Texas and Charlie Eastberg (son of Mary and John Eastberg) on timpani. The service music will include some wonderful traditional hymns of the church, as well as some well-loved praise songs.

Special thanks go out to the Holy Smokers and the work team led by Stefani Minnear, members of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew and the Daughters of the King, for preparing for this fun and happy day together.

*Baptism Scheduled for September 30, the next date scheduled for the Sacrament of Holy Baptism will be Sunday, September 30. If you or someone you are close to, infant or adult, desires to be baptized, you are urged to contact the Church Office soon. Please call or email your name and contact information to Betty Mitchell, betty@stmattsaustin.org or give her a call at 345-8314 x 215. She will then call you back to gather the information needed for Baptism. Baptisms on September 30 will take place at the

10:30 a.m. service.

*Life in Public Housing -- Did you know that none of the public housing units in Austin that are available for families have air conditioning, even new construction. In addition, they are built with only a washer hook-up, clotheslines, are the norm. Many families do laundry in the kitchen sink. So when you look at that large utility bill for August, count your blessings that you have the choice to turn on the air or to run the dryer. Submitted by Amy Novak.