As these hot summer days continue, we’re collecting bottled water, Gatorade, and individual Gatorade drink mix packets to support those in need in our community.
If you would like to help, simply bring your donations to the church. Ronnie will collect them and distribute them where they can make the greatest difference.
Greetings, Saint Matthew family and friends,
What a blessing this week has been! The rain and the cooler temperatures have been a welcome gift. I found myself standing on my porch, enjoying the 82-degree breeze and thanking God for a moment to simply be still and appreciate His creation.
I am excited to begin our journey toward a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. We begin our first study tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the church. Charlotte Holder will open our time together with prayer, and then we will talk about what we want to study as a group. One option is to begin with Matthew 5, 6, and 7 using a study by Rev. Steve Langford, but this is your time in God’s Word, and we want it to be meaningful for everyone.
This newsletter also includes details for the service celebrating the life of our beloved church member, Mac Selfen. Following the funeral at Wade Funeral Home next Tuesday, we will host the family at the church for a light meal. We are especially grateful that Mac’s granddaughter, Josie, is preparing desserts for the gathering. I’ve had her cookies before, and I can assure you they are wonderful.
As you read this newsletter, I hope you’ve spent some time in God’s Word this week, or at least begun thinking about how to make that time a regular part of your day. Holy habits don’t happen by accident. They grow from setting aside intentional time for prayer, meditation, and the study of Scripture. As we make room for God each day, God fills our lives with the peace, joy, and strength we need to care for ourselves and to love others well.
Finally, don’t forget that our Administrative Council will meet briefly after worship on Sunday to make decisions about a few projects for the coming year.
My heart is with each of you this week. You are never far from my thoughts or my prayers.
Grace and peace,
Mary
One of the things I love most about Saint Matthew is that we’re surrounded by reminders of God’s faithfulness. Some of those reminders come through Sunday worship, familiar faces, and shared laughter. Others come as we remember the people whose lives have shaped this church over the years. Their prayers, generosity, and quiet acts of service continue to bless our church family long after they were first offered.
This has been one of those weeks. As we continue praying for the Selfen family following Mac’s passing and for Keith Butterfield and his family, I’m reminded that the strength of Saint Matthew has always been found in faithful people who loved God and loved one another well. Their lives continue to encourage us, and their example challenges us to live our own faith with the same generosity and compassion.
Mary’s sermon reminded me that seeds planted in good soil bear fruit. The same is true of a life rooted in Christ. Every kind word, every prayer, every hour spent serving, and every act of generosity becomes part of the story God is writing through this church.
Have you ever noticed someone sitting alone at school or on the playground? Maybe you wanted to go say hello, but you weren’t sure if you should. Sometimes we feel a gentle nudge to do something kind, even if it feels a little scary.
In this week’s Bible lesson, Paul reminds us that God’s Holy Spirit is always with us. The Holy Spirit helps us choose what is good and loving. When we listen to God’s Spirit, we begin to notice people who need a friend, someone who could use a smile, or someone who simply needs to know they belong.
Choosing kindness doesn’t always mean doing something big. It might be inviting someone to play, sitting with a new student at lunch, helping a classmate, or encouraging a friend who is having a hard day. Those small moments are ways we share God’s love with others.
The wonderful news is that we don’t have to do it alone. We are God’s children, and the Holy Spirit walks with us every day, helping us grow to become more like Jesus. Every act of kindness is another way we can help someone experience God’s love.
Read: Romans 8:5-17 (CEB)
Your Huddled Masses: An Invitation of Hope
In this week’s sermon, inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28, we were reminded of God’s enduring invitation: “Come to me, all of you who are weary, and I will give you rest.” Jesus spoke these words to ordinary people burdened by oppression, uncertainty, and the struggles of daily life. His message was simple yet profound—bring your weariness, your fears, and your heavy burdens, and find rest in God’s presence.
Drawing a connection between the crowds of Galilee and our modern world, the sermon reflected on moments when people set aside differences and recognize their shared humanity. The recent World Cup was offered as an example of communities gathering in celebration, reminding us that connection, joy, and hospitality are powerful forces for healing and hope.
As our nation marks its 250th year, we were encouraged to remember the welcoming spirit symbolized by the Statue of Liberty’s famous invitation to the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” More importantly, we were reminded that God’s welcome is even wider, extending unconditional love to every person.
The good news of the Gospel is that God does not define us by nationality, status, accomplishments, or appearance. God sees us simply as beloved children and invites us to extend that same grace to one another. In doing so, we become bearers of hope, peace, and Christ’s love in the world.
Call to Action: There are two calls to action this week. First, take an intentional step toward welcoming, encouraging, or caring for someone outside your usual circle. Offer a kind word, share a meal, listen to a neighbor’s story, or reach out to someone who may feel alone. As followers of Christ, we are called not only to receive God’s love but to reflect it. Let us be people who open doors, build bridges, and remind others that they, too, are beloved children of God. In a world longing for hope, each act of grace can become a living invitation: “Come and find rest.” Second, hold on to the hope of joy and hospitality displayed this summer during the World Cup. When the games are over, do not let that hope be lost. Jesus is the “light of all people. The light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it” (John 1: 4b-5, paraphrased). Don’t forget to distribute your business cards to the folks you meet.
JUL
12
10:30 am – Breakfast provided by members of the church.
JUL
15
10:30 am – Wednesday Prayer Group and Bible Study
JUL
19
12:00 pm – Brief One Council Meeting after church
JUL
26
10:30 am – Breakfast provided by Winston and Mark (and everyone who can help).
AUG
2
Communion Sunday
AUG
9
Back to School Blessings Sunday
Love to all,
Rev. Mary Teague, MDiv.
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