It’s a big day—this Sunday.
An important day.
Transfiguration Sunday.

Jesus on the mountain—glowing in glory.
One of the most important scriptures in the Bible.
But very few people listen to what it says.
Especially “fundamentalists.”
Let’s talk about it on Sunday.

And the choir will sing that great anthem we had in the bulletin prematurely last week—with oboe and flute.
Big music for a big day.

Transfiguration Sunday is always the last Sunday before Lent.
Lent—the “time of the Cross” leading to Easter.
That means next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday!!!

I need an Ash Wednesday.
I am ready for this year’s journey to the cross.
And Ash Wednesday is when it begins.
Wednesday worship will be at 6:00.

Last Sunday

We had the joy last Sunday of welcoming Judy Cornish as a member. She was already very much a part of our church family.

We also had all kinds of disappointments. Keith Butterfield was ill, so there was no 99th birthday party. Doug and Sue Kelcey were out with COVID. Judy Reaves’ husband, John, is in the ICU. His daughter, Michelle, was in church with Judy. Keep the prayers going.

Got word that Beverly Tye’s second hip surgery has been very painful, and the pain is not clearing yet. Linda Anderson has not been back to church since her fall. (We miss her.) Charlotte Holder is recovering, but not back yet. Other folks are out sick.

But the Lord is always with us.
That’s what I said in my sermon.
Thanks be to God.

Pastor’s Class

Researchers have discovered that dogs often know when their master decides to return home and will go to the door and wait—even if the master is many miles away. What has this got to do with God and faith? Find out Sunday—class at 9:45.

Breakfast

It’s a “We Bring It” Sunday.
Please bring breakfast items to share if you are able.
At 10:30.

By the time you read this, I will have seen my eye doctor for a procedure to correct the blurred vision after cataract surgery.
I may see you better this Sunday.
Plan to be there so I can see you!

God Bless
[email protected]

Keith Butterfield turns 99 this Sunday.

Yes, we are having a party—right after worship.

A chicken dinner. The church provides the chicken.

We bring the other stuff. (Sign-up was last week. Feel free to bring something even if you did not sign up.)

But do come. We will not have another one of these until Blake turns 99.

Happy Birthday—our beloved Kieth!

No Breakfast

Sorry—no breakfast on dinner days.

We need preparation time for dinner.

Pastor’s Class—You Bet!

Yes—at 9:45, as usual. We just have to starve afterwards. So get a bite of breakfast before you come. It will be a long wait for chicken and birthday cake.

Last Week and This Week

We had good attendance for such a cold day.

Our one new visitor, Paul Champion, said he enjoyed the service, and we enjoyed having him with us.

The five-year-old child, held in ice detention for two weeks with his father, referenced in the sermon, has been released along with his father, after a court decision.

Our courts are holding. They, alone, are preserving our democracy. Every other agency of our government has been corrupted.

Who would have thought it possible?

+++

THIS SUNDAY—There’s something I really want us to know: We are, at all times, watched over, cared for, and loved. I want us to know how literally Jesus spoke when he said, “I am with you always.”

Sermon title: Someone to Watch over Me

The choral anthem will be My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, featuring our own Julian on flute and
a guest, Hyobin Kim, on oboe.

And the weather—70 degrees.

A great day to be in church.

I’ll see you there.

God Bless
[email protected]

I suppose we have canceled church before, but I don’t remember it. This time, there was no choice.

This Sunday will be cold, but the roads are clear.

We will have church.

I will teach my class at 9:45 a.m.

We will have breakfast.

(It’s a Winston Sunday.)

Choir rehearsal will begin.

And we will gather at the Lord’s Table.

All of our worship forces will be back in place for a joyful service. I also want to remind you of Lynette’s beautiful solo at our last service.

Come, let us worship.

God bless,
Rev. Max Brennan
[email protected]

A question to ponder:
If someone asked you for evidence that Jesus is Lord, what would you say?

We may not have worship this Sunday because of the weather. There is no good reason to put people at risk.

How will our members know?

Simple. If the roads are dangerous, we will not have church. If there is ice on the roads, we will not
have church. But is there any question?

The weather people on TV sound pretty certain.

Listen—just the cold alone will be enough for folks to stay home. The cold itself is dangerous if the
car stalls or you get stuck.

Even if we got to church in that kind of cold, we would not be happy.

Let’s take a stand!

We will not risk someone getting hurt.

We will NOT meet for worship this Sunday.

NO service at St. Matthew this Sunday.

We can miss one week.

And live to tell about it.

Last Sunday and Coming Events

Hey! We have another soloist in our midst. Lynette’s solo last week was really beautiful. We
resumed the Pastor’s class with all seats full. (It will also skip a week, of course.)

The choir was scheduled to resume rehearsal this Sunday. That will be delayed one week to Feb. 1st.

And on Feb. 1st, all of our worship forces will be back in place for a great service.

See you—but not THIS Sunday.

God Bless
[email protected]

I told you Sunday that, as I understand things now, I will be replaced as your pastor.

I have a few months left to serve, but I will set the date of my departure from preaching and leading worship.

And it will not be a complete departure.

I will continue to teach my class on Discovering God, which will also be set up as a podcast.

This will continue to be helpful to the church.

It will be my ministry.

On Sunday, we committed ourselves to be yoked to Christ and to let him lead.

That is what we are going to do.

There are disappointments in life.

But if we let our Lord lead, we are guaranteed to end up with him—and where he wants us to be.

The Pastor’s Class

Discovering God class resumes this Sunday, the 18th. It will be so good to resume our journey. Time: 9:45.

Breakfast this Sunday

It’s a “Winston” Sunday—but feel free to help.

At 10:30.

God Bless
[email protected]