Announcing the 8th Rector of St. Matthew’s: The Reverend Catherine Wright “Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” This was the prayer recited when we commissioned our Rector Search Committee at our annual meeting in January, before every meeting of the committee since, and by so many of you throughout the year. It has sustained the committee’s efforts over their more than 1000 combined hours invested in the search, has strengthened their discernment, and has acted as a foundation to chart the next chapter for our parish. Reverend Catherine Wright, who also goes by “Mother Katie,” has been described by those who know her well as “a rock with great sense of humor and humility,” who understands “how to live faith with challenges,” who “puts pastoral care first,” and who “knows God’s grace.” Though our search spanned thousands of miles, Mother Katie will be coming to us from only a few miles away at St. David’s, Austin, where she has served for more than eight years as both their Locum Tenens during their rector search and as second chair to their current rector. Previously she served as Rector at St. Andrew’s in Elyria, Ohio. Her service at St. Matthew’s will begin on February 1, 2021, so that she may honor her service at her current parish during Advent and prepare for her tenure with us. Also joining our parish family with Mother Katie will be her family — husband, Jimmy; son, Luke (22, who lives in Seattle); daughter, Rachel (20, who lives in Austin); and daughter, Sarah (9), who enjoys kicking the soccer ball and baking cookies with her mom. Rev. Wright’s introductory note to St. Matthew’s follows this announcement below. Please join the vestry and me in sincerely thanking all the members of our Rector Search Committee — Joyce Statz (chair), Jason Bagshaw, Jenny Watson (née Bailey), April Beaty, Mary Nell Frucella, Ann Hart, Jeff Jury, Stephanie Koller, Kathleen Niendorff, Ann O’Connell, Lisa Richardson, and Christian Von Wupperfeld (vestry representative) — for their immense efforts, discernment, and graceful stewardship of our search; to the Rev. Canon Christine Faulstich, Rev. Kellaura Johnson, Rev. Francene Young, Rev. Blake Rider, and Kathryn Herman at the Diocese for their guidance; to all the many, including the Rev. Seth Deleery, who provided support along the way; and of course, to the Rev. Christian Hawley, who has and continues to lead this parish with spirited, authentic, and thoughtful grace during these unique times, who will be reassuming his role as Senior Associate Rector on February 1st, and who, until then, is readying us for the arrival of the 8th Rector of St. Matthew’s. Welcome, Mother Katie — we are grateful to you for accepting the call, and we excitedly await and celebrate your and your family’s arrival! On behalf of the vestry, thank you for being a part of St. Matthew’s, and may God’s Peace be with you all! Doug Webster, Senior Warden Greetings to God’s Beloved at St. Matthew’s, As we stand at the cusp of Advent and another liturgical year, I am delighted to be called to be the next rector of St. Matthew’s. Advent is a time of new beginnings and anticipation and has always had a special place for me. My own birthday falls in the middle of the season and our children’s birthdays, in the order they were born, are 12/19, 12/21 and 1/27. Our youngest child was born while I was the rector of St. Andrew’s in Elyria, Ohio. It would be fair to say I get the waiting, preparing, making things ready during the time when the days grow short and we are longing for the wait to be over. 12 St. Matthew’s is a wonderful place that I have been seeing and hearing great things about since I arrived in Austin over eight years ago. You have a wonderful history, great facilities and are a people of care and enthusiasm. Your love of God and commitment to reaching out to the world around you with that love and generosity has been obvious to me from the beginning. Your search committee had a careful, prayer filled and joyful experience of discerning a partner for your years to come, and I am grateful for their trust in me. I know there are exciting years ahead for us. I look forward to joining you on the first of February as we begin our work together. You will be in my daily prayers, and I ask your prayers for my family and the good people of St. David’s as I say my good-byes to them. Yours in Christ, Mthr. Katie Wright 13 NOTICE OF THE 2021 ANNUAL MEETING OF ST. Diocesan Council Representatives Each year St. Matthew’s is represented by four (4) delegates MATTHEW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AUSTIN, TEXAS at Diocesan Council. The next Diocesan Council will meet virtually on Feb 26-27. At this annual meeting, we elect two Our Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January (2) persons who will serve as alternates in 2021 and as 24 from 12:00-1:00 pm via Zoom. Fr. Christian will open delegates in 2022 and 2023. our meeting with prayer and then we will move directly to presenting the ballot and taking nominations from the floor – Delegates to Diocesan Council, 2021: Vickie Blumhagen, for five (5) new members to the Vestry, three (3) new Ann O’Connell, Joyce Statz, and Shelly Kirkgard; Alternates members to the Endowment Committee, two (2) new to be elected. members to the Memorial Garden Committee, and two (2) – Delegates to Diocesan Council, 2022: Joyce Statz, Shelly alternates for the 2021 Diocesan Council (you can find Kirkgard, and 2021 electees. Alternates to be elected at 2022 details about those elections below). After nominations are Annual Meeting. closed, we’ll honor outgoing vestry members, give out the St. Roch awards for outstanding service in times of Candidate applications received as of 12/22/20: pandemic, and peek ahead at 2021 events. Memorial Garden Committee If you’re interested in standing for election for the above Two members will be elected at the 2021 Annual Meeting mentioned positions, complete a Candidate Information to serve on this committee which oversees the Billye Taegel Form (https://stmattsaustin.org/about/vestry.html) and Krystow Memorial Garden. The term of service is three (3) return it to Communications Director, Nooshin Ghanbari, years. at [email protected]. – Terms expiring in January, 2021 Annual Meeting: Alan The Candidate Information Form includes the eligibility Carson and Joyce Statz criteria for election to church offices. In order to be placed – Terms expiring in January, 2022 Annual Meeting: on the ballot in advance of the election, we ask all nominees Elizabeth Barrett and Jill Miller to have their information to Nooshin no later than Sunday, – Terms expiring in January, 2023 Annual Meeting: Anne January 17, 2021. Otherwise, a nominee will have to be Webster and Elisabeth Ellis nominated from the floor during the Annual Meeting. Candidate applications received as of 12/22/20: Electronic Elections: After the floor has been closed and all nominations received, the election commission Endowment Committee composed of the outgoing vestry and business manager will Three (3) Endowment Committee members will be elected send an electronic ballet to all members of the parish via at the 2021 Annual Meeting and will serve three (3) year email. Membership in the parish will be determined by an terms. They are responsible for the oversight of our St. individual’s presence in the Realm database. Members Matthew’s Permanent Endowment Fund, keeping watch without email will have the opportunity to call into the for the future generations that will come to St. Matthew’s, office to cast their votes. Results will be announced on and providing seed money via grants for mission and Sunday, January 31. ministry in the parish and outside our walls. Vestry – Terms expiring in January, 2021 Annual Meeting: Paul The Vestry is the official lay leadership team which works Koller, Gidget Fisher, and Judy DeWitt with the head of the congregation to set the vision and – Terms expiring in January, 2022 Annual Meeting: Vicki mission of the church and oversees issues of stewardship, DeWeese, Nora Foster, and Mary Nell Frucella building and grounds and other critical decision-making. We – Terms expiring in January, 2023 Annual Meeting: Bonnie will vote to elect five (5) Vestry members who will each Coleman, Leslie Fields, and Jennifer Sanchez serve a three (3) year term. Candidate applications received as of 12/22/20: – Terms expiring in January, 2021 Annual Meeting: Chichi Armstrong, Jeff Bobick, Gabrielle Field, Emma Garrett, and Mandy Hubbard – Terms expiring in January, 2022 Annual Meeting: Jeanine Adinaro, Carlos Castaño, Kasey Gilliam, Amy Novak, and Doug Webster – Terms expiring in January, 2023 Annual Meeting: Jim Michael, Christian Von Wupperfeld, Lise Harding, Kelli Hughes, and Tom Canby Submitted by the Rev. Christian Hawley, Candidate applications received as of 12/22/20: Ann Locum Tenens of St. Matthew’s O'Connell, Armando Ruiz, Joyce Statz 14 WEEKLY WORD FOR DECEMBER 27-JANUARY 2 VIRTUAL EVENTS ON OUR WEBSITE Stay up to date on all of our online offerings — like Adult Formation, Noonday and Evening Prayer, and events for families — by visiting our Virtual Events page.