I have no words of comfort concerning the next four years. The winners are dangerous.

I remember the title of a book about women being complicit in their troubles in an abusive marriage: The Bed Was on Fire When I Got in It.

Over 50% of Americans have taken all of us into the fire. They could see it. Yet they chose it.

And most of those Americans are Christian. Conservative Christian.

That’s the important distinction. Conservative Christianity, with its angry, vengeful God, is a different religion from the one I preach.

And it’s different from what Jesus taught.

Jesus rejected vengeance of any kind.

Conservative Christians have now put a man of vengeance in the highest office in the land.

Something is wrong with the conservative church. And always has been.
Because their primary commitment is to the Bible with its many different images of God.

And the only image that counts is the image we have in Jesus Christ: a God of unconditional love for all humanity.

Now, people we love are in danger: women, gay people, immigrants, the poor, all minorities.

Education is in danger.

Freedom of speech is in danger. Our national security is in danger.

But I do have a word of comfort after all: God is not dead. And neither are you and I.

It’s not over. It’s never over. But some of you have a witness you are not using.

Help build that part of the church which stands with Jesus Christ.

And do it now.

Start this Sunday.

Saturday’s Concert

THIS Saturday—at 6:00 p.m.

Sandwich supper afterward.

Some of you will need to help with sandwiches or actually anything that would go with sandwiches—beans, potato salad, whatever. (We have chips.)

It’s been a hard season lately. Let’s have some fun. Mel Creason, Blake, Shannon, and Julian will all be singing. We will take an offering to help with our budget.

Let’s gather—Saturday at 6:00.

The Class—Discovering God

We truly are learning things we have not known. And the class gives us time to look carefully at what God is saying to us through experience. We have had some quite remarkable sessions.

You are welcome at any time.

Class at 9:45—followed by breakfast.

Speaking of Breakfast

This is a “Winston” Sunday. Expect a really good meal. You are also free to bring food.

Food and fellowship at 10:30, followed by worship.

This Sunday

The sermon Sunday: Trust God.

I hope Blake is feeling better. Our choir may (or may not) be singing Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. And hear this, choir: Blake wants to begin rehearsal this week at 9:00 to make up some lost time.

God Bless,
MB

P.S.—Got a nice e-mail from the president of Brite Divinity School in response to a recent Friday’s Word. I will share it with you Sunday.

REMEMBER THE CONCERT SATURDAY!!!
And remember our big Thanksgiving service and dinner on Sunday, Nov. 24—a week from this Sunday.

Blessings to you in the name of Jesus, who heals and comforts us,

In the coming weeks, we will begin to put some structure around our 2025 and future ministries. I want to ensure that the important things to you are included in the five strategic priorities of the Horizon Texas Conference. As a reminder, the five strategic priorities are:

1. Multiplying Jesus followers
2. Championing children and youth
3. Maximizing congregational care and healing
4. Pursuing and embracing diversity
5. Telling our story.

We have discussed these in the past, and our congregation’s choices at that time were to focus on championing children and youth, maximizing congregational care and healing, and pursuing and embracing diversity. It is my opinion that if we focus on these three, multiplying Jesus’ followers and telling our story will be the outcomes of these efforts. So, while we are not focused on all five if we do those three well, we will satisfy all five.

The Bishop intends to enlist the support of the laity of the Horizon Texas Conference. Recent data indicates that for every clergy person in the conference, there are 100 laity. The Bishop requested, and I am asking today, for a layperson to be a strategic priority champion. A Horizon Texas Conference Strategic Priority Champion is a trained laity member of the HTC, focused on taking the priorities of The United Methodist Church into the community to help folks find a faith home in the HTC. Training will occur in January, and there will be a laity covenant day specifically for this ministry in the conference.

A strategic priority champion does not focus on bringing more people to church. It is bigger than that. It is working within the conference and working with the clergy at the local church to determine ways to have an impact in our neighborhood. This can include invitations to church, of course, but it is primarily focused on meeting people where they are and addressing the needs they have where they are. Please pray about this before you volunteer. This is a structured commitment to the work of the entire conference, not just Saint Matthew. This is a commitment of time, energy, and prayer. I will also be in prayer for the one whom God chooses to fill this role at Saint Matthew.

I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am for your response to the sermon on Sunday. I am so very blessed to be part of a church that knows what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. There is much work to do, and I am grateful that you are willing to help with the efforts. Right this minute, just say a quick prayer for the work that we will do, pray for the people that God will send to us for help, and pray most of all for our nation and its place in the world. These will be difficult times. I do not intend to scare you; however, it is my job to prepare you for what we are about to face. We will meet after church very soon to discuss what all of this means. Invitations to these discussions will be forthcoming. I am encouraged that we are not alone. I have found multiple groups who are also determined to stand in the gap for people experiencing injustice. We will discuss it soon, privately!

Blessings to you all! Your sweet spirit and loving-kindness bring me hope and joy,
Mary

This Sunday, we learned about a man named Nabal. Nabal was a wealthy man with thousands of sheep and goats, and he was busy shearing them in a place called Carmel. When David, who was in the wilderness nearby, heard about this, he sent ten young men to Nabal, asking for food in return for helping to protect Nabal’s workers and property.

But Nabal refused David’s request, which was seen as very unkind in those days since hospitality was expected. David became angry and prepared to confront Nabal. However, Nabal’s wife, Abigail, was wise and acted quickly. She gathered food—200 loaves of bread, five prepared sheep, bags of roasted grain, clusters of raisins, and cakes of figs—and set out to meet David and his men, without telling her husband.

When Abigail met David, she humbly offered him the food, asking for peace. David accepted her kindness and decided not to attack Nabal’s household. Abigail returned home to find Nabal celebrating with a big feast, but after he heard what had happened, his heart failed, and he later passed away.

Reminder: We need all kids to help with preparing a play for the congregation as we get ready for a visit from Santa! See you on Sunday!