Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

Author: Max Brennan

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Prayers for Our People

    KEITH BUTTERFIELD, about to turn 98, was not answering his door. Doug Kelcey called for a wellness check, and Keith was discovered in poor condition and rushed to the hospital. He remains seriously ill. We ask the Lord’s help in getting Keith through this.

    MAC SALFEN continues his treatments and is continually on our hearts and in our prayers.

    ED HJORTH continues his recovery after hip surgery. He hopes to graduate from his wheelchair to his walker soon. Ed, our love is with you and Carol.

    CAROLYN BELL is a bit short on energy but doing well for 93. She sends her love.

    Our Christmas Season

    We had some joyful services, all well attended. (We had 100 on Christmas Eve.) Thanks to Blake and our extraordinary musicians for glorious music.

    Forty-three Years

    On January 19, I will complete my 43rd year as pastor of St. Matthew. No need to take any special notice. But when I hit the 45 mark, we can have a shindig. Just don’t expect me to dance.

    This is the richest time of my ministry. My greatest blessing is that I have been allowed to continue well past the mandatory retirement age of 72.

    I am determined that my book be published before the end of 2025. I will be working hard on it.

    We will resume the Discovering God class on January 19—10:45 every Sunday.

    Mary Preaches Sunday

    Mary’s ordination will come this year. This will require a MONTH of celebration. She will preach for us again this Sunday.

    And by the way, until January 6, it is still the Christmas Season. Sunday is Day 12. Get out of the way of those 12 drummers drumming.

    God Bless—MB

  • Friday’s Word – Concert and Christmas Eve—Consider Both

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Some of us know what is coming.

    We have before us a time of incompetence and

    corruption like nothing we have seen before.

    Imagine a nation where those in power are not

    constrained by morals or a sense of decency.

    But I do have hope.

    They are expressed in the lines of an old carol, I

    Heard the Bells on Christmas Day:

    “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep. The wrong

    shall fail, the right prevail.”

    We need to know this.

    We need to be reminded of this. That’s why I am

    singing those words in the concert Saturday night.

    Listen, over these next years, we are going to need

    the church.

    No, not that right-wing bunch with a theology that

    makes them ignorant and vulnerable to would-be

    dictators.

    They brought us here.

    We need a church built on the solid rock

    that is Jesus the Christ.

    Built on His love.

    Powered by His grace.

    A church that triumphs over corruption, racism,

    and hatred of gays and immigrants.

    In this space in the coming year, I will be offering

    you opportunities for worship and study.

    I am expecting a response.

    The “mainline” church—for want of a better

    name—along with honest journalism will be the most

    powerful lines of defense against the darkness to come.

    Help us—help us at St. Matthew make a witness in

    dark times.

    We have a concert Saturday night, Dec. 21, at 6:00 p.m.

    We have a beautiful Christmas Eve service, also

    at 6:00 p.m.

    Help us make a witness.

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    I Know We Had a Good Time

    Because Jason is on vacation, he needed this page before he left—which means before we had our Christmas Open House last Sunday.

    I’m sure we had a good time.

    I had an ulterior motive for the Open House.

    I wanted to get my house—and my life—in order before the beginning of a new year, and the Open House forced me to do that. (And it was hard!!!)

    With my mobility problems of late, things had fallen apart at my place. I had to get my life and my work back in order. I want to devote all the time I can to ministry, and the way to do that is to get other projects out of the way.

    I am looking to a new day in the life of our church. I want to put my energy toward that.

    Part of that is being able to talk to you more often in the new year. If you are not yet on the church Facebook page, make a friend request. Or send me, personally, a friend request.

    Let’s get ready to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every way we can in 2025.

    Let’s begin now—with our two great Christmas services: the Christmas Concert and our Christmas Eve Service.

    Bring the family.

    Ask a friend to come with you.

    Let us spread the Good News.

    Unto us a Child is given.

    Come, let us adore Him.

    The Christmas Concert

    Saturday, Dec. 21—6:00 p.m.

    Dinner and Santa after

    Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

    The most beautiful service of the year.

    Tuesday, Dec. 24—6:00 p.m.

    God Bless,

    MB

    BY THE WAY—No Pastor’s Class and no breakfast this Sunday or the next.

    Edward Hjorth remains in rehab and in our prayers after his fall and hip surgery.

    Let me know if this works or if you’d like anything adjusted further!

  • Friday’s Word – A Dinner—Another Dinner—An Open House

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Yes, of course.

    We will sing White Christmas at our concert on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 6:00 p.m.

    We must.

    It is expected.

    In fact, I sing it. But I won’t mean it.

    What kind of fool do you think I am? (Don’t answer that.)

    I’m a preacher. I don’t want a white Christmas. I want people in church.

    No bad weather!

    I’d like to see you (and all your kin) at our concert and at our Christmas Eve service. (We call it “the most beautiful service of the year”—‘cause it is!)

    But back to the concert.

    I sing a couple of things, but our great singers do the hard lifting.

    Our Christmas Concert is a 25-year tradition with us. The music starts secular and moves into the sacred.

    Then we eat, and Santa comes by with gifts for the kids.

    (No, we’re not anti-Santa at St. Matthew.)

    There’s a kids’ time during the concert.

    We do have fun.

    The heart of Christmas at St. Matthew is Christmas Eve. (Also at 6:00.)

    I had an aunt who used to say to people she loved, “I’m just so hungry to see you.” And I would say I’m hungry for Christmas Eve.

    Especially this year.

    We need those “glad tidings of great joy.”

    We need lifting. We need to be reminded that this is still God’s world.

    As the old carol says:

    “God is not dead nor doth he sleep.

    The wrong shall fail, the right prevail.”

    Oh!—I’m singing that, also, at the concert.

    The Casting Crowns version of I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.

    Come, if you can.

    Sat., Dec. 21, at 6:00.

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    A Dinner—for Women

    WOMEN’S LUNCHEON – Thursday, Dec. 12, 11:30 a.m. Every female person reading this is invited. The food is good—the fellowship even better. In the Fellowship Hall.

    Another Dinner—a Fundraiser

    For Eastside Ministries—helping the poor here at Christmas. Ronnie Sullivan and family are preparing an enchilada dinner this Friday evening—Dec. 13—at 6:00 p.m. This is always a great meal for a great cause.

    Do support it.

    Christmas Open House

    At the Brennan Place

    That’s this coming Sunday afternoon—2:30 to 5:00. Come and go or come and stay. Bring a bit of goodies, if you wish—but not necessary, and most people won’t. (My sister is doing some cooking.)

    You can tour the house—lots of very old stuff—but this is not about the house. It’s about the Christmas fellowship. (The tree is up—and decorated!)

    There are things to see: a chair John D. Rockefeller III bought in 1947 for Colonial Williamsburg, a 150-year-old painting in the hall that looks like Steven Moore, an old chest from 1697 that used to be in the Brooklyn Museum.

    And perhaps Carolyn Bell, although that is far from certain. (She may not feel up to it.)

    Address: 1506 King Arthur in Grand Prairie—one block north of I-30. (Take the 161 George Bush exit—over 161 to the service road on the other side, turn left to British—right on King Arthur.) I’ll be home.

    The Class

    The class is over until mid-January.

    Breakfast continues.

    Speaking of Breakfast

    It’s a Winston Sunday.

    Food and fellowship at 10:30 a.m.

    Followed by worship.

    Come, let us worship together.

    God Bless,

    —MB