Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

Author: Max Brennan

  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Well, there were seven million last weekend standing up for right over might, good over mean, grace over vengeance.

    My sermon this Sunday will barely mention our national plight, but it is about never giving up.

    So, it will apply.

    Are you watching our services?

    You can see us on YouTube through our webpage. Type in our web address at the bottom of this little box. Click on “video.” There it is.

    During the week, the service gets shortened to just the sermon—for those in a hurry.

    But below the picture that comes up when you click on “video,” there is a choice to “watch full service.”

    Or watch the full service on Facebook. Go to “Saint Matthew UMC Fort Worth Facebook.”

    Or watch on your TV.

    On YouTube.

    There I am—preaching from a stool.

    Yes, I hate it—preaching from a stool.

    I hope to escape the stool after knee surgery.

    You will note as soon as you tune in that I—uh—I am older than the picture I use in this little box.

    I’ve been at this for 43 years, and I was 39 when I started. (You do the math.)

    I’m still at it.

    I hope to be at it for several years to come.

    Lord willing.

    And with our good Bishop’s approval.

    But at one point, I thought my ministry was over before it began.

    I’ll tell you about that this Sunday.

    ++

    Monthly concert and dinner Saturday night, Oct. 25, 6:00 p.m. Free.

    We take an offering for Eastside Ministries.

    I’ve got a pew for you.

    saintmatthewumc.com
    [email protected]

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Lazarus — The Musical

    Saturday, Oct. 25 · 6:00 p.m.
    Dinner to follow at St. Matthew

    The excellent choir from the Unitarian Universalist Church around the corner from St. Matthew presented Lazarus in May as a fundraiser for Eastside Ministries.

    They’re repeating that performance here at St. Matthew this Saturday evening—again to benefit Eastside Ministries.

    Lazarus brings to life Jesus’ parable of “The Rich Man and Lazarus.” Lazarus sits at the rich man’s gate, surviving on crumbs from his table. When the rich man dies, he finds himself in torment.

    This story will come alive for us on Saturday as part of our monthly concert series. Your presence matters—if you’re able to come. We’re helping Eastside Ministries continue their vital work feeding hungry neighbors who depend on our support.

    An offering will be taken.

    For your gift of time and support, you’ll be rewarded with a good evening of music, food, and fellowship. Let’s do our best.

    (And to those bringing desserts to go with the tacos, beans, rice, and homemade sauce—mmm, good!)

    Pastor’s Class

    What we didn’t do last week, we’ll do this week: God and grief. Our experiences tell us that God wants us to be comforted in times of loss.

    9:45 a.m. — followed by breakfast.

    Breakfast this Sunday

    It’s a “We bring” Sunday. Help if you can.

    That’s at 10:30 a.m.

    This Sunday

    Sermon: When Our Strength Is Gone
    Anthem: They Shall Soar Like Eagles — a moving setting of Psalm 40
    Featured Hymn: Precious Lord, Take My Hand

    No one can fill your place but you.

    God bless — MB

  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Rev. David Black is the young pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Chicago. He and members of his church are putting love into action.

    And Rev. Black recently made the news. He was praying on the sidelines of a protest against ICE agents. His prayer was that the Holy Spirit would touch the hearts of the agents and protect the victims. He was shot in the face with a pepper ball.

    Standing in his black clerical garb with a clerical collar, in an obvious attitude of prayer, he was shot with the pepper balls over and over again. He heard the ICE agents laughing. Seeing him disabled, the ICE agents approached him and sprayed him with pepper spray. His congregants tried to protect him, taking a lot of the hits intended for the pastor.

    If ICE agents treat a minister engaged in prayer with such cruelty, we can only imagine what they do to our Hispanic brothers and sisters.

    So, here we are. We have, as a nation, placed evil at the center of national power. Our nation is corrupt at the core. Can the church help to save us?

    It was largely Christian conservatives who brought us to this brink. We cannot count on them. But the rest of us have work to do.

    First of all, we must not give up. We do not have the levers of power, but we do have the power of the Spirit.

    Stand firm. Speak out.

    Millions of people will gather in the streets across America tomorrow. It may get darker before the dawn—but love will win. Love will win!

    saintmatthewumc.com
    [email protected]

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    I do believe the Holy Spirit got hold of us last Sunday. I got quite a reaction to my sermon. I knew it was something I wanted to say. I wanted to address the current mess (and pure corruption) we are in now as a nation, and how the misreading of the Bible contributes to it. I had no idea how the sermon would land, but I’m glad it spoke to so many.

    And I want to thank Jason and the helpers for the beautiful work they do to help us reach a wider congregation. The camera work last week made the service feel intimate and immediate. As I reviewed the service, I felt I was there. (And as I recall—I was.)

    One thing you can do is share our service with others each week on Facebook. Help us spread the word. There are so many who need to hear it.

    Pastor’s Class

    God and Grief

    Experiences tell us that God wants us to be comforted in times of loss.

    At 9:45—followed by breakfast.

    Breakfast this Sunday

    It’s a “Winston Sunday,” but feel free to help. That’s at 10:30.

    This Sunday

    Mary preaches this Sunday.

    Our choir will be back and singing an anthem that will be new to you: The Storm Is Passing Over.

    I’ll be looking for you this Sunday.

    Good to have Joe, Joan, and Leslieann back with us last Sunday. And we had one first-time visitor, invited by the Rev. Beverly Tye.

    And oh! The women will meet for lunch this Thursday. Good food. Good fellowship.

    God bless,

    MB

  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    The Germans still feel a lot of guilt about their decline and fall into evil.
    I, too, once believed the Germans had some special problem. The madness could only happen there.
    I was clearly wrong.
    It can happen anywhere.

    In Chicago, ICE swarmed an apartment building, agents dropping from a black helicopter in the middle of the night.
    ICE agents have changed their uniforms to look like soldiers. They broke down doors and hauled men, women, and children out into the night.
    Some were naked.
    Even the children were bound with ties. They were hauled away in vans and separated from parents.

    Imagine the fear.
    Soldiers are occupying U.S. cities against the will of governors, mayors, and the people of those cities.
    U.S. soldiers against U.S. citizens.
    Once unthinkable.
    The soldiers will be in place for the next election.
    We can expect them at every polling booth.
    We may have had our last free and fair election.

    “The enemy within” this time is not the Jews, but Hispanics—and anyone who disagrees with the current regime.
    I always knew that a man who loves dictators wants to be a dictator.
    Jesus warned us. He said you will never get good fruit from a bad tree.
    But strangely, it was mostly Christians who bit into the bad apple.
    “Evangelical.”
    “Fundamentalist.”
    “Inerrantist.”

    Bad theology is more dangerous than no theology at all. There is a truth that can save us. Help St. Matthew UMC spread that truth.
    Worship at 11:00.
    Consider it.

    saintmatthewumc.com
    [email protected]