Blake is back (and had a good time in Europe) but will be gone on the 19th, when we have our next concert. That means Shannon and I will be doing the singing, along with Mel Creason, who will sing a song and accompany himself on guitar. (Shannon will sing, among other things, Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”) We will be doing pop songs with spiritual meaning. Expect a few surprises.

I will preach again this Sunday and Mary will take it the Sunday after the concert—the 20th.

This will conclude a series of sermons in which I have talked about why God wants us to spend time in this world, which is not always an easy place to be.

Some of my friends and I gathered at my house last Sunday evening in remembrance of a couple of people we loved. Our friend, Thomas Coker, died after a ten-year battle with prostate cancer. We also remembered Roy McCasland, who passed a few years ago. Thomas was technically a member of our church and Roy was an active member for many years. We had a good evening. My sister fixed a big meal for nine people. The refrigerator went out the day before. And the air conditioning died the day of the gathering. A little cool lasted in the house for the evening. But sleeping that night was impossible.

Life can be difficult.

Still—God wants us here in this world for a while. We continue to think about why.

Sure hope to see you Sunday.

I’m counting on it.

Don’t disappoint me.

Greetings St. Matthew,

Communion was so very meaningful this weekend. Maybe it was because it had been so long since we had been together or maybe it was because Max was back serving us. Either way, I was very moved by the Spirit among us as we accepted this holy sacrament. My spare time this week will be spent preparing and submitting my ordination paperwork (Phase III) to the Board of Ordained Ministry. I know that I asked for your prayers, and I want you to know that I can feel your prayers and your support. As I am answering these questions about my call, about my understanding of God, and about my commitment to the United Methodist Church, I am overwhelmed with how very grateful I am for St. Matthew. You are all the reason I stay committed to this path. My time with you and my time learning from all of you have kept me moving onward and upward through these storms.

Our next Saturday Concert will be August 19th and will feature Max and Shannon. Music starts at 6pm and the potluck dinner starts at 7pm. I look forward to seeing you there. Love to all, Mary

Our lesson was a little different this week! Have you read about the year of the Jubilee? This was a celebration of wrongs and debts. We can all understand that there are people in our community who are having a hard time getting what they need, including basic needs for living, while there are other people that have more than enough. This Bible story tells us to create equality for all people. This is to be celebrated because God created all of us as equals. At the end of seven years, you were to release every creditor that owed you; you were not to collect this from his family, and you were just to release the debt. This was to be celebrated because God created each of us equal and we deserve to be forgiven and free. Jubilee was an act of justice, where at the end of seven years, your debts would be forgiven! This doesn’t work today, but we can still bless others with our acts of kindness and generosity.

Our kids were thankful for the “back-to-school” gift cards that were given to them for school supplies and for the kindness of the people that made our back-to-school party possible. Thanks for the hot dogs, movie, and popcorn that our kids got to enjoy. Even Mom and Dad appreciate your generosity of the gift cards! Getting the kids ready for school is expensive and these cards were blessings!

See you in church Sunday for a new lesson! Blessings