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

This Sunday, we learned about a man named Nabal. Nabal was a wealthy man with thousands of sheep and goats, and he was busy shearing them in a place called Carmel. When David, who was in the wilderness nearby, heard about this, he sent ten young men to Nabal, asking for food in return for helping to protect Nabal’s workers and property.

But Nabal refused David’s request, which was seen as very unkind in those days since hospitality was expected. David became angry and prepared to confront Nabal. However, Nabal’s wife, Abigail, was wise and acted quickly. She gathered food—200 loaves of bread, five prepared sheep, bags of roasted grain, clusters of raisins, and cakes of figs—and set out to meet David and his men, without telling her husband.

When Abigail met David, she humbly offered him the food, asking for peace. David accepted her kindness and decided not to attack Nabal’s household. Abigail returned home to find Nabal celebrating with a big feast, but after he heard what had happened, his heart failed, and he later passed away.

Reminder: We need all kids to help with preparing a play for the congregation as we get ready for a visit from Santa! See you on Sunday!

Last Sunday

Quite a good day. It was actually a “Mary Picnic”—and not a picnic at all, but a nice lunch after worship. I preached on joy, and we had a great time singing “Peace Like a River.” Johnny and Judy said they thought we might break out into revival.

And we gathered at the Lord’s Table.
And, oh!—it rained.
As Jesus said, it fell on the just and the unjust.
We Methodists are, of course, the just.

The Class—Discovering God

We are having quite a remarkable time. It is different from any study I have ever done of religious experiences. It is actually opening new doors for me—and it is changing the opening chapters of my book, Discovering God. We are discovering the extent to which God communicates with us and the ways in which God does that.

You are welcome at any time.
Class at 9:45—followed by breakfast.

Speaking of Breakfast

This is a “We-bring” Sunday. If we do not bring—no breakfast. I will bring my usual—those pigs in blankets. Food and fellowship at 10:30, followed by worship.

This Sunday

Mary preaches.
Blake is back. Our choir will sing.

Upcoming

Two things: A week from this Saturday—Nov. 16 at 6:00—we will have a concert. It is a “Creason Production”—as in Mel and Barb. It will feature Mel, Blake, Shannon, and Julian. Sandwich and chips supper after. Yes—we will need sandwiches and chips.

Thing Two: we have moved the Thanksgiving Dinner back to Thanksgiving Sunday—Nov. 24. Let’s gather. Let’s rejoice.

See you this Sunday.
God Bless,
MB

Our love to Ronnie Sullivan and family. Her brother’s memorial will be Saturday at the church. Check “Mary’s Room” for the time.

Blessings to you in the name of the risen Christ. What a joy it was on Sunday to be covered by the rains from heaven. In many parts of the Metroplex, the rainfall total for October was zero. We made up for that on Sunday and Monday, and I’m grateful to God for the life-giving rain. I think about the time between rainfall events in our neighborhood—one day stretching into the next, living with a heat that is not normal for October, accompanied by the beautiful sunshine we all need. It brings to mind those dry places in my spirit when I cannot feel, smell, or hear God. It makes me think about the moments when I struggle with my own faith and my understanding of who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ. And then, the rainfall reminds me of what a glorious thing it is when God “rains” into our souls. The sound of God’s love rushing back into my heart, like a mighty clap of thunder, so loud I am driven to my knees. The smell of the earth, God’s creation, soaked in water, created in Spirit. The feeling of being God’s beloved that floods my heart, overflowing the curbs of my soul. I am thankful for this week’s rain and blessed beyond measure to be a child of the Creator.

We have a busy month ahead. We continue to collect feminine hygiene products for our sisters experiencing homelessness. Please bring what you can by Sunday, November 10. The women’s group will assemble the bags at their luncheon on Thursday, November 14. We are also collecting new and very gently used children’s coats for Bill J. Elliott Elementary School. We will collect these coats until November 17. Please see Connie Michael if you have questions. Donated coats are currently being stored in Miss Sue and Miss Vickey’s Sunday school class. Also, in November, we will have a Saturday night concert and a Sunday after-church Thanksgiving dinner. I refer you to the calendar in the church hallway for the dates of the concert and Thanksgiving dinner. I announced the wrong dates on Sunday and, as a result, have retired from announcing dates.

I want to say a special thanks to Scott and Kay Ryan for the beautiful rendering of our church’s namesake, St. Matthew. It is hanging proudly in the hallway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. Thank you, Scott and Kay, for the lovely gift to our congregation.

December 1, 2024, is the first Sunday of Advent. It may seem early to announce Advent before we have celebrated Thanksgiving, but I am asking for your prayers for this season at Saint Matthew. I am praying specifically for God to do something amazing. I am asking God to do something so incredible that we will stop in our tracks, look skyward, and shout glory to God’s name. I pray for each of you, that the baby Jesus shows up in a deeper, more spiritual way than ever before. I also know this will be a very difficult holiday season for many of you. I pray for those of us who have lost loved ones over the last few years, those who were vitally important in our lives. It is difficult to live in the bittersweet space between celebrating the arrival of the Christ child and living with the loneliness and heartbreak of losing someone we love. We will do some special things this year to honor both worlds. More to come on the plans for Advent 2024 at Saint Matthew UMC.

My love to you all,
Mary

This week, we learned about how God provided for the Israelites on their long journey out of Egypt. After more than 400 years of slavery, the Israelites were finally free! They traveled out of Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, and found themselves in the wilderness. In this desert, there was little food or water, and soon the people became anxious. They started to complain, even wishing they could go back to Egypt.

But God heard their worries and took care of them. In the evenings, God sent quail for them to eat, and in the mornings, He provided manna—bread from heaven. God gave them just what they needed, but no more; any leftovers spoiled by the next day. This was a way for God to teach them to trust Him each day.

This story reminds us of how God provides for us, even when we’re uncertain. It also shows us the importance of being grateful and not taking things for granted. Sometimes, we may feel we don’t have enough or wish for more, but God invites us to trust in His daily care.

On a fun note—did you see last week’s announcement that we’re hoping for a visit from Santa at our church? He’s trying to fit us into his busy schedule and is penciling us in for December 15 after lunch. We’ll keep you posted as we get closer. Looking forward to seeing you in church on Sunday!