Greetings in the name of the risen Christ! I pray that peace and joy are filling your hearts and lives this week as we enjoy God’s beautiful answer to a week of sub-freezing temperatures. I am so very grateful for the sunshine and milder weather—especially for our siblings living without shelter. Hopefully, this one week of freezing temperatures will be our only one this year.
We have some exciting things happening at church! This Sunday, February 8, we will celebrate the 99th birthday of Keith Butterfield. We’ll be enjoying fried chicken with all the trimmings. The Kelcey family is generously providing the chicken, and we ask that each family bring a side dish as you are able. An occasion this monumental calls for a special birthday cake, and I have ordered just such a cake for our celebration.
I look forward to seeing all of you this Sunday for a full morning together: 9:30 AM for choir practice, 9:45 AM for the Discovering God class, 10:30 AM for breakfast, and 11:00 AM for worship. We offer these opportunities to support the fellowship of God’s beloved children.
The St. Matthew Women United group will gather for lunch on February 11 at noon. There is a sign-up sheet at the church for the potluck meal. We will also be joined by nurses from the Texas Health Fort Worth Heart and Vascular Program, who will share heart health education with attendees. If you would like to listen to the presentation from home, please let me know at mary.teague@saintmatthewumc.com, and I will create a Zoom link for you.
Looking ahead, we will hold our Ash Wednesday service on February 18 at 6:00 PM. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. If you have not previously participated in this service or the Lenten season, I encourage you to join us this year. The United Methodist Church observes Ash Wednesday as a time to begin preparing our hearts for Easter.
Ash Wednesday emphasizes two themes: our sinfulness before God and our human mortality. The service helps us remember that both have been overcome through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout Scripture, ashes are used in rituals of repentance and mourning, as people seek forgiveness and renewal. During Lent, followers of Jesus are encouraged to observe periods of fasting, repentance, moderation, and spiritual discipline—always with the knowledge that Jesus Christ is victorious over sin and death, and that we are beloved children restored through grace.
Easter is the holiday that sealed my decision to become a United Methodist. The sacredness of the Ash Wednesday service and the season of Lent, as we prepare our hearts for the events of Calvary, are deeply meaningful in my life. I pray that you will join your siblings at St. Matthew during this coming season—and in all seasons.
Blessings and love to all,
Mary