Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

On Mother’s Day, our church reflected on a powerful truth through the sermon “Women as Witnesses.” While history has often overlooked or diminished the voices of women, Scripture tells a different story, one where women are central to God’s work from beginning to end.

Throughout the Bible, women like Miriam, Ruth, Naomi, Mary, and Elizabeth demonstrate faith, courage, and deep trust in God. Most profoundly, the Gospels reveal that women were the first to witness the resurrection of Jesus and to share that life-changing news with others. At a time when their voices were often dismissed, God chose them to carry the message of hope and new life.

This message continues to speak clearly to us today. God still works through people the world may overlook, reminding us that every voice has value and every life holds purpose. We are all called to be witnesses, sharing love, offering compassion, and bringing hope into our community.

As we move forward together, may we remember that the same power that raised Christ is alive within us. Let us live as faithful witnesses, carrying God’s love into the world with courage, grace, and hope.

Saint Matthew UMC invites everyone to join us for our Second Thursday Monthly Potluck Luncheon on Thursday, May 14, for a meaningful afternoon of fellowship, food, and conversation.

Guests are encouraged to arrive with food between 11:30 AM and noon. Lunch will begin at noon, followed by a special presentation from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM.

This month, we are pleased to welcome Susan Trump as our guest speaker. Susan is a registered nurse with 30 years of experience in ICU and wound care and has been affiliated with Texas Health Resources for nearly 20 years. She currently serves as the Faith Community Nursing Program Manager, supporting holistic and faith-based approaches to community health and wellness throughout the community.

Susan’s presentation, “Advance Care Planning: What I Need to Know,” will offer helpful information and thoughtful guidance on an important topic that impacts individuals and families alike. The discussion will focus on practical planning, communication, and caring for one another with wisdom and compassion.

Whether you regularly attend the luncheon or are joining us for the first time, we hope you will come and enjoy this time together. Events like these help strengthen the connections within our church family while offering opportunities to learn, encourage one another, and grow together in faith and community.

We give thanks for the many ways God’s love is shared through the life of our church.

On Sunday, we celebrated Mother’s Day together with worship, fellowship, and gratitude for the people who help nurture faith, kindness, and compassion in our lives. The children brought smiles to many faces as they planted flowers to give to their mothers and special women in their lives.

We are also thankful for Rev. Mary Teague’s message, “Women as Witnesses: Courage, Purpose, and Hope,” which reminded us that God often works through voices the world may overlook. Through worship, music, prayer, and community, we were encouraged to carry Christ’s hope into the world together.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Sunday special through worship leadership, music, hospitality, teaching, and fellowship. Every act of care helps strengthen our church family and reminds us that we continue to grow together in faith, love, and belonging.

Have you ever met someone and already decided what kind of person they were before really getting to know them? Sometimes people can surprise us, especially when God begins working in their lives in new ways.

This week, we learned about Paul, who once opposed Jesus and the people who followed Him. Paul traveled to Damascus planning to arrest Christians, but along the way, he had a life-changing encounter with Jesus. After that moment, Paul’s whole life began to change. He started telling others about Jesus and wanted to join the disciples in Jerusalem.

The disciples were nervous and unsure about Paul. They remembered the harm he had caused before his conversion and found it hard to trust him. But Barnabas saw something different. He listened to Paul, watched how his life had changed, and spoke up for him when others hesitated. Because of Barnabas’ kindness and courage, Paul was welcomed into the community, and together they helped spread the good news of Jesus.

Sometimes people need someone to believe in them, encourage them, or help them feel included. Barnabas reminds us how important it is to be a good friend and to make space for others to grow and change. God’s love can transform hearts, and hope often begins when someone is willing to give another person a chance.

What We Learned

• God can change people’s hearts and lives.
• Good friends encourage and support others.
• Everyone deserves kindness and a chance to grow.
• Small acts of love can brighten someone’s day.
• We can help others feel welcomed and included.

On Mother’s Day, we also planted flowers in small vases to give to our moms and special women in our lives. It was a joyful way to share love and gratitude, and we hope those flowers brought many smiles throughout the day!