November 18- November 25, 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.
*From the Senior Warden:Next Immediately following the 10:30AM service in the Sanctuary today, 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, today, immediately after the l0:30 service in Room B 18. A light lunch will be served I ask all present members to please be present as we have a lot to cover. Submitted by, Babs Clendenin
Youth Group News
This
evening
the youth group will enjoy “Dinner and a Movie” in Huffman Hall at the church
from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm. We will watch the newly released movie “Evan
Almighty” and eat dinner. On Sunday, November 25th there will be no
youth group event due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. Friday, November 30th
through Saturday December 1st will be the Middle School Lock-in at St.
Matthew’s. All youth in grades 6th through 8th will arrive Friday evening at
6:00 pm for a fun filled night of games, movies, and service. This lock-in will
center around the preparation of the Alternative Gifts Market held at the church
the following Sunday. As well as having fun, we will prepare this great
outreach ministry for the parish. Pick up after the lock-in on Saturday morning
will be at 8:00 am.
Special
Note: The previous planned Wednesday night High School Youth
Group meeting November 28th has been cancelled. This is due to a
scheduling conflict. The new event time has changed to better accommodate
scheduling and member participation. The new date and time is December 5th
from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
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
Children’s Ministry
*Join us for Breakfast Next Sunday: Make plans now to join us in Huffman Hall NEXT Sunday, Nov. 25th, for breakfast and fellowship during the Sunday School hour (9:00 - 10:00). The Middle School and High School Youth will be our hosts! What a treat it is to have an opportunity to gather together and celebrate our lives together!
*Last Call for Books: Next Sunday (Nov. 28th) is the LAST DAY to bring in books for Libraries of Love. Thank you for your support of this incredible effort to share the light of God's love through the pages of books with children of all ages in Uganda.
*The 3rd Monday Book Group invites you to read along with us and join us in discussion, if you can. Our book for November is Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. This book tells how one man made a difference, building school for girls in Pakistan. We will meet Monday, November 19th at 5:00 in Room B-14. Come join the conversation.
*EAST IS EAST AND WEST IS WEST! If you want to know why the twain don't meet, join Lou Bedor's lively class in Huffman Hall, Sunday at 9:15, November 18 and Dececember2.
Have you ever thought about running for Vestry? Each year five new vestry members are elected as five "retire." It is a three year term. New members will be elected on Sunday, January 6, 2008 at the Annual Meeting. Requirements for vestry and the application are on the St. Matthew's web site www.StMattsAustin.Org . The application can also be picked up in the church office. If you have any question please feel free to contact Vickie Blumhagen, Tom Canby, or Merrill Wade.
*Outreach Ministries: The Alternative Gifts Market is a project that is held during the Advent season that allows us to share Christ’s love by contributing to a needy world. Ministries selected align with the St. Matthew’s commitment to the Millenium Development Goals. Last year, AGM raised over $3,000 for local and international charities. The Outreach budgets $200 for these worthy causes. Many thanks to Cynthia Wilson for organizing this effort this year, along with Fr. Schubert and the youth of our parish.
*It’s Coming!!
*Blankets needed for The Homeless and Needy in Austin - Keep Austin Housed will be sponsoring a drive a collect new or gently used blankets for the homeless. The blankets will be collected until Sunday, December 2nd. Look for bins in Huffman Hall after the Thanksgiving holiday. These items will be distributed to The Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, SafePlace, Caritas, Trinity Center, Caritas and LifeWorks. Thank you St. Matthew's for helping to share Christ's love.
*BOX TOPS: St. Matthew’s Day School is off to a great year. Let’s support their fundraising efforts by participating in their Box Top Project to raise money for library books. Just clip Box Tops from your favorite brands such as General Mills, Kleenex, Ziploc, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury and place them in the purple box in the narthex. If you have questions, please contact Lauren Rosprim at 342-8099 or at laurenrosprim@sbcglobal.net.
STECK PARKING LOT ROCK REMOVAL! If anyone is interested in any of the rocks in the Steck parking lot here's your chance. Contact Vickie Blumhagen (219-5865) and later we'll set up a time when interested people can bring their shovels and take what they'd like from the area along the sidewalk and in the actual parking lot "islands." It will be first come first serve. Some of the rocks near the building will remain as they are needed for drainage issues. Because of safety concerns that these rocks have presented, the Vestry has decided to include the rock removal in Phase I of Our Building On Our Sure Foundation. Pavers will be put along the sidewalk and cement or exposed aggregate in the parking lot "islands."
*November is UTO (United Thank Offering) Month! The Ingathering at St. Matthew’s was Sunday, November 11th, however 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.
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 Thanksgiving for our 50 years of marriage
with love to my husband, Tony, by Maly Hatheway.
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.
ST MATTS WORK DAY
*Come one! Come All to the 2007 St. Matthews Grounds Clean-Up-A-Thon on Saturday, December 15, starting at 8:30 am with coffee and breakfast tacos. Bring your team or join one when you arrive. Tools that will be useful: gloves, hats, limb cutters, rakes, leaf vacuums and blowers, gas pole saw, chain saws, hedge trimmers, extension cords. A chipper and a dumpster will be provided. If you would like some freshly shredded mulch, bring your truck or trailer or other convenient carrier. Contact Jim Fryer, 258.2571, fryer602@281.com.
Registration began Oct. 7th 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).
*Coffee & Conversation: If you are visiting or new to St.
Matthew’s, we invite you to join members of the Newcomers Council for
"Coffee & Conversation" on Sunday, December 2nd, at
Noon, in Room B6 (directly below the Sanctuary). This will be a time for you to
gather in a casual setting, ask questions and express your needs. If you or
someone you know would like to attend this coffee, please call Barbara Haynes
at the church 345-8314.
Don't forget your Canvas Grocery Tote Bags
Available today after church. Suggested love offering of $5.00 per bag or $20.00 for 5 bags. Ways to use your bags - 1) groceries, 2) stocking stuffers, 3) wrapping for Christmas presents, 4) tote books to and from the library, 5) holder for plastic newspaper bags, 6) use your imagination. Brought to you by the Environmental Stewardship Council.
Recycle Aluminum Can Pull Tabs
The Environmental Stewardship Committee offers an easy way to recycle and help Ronald McDonald House at the same time. Pick up your "house" (collection box) today at the ESC table and start filling it with pull tabs from aluminum cans. (You can put the rest of the can in your recycle bin.) Proceeds from selling the pull tabs for scrap aluminum will go directly to the Austin Ronald McDonald House, used by families of critically ill children while they are in the hospital. There will be a larger house available at church where you can empty the pull tabs from your small house. The Sunday School children will be part of this endeavor and will return their pull tabs on Dec. 23 so they can see what can be done when we all work together. We hope that by that time that we will be in the habit and continue this recycling.
Reduce Pollution by Recycling Batteries at St. Matthew’s
Our portable digital aids make our lives more convenient but are powered by batteries using toxic metals that can cause serious health problems. The St. Matthew’s recycling center properly disposes of Alkaline, Nickel-cadmium and Nickel-metal-hydride batteries. Consider buying rechargeable batteries next time. Because you then use fewer batteries, there is less toxic waste and you also save money. Learn more at Battery University: www.tinyurl.com/bn234. See the ESC Programs page under Parish Community > Environmental Stewardship Council at www.StMattsAustin.org for a full list of items accepted for reuse and recycling.
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
Want to play Volleyball? I wonder if there is any interest in entering a volleyball team in the Austin Christian Athletic Association winter season? All play is at the Quarries Family Life Center on Monday evenings. All teams are Co-ed. There must be at least three female players on the court at all times. These are adult leagues so I would suppose we must limit the lower age to at least high school. Registration deadline is December 1 and play commences January 7 2008. The team fee is $320. There are two levels of competition. The sooner we get our registration in the better our chances of being one of the teams selected to compete. Please contact Ralph Comer, 837-7664, or email him at rdcomer27@sbcglobal.net
Advent, 2007, will feature the premiere of the Advent Noon Concert Series. The concerts will be Thursdays, December 6, 13 and 20 at 12:05 in our lovely sanctuary. Our concert artists will be choirs and vocalists from our Anderson High School, Vista Ridge High School, Leander and our baritone in residence, David Small, with a company of other great musicians. Don't miss these wonderful choral offerings during the Advent season!
