The Weekly Word

November 4- November 11, 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.

Good Faith Sunday

Today is Good Faith Sunday. On the first Sunday of every month the loose offerings and designated checks are collected for the Good Faith Fund. Because of your generosity, the Good Faith Committee has been able to distribute over $20,000 to the neediest in the Austin area so far this year. Your donations have kept folks from eviction and loss of electricity. Your donations have kept families together. During this season of Thanksgiving, please consider donating to the Good Faith Fund. Please note Good Faith in the memo line on your check.

Boy Scout Troop 511 Presents: Holiday Greenery Sunday this morning. Look for our table between the Sanctuary and Huffman Hall.

Any questions, please call Karen 250-2923 or kmflanagan@sbcglobal.

Parish Get Acquainted Luncheon,
today, following the 10:30 Service in Huffman Hall

Today’s the day we honor the newest members of the St. Matthew’s family at the Parish Get Acquainted Lunch. Come and enjoy the food and fellowship with the Newcomer’s Council while we welcome and celebrate St. Matthew’s newest members.

*Youth News: This evening youth group will be our “At Church Activity” full of discussion, games, dinner and worship. We will meet in Huffman hall at 5:30 pm for dinner together. Then we will divide into middle and high school groups to have a discussion. We will gather together again for some games and worship. The evening will conclude at 7:30 pm and pick-up will be in Huffman Hall.

*Cursillo 218 today, Camp Allen. Cursillo # 218 is going on as you read this announcement. Closing is this afternoon at 4pm at the All Saints Chapel. Car pool from Steck parking lot at 2pm. OR join the group at the
Cattle Company in Elgin at 7pm for some conversation and a bite to eat. ULTREYA ! Submitted by Dyke Miller

*Care for the Caregiver: Please join the Care for the Caregiver on this Thursday, November 8 at 9:00 a.m. in Room B-18. Our guest will be Carol Marak, creator of Working Caregiver.com, a Caregiver’s Resource Hotline. Carol will be sharing her experiences as a Caregiver that inspired her to create the hotline. As usual, LMT Autumn Elias will be there with her fabulous chair massage, starting @ 9:00 a.m. Refreshments, as always! Mark your calendar for a special December 13 Care for the Caregiver gathering! Questions?? Contact Gidget Fisher @ gid92get@yahoo.com or 328-2088.

*Stewardship tip for November 4, 2007”“And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?” Wisdom 11:25. These words from the Book of Wisdom, remind us that every single gift, skill, talent or blessing that we have has been called forth for us from God. The incredible abundance that surrounds us is all given to us by our heavenly Father for a reason. These gifts are not given for us to hoard but rather for us to share.

*Join Moms and youngsters this Wednesday, November 6, from 9:30 to 11 for fellowship, playtime, and a service project. We'll meet at Caroline Cook's home at 9205 Brigadoon Cove, Austin, TX 78750. Call or email Amanda at 246-7285 or amandabindel@gmail.com for more information.

SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN AT ST. MATTHEW'S

Saturday, November 10, 9:00 a.m.-12 Noon, B-18. This excellent training, created by the Diocese of Texas, 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. To register, log on:

http://www.epicenter.org/edot/CF_Safeguarding_Gods_Children.asp?SnID=1117969974.

*Women’s Story Circle, November 11—Mary-Lynn Polk will share her love of music and how it has enriched her life in the church at the November 11 Women’s Story Circle. All women are invited for a light lunch (donation $5) and good fellowship. Babysitting is always provided. Make reservations with Janie McMahan at jmcduncan2@austin.rr.com or call the church office.

*Next Sunday, Canvas Grocery Tote Bags will be here. Everyone will want at least one (or two or three). Set an example and take your own bags to the grocery store. You'll never have to choose between , "Paper or plastic" again. The Environmental Stewardship Council will have these wonderful tote bags, beginning next Sunday. What better way to help out "this fragile earth, our island home"(BCP 370, Eucharistic Prayer C).

*From the Senior Warden: On Sunday, November 18, immediately following the 10:30AM service in the Sanctuary, I invite you to remain in your seats for a 10 minute presentation on the operating budget and financial picture for St. Matthew's as we move toward the end of this budget year. I will take any questions you might have. Faithfully, Tom Canby, Senior Warden

*Newcomers Council Meeting: There will be a meeting of the Newcomers Council, Sunday, November 18 at 12:15 in B-18. A light lunch will be served. I ask all present members to please be present as we have a lot to cover. However, this is an open meeting and all interested people are encouraged to attend. Submitted by, Babs Clendenin

Spring Break Mission Trip to the Makarye Orphanage in Kirov, Russia
St. Matthew’s parishioners have the opportunity to visit the children living in the Makarye Orphanage in Kirov, Russia during Spring Break 2008 (March 8-16, 2008)! While in Makarye, we will get to know the children through organized group activities and one-on-one visits. Children’s Hope Chest will coordinate all logistics for the trip. Anyone interested in traveling to Russia to share God’s love with these wonderful children is invited to join a mission team to Makarye. For more information on travel details, reservation deadlines, and trip costs, please contact Janie McMahan at jmcduncan2@austin.rr.com or 512.496.8494

Children’s Ministry

This Little Light of Mine: Raising Up Children in the Light of God’s Love

Raising children who love God and know that God loves them is no simple task. Almost from the day they are born, our children are bombarded with confusing messages from this world that we live in. Are there things we can do to help our children handle the pressures, stresses and confusing messages they hear? Are there things we can do to equip our children to make good choices? ABSOLUTELY!!! Parents, grandparents and god parents are invited to join us on Monday, November 12^th at 6:30 in the sanctuary as Kathy Dugat shares simple things you can incorporate into your everyday lives to prepare our children to face the world with confidence, knowing that we love them, and more importantly, that God loves them. Child care provided by reservation…contact Marilyn Wright… mjwright@austin.rr.com or 401-8382. For more information, contact Kathy Dugat (343-7989 or kdugat@austin.rr.com).

Hand in Hand…Doing What We Can! Children's Sunday School for the month of November will focus on thanking God for the blessings in our lives. We will also discover that as we work Hand in Hand, with each person offering whatever they can, WE can make a difference in the world! We will be working throughout the month to find real, meaningful ways to share our gifts with others. Children four years old through this year’s fifth graders are invited to join us in the basement each Sunday morning at 9:15 to learn about ways we can reach out to share God’s love and help our neighbors near and far away...no matter how old we are! Questions? Contact Kathy Dugat (343-7989, kdugat@austin.rr.com).

There is just NOTHING like a good book...especially when you share it with a friend. The children of our St. Matthew's family will be collecting "gently read" hardback books to donate to Libraries of Love. Libraries of Love builds libraries for schools in Africa. We need all kinds of books...fiction, non-fiction, picture books, novels, reference books and funny books! Look for collection boxes in the Commons, Huffman Hall and in the basement of the sanctuary. PLEASE help us as we reach out our hand and do what we can to share God's love and make a difference in the world! Questions? Contact Kathy Dugat (343-7989, kdugat@austin.rr.com)

Have you noticed the BEAUTIFUL new rack for our children's Sunday Worship Bags? Heartfelt thanks go to Danny Henshaw and Sherm Strance for their handiwork and loving care!

*Outreach in Action: The Samaritan Counseling Center is a faith-based counseling organization that serves low-income individuals and families. This new ministry was received in 2006. The Samaritan Counseling Center will receive $1,000 from St. Matthew’s this year. Our thanks goes to Jeri Muhich for introducing us to this ministry and leading this much-needed resource in our community.

St. Matthew’s Gratefully Acknowledges Commemorative Gifts to St. Matthew’s Permanent Endowment Fund in the past 7 days:

To the Glory of God and

In Loving Memory of Henno Keskkula

by Jill and Dyke Miller

Jo C. Hall by Jill and Dyke Miller

Charles Canby by Debbie and Larry Simons

To the Glory of God and

In Loving Memory of Carol Brewer

by Keith Brewer,

given with gratitude for those from St. Matthew’s that faithfully visited her and brought her Holy Communion for several years.

If you desire to honor or commemorate a loved one, the envelopes styled “Permanent Endowment Fund” are provided in the seat back in front of you.

Please contribute to the

El Buen Samaritano Turkey Basket Drive

October 28-November 9

EBS will give 1000 baskets and turkeys to low-income families. Our parish, youth and neighbors are leading a collection drive for the following items to fill 75-100 roasting pan “baskets.” For each basket we need:

•1 $10.00 grocery gift cards• 1 box of stuffing

• 1 box of mashed potatoes or cans of yams

• 3 cans of vegetables- green beans, carrots, corn, etc.(Low Salt)

• 1 can of cranberry sauce

• 1 6-pack of applesauce

• 1 packet of gravy mix

• 1 box of biscuit mix or corn tortillas

• 1 box of piecrust mix and 1 can of pumpkin pie filling

• 1 aluminum-roasting pan

• Colored tissue paper to line pan

• 1clear plastic 33 gallon garbage bag

(to hold pan of food) or cellophane

• Ribbon to tie up the basket

Please bring the items you can contribute to the collection area near B-18-19. Questions? Please contact Sharon Lowe at 345-1990 or sharonylowe@hotmail.com or Esther Garcia at ogarcia@austin.rr.com.

On Monday, November 12, our youth and area high school students will meet with Kevin Schubert 9:30 to 3pm to prepare and deliver baskets and share fellowship. For more information on this day of youth –led service, contact Kevin at Kevin@stmattsaustin.org.

Registration began Oct. 7^th for the ECW 2008 Annual Women’s Spiritual Retreat This year’s retreat will be held again at Camp Allen on Feb 15-17, 2008. Our guest speaker, Kathleen Whitten lives in San Antonio and has been sharing God’s Word and presenting His Son, Jesus Christ for 15 years. Her topic is DEEP DOWN CHANGE. Registration deadline is December 21, 2007. Look for the registration table in the Commons after the Sunday worship services or contact Debbie Marshall (ph: 926-5424) or Kathy Morris (ph: 918-9373).

Donate your Old Digital Devices for Reuse or Recycling

Reuse and recycling of old digital devices prevent them from reaching landfills. It can also provide usable items to organizations that need them and recapture valuable and possibly hazardous resources like lead and mercury. Use the Environmental Stewardship Council cabinet in Huffman Hall to donate your unwanted digital devices, working or not. Devices accepted include cell phones, PDAs, GPSs, digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 and iPod players, video game consoles, portable DVD players, and laptops. For further details, visit the ESC Programs page found under Parish Community > Environmental Stewardship Council on our website www.stmattsaustin.org