Dearest church,

I have completed my interview process today with the Horizon Texas Board of Ordained Ministry. I am very disappointed to inform you that I have been held over for another year at the district level. I was not approved for ordination. I can interview again in 2026. I will receive written instructions and comments from the BOM in a couple of weeks. Until then I have been encouraged to dig deeper and to work harder. The BOM offers support and continued encouragement to stay the course.
I am tired right now and will have more later.
My love to all of you. Thank you for your prayers and love. I will be studying for next year. And you know that means that so will you! Mary

Hello, dear church family, and the sacred body of Christ,

I have been busy studying and preparing for my ordination interview next Tuesday. Our ordination class has been blessed with wisdom, advice, and prayers from members of the Board of Ordained Ministry, who have guided us through this process. Their support has made me feel much more confident going into this year’s interview compared to last year.

On Sunday, I visited Patsy Reeves. Other than a few stitches to her head and a broken collarbone, she was in good spirits and not in much pain. She sends her love and well wishes to everyone.

I also spoke with Bruce Butterfield, Keith’s son. There is a room available at Parkwood where we could gather to celebrate Keith’s birthday. I’m hoping to do something after church this Sunday around 2:00 PM. Since space is limited, we’ll need to take turns spending time with Keith. If you’d like to participate, please let me know by email, text, or in person at church this Sunday.

My love to all of you. Step outside and enjoy the weather—they say another cold front is on the way!

Blessings,
Mary

Hello, Beloved Children of God,

As I write this newsletter, I am feeling two things: First, very blessed to be one of God’s beloved. And second, COLD! I’m so very grateful for an indoor job! The next couple of weeks will be chilly. If you or someone you know needs assistance with housing, utilities, or groceries, please email me at mary.teague@saintmatthewumc.com. You may also text me if that is easier. God has blessed Saint Matthew with a group of generous, loving people who are always willing to take care of each other. We are extremely blessed.

Shannon performed another amazing song for us on Sunday morning, “Footprints in the Sand.” The music and lyrics touched my soul, but it was the passion in Shannon’s voice that brought tears to my eyes:
“I promise you, I’m always there, when your heart is filled with sorrow and despair. And I’ll carry you when you need a friend, you’ll find my footsteps in the sand.”

Shannon sings like someone who believes God is always present, always offering comfort and peace. Her voice, those lyrics, and that music give me hope. Thank you, Shannon, for singing God’s truth and love into our lives.

I am preaching this Sunday, so I will keep this newsletter brief. My sermon will be from 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 if you want to read ahead! Bring a friend if you can. We are going to talk about being the body of Christ to the world. I look forward to seeing you.

Love to all,
Mary

P.S. You didn’t really think I was finished, did you? We have a couple of important business meetings coming in February, and I am asking for specific prayers for our church as we enter another year of serving God on the Eastside of Fort Worth. Thank you!

Hello Church and friends of Saint Matthew,

Sunday morning was a “magical” feeling, according to Ian Charbonneau after his baptism. It was also magical for me as I considered the mystery of God in the water sprinkled on Ian’s head. The sacredness of Baptism is foundational to our United Methodist faith tradition. The UMC describes the sacrament of baptism as initiation into “Christ’s holy Church.” The questions asked of Ian are part of the tradition as well. Max asked, “Do you know that God loves you? Do you love God? Do you want to live your life as a follower of the Son of God, Jesus Christ? Today you are committing yourself to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.” One very important point Max made: “Neither Mary nor I are going to do the work. But the Lord Jesus Christ is watching. He is doing the work. And He is receiving you into His church.” God always does the work. God pursues a relationship with us, covering our lives with prevenient grace.

Prevenient grace happens just before we are aware that God is seeking us out. It readies us to respond to God’s presence in our lives. Justifying grace is that moment when we recognize that sin controls our lives, that we need salvation, and we walk into salvation from God through the door of justification. Wesley compared the knowledge that we need God to a porch—the step we take when we recognize that we need God, just before we walk through the door and into the house connected to that porch. All of this is a gift from God because God loves us. We cannot earn any of this; there is no work for us to do. We must only accept God’s forgiveness and God’s unconditional love. This is not an easy task, and for many of us, it is an ongoing process. Thankfully, God does not wait for us to do any work. It is already done.

Max’s sermon reminded me how very special it is to be a part of the Saint Matthew family. Your commitment to the church, to each other, and to the neighborhood inspires me, and I am blessed to be part of your lives. As we continue to grow in love and understanding, remember that all around us are people who need to hear about the love of Jesus Christ.

My deepest gratitude,
Mary

Greetings to all,

The Women’s Luncheon on Thursday and the speaker from the Alzheimer’s Association have been rescheduled to Thursday, January 16th at 11:30 AM.
Still a potluck! Still open to everyone.

I pray this newsletter finds you warm and well. By the time you read this, we may or may not be surrounded by snow and ice. Our friends at Under the Bridge Ministries have an urgent need for coats, blankets, sleeping bags, hand warmers, and other cold-weather essentials. They’ve shared that shelters are often filled with women and children, leaving many men outside in the freezing cold.

If you’d like to purchase one, Walmart offers reasonably priced Arctic sleeping bags. I’m happy to deliver any items brought to the church. If ordering and shipping directly to me is easier, just text or speak with me for the address. This cold weather is expected to last a while, and anything you can contribute will be deeply appreciated.

My prayer for you this week is that you have an intense and undeniable experience with God. May God’s presence fill your quiet moments, especially if the weather keeps you indoors. If your schedule feels too full for quiet time, I urge you to carve out a few moments just for God.

This week’s sermon reminded us to be kind to one another, to live humbly, and to remain open to the needs of others, along with tending to our own. I encourage you to pray for guidance on what it looks like to live as God’s beloved children—growing in love and knowledge of God.

On Sunday, I mentioned the opportunity to start Wesleyan classes, but no one reached out to express interest. I pray that was simply due to timing. Please consider if God is calling you to be a leader or participant in a small group. Imagine the joy of welcoming a visitor to Saint Matthew and inviting them to join a small group in their neighborhood. What a blessing that could be to someone feeling isolated! Let’s pray together for God’s guidance for our church family.

Special prayer requests:

• Keith Butterfield
• Brian McCosky’s brother, Bill McCosky
• Our friends without access to warm, dry shelter
• Our neighbors living without adequate resources or services

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

I invite you to join me in prayer every day at 3 PM. I set an alarm on my phone as a reminder to pause and pray.

Finally, this Sunday, immediately after church, the Admin Board and all committees will meet in the fellowship hall. If you’re not currently on a committee, please consider joining one.

Love and blessings to all,
Mary