Mary Up to Bat

Mary will be preaching this Sunday.
That makes for an easier week for me.
You’d be surprised how long it takes just to get a service ready—not including the sermon.
I can spend hours just selecting the music. Kristi (our organist) accused me of having a “new hymn book” last week.

“You’ve got a new book, Max. I know you do.”

Truth is, I usually pull music from several hymn books. But last week, I really shook things up: two new hymns and a third one so old you had to be old to know it.
It all went well—and I loved the music we sang.

And the duet—The Prayer, sung by Shannon and Julian—was glorious.
I think Blake will return this Sunday. I’m looking forward to that.

Watching Online

Whatever the video guys (Jason and Robert) did to improve the organ sound—worked.
Kristi’s prelude is something we all look forward to each week. Last week, it sounded full and wonderful in the recording.

The music recorded beautifully—at least, what got recorded.
We had a glitch: the end of the duet was cut, along with the end of the sermon and the service.
I’ll just have to preach the whole thing again. (Yes, I’m kidding.)

My Class

Last week, I ended class with a question:
Was what the disciples found in the empty tomb enough for them to believe in the Resurrection?

The “Beloved Disciple” looked—and believed immediately.
There was something about the scene that told him the body wasn’t stolen. Something very strange had happened.
What did he see?

Come visit this week. I’m looking forward to it.
9:45 AM—followed by breakfast

Breakfast This Sunday

The usual great Winston breakfast last week—but this Sunday is “We Bring.”
So let’s bring. I’m hungry.
10:30 AM

The Work Begins

Jason (Hardy) met with Chuy from 4Stage twice this week, and the work begins next week. It’s a big project:
• New sound booth
• New cameras
• Complete rewiring of the sanctuary sound and video system

Two new pews will be added at the back of the sanctuary—one regular length and one three feet long, beside the sound booth, behind the two short pews currently there.
This is because the new sound booth will go back one row farther than the current one.

To make the new pews, the crew will shorten two long choir pews currently stored in the transepts. That will leave two pews on each side—just what we need.

(This should be very exciting to Methodists: there will be new back pews to fight over.)

We’re really just putting pews back where they used to be before the 1992 remodel. (You can tell—there’s no carpet where the pews once were. After this project, the carpet will be correct again.)

The chairs at the back will have to go—no room for them. The ushers will have to sit on the floor!

A Morning Concert

Our morning concert originally scheduled for August 10 will move to August 17, as Jason (our sound/video guy) won’t be here on the 10th.

But go ahead—get excited!

And remember, tickets are now on sale for our big concert with MSB Gospel Choir on Saturday, September 20.
Grab a few to sell!

⸻

How great it is to worship.
Come! Let us rejoice together.
God Bless—
MB

No Friday’s Word this week. There’s one in the newspaper, but you’ve seen it.

Greetings to you in the name of the risen Christ! I pray that love and peace abound in your life this week and every week.

What a joy it was to see Keith Butterfield on Sunday! Other than his new ride (a wheelchair), he hasn’t changed a bit and is still telling great stories about his life and adventures. Thank you, Doug Kelsey, for making sure Keith made it to church—I know he is deeply grateful to be still able to attend. To those of you unable to be with us physically, please know that we miss you. If you’re able to attend church but just need transportation, please let me know and we will arrange a ride. Email me at [email protected] if you have any questions, can offer a ride, or need a ride.

Our September 20th concert with the MSB Gospel Choir will be here before we know it! Work has already begun on the sound system upgrade, and it will be completed in time for the concert. Paper tickets are available from Veta, and we’ll have an online option very soon. There’s also an opportunity to buy an extra ticket or two for folks in our neighborhood who may not be able to afford one. Let me know if you’re willing to sponsor a guest or two.

Finally, the sign-up sheet for helping with the duties of hosting a community concert is still hanging in the hallway on the bulletin board—there are plenty of ways to get involved. Speaking of helping, I’ll be volunteering at Eastside Community Assistance this Friday at 8:00 AM. I’ll be working in the clothing room with Ms. Dorothy, and I’m excited to spend time with her, learn what she does, and help wherever I can.

I’ll be preaching this Sunday and look forward to sharing what God has placed on my heart. One thing is for certain—my heart is filled with the knowledge that I am a beloved child of God. If you never hear me say anything else, please know this: you are also God’s beloved child.

Until Sunday,

Mary

This week, we met a man named Elijah, a prophet who was doing what God asked him to do. He had just shown everyone that the Lord is the one true God—but not everyone was happy about it.

When Queen Jezebel heard what happened, she was furious! She sent Elijah a message that said, “I’m going to make sure you’re gone by tomorrow!”

Elijah was scared. He ran far into the wilderness and sat under a tree.

“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4).

But God didn’t leave Elijah alone. An angel touched him and said,

“Get up and eat” (1 Kings 19:5). There was bread and water beside him! Elijah ate, then rested, and the angel came back again and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you” (1 Kings 19:7).

Elijah traveled for 40 days and nights until he came to a cave. There, he hid. But God spoke to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9)

Elijah poured out his heart to God, saying he was scared and felt all alone.

God told Elijah to stand on the mountain. Then came a powerful wind, a strong earthquake, and a blazing fire—but Elijah didn’t hear God in any of those. Finally, there came a gentle whisper. And Elijah knew… God was there (1 Kings 19:11–12).

Even though Elijah felt alone, God reminded him he wasn’t. God gave him new instructions and sent him back out—stronger than before.

What We Learned
• God doesn’t just show up in big, loud ways—He speaks in gentle whispers too.
• When we’re tired or afraid, God gives us what we need.
• It’s okay to feel scared or alone—God is always with us.
• God reminds us of our purpose, even when we forget.

Come back next Sunday to meet a brave shepherd boy who becomes a king!
See you then!

This Week’s Sermon: God Talks to Us

I’ve been doing a series—three sermons in which we get our info about God from two sources: SCRIPTURE and EXPERIENCE. Sermon three will be this Sunday: God Talks to Us.

I must admit, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with last week’s sermon. Not sure I got it across. But—I hadn’t slept the night before. Not a wink. It’s hard for me to get into a good sleep position with my wounded leg. So—no sleep.

I was so tired, I wasn’t sure how things had gone in the service. But I was checking the music on the recording last week—something I often do—and decided to also listen to my sermon, something I seldom do.

I was satisfied. The witness from the young man I quoted was as powerful as I had intended.

This week, you’ll get the third dose. You’ll then have what I consider three things we all must know about God.

My Class: The Resurrection

We’ll be talking about the resurrection.

I have a chapter in Discovering God on the resurrection.

Two questions we’ll discuss:

1. If there were no resurrection, would there still be a church?
2. If you had to give evidence for the resurrection to a non-believer, what would you say?

We’ll raise those questions in class this Sunday at 9:45 AM, followed by breakfast.

Breakfast This Sunday

It’s back to Winston! You may also bring something.

(What a great big breakfast we had last week!)

Listen—do come early to church to share this food and fellowship.

Breakfast at 10:30 AM.

Watching Online: A Quick Note

The service is looking good.

But Julian and Shannon must NOT share one microphone. You can’t hear them well enough. The problem: right now, we have only one mic for me and one for the singers. (Mary has a lapel mic.)

That must change—and it will, once the upcoming work is done. So, consider adding just a little bit to the dollar sign—enough for:

• Three microphone outlets on the post near the piano
• One new microphone

(Currently, we have long mic cables running around the piano, through the south transept, behind the organ, and to the amp in the little Tower Room. In other words, Jerry-rigged. I don’t know who Jerry is, but we are getting rid of his rigging!)

The Big Project—new sound booth, new cameras, moving all recording from the high media room to the sanctuary floor (which means complete sound and video rewiring)—may begin next week.

Our Special Offering: Thank You

I’m sure we’ve raised over $3,000 for flood victim relief.

Let us give thanks that we could help.

May the Lord use our gifts for those who are suffering.

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Worship is such a joy. And God is so good. Come! Let us rejoice together.

God Bless—MB

Hello to all of God’s beloved children,

I pray that your week is going smoothly—and that most of your plans are indoors! It looks like we’ll have hot and humid weather for a while longer… and maybe even more rain? My grass has never been this green in July, and my water bill has never been this low!

Summer is usually a time when attendance at St. Matthew dips a little, but not this year. We’ve been consistently welcoming around 60 people each Sunday, and I am so grateful for your continued commitment to our congregation. It brings me joy to see your faces each week. Please continue to pray for one another and for the world around us.

This Friday, July 17, I’ll be meeting with the Eastside Community Assistance Board. We have many things to discuss, including the upcoming gospel concert on September 20, 2025, featuring MSB. Tickets will go on sale July 27, both in print and online, and will be available until we sell out. I truly hope many of you will invite your friends and family to enjoy this evening of music, fellowship, and a shared meal afterward. I’ll share more details next week.

I also want to personally thank you for your generosity and prayers in support of the flood relief efforts in the Rio Texas Conference of the UMC. Our goal was to raise $2,000, and you gave $4,000! You overwhelm me with your kindness and love. A check will be sent to the Rio Texas Conference, and 100% of your donations will go directly to help those in need. Please continue to lift these families—and so many others around the world—who are being affected by extreme weather.

My love and blessings to you all,

Mary