Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

Author: Max Brennan

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    This Sunday

    I’ve got the concert Saturday.

    Fortunately, Mary is preaching this Sunday. You know we have something to look forward to.

    Mary opened her letter from the Conference in front of the congregation last week—the one telling her that she is approved by the Board of Ordained Ministry to be ordained as an Elder, limited at the moment to just St. Matthew. “Elder” is the title we give to an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church. The limitations will be removed from Mary’s ordination after the vote in the General Conference in 2024. BUT—there is really nothing else that is needed for us at St. Matthew.

    Mary is not just on the way.

    For us, she has arrived.

    About the Concert

    For me, this week, it is all about the concert.

    We have no idea what attendance will be.

    We have advertised it extensively, including a mail-out to thousands in the community around the
    church. We may have a good bunch. Or not.

    There’s no way to know.

    But I think we will have a good time.

    Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that either.

    We will know what it is when it happens.

    And it happens this Saturday at 6:00.

    Bring some food.

    This I can predict: I will be hungry.

    We did seem to have a good service last week.

    I believe the Spirit was working on us.

    See you Saturday—and Sunday.

    GOD BLESS—-MB

  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    SEPTEMBER — AT LAST!

    No reason for most people to be aware (my book, Discovering God, is not out yet), but I do claim to know something about religious and near-death experiences.

    I first met God through experience when I was 14 and have studied such encounters ever since.

    I have had, throughout my life, a good deal of what William James called “business with God.”

    No, I don’t know why.

    I do know that these experiences are part of my call to ministry.

    They help shape the message I proclaim in Jesus’ name. For the God I know through experience is the God I know in Christ.

    And here is what I am always trying to tell you:

    God is not silent.

    God is accessible.

    God is knowable.

    Einstein said that “we know all that we know through experience.”

    Note the “all.”

    This includes God.

    Everything in the Bible which is right about God is a product of experience.

    Those first disciples experienced God through Jesus. Paul tells us he received the whole of the gospel he preached directly from an experience of the Risen Christ.

    God is knowable.

    Theology is not a matter of guesswork. It is not just opinion. It can be as accurate as math.

    This is how we can know Jesus is right about God.

    The God we meet in experience is the God we know through Christ—a God of unconditional love.

    And this is how we know the author of the book of Revelation is wrong.

    The vengeful God of Revelation does not exist.

    How do I know?

    Jesus—and experience– tell me so.

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    This Sunday

    I did not do the great parable I used last week justice. This week—new sermon on the same scripture: Matthew 20:1-16. Sermon title: “What’s the Deal?”

    It is first Sunday. We will gather at the Lord’s Table.

    About the Concert

    Hey!—according to my calculations, the next
    concert is a week from this Saturday! It’s just me. I
    better get high behind! I have to get the music to Jason
    by this Sunday so he can do the playlist.

    Will people come out to see “just me”?

    I have no idea.

    Some of the music will be surprising.

    Concert title: “The Gospel in Story and Song”

    I am singing some stuff I love to sing. So we know at least one person will have a good time. (Me!)

    The offering was over a thousand dollars at the last concert. And we had a lot of guests. These concerts seem to be doing an important work in the church.

    September—at last!

    I am excited about the months ahead.

    Our church remains a lively place. (Remember—breakfast every Sunday before worship.)

    We start a new Sunday school class in late October.

    We may break ground soon on the new playground for our children.

    We resume a St. Matthew tradition—a big Christmas Concert.

    And I will actually take a vacation this year—first in five years. (Gone the first two Sundays of October.)

    And who knows? It may get cooler.

    I will be looking Sunday—for you.

    And I hate being disappointed.

    GOD BLESS—-MB

  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    No, not the subject I promised last week. I want to talk about this: M.I.A. had a vision of Jesus.

    M.I.A. (stage name) is a British rapper, with Tamil roots. I had never heard of her, but she is famous in younger circles.

    She was Hindu, a great religion which proclaims some profound truths.

    And she was happy with who she was. She disliked Christianity. She thought it was all foolishness.

    But in 2017, she found herself alone in a place without phone access. She felt ill and was sure she was dying.

    She said to herself, “This is it. I’m gone.” But suddenly she saw a vision of Jesus before her. And she saw in him immense strength, “the power to save the world.”

    “This turned my world upside down,” she said. “I knew he was real. I had no question about it.”

    She said, “Most of my fans were activists.”

    “They hated Jesus. I knew I would lose a lot. But I had no choice. I could not deny what I now knew to be true.”

    She didn’t record another album for five years—until 2023. She had to take stock of where she was. She declared herself a Christian.

    This is the way it happens. You may raise endless arguments against Christian faith, but they will carry no weight with M.I.A.

    She experienced Jesus.

    She saw him.

    And there are millions who can say the same thing—including me.

    No, it is not necessary to have a profound religious event to believe in Jesus.

    But we all need to face the evidence. Jesus is real and working in the world.

    You can deny it.

    But you can’t stop it.

    It’s reality. And I want to live in the real world.

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    This Sunday

    I read an article called “Five Historical Truths that Tell Us Jesus Never Existed.” It set me off.

    Sermon title: “A Little Learning Is a Dangerous Thing.” Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

    About the Concert

    My e-mails all got bounced back over the weekend (too full) so I didn’t get word on attendance or income from the concert. But I know it was successful and the concerts are doing what we wanted them to do.

    They are a lot of work from quite a number of people—but it looks like the work is worth it. They seem to be a great way to draw outsiders into our midst. And we have a really good time.

    The next one will be September 9—my “one-man show.” The present title is “God, Grace and Gooseberry—the Musical.”

    Personal News

    I had an ultrasound on Monday and it appears there are no longer blood clots in my leg. I can discontinue the heavy blood thinner.

    I hope by the time you get this Curtis Anderson is home from the hospital. He has had pneumonia.

    I know Charlotte Holder is getting better.

    Carleen Wheeler is scheduled for some surgery this week.

    Tracy Maxwell missed last Sunday—again because of a painful back situation.

    I know Carol Bennett will be glad to get through with the mess of moving.

    We give thanks for the Lord’s work in the lives of our folk who are ill or dealing with any difficulty.

    Great sermon from Mary last Sunday.

    And great singing from Shannon.

    Blake is back this Sunday.

    Hey!—it lifts my heart to see you in a pew.

    Be there this Sunday.

    GOD BLESS—MB