Feast of the Assumption—August 15th
August 10, 2008 ny 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings for Mass
August 10, 2008 August 17, 2008
1st Reading 1 Kgs 19:9, 11-13 Is 56:1, 6-7
2nd Reading Rom 9:1-5 Rom 11:13-15, 29-32
Gospel Mt 14:22-33 Mt 15:21-28
Two Opportunities to Help Those in Need
New Orleans Trip Planned for October
St. Matthew will be sending members of the parish family to
New Orleans in October, to help the Archdiocese of New Or-
leans provide assistance to poor homeowners rebuilding after
the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Both skilled craftsmen
and those who can handle a paintbrush, shovel, or hammer are
wanted. We will be leaving on Tuesday, October 14 and return-
ing on Saturday, October 18.
If you would like to take part in this third trip by our parish, or
would like more information about the project, please come to
the next planning meeting to be held in the Day Chapel on Sun-
day, August 17, at 9:45 a.m. For more information please contact
Randy Jones at randy_jones@bellsouth.net or telephone 678-
817-9149.
Help Metro Atlanta Senior Citizen Homeowners
St Matthew Parish is looking for volunteers who want to provide
assistance periodically on Saturdays for needy senior homeown-
ers (age 60 or over) living in Metro Atlanta. The work would
include help with home maintenance and minor repairs and en-
hancements such as painting, yard work, gutter cleaning, drywall,
minor carpentry, plumbing and electrical repair (inside & out),
plus helping with household chores. The parish would work as a
group. Volunteers need to be 15 and older while those under 15
must be accompanied by an adult.
An information meeting will be held in the Day Chapel Sunday
August 17 at 10:15 AM. All who are interested are cordially in-
vited to attend. Contact Randy Jones for information at
randy_jones@bellsouth.net or call 678-817-9149.
We welcome the following
new parishioners to our Parish Family
Lucio, Maria, Lucia, Lucio & Alexis Benzor
Mass Intentions
Ambrose & Juliana Okoro
Tuesday 9AM
Wednesday 6PM Beth Hampton
Thursday 9AM Jim Tuck
Saturday 5PM St. Matthew Parish Family
Sunday 8:30AM Rita Holleran
Sunday 11AM Alice Weaver
Tending Our Gardens Stewardship In Everyday Life
Friday, August 15th is a holy day of obligation.
School Supply Drive
for the children at the Atlanta Day Shelter
The shelter provides school supplies to over 450 children each
school year and they are in need of our help. A donation box
will be available in the Narthex until Sunday, August 10th, or
you may give a cash donation following each Mass on Aug
9th/10th. Any and all school supplies would be welcomed,
but, specifically, they are in need of 3-ring binders, filler paper,
spiral notebooks, calculators, and backpacks with wheels.
Please contact Lisa Lowther at 770-463-9031 if you have any
questions. Thank you.
Exploring our God-given Strengths....Have you ever asked
yourself, "What should I do next?" or "Why do I love doing
some things and avoid doing others?" Soon, our parish will
embark on a journey that will help each of us find answers
to these and other questions about who we are and what we
are called to do as disciples of Jesus Christ. You will have
the opportunity to discover your top five themes of talent--
your Signature Themes. God created you with a unique
combination of talents, and He calls you to use those talents
to serve others and advance His Kingdom. Together, we are
going to help you begin to discover your calling! Get ready,
the journey is just about to begin!!!
Adult Choir Is Starting Again! Attention existing an new
adult choir members: Please mark the following dates on your
calendar as it’s time to start adult choir. Please email Sheri Dillon
at Sharon.dillon33@yahoo.com if you have questions or cannot
attend one of these dates!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008—6:30 to 8:00 pm: Potluck Dinner
and Start-up meeting in the conference room.
Thursday, August 14, 2008—7:00 to 9:00 pm: 1st Rehearsal
Thursday, August 21, 2008—7:00 to 9:00 pm: Rehearsal
Thursday, August 28, 2008 – 7:00 to 9:00 pm: Rehearsal
Rosary Group Invitation and Prayers
I would like to invite everyone to join the Rosary Group to
pray the rosary with us Thursday mornings after the 9:00
Mass. If you want us to pray for someone, please call Helen
Martin 770.463.3697.
Ministry Highlight
Liturgical Dance
A dance ministry for ages 6 and up. It will require
practice about 2 times a month. Liturgical dance is a
form of worship offering another opportunity to
give praise to God. If there is enough interest, we
will form two dance groups...one for children and
youth, and one for adult dancers. For information
about this ministry call Sarah Diffley at
770.631.4193.
“What have you done with the garden entrusted to you?” — Machado
Masses are at 9:00 am and 7:00 pm.
Visit Fr. Vic’s blog at http://padrevic.blogspot.com/
Mark your calendar for Lector Training!
Plan to attend whichever lector training that applies to you.
Returning Lector New Lector
Saturday, Aug. 23 8:30-10:30 am Tuesday, Aug. 19 7-9 pm
You must attend one of the training sessions that pertain to you
in order to participate and to be placed on the schedule.
For more information contact Marianne Menke at 678.817.5749.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
August 12 9:30AM Church Cleaning
August YAM Calendar See Bulletin Board
Lost & Found
There are numerous items in the Lost and Found. If you think
you may have lost one of your treasures at the church please
come by and see what we have. Anything not claimed by the end
of August will be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Do you have friends or family who have left the Church? If so,
check out www.CatholicsComeHome.org. This website has
proven very effective in bringing Catholics back to practicing
their Faith and a return to a vibrant life in the local parish.
Religious Education News
Welcome Back!
Religious Education & Faith Formation programs begin August 17th.
The Parish School of Religion will begin classes for 116 three-
year-olds through 8th grade next Sunday, August 17, at Our
Lady of Victory school, between the Masses. Classes will begin
at 9:45 a.m. and will conclude at 10:45 a.m. Space is still avail-
able in most classes for families who have not yet registered their
children.
PSR Late Registration
Late registration for St Matthew's Parish School of Religion for
the 2008-9 school year began July 26 and continued through Au-
gust 3, 2008. PSR Registration Packets can be found in the nar-
thex or in Deacon Gayle's office. There is a late registration fee
of $15 per child unless you are a new member of the parish.
PRISM, the Confirmation program at St. Matthew, will have its
first meeting next Sunday, August 17, in the Conference Room
beginning at 12:30 p.m. and concluding at 2:00 p.m. We look
forward to a full, energetic and exciting year for those teens in
the parish who will be preparing for Confirmation in 2009 and
2010.
Many are familiar with the phrase “time, talent, and treasure” as a
description of Christian stewardship, and these are indeed important
aspects of it. However, stewardship is much more. It entails accept-
ing all aspects of our lives as gift, and inviting God into each.
I believe God cares deeply about how we take care of our bodies,
emotions, and relationships. God wants us to use everything we
have to bring about the kingdom in our lives and the world around
us.
In March of 2004, Bishop Robert Morneau gave a presentation on
“The Spirituality of Stewardship” at the annual Regional Steward-
ship Conference in Atlanta.
He presented this idea of stewardship as different gardens that we
are called to tend in our lives. We will cover the difference gardens
over the next few weeks, as a guide for discernment.
It is important to realize that this is simply a starting point: a tool to
help you start asking your own questions. Only you can ultimately
determine how God is calling you in your life.
It is important to note that this process should not necessarily be
seen as a way of adding more tasks to your life, but as a call to bal-
ance and openness. Stewardship addresses what we do in our lives,
but more importantly how we do them.
As you read through the questions, check off areas in which you
would like to be more attentive or spend more energy. Feel free to
star questions related to areas where you are doing well. When you
are done, go back and circle one to three areas you want to work on.
Garden of the Body
We can sometimes forget that our physical body
is a gift given to us by God. St. Paul reminds us
that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
We can sometimes abuse our bodies, often with
the excuse of doing more important things instead.
Do you nourish yourself with a nutritious diet?
Do you maintain a healthy body weight?
Do you exercise regularly?
Do you receive a healthy amount of sleep? Do you find yourself
tired often?
Do you care for yourself when you become ill? See a doctor at the
appropriate time?
Do you make regular medical visits? Dental? Eye exams?
Have you considered programs or practices for your body’s health?
For example: yoga, chiropractic sessions, exercise classes, regular
walks.
Financial Giving in our Parish Family
August 3, 2008
Offertory $18,287.90
Given in checks & envelopes (253) $17,457.00
Parish Debt Reduction $992.00
Second Collection $1,773.00
Upcoming Second Collections
August 10—St. Vincent de Paul Society
August 17—No second collection