St. Martin's
Monthly Planner
Click here for our daily schedule of events, times and locations
Dec. 4 & 5
JAM Advent Retreat at Camp Chrysalis
Dec. 5
WELCA Christmas Brunch
9:30 am in the Parlor
*
Parents of Youth
Dinner Party
7 to 9 pm at
Debbie Mitchell's house
Dec. 6
Gifts due back at
St. Martin's for delivery to Agua Viva
*
St. Martin's Christmas Gift Shoppe
Buy items from St. Martin's including cookbooks, music and more. Purchase your Christmas poinsettias at this event, too.
*
Adult Forum Class on
Advent led by
Ed Shirley
10 am in Fellowship Hall
*
New Member Class
10 am in Rm 230
*
Children's Christmas
Eve Eucharist Rehearsal
12:15 to 2 pm
in Sanctuary
Dec. 8
Mop & Hammer
8:30 am
*
Elizabeth & Sarah Circles
9:30 am
*
Christmas Luncheon
Noon in the Parlor
*
Rebecca Circle
7 pm
*
Jenkins Requiem Concert
7:30 to 9 pm
in Sanctuary
Dec. 11 & 12
Conspirare Youth Choir Concert
7 pm in Sanctuary
Dec. 13
Adult Forum Class on
"Advent" led by
Ed Shirley
10 am in Fellowship
Hall
*
Last day of St. Martin's
Gift Shoppe
*
Hanging of the Chrismons
1 pm in Sanctuary
*
New Member Class
10 am in Rm 230
*
Children's Christmas
Eve Eucharist Rehearsal
12:15 to 2 pm
in Sanctuary
*
Texas Lutheran University
Christmas Vespers
5 pm
Dec. 20
New Members Received
at our 11 am Worship
*
Children's Christmas
Eve Eucharist Rehearsal
12:15 to 2 pm
in Sanctuary
*
German Christmas Worship Service
5 pm
Dec. 21
Austin City Brass Concert
7:30 pm in Sanctuary
Dec. 22
Mop & Hammer
8:30 am
Dec. 23
Children's Christmas
Eve Eucharist Dress Rehearsal
9 am in Sanctuary
Dec. 24
Children's Christmas
Eve Eucharist
4 pm
*
Candlelight Christmas Eve Eucharist
7 & 10 pm
Dec. 25 & 26
Christmas Day
*
Church Offices Closed
Dec. 28-30
Senior High Synod Gathering
_________
|
|
Save These Dates
In 2010
Jan. 3
Epiphany
Feb. 17
Ash Wednesday
Feb. 21
Dinner Theater &
Silent Austin
March 28
Palm Sunday
April 1
Maundy Thursday
April 2
Good Friday
April 3
Easter Vigil
April 4
Easter Sunday
_________
|
|
From Our Mailbox
Thanks & Praises
_________ |
|
Share your gifts
Serving God & others with our time, talent and treasure
Music & Fine Arts
Ministries
Community Service
Giving
_________ |
|
Benevolence Focus
Our December Benevolence Focus:
Capital Area Food Bank
_________ |
|
Get St. Martin's News & Updates
________
|
_________
|
|
|
|
 Dec. 6 & 13:
Gift Shoppe Now
Open for Advent
Celebrate the season of giving by finding perfect presents at St. Martin's Christmas Gift Shoppe. Stop by the Lobby for opportunities to buy a variety of gifts from our church: music CDs, ornaments, cookbooks, coffee mugs, cards, videos, bread crosses from Agua Viva, and much more. You can also buy a Christmas poinsettia to honor someone special. For more information about the Christmas Gift Shoppe, contact Thom Pavlechko. For more information about Christmas poinsettias, contact Ann Henry.
|
Dec. 6:
Delivering Christmas Cheer to Agua Viva
St. Martin's continues its tradition of delivering Christmas gifts to our sister congregation, Agua Viva, which is located in El Cenizo along the Texas/Mexico border. Please wrap your gifts and mark them with the name of the child or senior citizen you've selected. All gifts are due in the church office by Dec. 6. If you have questions, please contact Pastor June Wilkins.
|
 Dec. 8:
St. Martin's Annual Christmas Luncheon
Join your friends at St. Martin's for our annual Christmas Luncheon at noon in the Fellowship Hall. This is a wonderful chance for people to reconnect with St. Martin's, so be sure to invite your friends "back home for the holidays." Bring a dish to share. Enjoy music from Thom Pavlechko, our Cantor & Composer in Residence, and the children of St. Martin's Lutheran Preschool. RSVP for the luncheon at 467-6757 or email Yolanda Alvarez.
|
 Dec. 19:
Parents Night Out
Need a date night, Mom and Dad? St. Martin's Youth invites you to bring your kids to church on Sat. Dec. 19 from 6 to 10:30 pm so that you can go out and have a bit of grown-up holiday fun together. Kids ages 4 to 12 will enjoy dinner, movies, video games, crafts and fun with the wonderful youth of our congregation. A suggested donation of $15 per child is requested. All proceeds go to help pay for the Youth 2010 summer mission trip to San Francisco. To RSVP your child for this event or to learn more, contact Youth & Family Minister Erika Rorer. |
|
 December Stewardship Focus: Giving Our Gifts
Christmas is the time of year that the church sets aside to remember the birth of Jesus into our world. This time has traditionally been a time of gifts -- both giving and receiving.
What gifts have you received from your church community this year? Friends, faith, inspiring worship, an understanding of God's love, maybe insight into scripture. Maybe you've found a place for your children to call home. None of these things are possible without the gifts St. Martin's receives from you: time, talent and treasure. Here at St. Martin's, we thank all of you for the gifts you have brought to this community.
With the end of the year, the gifts that you offer to St. Martin's also have added benefits to you. Besides sustaining important ministries and helping to cover budget shortfalls, these gifts also may be a benefit to your personal finances. All donations to St. Martin's (or to one of our designated benevolence recipients) are deductible from this year's income tax provided you itemize. You can reduce your tax liability if you send a check to St. Martin's before noon on Thurs. Dec. 31. Give your gifts to God by supporting the community of St. Martin's and helping us all live out our call to ministry in the world. |
Music @ St. Martin's
Dec. 4: Chris Ahlman Recital
Christopher S. Ahlman presents an organ recital on St. Martin's two pipe organs on Dec. 4 at 7 pm featuring the works of composers such as Araújo, Sweelinck, Froberger, Tunder, Bach, Franck and Reger. The recital is in partial fulfillment of a Doctor of Musical Arts degree that Ahlman is pursuing at the University of Texas. Admission to this concert is free.
Read on to learn more about the University of Texas Music Department.
Dec. 11 & 12: Conspirare Youth C hoirs
Conspirare Youth Choirs perform two Winter Concerts at St. Martin's on Dec. 11 & 12 at 7 pm. The Conspirare Youth Choirs are dedicated to bringing the highest level of artistic training to the youth of the greater Austin area. The choirs were created as extensions of the Austin-based Conspirare, a professional ensemble of adult choral singers led by Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson. Call the Conspirare offices at 476-5775 for information on tickets.
Read on to learn more about Conspirare Youth Choirs.
Dec. 13: Vespers with the TLU Choir
 The 2009 Texas Lutheran University Christmas Vespers program will come to the St. Martin's Sanctuary on Dec. 13 at 5 pm. Tickets are not required for this performance, but a freewill offering will be collected during the concert. Vespers is an annual Christmas celebration of music and word at Texas Lutheran, and this year's performance, under the direction of Dr. Doug Boyer, director of the TLU School of Music, is titled, "How Still He Rests."
Read on to learn more about Texas Lutheran University's Choir.
Dec. 20: Symphonic Winds
 St. Martin's Symphonic Winds offers its gift of music to the congregation on Dec. 20 at our 11 am worship. Led by founding director Dale Elmshaeuser, Symphonic Winds musicians include St. Martin's members and guests who play brass, woodwind and percussion instruments. Newly composed music by Dale Elmshaeuser and Thomas Pavlechko will be premiered at this service.
Read on to learn more about Symphonic Winds.
Dec. 21: "A Winter Brass F estival"
Austin City Brass Ensemble performs "A Winter Brass Festival" at St. Martin's on Mon. Dec. 21 at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary. Tickets are $15 and $10. Under the direction of Maestro Stefan Sanders, the ensemble is comprised of some of Austin's most accomplished musicians as well as visiting artists from around the country. The players include area university professors and members of professional ensembles such as the Austin Symphony, Austin Lyric Opera and Ballet Austin. An audience carol sing will be included, featuring the premieres of carol arrangements for brass, organ and percussion by Thomas Pavlechko.
Read on to learn more about the Austin City Brass Ensemble.
|
 Dec. 20:
Our German
Christmas Worship
St. Martin's returns to its German roots each holiday season as we celebrate Jesus' birth during our annual German Christmas Worship at 5 pm in the Sanctuary on Sun. Dec. 20. The service, conducted entirely in German, includes traditional hymns, a sermon and communion. St. Martin's Choir and soloists will lead the singing, and offer several compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. Guest musicians, Austin Saengerrunde's Mannerchor and Damenchor, will also offer music during worship, and at the reception in the Fellowship Hall.
Read on for more about St. Martin's German heritage.
Read on for more about Austin Saengerrunde.
|
Dec. 24:
Celebrate
Our Children's Christmas Eve
Eucharist
Our Children's Christmas Eve Eucharist at 4 pm on Dec. 24 in the Sanctuary is a favorite tradition at St. Martin's. The children of the congregation share the big story of Jesus' birth again this year in their portrayal of "Away in a Manager" -- a worship time filled with song, storytelling, music and more. Take part in the story with our children as they worship via the roles of Biblical characters who explore the wonder of Christ's birth. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade are welcome to our rehearsals for the Eucharist on Dec. 6, 13 and 20 from 12:15 to 2 pm (lunch provided). A dress rehearsal will be held Dec. 23 at 9 am. If your child is interested in joining in, please contact Child & Family Minister Sharolyn Browning. |
Dec. 24:
Candlelight
Christmas Eve
Eucharist
Come celebrate The Nativity of Our Lord on Christmas Eve at 7 and 10 pm. Each candlelight worship will be preceded by 30 minutes of music offered by St. Martin's Choir and St. Martin's Ringers.This is a special time of worship and celebration for the St. Martin's community, which remembers the birth of Jesus on this night through readings and beloved Christmas hymns. |
Dec. 31:
Giving DeadlineIs Almost Here
Please remember that the deadline for 2009 gifts to St. Martin's is noon on Thurs. Dec. 31. Gifts sent by mail must be postmarked by that date. St. Martin's thanks the congregation for its faithful support during the prior year and we look forward to sharing our gifts with you in the year ahead. For information about end-of-year giving, please contact St. Martin's business manager Chris Baker. |
Notes from across the congregation
St. Martin's Votes to Begin Search for Senior Pastor
A congregational meeting on Nov. 8 determined that the Call Committee will begin seeking a senior pastor to lead St. Martin's. Wyn Speir, Church Council president, requests that members share their recommendations for potential candidates. Please send your suggestions to Wyn Speir.
Read on for more news from the Church Council & Call Committee.
Capital Area Food Bank Needs Donations
Our Benevolence Focus for December is the Capital Area Food Bank. CAFB
provides food for most of the social service organizations in the
Austin area. Please bring food to donate (shopping lists are available
at the Welcome Center and below) or donate money. For every $2 you give, the food
bank can provide 11 meals; for every 25 pounds of food donated, the
group can provide 20 meals. Please drop off your food donations in the
marked barrels at the church entrances and contribute your monetary
donations in the collection plates during worship. Please make your
checks out to St. Martin's and write "CAFB" in the memo line. We'll
give one large donation from our congregation to the food bank at the
end of December.
The food bank is in need of these items: baby food & cereal, canned
fruits, canned meats, canned stews, canned tuna, canned vegetables,
diapers, pasta sauces, peanut butter, jelly, personal care products,
rice, beans, and single serving pop-top canned foods.
Thanks for the Help at Thanksgiving
St. Martin's thanks all of the volunteers who helped make our church's first Thanksgiving Community Feast possible. Dozens of members from St. Martins and others from across Austin helped cook, serve food, staff and clean-up after the guests who arrived in the Fellowship Hall for the Thanksgiving Day feast.
Parents of Youth Dinner Party on Dec. 5
Come meet and talk with other parents of youth at St. Martin's from 7 to 9 pm at Debbie Mitchell's home, 15911 Rustic Lane. Bring a dish to share. Our Youth & Family Minister, Erika Rorer, will provide updates about our programs for junior high and senior high students. RSVP to Erika Rorer or call her at 476-6757, ext. 233.
Adult Education at St. Martin's
Join the Adult Forum class on Sundays at 10 am in the Fellowship Hall. On Dec. 6 and 13, come to our sessions on "Advent" led by Ed Shirley, professor of Religious Studies at St. Edward's University.
Saintly Seniors Holiday Lights Trip
Our Saintly Seniors take a road trip on Dec. 7 to see the holiday lights in San Antonio and enjoy a boat ride on the decorated Riverwalk. To learn more, please contact Bess Sommer.
Chancel Flowers
Do you have a special event coming up in 2010 that you'd like to commemorate with chancel flowers? Contact Nell Hielscher or call 243-0467 for details.
Hanging of the Chrismons on Dec. 13
All are invited to the Hanging of the Chrismons on Sun. Dec. 13 from 1 to 3 pm in the Sanctuary. The Chrismons are the beautiful handmade ornaments for our Christmas trees; some are very, very old and some have been just this year. They are made of gold wire and beading, fashioned into the shape of Christian symbols of hope and peace. We need help sorting, hanging ornaments on the low branches and climbing ladders to hang ornaments the high branches. You won't want to miss this special Advent tradition. Bring a yummy treat to share in the Narthex. For more information, contact Child & Family Minister Sharolyn Browning.
Community Gardens at St. Martin's
St. Martin's is preparing to host community gardens in the Spring of 2010. This is an opportunity for neighbors to garden together, for people of all ages to learn a life skill, for the church and the community to work together to grow food for those in need, and for all of us to till the soil and improve our stewardship of the land. The garden is downtown on church land located on West Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets, in the Judges' Hill neighborhood. Parking is on the street or in the church parking lot on Rio Grande Street. We hope to break ground in the Spring. St. Martin's will provide the water and the land. You bring the seeds or seedlings, the tools and labor. Everything is run on an honor system. If you would like to garden a plot, or if your family, organization, and/or church would like to garden, please contact John Howard.
Pavlechko Performs in Ohio
Our Cantor & Composer in Residence Thomas Pavlechko was the guest organist leading "Hymnfest for Harvest," the culminating event celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Youngstown, Ohio on Nov. 27. The program included hymns for Reformation, All Saints, Veterans Day (war and peace), Harvest (feeding the hungry), and Thanksgiving.
Church Attendance
Worship at St. Martin's averaged 310 in October.
|
Blessings to you and yours during the seasons of Advent and Christmas!
| |
|
|
|
|
|
