Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ.

The weather this week is finally turning toward fall, and I am ready for cooler temperatures! I’m praying for an extended season of crisp mornings and warm afternoons. We usually get two perfect fall days before the cold sets in—so Lord, let it be! A few beautiful days of calm and color are blessings we could all use right now.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Saturday night concert at Saint Matthew. Lazarus, performed by the All People’s Church Choir, was beautifully done and deeply humbling in its message. It reminded us of the many families struggling right now as food stamp benefits are cut during the government shutdown. This loss of support is especially hard on children and seniors.

Now more than ever, your donations are vital to organizations like the Tarrant Area Food Bank, Eastside Ministries, and any local food pantry you choose to support. If you are able, please bring shelf-stable food to the church, and I will make sure it reaches Eastside Ministries. In the coming weeks, I will share a list of items for the Thanksgiving bags we prepare each year for Eastside.

If you know anyone in our congregation who may need assistance, please let us know—we have a Benevolence Fund set aside for just such needs. This is an urgent time, and as followers of Christ, we are called to respond. Let us be the hands and feet of Jesus to our neighbors in need. Bless you for your faithfulness and compassion.

This Sunday is a special one for Saint Matthew. We’ll observe All Saints Sunday, a day to remember those who have gone before us in faith. Please submit the names of anyone you would like memorialized during worship by emailing pastor@saintmatthewumc.com. And don’t forget—it’s also Daylight Saving Time weekend, so we get to “fall back” one hour and enjoy a little extra rest!

Finally, our hearts are with Vicky Valenzuela and her family following the tragic loss of her brother, John Moore, Jr. There will be a viewing and meal this Thursday at the funeral home in Arlington. I will contact those who can help provide food for the family. Please continue to lift Vicky, Jose, and their loved ones in prayer during this difficult time.

Blessings to all,
Mary

Let It Be, Saint Matthew! Whisper words of wisdom and let it be.

Blessings and peace to all in the name of Jesus Christ. I am thoroughly enjoying finding these secular songs that carry a gospel message—and even more, I’m enjoying hearing you sing them! What a wonderful time we had on Sunday, seeing your faces light up as you sang Let It Be. We’ll have more Sundays like this because I’ve gathered an entire list of songs with powerful gospel truths, even if they aren’t traditional hymns. Lessons from the gospel about obedience are not always easy to preach or to hear, but pairing them with good music helps those lessons settle in our hearts. Thank you for your joyful participation!

This Saturday, October 25 at 6 p.m., we will host the All People’s Church Choir as they perform the musical Lazarus. Dinner will be served immediately after the performance. Please join us if you can—and if you’re able to help with setup, cleanup, or by bringing desserts, your help will be greatly appreciated.

I leave you with the words of Jesus and the strategy of Moses. From Luke 6: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Do good and lend without expecting anything in return. Be merciful as God is merciful. Do not judge or condemn. And from Deuteronomy 6: Know the commandments of God and keep them on your heart. Teach them to your children. Talk about them with each other every chance you get. Keep visible reminders of the things Jesus commanded us to do.

May you grow in grace and truth as obedient children of God. And in all these things—Lord, Lord, let it be!

Love,
Mary

Blessings of love and peace in the name of Jesus Christ.

I continue to reflect on the message Pastor Max shared this past Sunday. He has preached from that passage five times since I joined Saint Matthew in 2011! I keep notes in my Bible, marking each date when a pastor preaches from a particular scripture—and Max’s sermon this week was truly one for the record books. His love and passion for the people of the world shone through his words and the tears that accompanied them. I am deeply grateful for the gospel that is preached here at Saint Matthew’s, and for the truth that Pastor Max shares with such conviction and compassion. My heart is still singing “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” as I replay his message in my mind.

This Sunday, I’ll be preaching from the same chapter in Luke. Max’s sermon inspired me, and as I listened, God gave me both the passage and the words to share with you. We’ll also sing another gospel song together—one that may surprise you! I’ll keep it a secret for now, but I’m excited to lift our voices with you in worship. Join us in person if you’re able, or via livestream at saintmatthewumc.com at 11 AM. You can also find all Saint Matthew sermons on our website under the Video link.

Our Saturday Night Concert Series continues on October 25 with Lazarus, performed by the All People’s Church Choir. This free concert will be followed by a dinner of tacos, beans, rice, and homemade salsa! I’m looking forward to this evening of fellowship and the many blessings God has in store for us.

With love and gratitude,

Mary

Happy Wednesday to all! 

I’ve just returned from Michigan, where I celebrated my brother Toby’s 30th anniversary as pastor of First Baptist Church of Leslie. It was a grand occasion, with over 150 people gathering to honor his ministry. When Toby was first called to the church, there were only 21 members. At his interview, someone asked what he would change if he were to come. With tears in his eyes, he said, “I would change everything. Look around—there are 21 people here, and this church is dying. We have to change things now.”

They invited him to “come and change us,” and that’s exactly what he did. Together with his wife, Shelli, and their two sons, he built youth, music, cancer support, and grief ministries, and led the renewal of the church campus. Thirty years later, the fruits of that change are clear—God has blessed their faithfulness.

Saint Matthew had a part in their story, too. About five years ago, I asked you to pray for Toby when he was diagnosed with blood cancer. You prayed, and today he is cancer-free. I gave him a big hug from all of us and told him how proud we are of him.

Toby also preached a powerful message called “The Dirtiest Towel.” I’ll share more about that the next time I preach—it’s one you won’t want to miss!

Your prayers are mighty tools in God’s tool chest. Keep using them to do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways that good can be done.

I’ll leave you with a question: If you could change anything about Saint Matthew, what would you change?

Please share your thoughts with me at mary.teague@saintmatthewumc.com or in writing at the church. This is God’s church, and we are called together to care for it and for our community. Look around at what God is doing through us—and imagine what more He can do when we open our hearts to change.

Love and blessings to all,
Mary

Greetings in the name of the risen Christ! Thank you so much for your great singing on Sunday morning during worship. I love standing up front and listening to you. I promise we will have more opportunities to learn and sing with each other. And bless you for listening to so many sermons from the same passage of Scripture. If you have a sermon you especially liked that I have preached, let me know. I have to submit one more to the Board of Ordained Ministry by December 1.

This weekend I will be traveling to Michigan for the celebration of my brother’s 30th year at his church. They used to call him the hippie preacher because he had long hair and progressive ideas. Now he is bald, and I have no idea what they call him!

I will be back on the 12th. Love to all,

Mary