Blessings of peace and good health be upon each of you as you read through this church newsletter. Every week, our Media Manager, Jason Hardy, works hard to write and edit the St. Matthew Weekly News. All of this after his full-time job is finished for the day. Before Jason, it was Judy Schneider who did this work. The newsletter is a lifeline to this congregation for many people who would otherwise have very little contact with St. Matthew. I am grateful for those of you who read and support this publication. I want to get comments and suggestions from you regarding ways to make this more effective and meaningful. Please email me at [email protected] with your ideas.

We could also use some contributors to the content. If you have a skill for writing and/or reporting, please reach out to me. We could add devotions, personal testimonies (briefly, please), updates on happenings in the neighborhood, and other input that I have not named. Do not miss this opportunity to be a part of this vital outreach to our community.

In our Wednesday Bible study, we’ve been exploring righteousness—not simply as rule‑keeping, but as the deep alignment of our hearts with the heart of God. As Rev. Steve Langford reminds us, the Hebrews sought righteousness through the laws of Moses. Yet in Matthew 5:3–12, Jesus expands that understanding, describing righteousness as the attitudes and actions that shape us into people who love as God loves, serve from integrity, and practice mercy and justice in our relationships. This is righteousness that God forms within us, not something we achieve on our own. And this matters for courageous leadership.

Because God makes us righteous, God also empowers us to lead with courage. Nehemiah shows us what this looks like. When he heard of Jerusalem’s devastation, his heart broke. His grief led him to fasting and prayer—because courageous leadership begins by bringing our heartbreak to God. Even when fear rose within him, Nehemiah moved forward, praying again before answering the king. Courageous leadership surrenders personal plans and seeks God’s wisdom first. Nehemiah inspected the damage himself, planned realistically, and rallied God’s people toward restoration. Courageous leadership looks like sharing God’s vision with others.

Finally, courageous leadership looks like following the Psalm of David, 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God. Being still and seeking God’s wisdom are the true beginning of courageous leadership.

Next week, we’ll continue Nehemiah’s story. For now, remember Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

We have lots of events and activities planned for the remainder of the year! Check the calendar section of this newsletter and our website, saintmatthewumc.com for details.

My love to all! Stay cool and hydrated. Mary