We learned in church yesterday just how fragile every moment of our lives can be. Being with Dwayne and Sheila, as Sheila learned that her father had gained his eternal reward, was a sobering moment for all of us. At that moment, as I looked at your faces, I saw nothing but compassion and caring. You are, by far, some of the most loving people I have ever met.

We have no details yet about JK’s services (Sheila and Cindy’s father). However, from the many stories I’ve heard about him, I can tell how much they loved him and how much he loved their mother. I am certain I heard shouts of hallelujah and welcome home yesterday in that sacred space. Another thing I witnessed yesterday is your willingness to hold sacred space for each other in times of illness, injury, and loss. I know you probably cannot recall everyone’s name, but you pray for every need. And to those of you who volunteered on Sunday afternoon to help us put some framework around our community service, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Your willingness to take over the reins of Eastside Ministry and our hospitality/meal ministry is Christ in motion. I am humbled to be among so many who live the gospel of Matthew 25.

Saturday Night on Broadway is this Saturday, August 10, 2024. Doors open at 5:30 PM, music starts at 6:00 PM, with dinner afterward. We are looking for volunteers to set up and clean up for the meal. Don’t be shy; everyone is welcome to the hospitality ministry! We will pass a plate during the concert, with the proceeds being applied to the general fund of the church. The general fund pays for the daily operations of Saint Matthew UMC.

As I mentioned on Sunday morning, the choir at Western Hills High School is looking for a few good booster club members from our congregation who would be willing to help with the activities of the choir. Please see Blake if you can help.

I am submitting more paperwork this week to the District Committee on Ministry. This is a repeat step for me but one I am excited to complete. Your prayers are appreciated. My interview with them is on August 22, 2024, at 1 PM. I know I can count on your prayers.

I am preaching Sunday, and I look forward to the preparation this week as I put the finishing touches on a lesson about baptism. I hope you can join us.

There are many needs in our church, and the prayer requests are extensive. BUT, there is nothing that our God cannot do, and the prayerful requests of faithful followers of The Way are music to God’s ears. My love to all of you,

Mary

Greetings, dear church, in the name of the risen Christ. It was so good to be in worship with you on Sunday morning, especially during our prayer time with Bill Parker. The power of prayer changes lives, and we hope for the healing power of Christ to be present in Bill’s life and in the lives of so many of you who are dealing with difficult health situations.

We should’ve known that prayer was important because Jesus took time out to teach us to pray during his lifetime. We’ve been having good crowds lately on Sundays, and I am grateful that we are gaining members in our church. I get excited when I think about the future, serving our neighborhood and serving God.

I have my big inspection tomorrow at the hospital for the program that I manage, so I am excited and a little bit nervous. As always, I ask for your prayers on Wednesday.

Blessings to all,
Mary

Good Wednesday to all,

I am back from my many recent travels. This last trip to Lubbock to celebrate the 7th birthday of my great-niece Ady. I am telling you all these details because 7 years ago this church prayed for this baby girl who was born at 20 weeks and overcame tremendous odds to survive. It is your prayers and faithfulness that my family depended on during those 6 months that Ady was in the NICU. Please remember that the prayers of a faithful believer are powerful. This is one of the reasons we pray for each other, because through these prayers we tap into the healing power of the Holy Spirit. I also believe that prayer connects us to each other. The Holy Spirit that dwells with us and never leaves us is ONE spirit, not a bunch of individual spirits. It is the ever present, always loving, presence of God in our lives. The touch of this kind of supernatural love binds us together as children of God. When you bow your head in prayer, or whisper a prayer under your breath, you are never praying alone. Faithful people are praying with you and for you. And even when we are not consciously praying, the Lord is aware and listening to our thoughts. I can remember a time in my life when praying was separate from everything else that I did. When I was young, my family had “prayer circle” at night in our living room. We all sat on the floor, holding hands, taking turns praying. The habit was helpful. Now that I am older, it seems I am constantly in conversation with God. Asking silly questions, “What do you think, Lord” and “Where are you today, Lord”? It is really strange that I rarely bow my head and close my eyes for prayer anymore except when I’m in church, or before a meal. My scheduled prayer time is now that constant conversation with God.

I am grateful for your love and your commitment to Saint Matthew United Methodist Church. I was incredibly pleased to see that this past Sunday there were 69 people in attendance. Our numbers are moving back to pre-COVID levels very quickly. Blessings to all. Mary

Greetings dear church and extended church family,

Blessings to all of you in the name of Jesus from Matthew 25. Blessings upon blessings to you for being who Jesus describes in Matthew 25. Our church is not the picture painted in the comments of Kaitlin Shelter that I read to you on Sunday morning. Our church is an affirming, welcoming, loving congregation that stands with arms wide open to our community. We do many things for our colleagues at Eastside Community Assistance. I do not doubt your engagement or your willingness to be the hands, feet, mouth, and resources of Jesus Christ to the least of these in our neighborhood. And then I stood before you on Sunday morning and asked you to consider doing more. I listed several things that we could do: groceries for folks who cannot buy food; a place to be when the temperatures are dangerously cold and maybe even when they are dangerously hot; a safe space for folks recovering from the trauma of addiction and/or abuse. There is a Title I elementary school just down the street from us. Those kiddos could use a friendly neighbor, I am almost certain. We could make an appointment with the counselor at the school to determine exactly how we can help.

I cannot do this alone, though, and I don’t want to do it without you. School starts in about 30 days. I am tentatively scheduling a meeting for August 4th after church at 12:30. Please plan on bringing a sack lunch with you to church. We will fellowship and discuss some feasible plans.

Blessings to all, Mary

Peace and love to you in the name of the Risen Christ, 

It is so good to be Easter People! During this time of grieving, I am deeply comforted by the knowledge that the grave never wins. I know all of you have experienced the loss of someone who was part of the details of your daily life. Your experience brings me comfort and the love surrounding my family is palpable even when I am not in the church with you. I know also that even though you may not be able to speak each other’s names easily, your hearts are connected in a sacred place. Being loved the way God loves us makes it easy for us to love each other so fiercely. God spared nothing to regain relationship with God’s created and I can feel that kind of commitment in our congregation. We are all moving forward (at various speeds) to fully accepting that we are loved AND forgiven and that God wants nothing more than to be part of our lives. 

It is an election year and with this election, there is more fear and anxiety than I have ever noticed before. Our two candidates for president leave something to be desired and the impact of this election will be devastating for some in our country no matter who wins. In the middle of this drama, I know two things are true. First, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Second, the world needs to WITNESS the love of God from people like us. People who know the truth of the Gospel and live it with their hands and feet. A third thing I know is that we must each VOTE and PRAY for God to create a new heart in this nation. Not a political heart, not a capitalistic heart, not an oppressive, oligarchical heart, but a heart where we all begin to care for our neighbors living next to us and living around the world. Lord hear our prayers!

I found out on Sunday morning that Shannon and Julian will be performing “A Night on Broadway” for our delayed concert series. The program will be at the church, on August 10th. Doors open at 5:30 and the music will begin at 6:00 pm sharp. We will have light snacks afterward and a time of fellowship. There are 3 rules for this concert: 1. Bring a friend(s). 2. Bring a “light snack” for our fellowship afterward. Please sign up on the bulletin board to let everyone know what is being provided. 3. You have to be at church on Sunday morning! A Saturday night concert is not an excuse to skip Sunday church. I am so excited!!! Love to all, Mary