St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
Share a story
At St. Matthew’s we try to embody the spirit of our great city by opening our doors to anyone who would like to join us for worship and fellowship - everyone is welcome without exception. Many of our church members come to us from other faith traditions and denominations, or with little or no background in religion whatsoever.
At St. Matthew’s we value scripture, prayer, fine music, memorable preaching and joyful worship on Sundays as well as helping families to grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord – and we have fun in the process! We value God’s gifts of reason and common sense and do not tend to over-literalize the Bible or ask you to check your intellect at the door to experience God’s presence and direction in your life. Above all, you’ll find a friendly community of people united by their faith in God and eagerness to serve others.
The truly distinctive quality about the St. Matthew’s parish community is we genuinely love and care about each other. In a parish of over 1,000 members, this is only possible when we individually get involved in one of our many programs. With over 80 ministries from which to choose, there is a place somewhere for everyone at St. Matthew’s to make a connection. How closely one chooses to get involved directly relates to one’s sense of connecting within the larger community.
Our St. Matthew’s community is comprised of all ages, stations in life, and theological backgrounds. Although we are each unique human beings, we are united in our desire to carry out our mission statement,
“St. Matthew's is a loving, sacramental community, welcoming all to share life's joys and challenges as a family; to learn and grow in Christ; and to passionately serve each other, Austin, and the world. We invite you to join us.”
Worship times
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Huffman Hall
B-14
Ministries
Good Faith Fund
At St. Matthew’s, we take the first Sunday loose offering from the alms plate for Austin residents who appeal to our church for special needs. Most recipients are not members of our congregation and must go through an application process which is reviewed by the Good Faith Fund Committee. We help with utility bills and rent payments, assisting individuals and families to get on their feet in hard times. If you need rent or utility assistance, please call this number: 512-345-7600.
Care for Caregivers
Support for caregivers, providing information on local resources, referrals, support groups and seminars. Open to all (including non-members of St. Matthew's)
Casa Marianella
External ministry of education and assistance for immigrants in transition to the U.S. Includes activities such as preparing a meal with friends or Casa staff or residents from 3-7PM.
Contact Susan Robertson
Caritas
A Food Program envisioning that each household attending Sunday services brings a can/package of food from the Caritas Grocery List. The estimate is that 200 households attend each Sunday, so a year’s participation is 10,400 pounds of food.
Heifer Project
External organization that supplies income-producing animals and animal care to poor families around the world. During Lent, St. Matthew's volunteers collect donations with the goal of “Filling an Ark.”
Honduras Good Works
External organization that provides medical, construction, spiritual and Educational support to the Deanery of Yuscaran of the Honduran Episcopal Church. Currently we are providing scholarship support to 188 secondary students and 3 university students.
Hope House
Located on 11 acres west of Liberty Hill, TX, Hope House provides a supportive and permanent home for both children and adults with profound mental and physical challenges who live in a loving, caring environment. Funding also received from St. Matthew’s Outreach Committee. *Executive Director is Dave Gould, 512-515-6889. *See also www.hopehouseaustin.org
Job Support
Group providing guidance and tips to individuals seeking employment or a change in employment. Open to all. Monday, 12 noon, B-14
http://stmattsaustin.org/jobsupport.html
Kairos Prison Ministry
- Teams participate in two 4-day weekend retreats each year, one for men and one for women, as well as two all-day Saturday retreats, one for men and one for women
- As a follow-up, teams facilitate a program put on by inmates on the first Saturday morning of each month (one for men, one for women) and a Prayer and Share each Monday evening for the women, each Wednesday evening for the men
- The men's teams go to Hughes Unit for Men in Gatesville
- the women's teams go to Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville
Contact Steve Ryder or Margaret Carpenter
Memory Powered by Active Connections (MPAC)
- MPAC is an active program for persons with early memory loss that is open to the public
- It meets Tuesdays 10 am-2 pm in Huffman Hall.
Twelve Step Groups
Open meetings throughout the week on the Church campus, run by community group.
Contact the Office 512-345-8314
Trinity Center
Operates a daily program for homeless people, creating a safe and welcoming environment away from the streets, and offering meals and clothing for our homeless neighbors.
Women's Story Book Project
- External ministry that serves children 14 and under of women imprisoned at Gatesville prison units, enhancing relationships between the women and their children.
- Volunteers monthly help make an audio recording of the mother reading a book, with the CD and book sent to the child.
Sacred Ground Race Dialogue Circles
Sacred Ground is dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race, racism, and whiteness while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. The 10-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories.
Sacred Ground is a resource coming out of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. This series is especially designed to help white people talk with other white people, while being open to all racial/ethnic groups. Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope and love.
8134 Mesa Dr
Austin, TX 78759-8678
United States
