Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

Author: Max Brennan

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Work to Be Done

    We have several things we need to do.

    We want to obtain devices for the hearing impaired.

    Mary wants the big TV hooked into our system so that we can use it for presentations.

    We have some lights that do not work and some that do not work right.

    I announced that we would raise the money to do the work. But we do have money to cover it now and have decided to move on with the work.

    I want us to stay up with everything. I am way too old to have to deal with financial problems. (Been there, done that—for 30 years.) But if we continue to be faithful with our giving, we will be able to get this necessary work done without any problems.

    I look forward to getting the projects completed by Easter. Chuy’s men at 4Stage—who installed our system—will do the work.

    Breakfast

    We are still looking for one or two people to do breakfast for one or two Sundays in the month. I know it’s a job. But let me (or Winston or Mary) know if you are willing to help.

    Communion Sunday

    The sermon is called: “Just Face Reality.” We will talk about a wonderful (and humorous) story from John’s gospel about a man born blind and healed by Jesus. But the authorities simply and repeatedly refused to believe the man. Shannon has a solo for us. Blake is gone with his school choir on a trip.

    We gather at the Lord’s Table.

    It’s only four Sundays to Holy Week.

    Remember our Mardi Gras lunch on Palm Sunday, March 24. (Yes, we have “Fat Tuesday” on Sunday. Don’t tell the Catholics.)

    See You in worship.

  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    The Truth Can Be Hard to Believe

    a man riding a bike down a street with two children

    I look at the evidence.

    I look at what’s there and try to figure out what it means.

    Take the story below—much like the one I told last week. Joel Harper is a well-known personal trainer who has appeared on Oprah, ABC News and PBS specials.

    He rides a bicycle in New York everywhere he goes. One day he was late for a meeting and biking as fast as he could.

    He saw, some 60 ft. in front of him, a father and a little girl. She looked about three. They were playing beside the bike path.

    Let Joel tell his story:

    “At the exact moment I reached them, the child darted in front of me. I could not stop or even slow down. I knew I would hit her.

    But now—I don’t know how to say this.

    I didn’t hit her.

    My bike and I went through her body.

    Just sailed through her body.

    I felt I was floating. She went right through me. No one was hurt.

    It was a physical thing, but it seemed spiritual.

    I stopped to look back. The dad seemed in shock, as was I.

    And I was too confused to go back and talk to him.

    I know it sounds crazy. I hate to put it into words.

    It is beyond words.”

    Joel harper

    I have other similar accounts. This is God working, but through the laws of nature.

    Science tells us all matter exists as both particle and wave. In the wave state, matter is not solid.

    Something like this took place in the resurrection. The dead body of Jesus dematerialized.

    The burial cloth fell through the body.

    The cloth lay flat on the burial slab. That’s the way the disciples found it.

    The truth can be hard to believe.

    It is still the truth.

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    For the Hearing Impaired

    We have several people in this category.

    The new blue-tooth headphones and the machinery to connect them to our sound system will cost $3,000. This is the estimate from our sound people at Stage4. (They installed both our sound system and our lighting.) We will begin inviting gifts for this purpose immediately—and when we have the $3,000, we will ask Chuy and his crew to do the work.

    Breakfast

    We are still looking for one or two people to do breakfast for two Sundays in the month. Winston will continue doing two Sundays. Mac and Faith Salfen will do one Sunday. Someone can take either one or both remaining Sundays.

    Let me know.

    And show up for breakfast this Sunday—10:30 to 10:55. (Finish eating before worship.)

    This Sunday

    Mary was scheduled to preach this Sunday, but her life is complicated now, with Anna, her daughter-in-law, in the hospital.

    So, I will be back in the pulpit this Sunday.

    Sermon: “The Wonder of It All.”

    See you Sunday.

    Second Sunday of Lent.

    It will be Easter before we know it.

    But to get to it, we must go through the cross.

    God bless — MB

  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    As Real as Gravity

    A friend said a woman who worked with her had a strange story to tell.

    I called the woman.

    She and a friend were traveling around England in a hired car. At some point, a lorry (as the English call a truck) pulled out from a side street.

    It was just, suddenly, there, right in front of them.

    No chance to stop.

    No chance, even, to hit the brakes.

    But there was no impact.

    Their car went right through the truck.

    It went through.

    One vehicle passed silently through the other.

    In a flash, the women saw the inside of the truck.

    They saw the red plaid shirt the driver wore.

    They couldn’t take it in. Something that could not happen had just happened.

    Shaken, confused, they continued their journey.

    And it took some courage to even share this story with friends.

    It’s—uh—unbelievable.

    So, why am I sharing it with you?

    Because I have six other accounts like it from all over the world.

    And I am looking for more.

    I want to talk to a few physicists. (Are there any reading this?)

    Whether they believe the accounts or not, I want them to suggest what is happening.

    Is this an example of quantum tunnelling?

    (Look it up.)

    Why am I interested?

    First of all, if real, God did it.

    Second, something like this, I believe, happened at the resurrection. The body of Jesus dematerialized.

    The cloth covering the body fell through the body, leaving the image we now see on the Shroud of Turin.

    The resurrection was a quantum event.

    Also unbelievable.

    But as real as gravity.

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    ASH WEDNESDAY
    7:00 P.M.

    It’s a simple service.

    My message is short.

    Some lovely music.

    Imposition of the ashes and prayer at the rail.

    Let God do whatever God wants to do in our lives this Lent. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday.

    And repentance.

    And thanksgiving for forgiveness.

    Last Sunday

    We will remember it as Keith Butterfield’s 97th birthday. We had a good time celebrating after worship. (We’ll do it for you, too, when you reach 97.)

    Some folks thought I ran two women off during the sermon. I didn’t. That was just Vita and Linda stepping out to help with the birthday party.

    What a job the choir did with just five people up there. No—I could hear no lack. Our tenor had to sing bass. Mary sang tenor.

    Yes—we need a bass.

    I want Blake to have what he needs.

    Our choir is a bit of a marvel.

    It sounds better than many larger choirs.

    And it is a worship blessing.

    This Sunday

    Mary preaches for the next two weeks.

    Do you remember all those questions Mary had to answer in prep for ordination? She will preach a couple of her answers in these sermons.

    My next sermon is called “Jesus Got It Right.” How do we know? Does anyone know what God is like? Know for sure?

    I say yes. But HOW can we know—for sure?

    Remember breakfast.

    (Do we have any others to help with this?)

    See you WEDNESDAY! Perhaps? I hope.

    God bless—MB