The Weekly Word

December 9- December 16, 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.

*Newcomers and all other interested persons,The Newcomers Council will meet immediately after todays 10:30 service in Room B-14. Please be prepared to volunteer for the job of your choice as listed in the job description sent to you. Bring a covered dish and an interested friend and your ideas for improvements, changes, etc. For further information, please contact Babs Clendenin ba69claus@aol.com.

*Youth News: Tonight, Sunday December 9th at 5:30 pm the youth group will have its annual Christmas party! Along with a great meal we will have a white elephant gift exchange! A white elephant gift exchange is a fun hilarious thing to do. All youth are invited to bring a wrapped gift limited to $5.00 in cost. This is your chance to be creative, the gifts are supposed to be gags! The rules of the gift exchange will be explained at the party. The party will conclude at 7:30 pm in Huffman Hall.

The 5:15 Service is cancelled today only.

*Help! Cookies and Finger Sandwiches are needed for Bishop Wimberly and the newly confirmed and received reception on December 16th. Contact Louise Waddill 343-7696 or lwaddill@austin.rr.com if you can help.

Youth News: Wednesdays December 12, & 19 the High School Youth Group will meet from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. All high school members of the youth group are invited to meet at the church for a night of fellowship and fun. On the Wednesdays of December 26th and January 2nd we will not meet due to the holidays. We will pick back up with these events on January 9^th.

*Come enjoy a Girls' Night Out! Our bi-monthly Girls' Night Out will be
Wednesday, December 12 at The Veranda in Northcross Mall from 5:30 to 8. Come and go as you can. Have dinner, dessert, a glass of wine, or whatever you please. All women are invited. This event is sponsored by the ECW.
Call Amanda at 246-7285 for more information.

Advent, 2007, will feature the premiere of the Advent Noon Concert Series. "This week Thursday, December 13 concert will feature "Ovation", a select a cappella choir from Vista Ridge High School, Leander. David Small and a company of musicians will present the last concert Thursday, December 20 at 12:05 p.m Don't miss these wonderful choral offerings during the Advent season!

Have you ever thought about running for Vestry? Please prayerfully consider running for vestry. It is important that the vestry be made up of different age groups with varying experiences that represent the parishioners of St. Matthew's. This is a great way to truly get involved in the life of the church while serving in a leadership role. New members will be elected on Sunday, January 6, 2008 a the Annual Meeting. The requirements to run for vestry and the application are on the St. Matthew's web site. If you have questions please feel free to contact Vickie Blumhagen, Tom Canby, or Merrill Wade.

*Adult Bible Discussion Group - The Sunday Bible Study group will continue to meet Dec. 9 and 16 and will be reviewing and discussing the historical documents in the back of the Book of Common Prayer. Newcomers are always welcome. Please join us for coffee and fellowship starting at 9:15 in B-21.

Children’s Ministry

Come visit with St. Nicholas! The children of St. Matthew's are cordially invited to join us for a visit with "St. Nicholas" during the Sunday School hour (9:15 - 10:15)next Sunday (Dec. 16th). Come hear the story of the real St. Nicholas and discover how St. Nicholas helped to spread God's love. Thanks to Hink Johnson for playing St. Nicholas for us!

Last call for formal Pick Up Pageant "cast"! The Pick Up Pageant is one of the most special traditions of our St. Matthew's family. Although EVERY child who wishes to be part of the story on Christmas Eve is invited to be an angel or a shepherd, the primary roles for the pageant are cast in advance. If your child is interested in being one of those primary players (Narrators, Mary, Joseph, Inn Keeper, a handful of "lead shepherds and angels," the magi, and the star) in the pageant, please contact Kathy Dugat (343-7989 or kdugat@austin.rr.com) by Thursday, Dec. 13th. Narrators are asked to be present for two rehearsals. The primary characters are asked to be present at one rehearsal on Thursday, Dec. 20th at 4:30 PM. Children who wish to be part of the "heavenly host" of angels or the "flock" of shepherds need not attend the rehearsal...just come join the fun...and be part of the miracle of this special service at 4:00 on Christmas Eve.

*Don't forget to pick up two or three canvas tote bags after church today. Use them for groceries, Christmas stockings, stocking stuffers, when shopping, when toting, whenever. Use your imagination and the uses are infinite. We can all do our part to take care of the gift of God's earth.

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. 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.

*Greeters Ministry begins next Sunday: Beginning Sunday, December 16, the Newcomer Council will begin stationing greeters at a welcome table out on the sidewalk or inside the Commons Area when weather is a problem. The purpose of this ministry is to welcome visitors/guests to the church before services and to orient them to the campus. They will, of course, want to welcome all who come down the sidewalk to church! It is not remotely possible that our greeters will know all the members of the church and call each of us by name. So please be helpful to the greeters - wear your name tag! For more information about the Greeter ministry, please speak to Babs Clendenin or Glenda Monroe. Submitted by Merrill Wade

*Bishop Wimberly here on December 16 for 10:30AM Service

The Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly, Bishop of Texas, will be present at the 10:30AM service on Sunday, December 16, for confirmation and reception. He will be the Celebrant and Preacher for the service. Following the service, there will be a reception in Huffman Hall to greet the Bishop and the newly confirmed and received members of the church. A Bishop’s Visit is one of the occasions in the life of a congregation that all members of the church that are able should attend that service and greet the Bishop of Texas and welcome new members.

*The 20’s & 30’s Group at St. Matthew’s: For those of you who are in their twenties and thirties (or those who wish they still were) come and enjoy a Christmas Party Thursday December 20th from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. The event will be held at Kevin Schubert’s house 3307 Garden Villa Lane, Austin TX 78704. We will be exchanging a white elephant gift (gag gift). So please bring a wrapped gag gift to participate. Bring an appetizer and any kind of beverage you would like, sodas and water will be provided. Children are welcome to attend! If you would like more information about this group or would like to be included on the group e-mail list, please contact The Rev. Kevin Schubert by phone (512-345-8314 ext. 232) or e-mail (kevin@stmattsaustin.org).

*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

*Give the gift of you! - What the IHN families need most is you. Someone to encourage. Someone to cook dinner. Someone to run to the store. Someone to do laundry. Someone to just be there. We've started sign ups for our host week of Dec 30th to Jan 6th. We'll be out in the Commons or you can contact Amy Novak (795-8089, amy_m_novak@earthlink.net) or Sharon Lowe (345-1990, sharonylowe@yahoo.com)

*Baptisms on January 13, 2008 If you or one near you (adult or child) desires to receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, the next opportunity will be Sunday, January 13. Please notify Betty Mitchell in the Church Office, and she will contact you to gather the needed information. 345-8314 x 215 betty@stmattsaustin.org

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

Larry and Carol Jansen,

Peggy Ryder

Janice Watkins

Jim and Margaret Myers

To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Charles Barnes, Henno Keskkula, Frances Nicholas and Gordon Hughes by

Reid and Madelaine Kirchem

To the Glory of God and in Thanksgiving for Tony and Maly Hatheway's 50th Anniversary by

Reid and Madelaine Kirchem.

To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of the Rt. Rev. William H. "Dub" Wolfrum by

Janice Watkins

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.

ECW 2008 Annual Women’s Spiritual Retreat Registration Deadline is Dec. 21, 2007. All registration forms and fees must be submitted by the deadline. Please obtain a registration form from the registration table in the Commons after the Sunday worship services, from Barbara Haynes in the church office, or from the www.stmattsaustin.org website. The retreat will be held at Camp Allen on Feb 15-17, 2008. Our guest speaker, Kathleen Whitten has touched many as she has shared God’s Word. Her topic is DEEP DOWN CHANGE. This is a great time after the holidays to rejuvenate body and soul and to prepare for the Lenten season. For additional information please contact Debbie Marshall (ph: 926-5424) or Kathy Morris (ph: 918-9373).

*Alternative Gift Market Continues You still have a chance to purchase Alternative Gifts for your friends and family! Located on the Welcome Table in the Commons of the church are shopping lists you may fill out, envelopes to put your shopping list and check into, and cards you may take with you. Please either place the completed envelope into the offertory plate during the service or drop the completed envelope by the church office during regular business hours. Please make the checks payable to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and indicate which ministry you have designated your funds to in the memo line of your check. For further information regarding the Alternative Gift Market contact The Rev. Kevin Schubert at 512-345-8314 ext. 232 or e-mail kevin@stmattsaustin.org.

Updating of Parish Directory: Please notify the Office if you have any changes to your family name, address, email address or phone number for the church Parish Directory,.Office@StMattsAustin.Org. We are corresponding more by email, if you would like your email address included in your contact information, please submit it also. Changes submitted after December 31, will not appear in the Parish Directory.

Compact Fluorescent Lights Save Dollars and Reduce Pollution

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) last10 times longer and use about 75% the electricity of incandescents. They produce less heat, so air conditioning expenses are also reduced. Pollution for the electricity not used is eliminated and the peak demand from Austin Energy is reduced. You can get two free CFLs from Austin Energy by joining their Power Saver Volunteers program; CFLs contain mercury so they must be disposed of properly and any breakage treated carefully. The IKEA store and the city’s hazardous waste facility will properly dispose of CFLs. See the ESC Programs page under Parish Community at www.StMattsAustin.org for a list of items accepted for reuse and recycling in Huffman Hall.

Pull Tab Ingathering - Bring all the pull tabs you have collected to church on Dec. 23rd. We will collect them and see how a little thing can make a lot of difference. The tabs will be given to the Austin Ronald McDonald House to be sold, with all proceeds going directly to them. After the 23rd, please continue to save the pull tabs. A large house will be available at all times to receive what you have collected. If you have not gotten your "small house", they are available on the Environmental Stewardship Council table in the Commons.