THE PICNIC!

This is our annual Brian McKosky picnic—with sausage hauled all the way from Wisconsin to Texas.
Some of you have signed up to bring some of “the fixin’s” to go with the wieners.

Now listen!—if it rains, the picnic will move inside. So, not to worry. Rain or shine, we eat after worship this Sunday.

Last Week’s Sermon

Women are dying needlessly because of radical laws preventing abortions—even in medical emergencies. So, I talked about the “A” word last week. I told the story of Sophie, distraught over expecting a baby with a cruel man she had been dating. She was in agony over whether to keep the baby. Crying beside the road in her car, she opened her eyes to see a light all around her. And from the Light came this word: “The child will be fine either way.” Then she was reminded that she was loved. God can handle any situation. The laws being passed are cruel, destructive, and unnecessary.

The Class—Discovering God

This week, we will look at the second (perhaps third) most famous religious experience of all time.
Class at 9:45—followed by breakfast.

Speaking of Breakfast

This is a “Winston Sunday”—so expect a great meal. We do need the breakfast to feed the Discovering God Class and others, even if we are having a picnic after church.
Food and fellowship at 10:30.

This Sunday

This Sunday—the sermon first intended for last week: “Joy.” I hope it will be uplifting.
Blake will be in Mexico celebrating Day of the Dead. No choir. Shannon will sing.
AND!!!—we gather at the Lord’s Table.

God Bless,
MB

Peace and love to you from a follower of Jesus Christ,

My prayers for you this week have been for comfort and peace. Anxiety, worry, and fear are palpable in the air as we approach this most contentious election next week. I understand those feelings and find myself frequently “belly breathing” and inviting the peace of Christ into my mind. I remind myself that “the Lord is my shepherd, walking with me through green pastures, still waters,” and whatever chaos the world is experiencing. I tell myself, “let not your heart be troubled.” I am a follower of Jesus, and I do feel the presence of the risen Christ in my life, even in the middle of a society at war with itself. I remember that God is eternal and all-knowing. God has already seen what happens in the future, including the election next week. I know we all have an outcome in mind that either brings us joy or fear. I encourage all of you to choose to trust in God. The best we can do is to vote in the way our conscience leads us. The next best thing we can do is to continue to love our neighbors and to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in our neighborhood. Neither of those two things depends on who sits in the White House. All politics aside, it is imperative that an open, affirming, accepting, and loving voice of the church is heard above the noise of people at war with each other over political ideals. Saint Matthew is such a church, and we have that voice.

Don’t forget our picnic this weekend, which looks like it will be held indoors. We had very few folks sign up on Sunday for the event. Please let Vita know what you plan to bring if you did not sign up on Sunday. This will be a very informal event; we will have no decorations, but we will need a cleanup crew. I encourage you to bring everything that you and your family will need that you would bring for a picnic, and then bring a little more to share with others.

We have two important events coming up. On November 5th, Saint Matthew will host a voting location. After our picnic on Sunday, we will work together to make sure the bathrooms and the fellowship hall are clean and ready to receive guests. Our second important event is a wedding that has been booked at the church for December 7th. This is our first time hosting a wedding as a paid venue. We will work together on Thursday evening, December 5th, and Friday, December 6th, to make certain that the church is clean and ready to receive guests.

Finally, my beloved siblings, keep your thoughts on things that are good, things that are right, things that are just, things that are loving. When we think on these things, the world is a better place.

Mary

Last week, we talked about the three visitors who came to Abraham’s tent and promised that Abraham, who was 99, and Sarah, who was 90, would have a son. True to God’s promise, they had a son named Isaac, which means “He Laughs.” Later, Isaac had a son named Jacob.

When we meet Jacob, he’s on the run. Jacob had tricked his father into giving him his older brother Esau’s birthright, and now Esau wants to kill him for it. So Jacob flees. After a long journey, he stops to rest, and while he’s asleep, God appears to him in a dream. In the dream, God promises Jacob land, many descendants, and His protection, just as He did for Abraham. God also promises to be with Jacob always. God keeps His promises and is always present with us.

We look forward to seeing you in church this Sunday to talk more about God’s promises!

It may sound early, but we’re already preparing a Christmas program for the kids. During church, they’ll present the program, and if we’re lucky, St. Nick himself will join us after lunch! Parents, please let Miss Vickie or me know if your little ones will be part of the program, so we can make sure Santa has enough stockings filled with goodies for each child.

Blessings…

The Class—Discovering God

We had one of the most interesting classes we have ever had last week—and we are only getting started.

We are studying the deepest and most meaningful experiences of our lives—every Sunday.

Class at 9:45—followed by breakfast.

Speaking of Breakfast

This is a “We-Bring Sunday.” I will be there with my pigs-in-blankets. You help me. Bring something good. I’m hungry.

Food and fellowship at 10:30.

This Sunday

I’ll make this short and—well, it may or may not be sweet. Jason needs this copy immediately. He is out of town and will have trouble getting this newsletter out.

This Sunday—less excited than last week.

The sermon will be called “Joy.”

Kristi will be out—so no choir.

Blake will be doing double duty—which means playing piano and singing—or Shannon or Julian will sing. Whoever it is, it will be beautiful.

Keep our sick folk in your prayers.

Love to all of you. And—

God Bless,

MB

MEETING: PPR Committee—again, for a few minutes after church to finalize forms. Thanks.

Greetings, beloved Church and Church friends,

I wish you peace and love in the name of the risen Christ. I was blessed this week to spend time at a grief summit. Several clergy members and I gathered together on Monday with a grief coach at Keller United Methodist Church. We spent three hours talking about grief. The discussions included the impact of losing church members, the impact of disaffiliations, and the difficulty of allowing space for our own grief while acknowledging the grief of the rest of the world. It was an amazing and uplifting encounter with God on Monday. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been there.

I want to say thanks to everyone who brought Halloween candy for the Trunk or Treat at the elementary school. We got lots of good candy, and hopefully, those kiddos will have a great time next week at their event.

I also want to say a special thank you to Brian McCosky for two reasons. First of all, Brian has pretty much single-handedly managed the issues we are having with our HVAC equipment. This has taken a lot of his time, including his entire birthday back in September. Secondly, I want to thank Brian for bringing brats and hotdogs back from Wisconsin. In the midst of juggling my responsibilities, I failed to set a date with Brian for a church picnic. Thankfully, Brian is part of a veterans’ organization and will be able to use the imported meats for an event with local veterans. I apologize to you all that we will miss out on the high-quality products that Brian brings back from Wisconsin. That said, we still need a church picnic. Apparently, the weather is going to cooperate until at least the middle of November. We will be having a church picnic on November 3, 2024, immediately following the service. The temperature that day is forecasted to be 75° with a minimal chance of rain. I will have a sign-up sheet this Sunday for those who wish to bring food for the picnic. We will invite the neighborhood via our sign out in front of the building and through this newsletter article. Please join us on November 3 for breakfast at 10:30, church at 11, and a picnic on the grounds beginning at 12:30.

Thank you for your continued love and patience with me as I pursue ordination in the United Methodist Church. I have been away from school for a while now, and I’m not sure I remember everything I need to. I have to study extra to remind myself of all the things I’ve forgotten.

My love to you all,
Mary