It is almost 2024! If you are like me, you are probably thinking of a bunch of things to do differently next year: eat better, exercise, save more, etc. Let’s pick one thing to do well next year. Just one thing for the first day. Then add or take away something when you feel like you have done the first thing well. Pray every day to just do the next right thing. Let your successes be your successes and your failures be your lessons. The best thing is we don’t have to do it all alone. God is always with us in our struggles. I pray for each of us a fulfilling and life-changing 2024. See you Sunday! Love, Mary

I have heard many fine sermons from Max Brennan in the last 12 years but Sunday’s sermon, “At the Right Time”, is definitely one of his finest. Thank you, Max, for always preaching the truth, even when the truth is hard to say. You are a light on a hill, and I am grateful for your 42 years of service to St. Matthew. And the song Shannon blessed us with is still playing in my head. We are so blessed to have so many talented people around us, sharing their love for God and the gifts God has given. I look forward to finishing Advent among all of you.

Jo and Joe Adams have 2 spaces left at their Christmas Dinner table. Please let them know if you would like to join them.

We had two huge food contributions this week to our Eastside Ministry lunch program. We are so very appreciative of the people from our church and OUTSIDE of our church who support the ministries of our neighborhood. Christmas Eve is Sunday, and we will have a rare double service. Sunday morning at 11am as usual plus a Sunday evening service at 6pm. Come early at 5:30 and enjoy a moment of fellowship before our service with a surprise in the fellowship hall.

Blessings to all of you!

Mary

Greetings in the name of Christ. In this season of Advent, I continue to be amazed at the way God works in our lives, showing up in the stillness. I attended a play on Sunday afternoon at the Stage West Theatre in Fort Worth. The play, “Poor Clare,” is a brilliant social commentary set against the backdrop of the friendship between Saint Francis of Assisi and Chiara Offreduccio (aka Saint Clare of Assisi).

The play is described as, “what happens when your eyes are opened to the injustice of the world around you, and you cannot look away.” I can verify that the play had exactly this impact upon the audience, at least this member of the audience. Having just preached a sermon on a “just peace,” my heart was already diligently seeking a place for words to become action. The play, set in ancient times but using modern dialogue, is incredibly accurate in its portrayal of the awakening of a soul to the plight of others.

It was a lovely and spiritual experience, and I am grateful for the talent and for the message. My eyes see the world more deeply after seeing the play. If you have an opportunity, it is worth the time and money to see this play.

Advent is moving quickly along. I urge you to spend time every day acknowledging the hope you have in your heart and seeking justice and peace in this world gone mad. We do not have to change the entire world; just a few just things done by people living the gospel is all the world needs.

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday night at the Christmas Show and the dinner afterward. It promises to be a fun evening. Bring a friend, bring a stranger, bring both!

Blessings, Mary

Good morning, folks!

I have quite a bit to share today. Most important is to share with you how very grateful I am for all of you and how important you are to me.

Memorial for Eloise Rhodes: Viewing is Thursday Dec. 7 from 5p-7p; Funeral is Friday Dec. 8 at 11am. Laurel Land Funeral Home 7100 Crowley Road, 76134.

Ongoing fundraiser for Eastside Ministries due to the devastating fire they experienced that completely destroyed the food service building. If you would like to make a tax-deductible gift to this ministry, please make the donation to Eastside Community Assistance or Eastside Ministries (eastsidecommunityassistance.org). You may also bring your donations to the church, and we will deliver to the organization. Our next Christmas concert is December 16^th at 6pm. Santa tells me that Bill and Cindy Wheeler will be feeding us pulled pork sandwiches with all the trimmings. If you would like to bring a dessert, please feel free. Finally, St. Matthew will be collecting lunch items for those folks living without adequate shelter. Items to be collected are:

• Packaged tuna or chicken salad (not canned)
• Individually packaged crackers
• Individually packaged candy bars, chewy granola bars, or cookies
• Fruit cups
• Gatorade or water bottle (can be reused/recycled)

We will assemble 30-35 lunches per week. The church purchased the items this week. The total to purchase all of these items was $161. If you prefer, you may give money to St. Matthew designated for this project. You may also bring the listed items, no more than 36 of each please. We will have to store these things until they can be packaged and distributed, and we do not have a large space for storage. Please let me know if you have any questions. We are looking for volunteers to help assemble lunches. Give your name to Bill Parker if you can help with this. 

Blessings to all of you! Mary

The family of Eloise Rhodes wishes to invite everyone to Eloise’s memorial service. Viewing is Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023 from 5pm til 7pm. The funeral service will be Friday Dec. 8, 2023 at 11am. Both events will be held at Laurel Land Funeral Home 7100 Crowley Road, Fort Worth 76134