Author Archives: Max Brennan

Max’s Corner

Posted on by

Service for Jim Lee

Saturday, March 15, 11:00 a.m. at St. Matthew
We will provide lunch for family and friends after the graveside. All are welcome at the service, whether you knew Jim or not.

Discovering God Class

Another great discussion last week! Everyone needs to know—and have a chance to discuss—the kinds of things we are learning in this class. The teachings of Jesus are verified here every week.
Class at 9:45. Breakfast after.

Breakfast this Sunday

This is a “Winston Sunday.” Feel free to help.
Breakfast is at 10:30.

Second Sunday of Lent

Mary preaches this Sunday. Kristi may well be back after her COVID spell. The choir will likely be back in the choir area.

Eyes on the Prize

There will be some misery and chaos for some time to come, but I don’t plan to keep my focus on it. For at any given moment, life is better than we can imagine it to be.

To live in this world—rough as it is from time to time—is an honor and a privilege. We are blessed to be here. And we are loved, watched over, and cared for.

Despite the national sorrow, we are called to trust and rejoice. This will be a wonderful and joy-filled year at St. Matthew.

Expect misery from Washington.
And nothing but amazing grace from our Lord Jesus Christ.

See you Sunday.
God Bless—MB

Give Thanks – We had a gracious and well-attended Ash Wednesday service—and a great meal before it. Thanks to all!

Friday’s Word – “Evil Does Not Win”

Posted on by

Forgive me for playing the same note on my harp over and over again, but notice needs to be taken.

It is a big thing—the loss of our democracy. The disruption in thousands of lives.

The deaths of children in Africa. And in America, if the present agenda goes through.

I knew that people would show up sad last Sunday, two days after Mr. Zelensky was attacked in the Oval Office.

I did address our obvious sorrow in my sermon and lamented again that so many Christians had helped to bring us to the dark place we are in now.

My mind goes back to the ’50s and ’60s. (Yes, I am old enough to remember those days.)

Racism was the norm in the church. This means that most people in the pews and preaching from pulpits did not truly accept Jesus’ teachings.

But surely, we are much better today. I think not.

Human nature has not changed. Many Christians today are as resistant to the teachings of Jesus as people were back then.

Matthew 5:28-48 is like lost scripture for many Christians. It seems not to exist. For many, the words of Jesus against vengeance and retribution carry no weight.

The unconditional love of God for all people is still not popular.

We know this because of where we are today.

No one who truly knows Jesus Christ would have chosen this.

Yet millions who claim the name of our Lord do, still, support this darkness.

But when it gets dark enough, all (or most) will see that the lights are out.

A change will come.

Evil does not win.

Lord, we trust in you.

Max’s Corner

Posted on by

Ash Wednesday—THIS Wednesday

Tonight!—if you’re reading this on Wednesday. Begin Lent at the beginning. If we ever needed the encouragement of the Gospel, it is now.

Sandwich supper at 6:00. (No, I’m not bringing my tuna sandwiches. My sister is bringing her chicken salad sandwiches.) Desserts are coming, too. But worship is the main event, and it will start at 6:30.

This is a contemplative service. Blake will sing the beautiful Above All. We will be reminded that we are loved and forgiven. Mary will impose the ashes of repentance. There will be a moment at the altar for prayer if you choose.

Come.

Discovering God Class

I wish everyone could have been in my class last Sunday. We had a meaningful discussion about who we are—a soul temporarily assigned to a body. This week, we will learn that deathbed visions are just one element of God’s loving welcome as we leave this place.

Class at 9:45. Breakfast after.

Breakfast This Sunday

This Sunday—it’s up to us. We all bring. Help if you can. Breakfast is at 10:30.

First Sunday of Lent

The paraments turn purple. We begin our journey to Easter. But the journey matters. The scripture will be the temptation in the wilderness.

The sermon: Where the Power Lies.

Everything Satan says in this passage is a lie. (Hmmm—who does that remind me of?)

We had 70 in attendance again last Sunday. Let’s make a habit of it.

This is a time for commitment.

Jesus said we are “the light of the world.” Let that light shine. Let the world see and hear our witness.

See you Sunday.

God bless,

MB

REMEMBER!!!—ASH WEDNESDAY.

Friday’s Word – “There’s a Problem Here”

Posted on by

It was a hot summer day.

A few women of the church and I were sitting around a table, folding bulletins.

Janice walked in and said she felt like she was going to pass out crossing the hot parking lot.

“Oh, that feels so funny,” said Nita, “looking down on your body like that.”

We stopped folding.

We knew there must be a story. Nita said:

Well, I passed out once. My husband and I were in a hot New Orleans eatery in the days before air conditioning.

I passed right out—fell out of the booth onto the floor. Then I was above myself, looking down on myself.

I saw people rush over to help me.

But I could see only the upper part of my body. My lower body was under the table. I was really worried.

All I could think about was, ‘I hope my skirt is pulled down.’

Then I got my breath, and I returned to my body.

After that, Nita thought “passing out” meant leaving the body.

She had never heard of out-of-body experiences.

Nita was able to see herself—and to think from a place outside her brain.

Take this seriously.

This is a common event.

Events like this—if we are truly reasonable—force us to consider the reality of the soul.

The Nita watching the body on the ground was the real Nita.

If she had died, the real Nita would have left her body behind and continued with her life. The body is not us. We are eternal.

We talked about this in class last Sunday. If you would like a Thursday evening Discovering God class, let me know.

Come. Grow in hope.

Worship is at 11:00.

Max’s Corner

Posted on by

Ash Wednesday—Next Week

It is not this Wednesday, but I am working on the service today. Wednesday, March 5—6:00 pm for a sandwich supper and 6:30 pm for the service.

It’s a hard world we live in right now. Our spirits need nourishment. Come to this service, which begins Lent—our journey to the Cross.

The Anthem

Every Time I Feel the Spirit. Again, a major impact within the sanctuary—and it also sounded great online.

Remember, we have several hundred who worship with us each week from their homes. And our new equipment will improve those online services.

New Audio/Video Equipment

The Church Council took the plunge Sunday and voted to revamp our audio/video equipment. There wasn’t much choice in it, since our old soundboard died, and we needed to move Jason and Robert out of the hot, cramped attic booth.

But we are going further than we have to—getting three new cameras and possibly four. We love for people to be in church, but many of our people can’t be physically present. We want to do our best for them.

Discovering God Class

This week—what people see when they are dying.

For most people, heaven starts before they leave this earth.

Our class begins at 9:45 am. Join anytime. Breakfast after.

Breakfast This Sunday

This is a “Winston Sunday.” You can still help. Breakfast is at 10:30.

Transfiguration Sunday

It may not be big in your book—but it is in mine.

The Transfiguration story is one of the most important in the Bible. Sermon title: “When God Speaks—Listen!”

We had 70 last Sunday. We will close this week with Victory in Jesus. And yes—we gather at the Lord’s Table. Communion Sunday.

God Bless — MB

HEAR THIS! Check elsewhere in these pages for the time of Julian’s performance this Saturday.