W e e k ly W o r d D e c e m b e r 3 – 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

The Life of the Parish December 3–10, 2017 The Church Calendar can be accessed on the St. Matthew’s Website: http://stmattsaustin.org/About/resources.html Evening Prayer Daily at 5:15 pm in the Cauley Bell Tower Chapel

Living Compass Advent Devotional December 3, 10, and 17 | 9:15 am | Huffman Hall

The Rev Travis Helms will facilitate our classes titled "Practicing Wonder with All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind." Huffman Hall 9:15. In this three-week series, we will work on cultivating a devotional practice of spiritu-al “wonder” during Advent. “Christ plays in ten thousand places,” writes poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Jesus beckons us to join him. Building on the Living Compass curriculum, we will explore ways of engaging our hearts, minds, souls, and strength to rediscover God's presence in our midst. Travis invites you to join him as we learn, share, and prepare ourselves to not only greet Christ in this Holy Season, but also to behold Christ in all we meet. Submitted by Travis Helms

The Advent Devotional booklets will be available

beginning this Sunday, December 3, in the Commons

before and after the services, and in Huffman Hall

before and after class.

The Life of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark—a Three-Week Study Sundays December 3, 10, and 17 | 9:15 am | Room B-18

This next year the church’s Sunday gospel readings roll through the Gospel of Mark. The Rev. Merrill Wade will teach a three-week introduction to the Gospel of Mark with intention of relating the class to the Advent season. You may be sur-prised by the content of this class. We do tend to sentimentalize Jesus. Submitted by Merrill Wade

1 Advent is Good Faith Sunday!

This year, Good Faith Sunday coincides with the First Sunday of Advent. As you’re preparing for Christmas, take a moment to reflect on the abundance of the season and all the things you might take for granted: shopping, warm houses, hot choco-late, family, easy mobility, and more. In thanksgiving for all these things and the birth of Jesus, consider a donation to the Good Faith Fund, which gives rent or utility assistance to our Austin neighbors in need. Your continued generosity, in the form of cash, a check with “Good Faith” in the memo line, or an online gift, is greatly appreciated. Submitted by Christine Ha-vens

Scroll down for Advent worship times and musical gatherings at which to celebrate the season and slow down for a while! St. Matthew ’s Christmas schedule can be found within as well. Take a card from the tract rack, too —perfect to post on your fridge or hand to a friend!

Interfaith Hospitality Network December 24-31

As we thoughtfully prepare our hearts and homes during Advent for the celebration of Christ's birth, we also prepare our Youth Center for our guests from Foundation for the Homeless during Christmas week. St. Matthew's will host 2-3 families who are working through the stresses of homelessness in our Youth Center. We need members to sign up to bring dinners, come as evening hosts, sleep over at the church, help with set up and take down, and to donate various food and items for the week. Look for us in the Commons starting this Sunday. Please contact Amy Novak at amy_m_novak@earthlink.net or 512-589-7309, or Lisa Ottenbacher lisao.atx@gmail.com or 512-461-7480 with questions or to volunteer. Submitted by Lisa Ottenbacher and Amy Novak

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Advent Noon Concerts 2017 12:05-12:35 pm | St. Matthew's Sanctuary

November 30 Anderson HS Choirs, David Beussman, director

December 7 Steven Brennfleck, tenor, and Jean Farris Fuller, piano/organ

December 14 Chris Oelkers, organ

December 21 Joel Quade, bass, and Jean Farris Fuller, piano/organ

On a Winter’s Eve December 2, 2017 | 3:00 pm The ensembles of Chorus Austin will be joined for the first time by our collaborative partner, the Austin Children’s Choir, for our annual holiday concert. This family-friendly concert will feature Morten Lauridsen’s sublime Lux Aeterna and an audience sing-along. If you missed the parish choir performance on All Saints Sunday, this is your chance to hear it. Jean Fuller will be accompanying the choirs on our new Johannes organ.

All shows: General Admission: $25 Seniors: $20 Students/Active Military: $15

28th Annual "Sing-It-Yourself” Messiah December 16, 2017 | 3:00 pm We invite you to sing with us the beloved choruses of the Handel’s oratorio and enjoy the wonderful arias of our soloists. A holiday favorite.

Go to www.chorusaustin.org to purchase tickets. Submitted by Jean Fuller

Chorus Austin Concerts at St. Matthew’s

How Great Our Joy, Presented by The Schola of St. Matthew’s Saturday, December 16 | 7:30 pm | Sanctuary

featuring works by Pärt, Lauridsen, Ešenvalds, and Paulus Concert for The Parish Choir’s UK Summer Tour 2018 Free admission; donations gratefully accepted

Worship at St. Matthew’s

December 3 First Sunday of Advent 10:30 am Lessons and Carols, Combined Service, Sanctuary

December 10 Second Sunday of Advent 10:30 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Sanctuary Family Eucharist, Huffman Hall

December 18 Third Sunday of Advent 10:30 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Sanctuary Family Eucharist, Huffman Hall

Soul of a Musician Series

The Cotton Mather St. Matthew’s Christmas Show Sunday, December 17 | 6:30 pm | Iron Cactus North

Advent is a special time of year; time to slow down in anticipation of the

Christ child’s birth. We invite you to join us at any of these services and

concerts, and take part in the wonder and joy of the season.

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Soul of a Musician Series Sundays | 6:30 pm | Iron Cactus North

2017 is our 5th year of the Soul Series and our third year at Iron Cactus Restaurant. Iron Cactus North is located on Stonelake Blvd. just off Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360). You are encouraged to enjoy the fine food and drink of Iron Cactus! Soul of a Musician is an

outreach to musicians and to those who appreciate and respect their craft. We invite you to join us for our Fall 2017 season. A link to the Soul Series can be found on St. Matt’s website, http://stmattsaustin.org/Music/4soul-of-a-musician-series.html) and on Facebook at Soul of a Musician Series. Submitted by Merrill Wade

December 3 Matt the Electrician www.matttheelectrician.com

December 10 Dawn and Hawkes www.dawnandhawkes.com

December 17 The Cotton Mather St. Matthew’s Christmas Party

Christmas Worship at St. Matthew’s All services in the Sanctuary

Sunday, December 24

Fourth Sunday of Advent 10:30 am Morning Prayer, with sermon

Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Children’s Pageant and Holy Eucharist

8:00 pm Candlelight Choral Concert & Festival Choral Eucharist

11:00 pm Solemn Christmas Mass with incense and candlelight Music by The Schola of St. Matthew’s

Monday, December 25 Christmas Day

10:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with music followed by a St. Matthew’s & St. Michael’s Christmas hike at St. Edwards

Sunday, December 31 First Sunday after Christmas Day

8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:30 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Combined Service Christmas Carol Sing, with oboe

Contemplative Services in December

December 3 Yoga in the Day School Fun and Fitness Room

December 10 Yoga in the Day School Fun and Fitness Room

December 17 A Yogarist (Yoga Eucharist, not a dessert) in the Day School Fun and Fitness Room

December 24 (Christmas Eve) & December 31 (New Year’s Eve), we will have no contemplative services.

Note: No services in the sanctuary or B-14; yoga, as “embodied prayer,” will be our contemplative offering during the first three weeks of Advent. Submitted by Christian Hawley

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Monday Clergy Class Now Through December 18| Noon | Room B-18

For the month of November through December 18, the Rev. Merrill Wade is leading a Read-Through of the New Testament Book of the Acts of the Apostles. All classes begin at noon, last one hour, and are held in Room B-18 in the basement of the Sanctuary. Bibles are provided but you should bring your Bible if you prefer. This class is meant to be a mix of scholarship and devotional reading with significant class participation. All are invited and bring a friend! Submitted by Merrill Wade

Class Update: In week 4, we read through Acts 14; we will begin with chapter 15 on December 4. The Rev. Christian Hawley leads this class.

Invitation: Fellowship Breakfast with Guest Speaker Dean Busboom Saturday, December 9 | 8:00-9:30am | Huffman Hall

All men & women are invited! MARK your calendars to attend the December breakfast meeting.

Dean Busboom explores the intertestamental period, roughly the 400 years preceding the introduction of the New Testament. This period provides context for ready acceptance of Christ and his message from God, as found in scripture. This is a timely discussion, as the "Sing-It-Yourself” Messiah Chorus Austin concert occurs on December 16. Dean, who is the Senior Adults Pastor at Riverbend Church, leads a semi-annual pilgrimage to the Holy Land, exploring the spiritual, cultural, and historical significance of the land located between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Dean shared his experiences from his 5th trip to Israel and 3rd trip to Jordan at our February, 2017 Fellowship Breakfast.

So that we may estimate food quantities & setup, please RSVP by email, call, or text to Bruce Newman (gbnewman@sbcglobal.net, 512-940-0518). For more information on “Men's Fellowship” programs visit: http://www.stmattsaustin.org/Serve/zministry-directory.html

Enjoy good fellowship, good food, and an interesting speaker, sponsored by the St. Matthew Chapter of the Brotherhood of Saint Andrew, striving for the disciplines of Prayer, Study, & Service. Submitted by Don Neely

It’s Time for Angel Tree Ministry!

The Angel Tree program is designed to provide a gift to a child in the name of his or her incarcer-ated parent. This year St. Matthew’s will provide gifts to children in various parts of the state by sending a Christmas card with a $25 Walmart gift card and a note from the incarcerated parent.

Tables for Angel Tree will be set up in the Commons and Huffman Hall where you can select a child to support this Christmas season. It’s simple to do! After you select a child’s name from the table, purchase a $25 gift card from Walmart, write the parent’s message in the card provided and mail it.

Look for the Angel Tree tables after the 10:30 service on December 3 and December 10. Submitted by Linda Noy

St. Matthew’s Day @ Texas Women’s Basketball Sunday, December 31 | 3:30 pm | Erwin Center

Want a great way to spend New Year’s Eve afternoon with the family? Plan to attend the Texas/West Virginia game at 3:30 pm at the Erwin Center. For tickets go to www.texassports.com, click on Tickets, click on Promo Code (on the right), and then enter 8134Mesa. There you will see our block of tickets and you can even choose your own seats. Let’s make this a great showing for St. Matthew’s and TxWBB. Submitted by Bill Kahlke

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Advent is a Season of Giving

This week’s needs* for the North Austin Caritas pantry are:

Canned chili Canned ham Canned pork and beans Hamburger/Tuna Helper meals Spaghetti sauce (in cans or plastic bottles only please) Pasta Canned nixed vegetables Canned fruit Peanut butter

*You’re welcome to bring other items too. There is also a need for shaving cream.

This week’s item for our St. Matt’s Children for Caritas Children program is applesauce.

If you’d like to contribute towards the purchase of perishable food items for the pantry, please leave a $1.00 or more in the money box on the table in the Caritas Corner of the Commons. Grateful for your generosity. Submitted by Jane Baxter Lynn

Helping Our Neighbors (HON)—Homeless Outreach in Northwest Austin Friends, for those of you interested in participating, however much or little, in the ministry to help our homeless neighbors in Northwest Hills, here is an opportunity for service:

We have started an “Angels for Homeless” list for people who are interested in helping intermittently with particular needs of homeless neighbors. We will send out occasional emails to our list of Angels and if you are in a position to help on particular needs at that time, please let us know and we will coordinate pick up and deliver. Dineen Majcher will coordinate this list and you can sign up with her at dmajcher@reglaw.com. Submitted by Dineen Majcher

Use Smile.Amazon.com for Your Online Holiday Shopping

When you do your Christmas shopping on Amazon, please type www.smile.amazon.com and register St. Matthew’s Austin as your charity. Amazon will send the church a small portion of the purchase price. There is no difference in prices between SMILE.AMAZON.COM and Amazon. Here is a link for more information: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_se_abtpo_r_about_smi Thank you! This is just a small way to provide support for St. Matthews. Submitted by Chris Schumacher, Business Manager

Save the Date for the Annual Women’s Retreat February 23-25 | The Retreat at Balcones Springs

Please save the date for our annual Woman’s Retreat February 23-25 at The Retreat at Balcones Springs. This is always a wonderful weekend, with an inspiring message that will help energize your spirit. It is also the perfect time to get away with good friends and a chance to form deeper bonds with those you don’t know as well. From our amazing speaker who will touch and motivate your heart to having some alone time in the great outdoors, there is truly something for everyone. Whether you want to check out the hike and bike trails, enjoy a midday nap, or explore the winery next door, this weekend will be a great way to kick off 2018.

Be on the lookout for more details but feel free to email Mandy Hubbard (mandy.hubbard@yahoo.com) or Alexis Bagshaw (alexisbagshaw@gmail.com) with any questions. Submitted by Alexis Bagshaw

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We invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of St. Matthew’s Parish in Huffman Hall, on Sunday morning, January 21, 2018.

Merrill will call our Annual Meeting to order at 9:00 am sharp. We will present the ballot to elect five (5) new mem-bers to the Vestry, three (3) new members to the Endowment Committee, three (3) new members to the Memorial Garden Committee, and two alternates for the 2017 Diocesan Coun-cil (below you will find details about those elections).

At 10:10 am, we will suspend or conclude the business meeting for our normal Celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Sanctuary, which will be a combined service with the Family Service. After the Eucharist, we will gather for a lunch prepared by Chef Robert Mayberry and church volunteers. If we haven’t fully completed the election process, we will conclude that process in the lunch hour.

If you’re interested in standing for election for the abovemen-tioned positions, please complete a Candidate Information Sheet (available in the office or at this link: http://stmattsaustin.org/About/vestry-elections.html) and return it to Communications Coordinator Christine Havens at chavens@stmattsaustin.org. The Candidate Infor-mation Sheet includes the eligibility criteria for election to church offices. In order to be placed on the ballot in advance of the election, we ask all nominees to have their information to Christine no later than Wednesday, January 17, 2018. Oth-erwise, a nominee will have to be nominated from the floor during the Annual Meeting.

Elections at Annual Meeting, Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 9:00 am in Huffman Hall

Vestry

The Vestry is the official lay leadership team which works with the Rector to set the vision and mission of the church and oversees issues of stewardship, building and grounds and other critical decision-making. We will vote to elect five (5) Vestry members who will each serve a three-year term.

Those rotating off the Vestry at Annual Meeting in January 2018:

Charlie Smith, Lisa Ottenbacher, Christian von Wupperfeld, Alison Street, and Mandy Hubbard, Mandy is concluding a one-year expired term and is eligible for re-election.

-Terms expiring in January 2019 Annual Meeting:

Mark Strickland, Becky Casares, Anne Webster, Lisa Hobbs, and Alexis Bagshaw

-Terms expiring in January 2020 Annual Meeting:

Jenny Bailey, Jim Fryer, Barbara Haynes, Ganne McCullough, and Matt Thompson

Diocesan Council Representatives

Each year St. Matthew’s is represented by four (4) delegates at Diocesan Council. The next diocesan Council will meet in Waco on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, February 15-17, 2018. At this Annual Meeting, we elect two (2) persons who will serve as alternates in 2018 and as delegates in 2019 and 2020.

-Delegates to Diocesan Council 2018: Susan Robertson, Vickie Blumhagen, Jane Michael, and Joyce Statz

-Delegates to Diocesan Council 2019: Jane Michael and Joyce Statz

Memorial Garden Committee

Three (3) members will be elected at the 2018 Annual Meet-ing to serve on this committee which oversees the Billye Taegel Krystow Memorial Garden. The term of service is three years. Two persons will be elected for a three year term and one person will be elected for a two year term. Three persons will be elected and the Memorial Garden Committee can determine who will serve the two year term at their first meeting.

-Rotating off in January 2018 Annual Meeting:

Stephen Biles, George Meihaus

-Terms expiring in January 2019 Annual Meeting:

George Worrell

-Terms expiring in January 2020 Annual Meeting

Verna Hazlewood and Lise Harding

Endowment Committee

Three (3) Endowment Committee members will be elected at the 2018 Annual Meeting and will serve three (3) year terms. They are responsible for the oversight of our St. Matthew’s Permanent Endowment Fund, keeping watch for the future generations that will come to St. Matthew’s, and providing seed money via grants for mission and ministry in the parish and outside our walls.

-Rotating off in January 2018 Annual Meeting:

Ann O’Connell, Ken Robertson, Caroline Cook

-Terms expiring in January 2019: Annual Meeting:

Frank Lambert, Suzanne Tappe, Nora Foster

-Terms expiring in January 2020 Annual Meeting:

Bonnie Coleman, Chris Wilson, Ann Hart

Submitted by the Rev. Merrill Wade, Rector of St. Matthew’s

First Canonical Notice of the 2018 Annual Meeting of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas

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Offshoots Small Groups

Offshoots small groups are a chance for parishioners to share our passions with one another and our neighbor. This initia-tive grows out of the idea that wherever Christians are present, the body of Christ is revealed. So have some fun with these groups, get to know your fellow parishioners, and invite a friend to “come and see” a little glimpse of the Kingdom. If you want to form your own Offshoot with support from church staff and clergy, email chawley@stmattsaustin.org and office@stmattsaustin.org. Formation of groups is a rolling process throughout the year, so keep your ideas coming!

Sunday Lunch Group at Luby’s Kay & Leon Whitney kayw3909@gmail.com Sunday, 12/3 @noon-ish

Saturday Morning Prayer & Share/OSL Group Sandy Lanier sandy07@flash.net Saturdays, 9:00-10:30 am, Rm-14 (Wilson Room), then breakfast at Molcas @10:45 am

Let’s go to the Movies Babs Clendenin ba69claus@aol.com Wed. afternoons; contact Babs to be put on email notification list

Misfit Muses Christine Havens christinehavens3@gmail.com 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7:00-9:00 pm, Youth Center, next meeting: 12/11; we will not meet Christmas Day

20s-40s Bible Study Reilly Purl reillypurl@gmail.com Next meeting Mon., 12/4, 7:00 pm

Wall Street Musing Chris Wilson cawcfacmt@gmail.com next meeting TBD

Solos, for age 55+ Margaret Myers margaret@myers-ins.com Next meeting TBA

Wisdom of the World Spiritual Book Study Susan Ledenham woosue@sbcglobal.net On hiatus

Album Art Josh & Darren Skyles skylesjoshua@gmail.com Next meeting Mon., 12/11, time TBD

Cookbook Dinner Group Bill Buros wburos@gmail.com Email Bill for more information

Espanol con amigos (Spanish with friends) Dot Strance dorotea56@hotmail.com Every Thursday, 11:00 am at Mr. Gatti’s on Far West Blvd

Family Camping Group Brad Banister bradbanister@gmail.com April 20-22, Palmetto State Park (which you can check out here: https://youtu.be/nELqkOKmf1o)

Contemplative Photography Cathey Roberts catheyr@me.com Contact Cathey for info

Art Among Friends Linda Fryer fryer8137@gmail.com Meets Tuesdays 10:00 am-2:00 pm

Cycling Group Adam Bartlett adam@abartlett.org Next meeting TBD

For more detailed group descriptions, we invite you to click this link, http://stmattsaustin.org/Connect/offshoots.html, or go to the Offshoots page on St. Matthew’s website. Submitted by Christian Hawley

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Family Ministry News

Family Service Dates:

December 3 (1 Advent) Lessons & Carols, Combined Services, Sanctuary

December 10 (2 Advent) Huffman Hall

December 17 (3 Advent) Huffman Hall

December 24 (4 Advent) all services in the sanctuary 10:30 am Morning Prayer, spoken

Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Children’s Pageant and Holy Eucharist

8:00 pm Candlelight Choral Concert & Festival Choral Eucharist

11:00 pm Solemn Christmas Mass with incense and candlelight Music by The Schola of St. Matthew’s

December 25 Christmas Day

10:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with music followed by a St. Matthew’s & St. Michael’s Christmas hike at Bull Creek

December 31 Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Combined Service, Christmas Carol Sing, with oboe

Children’s & Youth Sunday Morning Formation

What an exciting time of the year! Advent is here! This Sunday in our Children’s Formation Hour (9:15 in Youth Center), we will focus on getting ready to enter the Mystery of Christmas (Godly Play). It's perfect timing then for us to focus on the prophets' telling that something big was about to happen in Bethlehem. The people didn't know exactly what or when, but they were told to get ready, to watch and wait. Our Godly Play lesson begins with a discussion of the color change at church to purple or blue, the color of kings. It's a great time to talk about what kind of king the people expected and how God sur-prised them all. We hope you will join us all of Advent to get the full Mystery of Christmas story.

Questions, please contact Susan Goodman, Family Minister at sgoodman@stmattsaustin.org.

Children’s Christmas Pick up Pageant, A Call for Lead Characters

We have started taking names for children to participate in the Children’s Pick up Pageant on Christmas Eve (Sunday, December 24, at 4:00 pm.). The cast of lead characters is coming along; there are a handful of lead roles still available. We are still in need of Wise Men, the Innkeeper, Lead Shepherds, Lead Angels, and readers. Please contact Susan at sgoodman@stmattsaustin.org. It’s a first-come, first-served list, so be sure to send in a request. ALL children are encour-aged to participate in the pageant, even if they haven’t RSVPed. We will have a short rehearsal the Sunday prior to the pageant (December 17 after the 10:30 service, in the sanctuary).

Christmas is an exciting and joyful time at St. Matthew’s. Be sure to invite your friends, neighbors, and loved ones to join us for the Advent and the Christmas seasons.

Soul of a Musician Series Sundays | 6:30 pm | Iron Cactus North

December 3 Matt the Electrician www.matttheelectrician.com

December 10 Dawn and Hawkes www.dawnandhawkes.com

December 17 The Cotton Mather St. Matthew’s Christmas Party

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Children's Choir Wants YOU!

St. Matthews children's choir meets every Sunday during the Sunday school hour (9:15-10:15 am) in the choir room!

We are now planning ahead for Advent and Christmas. The children will sing for the service of Lessons and Carols on December 3 and for the Family Christmas Eve service.

All children are welcome to join us in singing together and having a little fun! Please email Mary (marypianosmith2@gmail.com) or Susan Goodman (sgoodman@gmail.com) for more info.

Youth Ministry News

PNO—Parents’ Night Out Fall Schedule

St. Matthew’s offers Parents’ Night Out, a fun night for kiddos so that parents can have an evening out—once a month, guaranteed! We play with the children, create arts/crafts, watch a movie, etc. It is simple: make a reservation with Susan Goodman at sgoodman@stmattsaustin.org and bring a peanut-free dinner for your child(ren). No cost; donations appreciated. Be sure to sign up so you don’t miss out!

Last Fall Date (5:00 - 9:00 pm, Youth Center:

Friday, December 15

Sunday, 12/3 Zilker Cleanup/Polar Bear Swim (Jr. & Sr. High Event) Join Travis & the Team for a food-truck dinner, clean-up event & Polar Bear Swim! Drop off at The Picnic Food Truck Park 6:oo pm (1720 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704); pick up at Barton Springs Pool, 8:00 pm. Be sure to bring $ for dinner and a bathing suit & towel if you are taking the plunge! (email Travis to RSVP).

Sunday 12/10 SOS Christmas Event (Jr. & Sr. High Event) Join us as we journey (literally) to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. This meaningful seasonal event will involve an off-campus liturgy (& lots of holiday cheer thereafter). Pick-up/drop-off 6:00-8:00 pm, Youth Center.

Sunday 12/17 Soul of a Musician Christmas Party Event! (Jr. & Sr. High Event) All Youth & their Families are invited to join us for an all-ages show with carol singing, hot chocolate, & more (ahem, lots of

queso )

Eucharist in winter gear at the Fall Inks Lake Family Camp in November

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In Our Prayers December 3-10, 2017 This list is read aloud at daily Evening Prayer (5:15 pm, Charlotte Cauley Gray Bell Tower Chapel)

and is included on the Intercessory Prayer Network.

Clergy: Justin of Canterbury; Archbishop; Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Andy, Dena, Jeff, and Hector, our Bishops; Merrill, Christian, Travis, Chuck, Jerry, Jim, Margaret, and Seth, our clergy; Will, our seminarian.

Lay Leadership: the Staff, the Wardens, the Treasurer, the Vestry, the Day School Board of Trustees, the Endowment Committee, the Memorial Garden Committee, and all the other commissions and councils of the Vestry of St. Matthew’s.

Our Outreach Partners and Ministries: Kairos, Habitat for Humanity, El Buen Samaritano, Good Faith Ministry, MPAC, Job Support, Care for the Caregiver, Heifer Project, Casa Marianella, Caritas, Trinity Center, Women’s Story Book Project, Hope House, Honduras Good Works, Interfaith Action of Central Texas (IACT), Prayer Shawl Ministry, Threads of Love, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Daughters of the King, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, EfM, and the Episcopal Veterans Fellowship.

Our men and women in the Armed Forces and others who serve our country at home and overseas.

Our brothers and sisters in Christ who are actively being persecuted for your name, and all of God’s children who know suffering at the hands of war, disease, natural disaster, injustice, and oppression. Remembering especially the churches in Syria, Egypt, and Iraq, and the people of Afghanistan, Ukraine, and the Holy Land; the people of Aleppo; the people of Jerusalem; keeping in prayer the people of Manhattan, Argentina, and Belgium, the people of Suther-land Springs, the people of Rancho Tehama; and all those around the world affected by terrorism and violence. Keeping in prayer all those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria, by the earthquake in Mexico, and by the wildfires in Northern California.

The students, families and staff of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School and other schools and seminaries: General Theological Seminary, Seminary of the Southwest, and Berkeley Episcopal Seminary at Yale Divinity School.

Those on our prayer list:

Ongoing Prayer Requests Mary Lou Henshaw Jim Sparks Margoux & Daniel

Alex Acosta Carolyn Huffman Stephanie Lisabeth & family

Barbara Borden Martha Jacoby John & Georgia Tabor Myers-Doughty family

Bob Boyd Julie & family Dale Van Horne Peggy Newby

Jane Bray Bill Kjellstrand Jim Williams Pat & family

James Logan Brown Laurie Wells Matson Marilou Wilson Larry Richards

Jane Bugnand Leland McCullough Mike & Jocelyn Wilson Millie Scott

Sue Burton Suzanne McDaniel New Prayer Requests Harold Slade

Mark Clifton & family Larry Nichols Virginia Bockholt Billie Stallsworth

Josie Dougherty Craig Ramsey Luis Consuegra Steans family

Jack Eccles Nancy Richards Jayne Cornell Stella

Glen Ellis Nancy & Joe Satterfield Drake/Pitts family Sutherland Springs FBC

Laura Everitt Bill Seaver & Earlyne Hurricane Victims Those Who Have Died

Janet Farrar Jeffrey Seiler Julia Sue Harper Kone Drake

Emery Fisher Virgie Seiler Kristen & family Laura Alisha Myers-Doughty

Rev. Maurice Simmons

Altar Flowers Dedications

Altar flowers are given to the glory of God, by Mia & Paul Nieman in memory of Rosie Nieman,

and by Mary Nell Frucella in memory of Jack Frucella on his birthday.

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THE CHURCH OFFERS NURTURING AND EXPERIENCED CHILDCARE EVERY SUNDAY MORNING

9:00–11:45 am in Huffman Nursery for children newborn - age 4 Personal prayer teams are available during communion at the 10:30 service in the sanctuary. We have a prayer station on the west side in the gallery. All prayer requests and discussions are completely confi-dential. Home delivery of communion is available if you are unable to come to church and would like Holy Communion brought to you on Sunday, please call the church office at 512-345-8314. If you are unable to walk to the altar for holy communion today, please notify an usher and the communion elements will be brought to you where you are seated. BE IN THE KNOW about parish events and news! You can subscribe to the St. Matthew’s email list by visiting our website at www.stmattsaustin.org and clicking the “Subscribe” button on our homepage. All submissions, including prayer requests, for the Weekly Word must be received by the church office by Wednesday at noon in order to ap-pear in the upcoming Sunday’s edition. Please send Weekly Word arti-cles to Christine at chavens@stmattsaustin.org or word@stmattsaustin.org. Prayer requests, please send to Mickie at office@stmattsaustin.org

Church Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

If we can assist you in any way, please contact the Church Office.

Rector: The Rev. Merrill Wade Associate Rector: The Rev. Christian Hawley Curate, Family & Youth Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Travis Helms Rector Emeritus: The Rev. Charles Huffman Assisting Clergy: The Rev. Jerry Chapman, The Rev. Jim Williams, The Rev. Margaret Waters The Rev. Seth Deleery Seminarian: Will Berry Director of Music/Organist: Ms. Jean Farris Fuller Choral Director: Eric Johnson Family & Children’s Minister: Susan Goodman Children’s Choir Director: Mary Smith Our Vestry: Senior Warden, Lisa Hobbs; Junior Warden, Lisa Ottenbacher; Charlie Smith, Alison Street, Alexis Bagshaw, Becky Casares, Barbara Haynes, Mark Strickland, Jenny Bailey, Ganne McCullough, Matt Thompson, Christian von Wupperfeld, Mandy Hubbard, Jim Fryer, Anne Webster; Treasurer, Frank Lambert St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church 8134 Mesa Drive Austin, TX 78759 Telephone (512) 345-8314 FAX (512) 346-2085 www.stmattsaustin.org Follow us: Facebook: St Matt’s Austin Twitter: @StMattsAustin

ST. MATTHEW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Sermon | Sunday, November 19, 2017 The Rev. Dr. Travis Helms

“May We Always Do the Next Best Thing in Love” https://tinyurl.com/NextBestThinginLove-TH

Readings for Sunday, December 10, 2017 (Second Sunday of Advent) Isaiah 40:1-11

2 Peter 3:8-15a Mark 1:1-8

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

Sunday, November 26, 2017: 8:00 am HE I, 26; 10:30 am HE II Sanctuary, 225; 10:30 am Family Eucharist Huffman Hall, 75;

2:00 pm Brookdale, 27; 5:00 pm Contemplative, 37; Total: 390

Wednesday, November 29, 2017: 7:00 am HE II, 6; 12:00 pm Service of Public Healing, 6; Total: 12

Vestry Persons of the Month:

Alexis Bagshaw & Charlie Smith

Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under

Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed

handgun.

Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed

under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun

that is carried openly.