The loss of Carolyn Bell feels like the end of an era to me. But most of our present members did not know her. She has been with her family in Flower Mound since 2014. That family is largely Church of Christ, so Carolyn’s family brought their minister to conduct a Church of Christ service in our church, with my eulogy in the middle of it.

Robbie, Carolyn’s daughter, knew her mom would want her service at Saint Matthew. And the family was happy with the service. That, of course, is what is important with a memorial service.

With my knee replacement only 10 days before, I was definitely in no shape to participate in the service. I did anyway, and I am so glad I did.

Danny and Leslie Detrick, the former choir director and his wife, were present, along with beloved former members. An era closes. Life goes on.

After My Surgery

I am making slow progress. It is harder and more painful than I thought it would be. The church has made a big difference. My sister and I are so grateful for the food that has come in. Thank you.

I hope to see you on Christmas Eve. Do not expect miracles. My movement will be limited. But what a time of rejoicing it will be.

We will have a great Christmas Eve service, and I will arrive hungry for worship.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

And a big Christmas dinner, with Santa for the kids.

Mary finishes her beautiful Advent sermon series this Sunday. The choir sings a glorious anthem. And then Christmas dinner.

Come prepare your hearts for the Babe in the manger.

God bless.

All that some of you must bring to the dinner this Sunday is desserts. Wish I could be there. I like desserts.

Greetings, dear friends and family of Saint Matthew!

As we draw near to the end of our Advent season together, I find myself looking back and wondering what happened to all the days between the first Sunday of Advent and now, here on December 16. I’ve told myself for years that life would calm down someday. And yet, when I look back and see how quickly time has passed, I sometimes feel cheated, as though it only keeps getting busier.

Today, I’ve decided to stop fighting that feeling. I’ve decided to trust that what is happening in my life is exactly what is meant to be happening. God’s grace and presence place me right where I’m supposed to be, doing exactly what I’m called to do. So instead of looking back and wondering where the time went, I’m choosing to stay right here in this moment—grateful for what is unfolding.

Because what is happening right now, in my life and in all of our lives, is that God continues to reveal God’s self in both microscopic and magnificent ways. We simply have to be open to noticing. It’s easy to become focused on the mundane, to slip into a kind of stupor as the world rushes by. But no more—not when every breath is precious, every word matters, and every interaction and experience can be a vessel of God’s grace. I encourage you to lean into each day. Advent may be marked once a year, but Jesus shows up every single day. Don’t blink, or you might miss him.

I also want to remind you that this Sunday, following worship, we will gather for our annual Christmas dinner. This year we’ll celebrate simply, sharing pizza and leftover spaghetti—along with an abundance of desserts, thanks to those of you who are bringing them. After lunch, we will enjoy the cutting of the cake with Joshua and Julian. I look forward to seeing you there. And for those watching remotely, please know that I am thinking of you and that you are missed. We love you so much. I am deeply grateful to be part of the ministry of Saint Matthew United Methodist Church and humbled to walk this journey with you each week.

With love,

Mary

This Sunday, we learned about the family story of Jesus, a story that begins in a very ordinary way. Mary was not a queen or a princess. She was a young woman, engaged to be married, living a normal life. At first, there was nothing about her situation that seemed special or important.

Then something unexpected happened. An angel came to Mary and said, “Do not be afraid.” Those words appear again and again in the Bible, especially when God is about to do something new. The angel told Mary that she would be part of God’s plan to bring love into the world through Jesus. What makes Mary’s story meaningful is not power or position, but her willingness to trust God when she did not have all the answers, just as we hear in the Gospel of Matthew’s telling of Jesus’ beginnings (Matthew 1).

Mary did not walk this path alone. She leaned on her community and found comfort and courage alongside her cousin Elizabeth, who was experiencing her own unexpected joy. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we remember that God’s love often shows up quietly, through ordinary people, and that this love, once given, lasts forever.

What We Learned:

• God often works through ordinary people.
• God’s love does not need power or fame to change the world.
• Trusting God can be hard, but we are never alone.
• When we share love and kindness, we help show God’s light to others.

I want to share my full support for the Administrative Board’s decision to conclude our long relationship with the Star-Telegram at the end of this year. I am grateful to Brian McCosky for the thoughtful work he put into exploring new online platforms for sharing “the little articles.” Brian is a brilliant guy, and I appreciate his dedication.

I am hopeful that the church might consider a one-time expense to equip my classroom so I can begin recording my class each week as a podcast. So much of our future ministry together depends on finishing and sharing the book I’ve been working on for the past 20 years, and this would help us move in that direction.

Be encouraged, dear friends—we are moving forward.

I miss all of you. I am in considerable pain unless I am sitting still, but I am sleeping well, and for that I’m grateful. There is a hard road ahead, yet I know God walks with me.

I was delighted by the concert attendance—95 people! What a gift.

Please hold these dear ones in prayer:

• Charlotte Holder, whose surgery is scheduled for next Monday. Charlotte, our love is with you.

• Linda Anderson, after her fall. Linda, we love you and are praying for healing and comfort.

Pastor’s Class remains on hold until January.

As for breakfast this Sunday, if everything stays on schedule, it should be a “We-bring” Sunday at 9:30 AM. And thank you, Mary, for all your wonderful work.

Has anyone arranged a Christmas dinner so that Santa can visit? And I’m assuming we may not have a Christmas concert this year, though we’ll see how things unfold.

I look forward to being with you again.

For now—

God bless you all.

I’m taking my poor knee to bed tonight. One of my knees had a birthday on Monday, and the other is still new—and crying like a baby.

—Pastor Max

Greetings, dear friends and family of Saint Matthew,

This season of Advent is meant to slow us down, to help us breathe, and to make room for God in the middle of our hurried lives. As I mentioned on Sunday morning, I encourage you each day to pause—sit with God, breathe deeply, and savor your morning cup of whatever brings you comfort. You will need that quiet strength for what I must share.

Our dear Carolyn Bell passed peacefully into her heavenly reward on the morning of December 9. Carolyn was one of the pillars of our church. She served faithfully on the Administrative Board and many committees over the years, and she was one of the last members who joined Saint Matthew simply because she lived in the neighborhood and wanted to be part of this community. Her warm smile and heartfelt welcome were the very reasons my family knew Saint Matthew was our home the very first time we walked through the doors.

The family is working to finalize arrangements, and the plan—pending confirmation—is to hold her memorial service this Saturday, December 13, here at Saint Matthew United Methodist Church. As soon as I receive word from the funeral home, I will share details. Please be prepared to help with a meal at the church, either before or after the service. Whether you knew Carolyn personally or not, I would love for us to show her family just how deeply she blessed our lives.

As we look toward the new year, we also have some important work ahead. We will begin addressing foundation issues in the annex, a project that truly cannot wait. Following that, we will move into long-overdue updates to the bathrooms, fellowship hall, and several other areas that need attention. These improvements will help us care for our building the way it has cared for us.

I have also asked Veta to coordinate meals over the next two weeks for Pastor Max and his sister Jackie, as well as Linda Anderson and Charlotte Holder. Nothing fancy—just good, comforting food from the heart. Max is progressing and starting physical therapy, though he continues to have considerable pain. Linda is healing beautifully from her fall and is nearly back to her joyful self. Charlotte’s surgery is today (Tuesday), and I will keep you posted as I learn more.

This coming Sunday is already the third Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Love. As I read back over everything I’ve asked of you in this newsletter—your prayers, your presence, your service—I’m struck by how clearly this church reflects the body of Christ. The way you care for one another, lift one another up, and offer hope is exactly what Jesus intended for His people.

Our next steps—reaching into our neighborhood, diversifying our congregation, and offering programs beyond Sunday mornings—will help us continue to grow in God’s grace and truth. I am grateful for you, and for your commitment to the gospel work unfolding at Saint Matthew.

Stay warm, be blessed,

Mary