I wish you peace and cooler temperatures this week. Looks like we may get a little reprieve this week: 99 degrees instead of 108! But the mornings are getting noticeably more comfortable. I won’t say cooler, but more comfortable. Stay inside as much as possible during these last days of summer. The air quality is not good, and the heat can make you very ill very quickly.

For the past several weeks, we have followed the story of Nehemiah—a leader whose courage reshaped an entire community. Nehemiah began far from home, serving as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. When he learned Jerusalem lay in ruins, his heart broke. That grief led him to prayer, and prayer led him to action. Even afraid, Nehemiah asked the king for help, surrendered his plans to God, and stepped boldly into leadership.

When he arrived in Jerusalem, Nehemiah assessed the damage himself. He gathered the people, shared a vision, and invited everyone to take part. Scripture tells us, “the people had a heart to work,” and together they rebuilt a 2.5‑mile wall in just 52 days. Courageous leadership doesn’t eliminate obstacles—it adapts, inspires, and finishes what it starts.

Today, our call is not to build a wall, but a bridge—a bridge between our congregation and the 44,000 neighbors who share the 76112 zip code. This richly diverse community includes thousands of children and seniors living below the poverty line. Hunger, limited resources, and daily challenges shape their lives. We cannot solve every need alone, but like Nehemiah’s people, we can take responsibility for our part of the wall.

We can strengthen our partnership with Bill J. Elliott Elementary, host meals for nearby streets, and work alongside the 33 churches in our zip code. Most importantly, we can deepen our own spiritual formation, building a strong bridge between ourselves and God—one that empowers us to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.

For the people of Saint Matthew have a heart to work. Blessings to all, Mary

Blessings of peace and good health be upon each of you as you read through this church newsletter. Every week, our Media Manager, Jason Hardy, works hard to write and edit the St. Matthew Weekly News. All of this after his full-time job is finished for the day. Before Jason, it was Judy Schneider who did this work. The newsletter is a lifeline to this congregation for many people who would otherwise have very little contact with St. Matthew. I am grateful for those of you who read and support this publication. I want to get comments and suggestions from you regarding ways to make this more effective and meaningful. Please email me at [email protected] with your ideas.

We could also use some contributors to the content. If you have a skill for writing and/or reporting, please reach out to me. We could add devotions, personal testimonies (briefly, please), updates on happenings in the neighborhood, and other input that I have not named. Do not miss this opportunity to be a part of this vital outreach to our community.

In our Wednesday Bible study, we’ve been exploring righteousness—not simply as rule‑keeping, but as the deep alignment of our hearts with the heart of God. As Rev. Steve Langford reminds us, the Hebrews sought righteousness through the laws of Moses. Yet in Matthew 5:3–12, Jesus expands that understanding, describing righteousness as the attitudes and actions that shape us into people who love as God loves, serve from integrity, and practice mercy and justice in our relationships. This is righteousness that God forms within us, not something we achieve on our own. And this matters for courageous leadership.

Because God makes us righteous, God also empowers us to lead with courage. Nehemiah shows us what this looks like. When he heard of Jerusalem’s devastation, his heart broke. His grief led him to fasting and prayer—because courageous leadership begins by bringing our heartbreak to God. Even when fear rose within him, Nehemiah moved forward, praying again before answering the king. Courageous leadership surrenders personal plans and seeks God’s wisdom first. Nehemiah inspected the damage himself, planned realistically, and rallied God’s people toward restoration. Courageous leadership looks like sharing God’s vision with others.

Finally, courageous leadership looks like following the Psalm of David, 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God. Being still and seeking God’s wisdom are the true beginning of courageous leadership.

Next week, we’ll continue Nehemiah’s story. For now, remember Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

We have lots of events and activities planned for the remainder of the year! Check the calendar section of this newsletter and our website, saintmatthewumc.com for details.

My love to all! Stay cool and hydrated. Mary

Welcome to the dog days of summer—the stretch of sweltering heat that leaves many of us feeling drained, irritable, and spiritually sluggish. Traditionally, this season marks not only the hottest weeks of the year but also a time of stagnation, when even simple tasks feel heavy. I’ll be honest: these temperatures do not bring out my best mood. Once, I could work construction in any weather. Now, as a post‑menopausal woman capable of generating my own internal furnace, one blast of that hot parking‑lot wind can snatch my joy in an instant.

And that’s the truth for many of us. Joy slips away for countless reasons. Physical or emotional pain interrupts it. HALT—being hungry, angry, lonely, or tired—blocks it. Sometimes the behavior of others interferes with it. In these dog‑day moments, when our mood doesn’t match the joy we want to show, we may wonder how to reconnect with God’s strength.

Scripture reminds us that joyful service is not something we manufacture. Nehemiah told the newly returned exiles, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Peter wrote to scattered believers that even in trials, God gives “a joy that words cannot express.” This joy is not self‑made; it is a gift from the risen Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Serving joyfully is a holy habit. When you notice your joy fading, pause. Pray. Ask God for a fresh dose of joy. Even in the hottest days of summer, God’s joy remains steady, renewing, and ready to strengthen you.

Loving boldly is possible through the presence of God in our lives and so is serving joyfully. Our only task is to surrender to the power of God in our hearts and let that surrender be visible through our actions in this world.

Looking at the weather forecast, we are in for a few more weeks of heat. Please stay indoors, if possible, during the hottest parts of the day. Pay attention to the air quality warnings on the local weather forecast. And drink your water as your doctor instructs.

My love and blessings to all! Mary