We continue in prayer for the Valenzuela family in the loss of Vicky’s brother. May the Lord be with them, and may they know that their loved one is safe in Christ and going on with his life in Him.

I’ll keep it short this week. I’m preparing for cataract surgery on Tuesday. By the time you read this, it should be done. This Sunday, you’ll see me with one lens still in my glasses and the other removed—that’s how it works until the second eye is done. Then comes knee replacement on December 3. I will miss at least the second and third Sundays of Advent; Mary will be preaching those Sundays.

Last Sunday, we had 59 in worship, including three guests, and Carol Bennett was back. So good to see her. It was a meaningful All Saints Sunday.

Pastor’s Class — 9:45 AM (Breakfast follows)

We had a wonderful discussion last week—we never even got to the planned lesson. We continually raised thought-provoking questions about life, death, and God. Yes, we talk about big stuff in this class.
Breakfast This Sunday (10:30 AM): It’s a We-bring Sunday. Bring something to share if you can!

This Sunday in Worship

Sermon: It’s About Love.
Choir Anthem: O Love by Elaine Hagenberg (a fresh, beautiful setting of a cherished hymn).
Last week’s anthem was a little more “intellectual”—this one is sweet and lovely.

I print 70 bulletins each week. If yours sometimes ends up left behind, let’s fix that this Sunday—bring a friend and let every bulletin find a home!
Hope to see you in worship.
God bless,
MB

Mark Your Calendar

Blake’s school choir concert — Friday, December 5, at 6:30 PM. Don’t miss it!

Greetings, dear friends and family of Saint Matthew UMC,

Sunday’s All Saints observance was both meaningful and heart-rending. It brings me comfort to know that we are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). I believe that when we gather at the communion table, we are joined by Jesus, by all the saints, and by our loved ones already in His presence. That may sound far-fetched when written out, but it’s a cornerstone of my faith — faith in the “things not seen” that Paul describes in Hebrews 11.

None of us has seen Jesus in the flesh — we are all believers in things not seen. We, too, are part of that great cloud of witnesses, testifying to the existence and supremacy of God. Our faith rests on what we read of Jesus’ life, what we inherit through Christian and Methodist tradition, what we experience of God, and what we understand through reason. The Reverend Albert C. Outler described this as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral: Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason — a distinctly Wesleyan way of examining and understanding our faith.

Eastside Community Assistance Volunteer Appreciation
Friday, November 7 • 6–9 PM
Fort Worth Botanical Gardens
Everyone at St. Matthew is invited! RSVP here: Donors Celebration
Enjoy good food, fun games, and fellowship at this family-friendly event.

Memorial Service for Barbara Jochetz Jones
Saturday, November 8 • 10 AM
St. Luke United Methodist Church
3200 Denton Hwy, Fort Worth, TX 76117
Barbara was a long-time member of St. Luke who joined our online worship during COVID and later attended St. Matthew regularly before moving to New Braunfels in 2023. I will be officiating the service and ask for your prayers. If you can attend, I know Barbara would be deeply grateful.

Thanksgiving Church Meal
Sunday, November 23 • Following Worship
We’ll share more details next week, but please remember that many of our neighbors no longer have access to food assistance. Christ commands us to love our neighbors — and love means action. Let’s each pick up a little extra at the grocery store this week and help feed those in need.

Blessings to all,
Mary

Things weren’t going so well in Israel. Samuel, the prophet who had led God’s people for many years, was getting old. He hoped his sons could take his place as judges, but they didn’t follow God’s ways. They took bribes and treated people unfairly. The Israelites were tired of it. One day, the elders came to Samuel and said, “We want a king! All the other nations have one — why can’t we?”

Samuel didn’t like the idea at all. He prayed to God, hoping for a different answer. But God told him, “Listen to the people. They’re not rejecting you, Samuel — they’re rejecting Me as their king.” Even though it made Samuel sad, he did what God asked. God chose a man named Saul — tall, strong, and brave — to be Israel’s first king. But everyone needed to remember that even with a king, God was still the one truly in charge.

Sometimes we think we know what will make us happy — like getting what everyone else has. But just like the Israelites, we learn that following God’s way is always better than trying to copy the world around us. God’s love and leadership never fail, and He will always lead His people forward.

What We Learned

• It’s easy to want what others have, but God’s plan for us is always best.
• God doesn’t leave us, even when we make the wrong choice.
• The best kind of leader is the one who follows God first.