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.

Youth Group News

Sunday December 2^nd - Our youth meeting this day will be totally devoted to the Alternative Gift Market.  After the 10:30 service on December 2nd, all youth are asked to be at the various ministry tables to answer questions and sell alternative gifts to the congregation.  It is very important that we participate in this wonderful ministry to the community.  After the market, we will have lunch together at the church.  This event will conclude at 2:00 pm.  There will be no youth group event in the evening.  For more information regarding the Alternative Gift Market please see the insert in your bulletin.  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

 Time to Get Ready!  Advent is Here!  Advent is a time to get our hearts and homes ready for the Christ Child.  We need to slow down...clean out...re-organize...dust off our homes, but more importantly, our hearts...and re-discover the joy and hope of this special season.   It is a time to count our blessings...and to be a blessing to someone else.  It's a time to know we are loved...and to share God's love.  It's time to contemplate...and to celebrate!  This Advent season, we hope you will make plans for your family to join us on Sunday mornings from 9:15 - 10:15 as we turn our backs on "getting busy" and devote our attention to "getting ready."  Together we will explore the stories and symbols of this special season.  Its time to get ready...somebody's coming!  Questions about Children's Sunday School?  Contact Kathy Dugat 343-7989 or kdugat@austin.rr.com.

Annual "Pick Up" Pageant News   The Pick Up Pageant is one of the most special traditions of our St. Matthew's family.  This hour long service combines the familiar words from the Gospels with a family friendly service of Holy Communion.  We call this special service a  "pick up" pageant since we literally "pick up" every child who wishes to participate in the pageant. Is is NOT your usual well-staged, well-rehearsed, well-costumed pageant. It is, instead, an invitation to one and all to celebrate as an active participant in the joy and wonder of the birth of the Christ Child. What a sight it is to behold a whole flock of shepherds and an entire host of angels gathered around the manger rejoicing in the birth of Jesus! The primary characters in the story (Narrators, Mary, Joseph, Inn Keeper, a handful of "lead shepherds and angels," the magi, and the star) are cast ahead of time.  The primary characters are asked to be present at one brief rehearsal the week before the pageant.  If your child is interested in representing one of the primary characters in the pageant, please contact Kathy Dugat as soon as possible.  (343-7989 or kdugat@austin.rr.com).

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!

*Family Eucharist and Caroling - Sunday evening, December 16 - 5:15p.m.  Come to worship and sing Christmas carols led by the youth and the parish choir, Sunday evening, December 16, 5:15 - 8:30 p.m.  To start our evening of community and thanksgiving, come to a child-friendly celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 5:15 which will be held in Huffman Hall.  Stay afterwards to have finger foods, holiday treats and hot drinks.  We then will get organized for our "walk" in the neighborhood by passing out the carol booklets, practicing a few carols, and getting to know each other.  The carolers will walk around our church neighborhood bringing music and joy to all.  It will end around 8 p.m.   Please come prepared to walk with warm clothes, bring flashlights and a joyful spirit. 

St. Matthew’s Gratefully Acknowledges
Commemorative Gifts
to St. Matthew’s Permanent Endowment Fund:

To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Cammie Simons Springer by

      Betty Mitchell

      Mary and James Bedrich

      Kate and Tom Canby

       Bill and Doris Donnell

       Jack and Rita Eccles

       Lois and Jack Funderburgh

       Sue and Biff Tatum

       Woody and Sue Eichler

       Ward and Elaine Goessling

       Cornelia and Tom LeMond

       Jerry and Kay Ballard

To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Henno Keskkula by

       Kate and Tom Canby.

To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Frances Nicholas by

      Kate and Tom Canby.

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.

*End of Year Contributions:  If you plan to give a gift of stock to St. Matthew’s this year, please, if possible, initiate the gift to our account before December 15^th so that the entire transaction can be completed in 2007 and posted to your contributions record. Please contact my office for transfer instructions.  The last Sunday of the year is December 30^th.  Contributions postmarked December 31^st will be attributed to your contributions record for 2007. All other gifts should be received in the office by Monday, December 31^st for inclusion in your 2007 contributions record.
Dave Bowman, Business Manager, David@stmattsaustin.org