Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

Author: Max Brennan

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Thanks to Shannon Davidson, Blake Glass, Julian Rodriguez, and Josh Flores for a superb concert Saturday night—and to Cindy Wheeler and her helpers for a great meal. Together we raised $1,100 for Eastside Ministries! Please continue to support our future concerts.

    The Link Returns

    The direct link to Friday’s Word is back in this newsletter—just click and enjoy.

    Reserved Seats

    The three short pews at the back of the sanctuary are reserved for our ushers, with one folding chair by the entrance. With these changes, our pews are now back to their original 1992 design. The fire department does not allow folding chairs in the back crossway. We may also return to ushers greeting worshippers and handing out bulletins.

    Pastor’s Class

    This week’s class will spark a passionate discussion: Is God good—or not? Is God love—or not? We continue our study, When Scripture and Experience Disagree, at 9:45 AM, followed by breakfast.

    Breakfast This Sunday

    It’s a “Winston” Sunday! Come help serve at 10:30.

    This Sunday

    My sermon is “Try a Little Kindness.” Are you a kind person—all the time? Jesus has much to teach us about how we speak to one another. (It’s also Communion Sunday.)

    We are glad to welcome Lesleyann and Lynette back after medical procedures. Please keep Carol in your prayers as she recovers, and Charlotte as she awaits surgery.

    God Bless,

    MB

  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    It is sad that the impending death of our democracy is largely a product of conservative Christianity.

    Bad theology equals dangerous theology. Conservative theology is exclusive, pushing those who are most vulnerable in our society beyond the pale of concern. That includes the poor, immigrants, and our gay friends and loved ones.

    So, what can we do? We can support churches that preach the inclusive love of the Gospel. Like St. Matthew.

    We enjoy your love from afar, but there are times when we would like for you to show up. Like tomorrow evening—Saturday, Aug. 30, at 6:00 PM.

    We will host a concert of Broadway music from our vocal “stars”—singers every bit the equal of the Broadway originals. (I kid you not.) And listen! In these hard times, when the struggle is before us, we need to be lifted. I can promise you joy. And laughter. And—supper!

    It is all free, but we will take an offering for Eastside Ministries, which helps feed those in need in our community.

    By the way, we are looking for customers on Sunday mornings, too. Worship with us is worth your effort—and even a little drive time. Come to my class at 9:45, the only place you can study my next book, Discovering God. After class, join us for breakfast, followed by worship at 11:00.

    Don’t let the churches with bad theology get all the support. Stand with us!

    Start Saturday night with the concert. That’s at 6:00. Meet me at the door.

    [email protected]
    saintmatthewumc.com

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    It’s important!

    It will be more fun than anything you can find on TV. And we need—yes, I said need—you. Our great singers work so hard on these concerts. Their effort must be rewarded with people who care enough to come.

    And you deserve to be here! You deserve to have a little fun. And an uplift in your spirits.

    If you have not heard our “star” singers do their Broadway thing, you just don’t know how good they are. We are privileged to have this kind of music at St. Matthew.

    So, put aside all else and come this Saturday, Aug. 30, at 6:00 for the big show: “A Night on Broadway.” Supper after. (Some of you are bringing desserts.)

    Please!—give our great singers a great audience to sing for. Make this a wonderful evening. It is all free. But it is a fundraiser for Eastside Ministries. An offering will be taken. There are families depending on us for help. We give that help this Saturday. At 6:00.

    Watching Online

    Wow! The picture is beautiful and the new camera angles enrich the experience. And we will conquer that sound problem. (Way too low.) Our guys will soon have it licked. Chuy and the crew from 4Stage will finish all work this Friday. There is one more pew to go in (at the back—don’t fight over it) and a device that will allow us to have all of the microphones up front that we want. It will take 16—more than we will ever need. But right now, we can’t even do four mics for a quartet. And for the ones we do have, 100-ft. cables run over carpet through one transept, covered in tape. Jerry-rigged. Tell Jerry he is out of business. We’re doing it right.

    My Class

    We are looking at how our study of experience has changed our belief system. Truth is, the study of the experience of God gives us a new understanding of who we are as humans—and a new understanding of our relationship to God. It brings us more in line with the teachings of Jesus—but less in line with the teachings of most churches. Get in on the discussion. You are welcome to this class. At 9:45—followed by breakfast.

    Breakfast this Sunday

    It’s a “we-bring” Sunday. (Great breakfast last week.) Help, if you can. At 10:30.

    This Sunday

    My sermon: The Shocking Story of the Woman at the Well. She’s got the bucket. But He’s got the water. Come, let us be uplifted, encouraged, through worship and thanksgiving.

    Love to our folk who have been ill or had surgery lately. We look for the day when you can return.

    God Bless—MB

    Hey! Do whatever you need to do to REMEMBER the concert Saturday night. Tie a string around your refrigerator—or stick your chewing gum in a new spot on the bedpost. But remember! And come!

  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Gosh!

    (Excuse my French.)

    I just lost my place in the Guinness Book of Records as the only person in the world who never made a mistake.

    I made one last week.

    I said Mr. Morton H. Meyerson played football for Poly. It was actually Paschal—and he was proud of it.

    Mr. Meyerson died recently at the age of 87. He once told me that, as a Jewish kid, he always felt a bit left out. But that all changed when he made the football team.

    It was football that brought Morton to church a few times. The coach would sometimes take the whole team. I doubt anyone asked the Jewish kid if he wanted to go to church. The team went. So, Morton went.

    On one occasion, the preacher asked everyone who wanted to give their life to Christ to stand up. As a joke, the boys on each side of Morton pushed his legs together, forcing him to stand.

    The boys got a laugh out of it, but so did Morton. And he stuck with his own faith. When we met, it was the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, and Morton brought me a loaf of bread—a symbol of the Jewish New Year.

    There is something Christians need to know: we are all going to the same heaven.

    So, why am I a Christian?

    Because I know that Jesus was right. He is raised from the dead, and he is Lord.

    But Jesus told us it is all about love. And we are all loved by God equally. We are all equally forgiven. And God works with and for all of us, all the time. Whatever our religion.

    Live with it.

    saintmatthewumc.com
    [email protected]

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    The new sound and video system, along with changes to our sanctuary, were mostly completed by last Sunday. This Sunday, everything will be finished.

    An extra-long pew, which had been stored at the back of one of our transepts, is being cut down to serve as the last pew on the pulpit side of the sanctuary. Another long pew will be shortened to fit up to the piano on the front right. These will be in place by Sunday.

    And the new video/audio system is now fully in place. This was all made possible by two of our members who left a gift to the church. We give thanks for the continuing legacy of Fred Stearns and Eileen Engleson Stearns. Their love for St. Matthew will continue to bear fruit for many years to come.

    Watching Online

    It was clear from last week’s video that our online services now have a new and wonderful look. The cameras zoom and pivot. We could see Blake head-on as he sang, and we could even see Kristi at the organ. We saw the congregation several times as well.

    Yes, you may need to buy that new dress. Tell hubby, “I’m on TV now.”

    As Jason and the crew realized right after the service, we had very low sound on the livestream. This is an easy fix. So, we are on our way.

    But I Noticed Another Problem

    Yes, I move with difficulty these days, but I cannot sit there like a bump on a log in the middle for the entire service. I look like a stationary blob. I will not move to that stool until I preach. I may need another stool off to the side—at least until I no longer need the stool.

    This Is Knee Week

    I know you’re sick of hearing about my knee, but improvement may be coming. I meet with the orthopedic doctor Tuesday (that’s tomorrow as I write—yesterday as you read). We will be discussing knee replacement. I know there will be pain, but perhaps no more than I already experience.

    My Class

    We had a really great discussion last week on salvation. The church has gotten a lot wrong over the years. We have not listened carefully enough to Jesus. God is simply more loving than the church has often taught. And more people go to heaven than the church was willing to let in.

    The discussion continues this week. You are welcome to join us at 9:45—followed by breakfast.

    Breakfast This Sunday

    It’s a “We-bring” Sunday. Please help if you can. At 10:30.

    This Sunday

    Mary preaches. My stool will not be center-chancel.

    Come, let us be uplifted and encouraged through worship and thanksgiving.

    God Bless,

    —MB