Hello everyone,

I continue to spend a considerable amount of time humming Broadway tunes from our Saturday concert or just grinning and remembering the joy that filled my heart during the performance. I know many of you were also as moved as I was, I could see it in your smiles and tears. We are so very, very blessed that God sent Shannon and Blake to our congregation. I am looking forward to many more concerts at St. Matthew. Thanks to everyone who brought food and a HUGE thank you to those of you who stayed to help clean up. 

Our next concert is scheduled for August, date and details to follow. Our BACK-to-SCHOOL bash is August 4^th. Hot Dogs and Movie Night are on the agenda. I still need volunteers to help set up and clean up that evening. We also need a room full of school-age kids! Thank you to those folks who gave me money on Sunday morning for the gift cards we will be giving away that evening. I received 3 donations. Only 27 more to go!!

I will be away this weekend celebrating my nephew’s wedding. I will join you online for worship. Blessings to all! Mary

We had an interesting lesson about King Nebuchadnezzar. The king commanded his palace master to bring in some young Jewish men to be trained to serve in the King’s palace. This may have been an attempt on the king’s part to win over the Jews. if these young men learned the Babylonian language and culture, they were assigned to work in the King’s palace. The King thought it might encourage all Jewish people to be loyal to Babylon.

As part of the training program, Nebuchadnezzar fed the Jewish men food from his own kingly menu. Think of the food you would eat every day if you were the king: this might have been the richest, most decadent food in all of Babylon, and these Jewish men would be able to eat it simply because the king allowed it. Daniel, however, knew that his food was more than a gift from the king—it was a gift from God. And to show that he was grateful to God for his food, Daniel declined to eat the king’s food. The chief official told Daniel that eating the king’s food was a requirement. For ten days Daniel arranged a test; for ten days Daniel and his friends ate vegetables and drank water. Mosaic Law allowed the Jews to eat more than vegetables and water, but Daniel thought that the meat and wine may have been given as a sacrifice to Babylonian gods, and he wanted to honor God in all his choices. God rewarded Daniel for his faithfulness.

We had a wonderful class of 6 youngsters that got to experiment with a different type of painting! I can’t say enough about these well-behaved youngsters! See you in church Sunday. Blessings!

Don’t miss the sensational concert happening this Saturday at the enchanting Saint Matthew UMC! Prepare to be swept away by the captivating melodies of popular Broadway musicals, including the timeless hits from South Pacific, the electrifying rhythms of West Side Story, the emotional journey of Les Misérables, and the haunting tunes of Phantom of the Opera. Immerse yourself in an evening of outstanding performances that will transport you to the magical world of Broadway. Mark your calendars and join us for a truly unforgettable experience!

Saturday, July 15
6:00 pm

A potluck dinner will follow the performance. All are welcome, and the concert is free of charge. An offering will be taken to help offset our financial shortfall.