I wish you peace and cooler temperatures this week. Looks like we may get a little reprieve this week: 99 degrees instead of 108! But the mornings are getting noticeably more comfortable. I won’t say cooler, but more comfortable. Stay inside as much as possible during these last days of summer. The air quality is not good, and the heat can make you very ill very quickly.

For the past several weeks, we have followed the story of Nehemiah—a leader whose courage reshaped an entire community. Nehemiah began far from home, serving as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. When he learned Jerusalem lay in ruins, his heart broke. That grief led him to prayer, and prayer led him to action. Even afraid, Nehemiah asked the king for help, surrendered his plans to God, and stepped boldly into leadership.

When he arrived in Jerusalem, Nehemiah assessed the damage himself. He gathered the people, shared a vision, and invited everyone to take part. Scripture tells us, “the people had a heart to work,” and together they rebuilt a 2.5‑mile wall in just 52 days. Courageous leadership doesn’t eliminate obstacles—it adapts, inspires, and finishes what it starts.

Today, our call is not to build a wall, but a bridge—a bridge between our congregation and the 44,000 neighbors who share the 76112 zip code. This richly diverse community includes thousands of children and seniors living below the poverty line. Hunger, limited resources, and daily challenges shape their lives. We cannot solve every need alone, but like Nehemiah’s people, we can take responsibility for our part of the wall.

We can strengthen our partnership with Bill J. Elliott Elementary, host meals for nearby streets, and work alongside the 33 churches in our zip code. Most importantly, we can deepen our own spiritual formation, building a strong bridge between ourselves and God—one that empowers us to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.

For the people of Saint Matthew have a heart to work. Blessings to all, Mary