Happy Wednesday to all of you in the name of Jesus Christ. As we make plans for our community meals, concerts, and personal holiday preparations, I don’t want us to lose sight of the blessing it is to be the beloved children of God. Our small but mighty church has its hands and heart involved in many ministries.

Just last week, eight women from our women’s group put together 100 feminine hygiene bags for women living on the street without access to adequate shelter or the basic necessities of life. This is being the hands and feet of Jesus. And the week before last, Connie Michael delivered 10 to 15 new coats to the elementary school for children without warm winter clothing. This is being the hands and feet of Jesus. This past Sunday, I enjoyed a homemade biscuit with gravy and sausage, prepared with love and expertise by Mark and Winston in the kitchen. This, too, is being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

At the same time, we have many in our congregation who will experience their first holiday without someone they love. Others may be struggling to make ends meet during this season, and some are only able to join us through an online venue. While the holidays are meant to be a joyful time, many of us will live in the bittersweet—in that space between joy and heartbreak, where tears run freely and without warning.

Be patient with each other, please. As humans under high stress, we tend to get snappy with one another. Make space in your life to allow people to express themselves. Make space in your heart and mind for others’ frustrations. Measure your words carefully, being respectful and kind. The harvest is great, but the workers are few. That does not mean we are allowed to turn on one another. Be gentle, please. We are all in need of grace and mercy.

Finally, over the next six to eight weeks, we will have many visitors among us. Between meals, special services, and one more concert before the year’s end, everything we do will require all hands on deck. Even if all you can do is help prepare a meal, put a tablecloth on the table, or fill cups with ice, your efforts matter.

Our upcoming Thanksgiving meal this Sunday after church is a prime example of the need for everyone to pitch in. Turkey for the event will be provided, but Mark and Ronnie are handling preparations. Cleanup will require everyone’s help.

As I close, I ask you to reflect on the various ways you already volunteer at the church and to prayerfully consider whether you want to continue in your current capacity. While we always need volunteers, I also encourage you to pray for God to lead you to a ministry that speaks to your heart at Saint Matthew.

The next few years may bring much suffering. Now is not the time to throw our hands up and say, “It’s just too much.” Take care of yourselves first, and then, with hearts full of gladness, look around to help others.

My love to you all,

Mary

This week, we learned about a widow who was facing a difficult situation. After her husband passed away, she was left with two sons and a lot of debt. The creditors came and threatened to take her sons as servants to repay the money. In her desperation, she turned to the prophet Elisha for help.

Elisha asked her what she had in her house, and she said she only had a small jar of oil. Elisha told her to send her sons to borrow as many empty jars as they could from their neighbors. Then, he instructed her to go inside, shut the door with her sons, and start pouring oil into the jars. Amazingly, the oil kept flowing until every jar was full! Once all the jars were filled, the oil stopped. Elisha told her to sell the oil to pay off her debts, and there was even enough left over for her and her sons to live on.

This story reminds us that God can take even the smallest things we have and turn them into something amazing if we trust Him.

We hope to see all our kids back at church soon! We’re excited to start working on a Christmas program—and maybe even convince Santa to pay us a visit! Bring your kids to church this Sunday. Blessings!

I have no words of comfort concerning the next four years. The winners are dangerous.

I remember the title of a book about women being complicit in their troubles in an abusive marriage: The Bed Was on Fire When I Got in It.

Over 50% of Americans have taken all of us into the fire. They could see it. Yet they chose it.

And most of those Americans are Christian. Conservative Christian.

That’s the important distinction. Conservative Christianity, with its angry, vengeful God, is a different religion from the one I preach.

And it’s different from what Jesus taught.

Jesus rejected vengeance of any kind.

Conservative Christians have now put a man of vengeance in the highest office in the land.

Something is wrong with the conservative church. And always has been.
Because their primary commitment is to the Bible with its many different images of God.

And the only image that counts is the image we have in Jesus Christ: a God of unconditional love for all humanity.

Now, people we love are in danger: women, gay people, immigrants, the poor, all minorities.

Education is in danger.

Freedom of speech is in danger. Our national security is in danger.

But I do have a word of comfort after all: God is not dead. And neither are you and I.

It’s not over. It’s never over. But some of you have a witness you are not using.

Help build that part of the church which stands with Jesus Christ.

And do it now.

Start this Sunday.

Saturday’s Concert

THIS Saturday—at 6:00 p.m.

Sandwich supper afterward.

Some of you will need to help with sandwiches or actually anything that would go with sandwiches—beans, potato salad, whatever. (We have chips.)

It’s been a hard season lately. Let’s have some fun. Mel Creason, Blake, Shannon, and Julian will all be singing. We will take an offering to help with our budget.

Let’s gather—Saturday at 6:00.

The Class—Discovering God

We truly are learning things we have not known. And the class gives us time to look carefully at what God is saying to us through experience. We have had some quite remarkable sessions.

You are welcome at any time.

Class at 9:45—followed by breakfast.

Speaking of Breakfast

This is a “Winston” Sunday. Expect a really good meal. You are also free to bring food.

Food and fellowship at 10:30, followed by worship.

This Sunday

The sermon Sunday: Trust God.

I hope Blake is feeling better. Our choir may (or may not) be singing Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. And hear this, choir: Blake wants to begin rehearsal this week at 9:00 to make up some lost time.

God Bless,
MB

P.S.—Got a nice e-mail from the president of Brite Divinity School in response to a recent Friday’s Word. I will share it with you Sunday.

REMEMBER THE CONCERT SATURDAY!!!
And remember our big Thanksgiving service and dinner on Sunday, Nov. 24—a week from this Sunday.

Blessings to you in the name of Jesus, who heals and comforts us,

In the coming weeks, we will begin to put some structure around our 2025 and future ministries. I want to ensure that the important things to you are included in the five strategic priorities of the Horizon Texas Conference. As a reminder, the five strategic priorities are:

1. Multiplying Jesus followers
2. Championing children and youth
3. Maximizing congregational care and healing
4. Pursuing and embracing diversity
5. Telling our story.

We have discussed these in the past, and our congregation’s choices at that time were to focus on championing children and youth, maximizing congregational care and healing, and pursuing and embracing diversity. It is my opinion that if we focus on these three, multiplying Jesus’ followers and telling our story will be the outcomes of these efforts. So, while we are not focused on all five if we do those three well, we will satisfy all five.

The Bishop intends to enlist the support of the laity of the Horizon Texas Conference. Recent data indicates that for every clergy person in the conference, there are 100 laity. The Bishop requested, and I am asking today, for a layperson to be a strategic priority champion. A Horizon Texas Conference Strategic Priority Champion is a trained laity member of the HTC, focused on taking the priorities of The United Methodist Church into the community to help folks find a faith home in the HTC. Training will occur in January, and there will be a laity covenant day specifically for this ministry in the conference.

A strategic priority champion does not focus on bringing more people to church. It is bigger than that. It is working within the conference and working with the clergy at the local church to determine ways to have an impact in our neighborhood. This can include invitations to church, of course, but it is primarily focused on meeting people where they are and addressing the needs they have where they are. Please pray about this before you volunteer. This is a structured commitment to the work of the entire conference, not just Saint Matthew. This is a commitment of time, energy, and prayer. I will also be in prayer for the one whom God chooses to fill this role at Saint Matthew.

I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am for your response to the sermon on Sunday. I am so very blessed to be part of a church that knows what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. There is much work to do, and I am grateful that you are willing to help with the efforts. Right this minute, just say a quick prayer for the work that we will do, pray for the people that God will send to us for help, and pray most of all for our nation and its place in the world. These will be difficult times. I do not intend to scare you; however, it is my job to prepare you for what we are about to face. We will meet after church very soon to discuss what all of this means. Invitations to these discussions will be forthcoming. I am encouraged that we are not alone. I have found multiple groups who are also determined to stand in the gap for people experiencing injustice. We will discuss it soon, privately!

Blessings to you all! Your sweet spirit and loving-kindness bring me hope and joy,
Mary