Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord,

It was such a joy to have Max back with us on Sunday—especially on a communion Sunday. And it was wonderful to see everyone. If you weren’t able to join us in person, we missed you and hope you were able to catch the service online. Julian Rodriguez’s rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow gave me goosebumps. We are truly blessed at Saint Matthew to have musicians of such incredible talent.

Speaking of gifted musicians, don’t forget: we will be hosting an Eastside Community Assistance Benefit Concert on September 20th, featuring a local gospel choir called MSB. This is shaping up to be a major community-wide event, and we are praying for a crowd of 190–200 people. All Eastside Community Assistance churches are being invited to help with marketing and ticket sales, and your help is needed! There’s a sign-up sheet on the board in the hallway—please lend a hand where you can.

For the first time, we will be selling tickets to this event. Tickets are $25 per person, and that includes both the concert and a meal afterward. If you are able, please consider buying an extra ticket or two for those in our congregation or neighborhood who might not be able to afford it. The meal will be hosted in the Fellowship Hall, the overflow Sunday School rooms, and at picnic tables outside, as needed. We want our neighbors to know that we are here, we care, and we welcome them. As soon as we receive marketing materials from the choir, we’ll start spreading the word in the neighborhood.

I’ve spent the past week trying to live what I preached during the last three Sundays. I’m working hard to breathe before I speak, to speak with love and compassion, and to remain quiet when God tells me to be still. I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to serve this church and to share these kinds of messages with you. Remember, everything is a communication with God. You will never look into the eyes of someone whom God does not love and accept. God’s love is unconditional, inclusive, and overwhelming.

Under the Bridge Ministries still needs men’s summer shorts, T-shirts, clean underwear and socks, and shoes (size 12 and up). If you don’t have these items to donate but are able, perhaps consider purchasing a pair of shoes or a bag of socks to support this important ministry. They serve 250–300 people every Sunday in downtown Fort Worth—rain or shine.

I am so deeply grateful for all of you. Each of you carries your own burdens, faces your own crises, and walks through your own valleys. And yet, you still show up for one another. Watching how you give—your time, your hearts, your prayers, your resources—is truly inspiring. It humbles me every day, and it remains one of the greatest honors of my life to serve beside you in our shared calling: to tell others about Jesus and to stand against injustice and oppression.

With love and gratitude,

Mary