Kids’ News

This week, we met a boy named Samuel. He was just a kid—about 12 years old—when something incredible happened.

Samuel lived in the temple with a priest named Eli. He was there because his mother, Hannah, had promised God that if He gave her a child, she would dedicate him to the Lord’s service. And she kept that promise. Samuel grew up helping Eli and learning about God.

One night, after they had both gone to bed, Samuel heard a voice calling his name:

“Samuel!”

He jumped up and ran to Eli’s room. But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”

This happened again. And again. And again.

Finally, Eli realized what was going on—it wasn’t Eli calling. It was God.

Samuel listened carefully, and when God called him again, he said:

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel’s story reminds us that God speaks to people of all ages—even kids. If we listen closely, we might hear God calling us to help, to pray, to show kindness, or to do something brave.

“We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

—Romans 8:28

What We Learned:

  • God speaks to people of all ages—even kids!
  • Sometimes God’s call is quiet, so we have to listen carefully.
  • When God calls, we can say like Samuel did: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
  • Every one of us can do something important for God, no matter our age.

Thank you for bringing your young ones to church so they can learn and grow in faith, just like Samuel did. See you in church on Sunday!

Special Offering for Guadalupe Flood Relief

URGENT: Special Offering for Guadalupe Flood Relief – Tomorrow at Church

Our hearts are heavy as we witness the devastation caused by the flooding along the Guadalupe River, which has already claimed at least 27 lives and left many without homes.

Tomorrow during worship, we will collect a special offering to support the relief efforts led by the Rio Texas Conference Disaster Response Team. All funds will be sent directly to them and used to provide critical supplies like flood buckets, emergency cleanup, and support for displaced families.

Our goal is to raise $2,000 to send immediate help where it’s most needed.

Want to give electronically? You can make a secure donation now through our PayPal campaign: https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=3WZVX49XX4JK4

100% of your gift will go to immediate disaster relief efforts.

Friday’s Word

Rev. Brennan:

Treating NDEs as important puts a lot of credence on the functioning of an oxygen-deprived brain. I don’t attach much importance to what our brains do when they are not working.

— G.

Two lines from a longer, thoughtful email from a reader who calls himself an atheist.

I repeat: Atheism is as fragile as Fundamentalism.
Both are ready to fall like a house of cards.
They cannot stand up to reason and information.

Brains actually do not do anything when they are not working.
People having an NDE are absent from the brain—
yet they can often describe in detail everything doctors and nurses are doing to revive them.
This can include what doctors and nurses say to one another—while there is no brain activity.
Yes, the information is conclusive.

So, what I call highly resistant non-believers must run from this and all such evidence—
just as fundamentalists must resist the clear truth that the Bible is not inerrant.

But I have absolutely no desire to fight reality.
I want the truth.

Dr. Raj Parti, a Hindu who met Jesus in an NDE, concludes this:
1 – Consciousness exists outside the body.
2 – There is life after death.
3 – We are all connected to each other.
4 – There is one all-prevailing supreme love and intelligence which is the source of all creation.

No use to fight it.
Everyone who has an NDE says the same thing.

And so does Jesus.

I return to the pulpit Sunday after my accident.
Worship at 11:00.

saintmatthewumc.com
revmaxb@tx.rr.com