Author Archives: Max Brennan

Friday’s Word – First Sunday of a New Year

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Some time back I asked you to let me know you were still reading this little box each Friday.

It’s an expensive project. I don’t want to keep talking if no one is there.

I got a big response—too many e-mails to answer, but I read them all. We have signed the contract with the Star-Telegram for 2025.

Thanks for your support.

The church in America is in trouble. It is time for honesty. The lies Christians tell turn thinking people away from faith.

The biggest lie is that the Bible is infallible. It isn’t. And anyone who can read knows this.

The value of the Bible is not in its perfection. The value is in the truth of its message. And the Bible is not all equally true.

Let’s stop pretending that the Book of Revelation has anything to do with Jesus. It doesn’t.

It is a book filled with blood and vengeance. It undermines Jesus at every turn. Preachers need to stop piously defending this vengeful work in defense of “the canon.”

“Oh, it’s in the canon. We must be true to the canon!”

No! It is time to be true to the teachings of Jesus—the unique teachings of Jesus.

And it is time for preachers to proclaim that uniqueness. I was in theology school for years. Not one of my teachers mentioned the uniqueness of the message of Jesus.

Jesus was the first person in all the world to tell us to love our enemies because God loves his enemies.

Jesus was the first person ever to get God right.

And you are in for another year of me pushing a God of unconditional love for all people.

Happy New Year!

Max’s Corner

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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

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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

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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

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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.