I bring you good tidings of great joy!

I want to start by thanking the kids who helped me decorate the church on Saturday morning. Angela Monreal’s grandchildren, along with Vicki and Jose’s children, showed up just in the nick of time. One thing we learned is how challenging it can be to figure out where all the Christmas decorations go. Next year, I’ll be asking for help from someone who knows exactly where everything belongs!

Another thing we discovered is that much of the garland we have is old and falling apart. We may need to have a garland collection next year before decorating for Christmas. Unfortunately, our current garland has seen better days. Despite these challenges, the sanctuary looks beautiful—especially the tree. A special thanks to Danny and Brian for putting up the tree on Friday and adding the decorations to the top.

Advent is a time in the Christian faith where we eagerly wait in anticipation for the arrival of God made flesh. Yet, we know God is already with us, has been with us throughout eternity, and will remain with us forever. So, what are we truly anticipating?

For me, I will never stop anticipating that moment when I see Jesus face to face. I cannot imagine what that will be like. I also long for something I’ve hoped for my entire life: peace on earth. My earliest memories include news stories about the JFK and RFK assassinations, escalating conflicts around the world, and local struggles during the civil rights movement. It seems my whole life has been marked by war or conflict somewhere in the world.

I long for peace. I pray fervently for the day when all we do is live in peace with God and with one another. I pray for a time when taking care of our neighbors becomes our priority, consuming our efforts and energy. I beg God daily that we will immediately begin caring for our planet and protecting it from harm. And I pray that the light and love of God made flesh will shine in the lives of all His creation. These are the things I eagerly anticipate. What about you?

While we look toward the future, waiting in eager anticipation for the peace that surpasses all understanding, we must remain true to Christ’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves. Remember, Jesus said, “When you did something for the least of these, you were doing it for me.”

Don’t forget the many activities we have at the church this month:

• There’s still time to order a cheese enchilada dinner for this Friday night.

• The Ladies’ Meeting will be held on Thursday, December 12th.

• Our children’s Sunday School class will present something special during the service on Sunday, December 15th.

• Join us for our annual Christmas with Santa celebration and concert on Saturday, December 21st.

• And, of course, we’ll gather for our beloved Christmas Eve service on Tuesday, December 24th, at 6:00 PM.

We will continue to hold church services every Sunday, including December 15th and 22nd, and every Sunday until the Lord comes back to get us.

My love and blessings to you all,

Mary

Greetings to all in this 2024 Advent season,

I am thankful beyond words that I don’t have to sit and wait and wonder if the Messiah is coming to save us. I am grateful for this tradition of following Jesus Christ, God made flesh and dwelling among us. I’m grateful that this faith tradition survived the Roman Empire. I am thrilled that this faith tradition has survived all the empires for the last 2,000 years.

Paul tried to tell us in Romans 8:38-39:
“In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. I’m sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Common English Version).

And because nothing can separate us, we must be certain to make the way clear and smooth for those who are oppressed and marginalized in our society. There must be a clear path to God’s love, visible in our actions in this world. We know that this is a story older than storytelling, the story of oppression. We also know that love always wins.

We have a lot of events happening at our church over the next few weeks. Beginning this Saturday morning, we will be decorating the church. The fun will start at 9:00 AM. Brian and Danny are going to do the heavy lifting this week, getting everything out of storage and putting the Christmas tree up. The rest needs to be completed by people with “artistic skill,” per Brian and Danny. I may have to work at the hospital on Saturday and so will be unable to attend. If I am not working, I will see you there at 9:30.

This Sunday and every Sunday until the Christmas show, the children will be practicing their Christmas presentation. If you have small children or even preteens, please make sure they’re in church on Sundays at 11:00 AM.

Other events are as follows:

• Thursday, Dec. 12th @ 11:30 AM: Ladies of Saint Matthew Luncheon
• Friday, Dec. 13th @ 6:00 PM: Annual Monreal Sisters Enchilada Dinner @ St. Matthew. A sign-up sheet will be available Sunday morning to reserve your spot. The cost is $12 per plate, $20 per couple.
• Sunday, Dec. 15th @ 2:30 – 5:30 PM: Christmas Open House at the Brennan Home.
• Saturday, Dec. 21st @ 6:00 PM: The Christmas Concert with dinner and Santa
• Tuesday, Dec. 24th @ 6:00 PM: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

As we finish another year together, I pray for peace and blessings in your life.

Mary

Happy Thanksgiving, friends and family of Saint Matthew!

I want to dedicate this letter to expressing my gratitude. Every week for the past six years, I’ve written a newsletter article. I may have missed one or two for vacation, but otherwise, I’ve consistently shared my thoughts, requests, and updates with you. However, I don’t recall ever taking an entire newsletter to tell you how truly grateful I am for you. Words cannot adequately convey my gratitude, but not having the perfect words has never stopped me before!

I’m grateful for the children in our congregation—the ones who show up every Sunday, those who come for holidays or special weekends with their grandparents, and even those I’ve never met but hear you lovingly talk about. I pray God’s love and protection over their lives.

I’m also grateful for our young people—those between the ages of 18 and 40. I know that’s a broad range, but you are few in number. I deeply appreciate your commitment to our congregation, your love for the people who brought you here, and your willingness to keep believing in the church when so many in your generation have walked away. Saint Matthew is blessed to have you.

To those in your 40s and 50s, I’m thankful for the responsibilities you’ve taken on as volunteers. If you’re serving on staff, I’m especially grateful. The demands are significant, and the compensation doesn’t always match the workload. Your servant’s heart is evident, and I thank God for your dedication.

To those in your 60s, thank you for your continued hard work and your determination to keep pace with the younger generations while gracefully navigating the realities of aging. Your love for God fuels your efforts, and your hearts remain young and vibrant.

To those in your 70s and 80s—the majority of our congregation—I’m inspired by your unwavering participation in the life and work of our church. Your hearts are full of love and commitment, regardless of your physical age.

As I looked around at lunch on Sunday, I thought about those who are no longer with us. I offered a prayer of thanks for their lives while missing them deeply. I imagine the heavenly Thanksgiving feast they’re enjoying now. I also looked around the room at so many of you who are devoted to this church and its mission. Your dedication, love, prayers, and time spent volunteering are gifts I treasure.

Most of all, I’m grateful that, despite my many shortcomings, you love me anyway. I know I don’t always say the right thing or remember everything I should, but you’ve taken great care of me and my family. You are my church home, and for that, I am forever thankful.

Peace, blessings, and all my love,
Mary

P.S. Shout out to Mark Eley, who has joined the ranks of those with prosthetic joints—a prestigious club. Welcome, Mark! And a special shout out to Connie, who has joined the esteemed group of spouses turned caregivers. Continued prayers for healing and comfort for you both.

DON’T FORGET:

Eastside Community Assistance Candlelight Dinner
December 3 at Saint Rita’s Catholic Church

Saint Matthew’s Annual Enchilada Dinner Fundraiser for Eastside Ministry
December 13, Friday, at 6 PM
Plates are $12 each or $20 per couple. Please sign up or text/email me if you plan to attend.

Happy Wednesday to all of you in the name of Jesus Christ. As we make plans for our community meals, concerts, and personal holiday preparations, I don’t want us to lose sight of the blessing it is to be the beloved children of God. Our small but mighty church has its hands and heart involved in many ministries.

Just last week, eight women from our women’s group put together 100 feminine hygiene bags for women living on the street without access to adequate shelter or the basic necessities of life. This is being the hands and feet of Jesus. And the week before last, Connie Michael delivered 10 to 15 new coats to the elementary school for children without warm winter clothing. This is being the hands and feet of Jesus. This past Sunday, I enjoyed a homemade biscuit with gravy and sausage, prepared with love and expertise by Mark and Winston in the kitchen. This, too, is being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

At the same time, we have many in our congregation who will experience their first holiday without someone they love. Others may be struggling to make ends meet during this season, and some are only able to join us through an online venue. While the holidays are meant to be a joyful time, many of us will live in the bittersweet—in that space between joy and heartbreak, where tears run freely and without warning.

Be patient with each other, please. As humans under high stress, we tend to get snappy with one another. Make space in your life to allow people to express themselves. Make space in your heart and mind for others’ frustrations. Measure your words carefully, being respectful and kind. The harvest is great, but the workers are few. That does not mean we are allowed to turn on one another. Be gentle, please. We are all in need of grace and mercy.

Finally, over the next six to eight weeks, we will have many visitors among us. Between meals, special services, and one more concert before the year’s end, everything we do will require all hands on deck. Even if all you can do is help prepare a meal, put a tablecloth on the table, or fill cups with ice, your efforts matter.

Our upcoming Thanksgiving meal this Sunday after church is a prime example of the need for everyone to pitch in. Turkey for the event will be provided, but Mark and Ronnie are handling preparations. Cleanup will require everyone’s help.

As I close, I ask you to reflect on the various ways you already volunteer at the church and to prayerfully consider whether you want to continue in your current capacity. While we always need volunteers, I also encourage you to pray for God to lead you to a ministry that speaks to your heart at Saint Matthew.

The next few years may bring much suffering. Now is not the time to throw our hands up and say, “It’s just too much.” Take care of yourselves first, and then, with hearts full of gladness, look around to help others.

My love to you all,

Mary

Blessings to you in the name of Jesus, who heals and comforts us,

In the coming weeks, we will begin to put some structure around our 2025 and future ministries. I want to ensure that the important things to you are included in the five strategic priorities of the Horizon Texas Conference. As a reminder, the five strategic priorities are:

1. Multiplying Jesus followers
2. Championing children and youth
3. Maximizing congregational care and healing
4. Pursuing and embracing diversity
5. Telling our story.

We have discussed these in the past, and our congregation’s choices at that time were to focus on championing children and youth, maximizing congregational care and healing, and pursuing and embracing diversity. It is my opinion that if we focus on these three, multiplying Jesus’ followers and telling our story will be the outcomes of these efforts. So, while we are not focused on all five if we do those three well, we will satisfy all five.

The Bishop intends to enlist the support of the laity of the Horizon Texas Conference. Recent data indicates that for every clergy person in the conference, there are 100 laity. The Bishop requested, and I am asking today, for a layperson to be a strategic priority champion. A Horizon Texas Conference Strategic Priority Champion is a trained laity member of the HTC, focused on taking the priorities of The United Methodist Church into the community to help folks find a faith home in the HTC. Training will occur in January, and there will be a laity covenant day specifically for this ministry in the conference.

A strategic priority champion does not focus on bringing more people to church. It is bigger than that. It is working within the conference and working with the clergy at the local church to determine ways to have an impact in our neighborhood. This can include invitations to church, of course, but it is primarily focused on meeting people where they are and addressing the needs they have where they are. Please pray about this before you volunteer. This is a structured commitment to the work of the entire conference, not just Saint Matthew. This is a commitment of time, energy, and prayer. I will also be in prayer for the one whom God chooses to fill this role at Saint Matthew.

I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am for your response to the sermon on Sunday. I am so very blessed to be part of a church that knows what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. There is much work to do, and I am grateful that you are willing to help with the efforts. Right this minute, just say a quick prayer for the work that we will do, pray for the people that God will send to us for help, and pray most of all for our nation and its place in the world. These will be difficult times. I do not intend to scare you; however, it is my job to prepare you for what we are about to face. We will meet after church very soon to discuss what all of this means. Invitations to these discussions will be forthcoming. I am encouraged that we are not alone. I have found multiple groups who are also determined to stand in the gap for people experiencing injustice. We will discuss it soon, privately!

Blessings to you all! Your sweet spirit and loving-kindness bring me hope and joy,
Mary