Beloved Church and Friends,

I owe you an apology. My sermon on Sunday about the irrelevance of the church to most young people failed to include the very important point that without all of you, there wouldn’t be a church for them to find irrelevant. I would not be in church if not for you. And your love and life experience are just what these young souls are missing in their lives. I cannot wait to be in ministry WITH YOU as we show the next generations the blessings of being in fellowship with other people. I do not want to experience church without you! 

It looks like we have another week to ten days of this oppressive heat. I see some temperatures in the 70’s later next week, only reaching the 90’s. I am looking forward to getting back to double-digit temperatures. Continue to stay indoors unless it is absolutely necessary and drink enough water to keep yourself hydrated. If you need anything we are available to assist. Also, our nemesis COVID is back with a vengeance. Hospital admissions remain very low but the new variant is very dangerous. Please be sure and wash your hands, stay home and rest if you are sick, and wear a mask if your immune system is compromised. There will be a vaccine booster for this new strain coming soon. I will keep you up to date on what is happening.

My love to all! I ask for your prayers as I travel this week to Arkansas for the funeral of a dear, life-long family friend. My mother and I will be leaving Thursday afternoon and returning Saturday.

Blessings, Mary

Greetings St. Matthew,

I am still basking in the joy and comfort I felt at the end of the service yesterday. It is so very good to be loved by God and to share that love with all of you. Blake’s song was very meaningful to me as well, on top of his beautiful delivery of the music. We are blessed to hear great singing and great preaching. While reading my email this morning, I learned a few things about the ordination process. I wish I could tell you that what I learned was good news; instead, it is rather frustrating to me. My upcoming interview is a second interview with the District Committee on Ministry. These interviews are annual interviews and this one is to procure a recommendation for commissioning. If that happens, I will then have three more interviews (over the next 3 years) with the Board of Ordained Ministry. So close, and yet still so far. I am begging God for patience today. And for the power to trust the timing and the process. I am so very grateful that you allow me to fulfill my calling now. You and I are not waiting for permission or acknowledgement from anyone before living the gospel in our neighborhood. This gives me strength and the willingness to persevere.

To the women of St. Matthew (and any other women), please join us on September 21st at 11:30 am as we renew our bi-monthly women’s lunches. Please RSVP to Veta McCullough by call or text: 8179941619 or by email: vetamc@att.net or vetamc@outlook.com. We had a glorious time at these events in the past and I hope many of you can attend. Please also let Veta know if you have any requests for programming as she and Peggy Decker are going to work to create some meaningful and enjoyable activities for the meetings.

Finally, I will be preaching this weekend and I need your prayers this week as I prepare.

My love to you all, Mary

Greetings St. Matthew,

Communion was so very meaningful this weekend. Maybe it was because it had been so long since we had been together or maybe it was because Max was back serving us. Either way, I was very moved by the Spirit among us as we accepted this holy sacrament. My spare time this week will be spent preparing and submitting my ordination paperwork (Phase III) to the Board of Ordained Ministry. I know that I asked for your prayers, and I want you to know that I can feel your prayers and your support. As I am answering these questions about my call, about my understanding of God, and about my commitment to the United Methodist Church, I am overwhelmed with how very grateful I am for St. Matthew. You are all the reason I stay committed to this path. My time with you and my time learning from all of you have kept me moving onward and upward through these storms.

Our next Saturday Concert will be August 19th and will feature Max and Shannon. Music starts at 6pm and the potluck dinner starts at 7pm. I look forward to seeing you there. Love to all, Mary

Dearest Church and friends,

I do not know how we have been so very blessed to hear the kind of music we have heard from the Davidson family and from Blake Glass! I could listen for hours, and I have been humming “Blessed Assurance” since Sunday. These performances have been pure joy for me. I am looking forward to more experiences in the future. For example, we have finally settled on a name for these concerts, “Second Saturday Concerts.”

Our next Second Saturday is August 19th. I will be talking to Blake and Shannon about a plan for this one. Max will perform at our September event and the October and November events are yet to be finalized.

Please tell your friends. These concerts started out as fundraising events, but I have enjoyed them so much that I have completely forgotten everything except the overwhelming happiness I am feeling afterward. I know you feel the same way. Thank you to our performers and to Blake and Shannon for all the hard work it took to become this talented.

Remember this week that God has known your name for all of eternity. There isn’t a time when you have not been known and loved by God. Blessings to you all.

STAY INSIDE UNLESS YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. IF YOU NEED WATER, GROCERIES OR ANYTHING AT ALL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHURCH!
Mary
mary.teague@saintmatthewumc.com

Hello, St. Matthew and friends!

I missed being with you on Sunday, but I have watched the sermon and I know you had a marvelous experience. I look forward to being with you this Sunday. I will be preaching a sermon about names. My scripture text is John 10: 27-28 for those who like to play along. YOUR HOMEWORK: research the origin of your first name, write it on a small note card or piece of paper, and bring it to church Sunday morning. This guarantees two things. First, you will have done a little homework, which has not happened in your life for decades. And, second, I will know who actually reads my newsletter articles.

I spent a joyous time with my family this past weekend, being blessed to attend the wedding of my dear nephew Jacob Teague to a spectacular woman named Emily. I look forward to spending much time with them as they grow in love and in life.

Don’t forget August 4^th is happening very soon!!! Our Back-to-School Bash is becoming a reality. We will have hot dogs and be watching “Puss ‘n Boots 2” in the fellowship hall. I still need a few helpers and the sign-up sheet to help is on the bulletin board in the hallway. I also need 27 more $25-dollar Walmart Gift cards (or the cash equivalent) to give to the 30 children I am praying for God to send to this event. It will be unforgettable!  Brian McCosky has an exciting plan for marketing to our neighborhood. Please let me know this week if you can help. I love you all and am looking forward to our time together this Sunday. PS. Do not forget your homework! All my love, Mary