Hello, dear church family and friends,

As we finish our Love Boldly series, I want to share a few ideas I learned in my previous nursing role that have stayed with me.

First, taking care of yourself includes establishing intentional downtime. Set aside a specific time each day to step away from screens and unnecessary stimulation. Even five to ten minutes of quiet, mindfulness, prayer, meditation, or simply focusing on God’s creation can help your nervous system reset.

Second, ask yourself, What are the things in my life that are truly meaningful to me? Identify two or three activities that bring you deep joy, then intentionally make time for them.

Finally, reconnect with hobbies, interests, and relationships that have brought you joy in the past. These recommendations are adapted from an article titled Exiting Survival Mode, published on the Texas Health Resources intranet.

As we begin our new series, Serve Courageously, I hope you’ll spend a little time thinking about this: service to others is work, but it is also fuel for your soul. I’ll have much more to share with you on Sunday morning.

I am so grateful to be doing this work with you. By the grace of God and through the power of God’s love, we are building something new at Saint Matthew. I am excited to be walking this path together.

I also ask for your prayers as you read this, especially if you’re reading on Wednesday. Today marks my final day serving as the Palliative Care and Hospice Program Coordinator at Texas Health Resources. I returned for one day to help with the program’s re-certification inspection and, if all goes as expected, I will officially hand off this role to my successor at the end of the day.

Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and your prayers during this transition. I look forward to devoting my full attention to the ministry we share here at Saint Matthew.

Love to all,

Mary

Greetings, Saint Matthew family and friends,

What a blessing this week has been! The rain and the cooler temperatures have been a welcome gift. I found myself standing on my porch, enjoying the 82-degree breeze and thanking God for a moment to simply be still and appreciate His creation.

I am excited to begin our journey toward a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. We begin our first study tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the church. Charlotte Holder will open our time together with prayer, and then we will talk about what we want to study as a group. One option is to begin with Matthew 5, 6, and 7 using a study by Rev. Steve Langford, but this is your time in God’s Word, and we want it to be meaningful for everyone.

This newsletter also includes details for the service celebrating the life of our beloved church member, Mac Selfen. Following the funeral at Wade Funeral Home next Tuesday, we will host the family at the church for a light meal. We are especially grateful that Mac’s granddaughter, Josie, is preparing desserts for the gathering. I’ve had her cookies before, and I can assure you they are wonderful.

As you read this newsletter, I hope you’ve spent some time in God’s Word this week, or at least begun thinking about how to make that time a regular part of your day. Holy habits don’t happen by accident. They grow from setting aside intentional time for prayer, meditation, and the study of Scripture. As we make room for God each day, God fills our lives with the peace, joy, and strength we need to care for ourselves and to love others well.

Finally, don’t forget that our Administrative Council will meet briefly after worship on Sunday to make decisions about a few projects for the coming year.

My heart is with each of you this week. You are never far from my thoughts or my prayers.

Grace and peace,
Mary