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

Things weren’t going well for the people of Israel. Once again, they had turned away from God, and now a cruel army, led by Commander Sisera, was making life miserable. The people cried out to God for help.

And God sent someone… unexpected. Not a warrior. Not a king. But a woman named Deborah.

Deborah was both a prophet and a judge. She was so wise and trustworthy that people from all over the land came to see her. She didn’t have a palace or a courtroom—she sat under a palm tree in the hill country (Judges 4:5), listening to people and helping them solve their problems.

One day, Deborah sent for a military commander named Barak. She had a message from God:

“The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Take ten thousand men to Mount Tabor. God will hand Sisera over to you” (Judges 4:6–7).

But Barak wasn’t confident.

“I’ll go,” he said, “but only if you come with me.”

Deborah agreed.

“I will go with you,” she said. “But because of the way you are doing this, the honor of victory will go to a woman” (Judges 4:9).

Together, they led the people. At just the right moment, Deborah gave the signal:

“Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Hasn’t the Lord gone ahead of you?” (Judges 4:14)

Barak charged forward, and God gave Israel the victory.

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This story matters because Deborah listened to God and used her voice to bring justice and peace. In a time when women were rarely leaders, she showed strength, wisdom, and courage. She reminds us that anyone—girl or boy, young or old—can lead when they trust God and do what’s right.

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What We Learned:

• God chooses leaders who listen, even when they don’t look like what people expect.
• Deborah used her wisdom and courage to help others.
• Barak learned to trust God’s plan—even when he was unsure.
• When we listen to God and act faithfully, great things can happen.

We hope to see you in church this Sunday!

Blessings!

I’m Back

It took some effort—that’s the most I’ve moved in a month—but I’m glad to be back at it. And how good it was to have Larry and Rev. Beth Ensor with us! Beth just retired, so they were finally free to visit the church they once called home. Pure joy. And what a blessing to see Linda Pruitt in worship, still recovering from her stroke. That, too, was a joy.

And how ’bout that solo!? Julian’s rendition gave me goosebumps. It was so good to have him helping me lead the singing. Kristi was her usual fantastic self. Blake is still off working on his master’s degree. (And we found out just how smart Kristi and Steven’s dogs are!)

My Class Resumes This Sunday – 9:45 AM

I’m picking up again with my class, and this week we’ll be talking about something big: the idea that the Church may have gotten salvation wrong. I believe God is better than most people think—and we’ll dig into that this Sunday.

We’ll follow class with breakfast. Since this is a “We Bring” Sunday, come hungry and come ready to share a dish if you’re able. Winston brought food last week. Now it’s our turn.

This Sunday’s Sermon:

“The Biggest Thing We Don’t Know About God”

You may think you know it—but you don’t. And even after I tell you, you still won’t fully grasp it. Because it is unimaginable. We can’t comprehend it.

Yet—it’s the thing we need to know most.

Come. Let me share it with you.

Watching Online?

One of our two cameras is nearly useless—no zoom at all. Jason and Robert have been using it only for transitions. All the close-up work is handled by a single camera.

That’s about to change.

Installation of our new sound booth, new cameras, and full rewiring will begin either early next week or the week after. You’ll notice a big improvement in our online worship experience. Stay tuned.

Special Offering for Flood Victims

Thank you, Mary, for getting this started. We will again be taking up a special offering for flood victims in the Hill Country.

As before, we’ll collect this offering before the sermon, and then take our regular church offering afterward. Please give as you feel led.

I Will Not Be Silent

I don’t want to harp on the subject. But the stakes are too high for silence.

Millions will suffer because of decisions being made right now by our government. Children will go hungry. Families will lose healthcare. Medicaid will be slashed. Even Medicare is on the chopping block.

No one is safe when the person in charge is deranged, malicious, and unstable.

Do you care about the poor? About gay people, immigrants, people of color, people who are sick?

Are you truly a follower of Jesus Christ?

Then stand with Him.

Don’t argue. Don’t fight.

Just stand with the Lord, and let the world know you are a Christian by your love.

God Bless,

—MB

Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord,

It was such a joy to have Max back with us on Sunday—especially on a communion Sunday. And it was wonderful to see everyone. If you weren’t able to join us in person, we missed you and hope you were able to catch the service online. Julian Rodriguez’s rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow gave me goosebumps. We are truly blessed at Saint Matthew to have musicians of such incredible talent.

Speaking of gifted musicians, don’t forget: we will be hosting an Eastside Community Assistance Benefit Concert on September 20th, featuring a local gospel choir called MSB. This is shaping up to be a major community-wide event, and we are praying for a crowd of 190–200 people. All Eastside Community Assistance churches are being invited to help with marketing and ticket sales, and your help is needed! There’s a sign-up sheet on the board in the hallway—please lend a hand where you can.

For the first time, we will be selling tickets to this event. Tickets are $25 per person, and that includes both the concert and a meal afterward. If you are able, please consider buying an extra ticket or two for those in our congregation or neighborhood who might not be able to afford it. The meal will be hosted in the Fellowship Hall, the overflow Sunday School rooms, and at picnic tables outside, as needed. We want our neighbors to know that we are here, we care, and we welcome them. As soon as we receive marketing materials from the choir, we’ll start spreading the word in the neighborhood.

I’ve spent the past week trying to live what I preached during the last three Sundays. I’m working hard to breathe before I speak, to speak with love and compassion, and to remain quiet when God tells me to be still. I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to serve this church and to share these kinds of messages with you. Remember, everything is a communication with God. You will never look into the eyes of someone whom God does not love and accept. God’s love is unconditional, inclusive, and overwhelming.

Under the Bridge Ministries still needs men’s summer shorts, T-shirts, clean underwear and socks, and shoes (size 12 and up). If you don’t have these items to donate but are able, perhaps consider purchasing a pair of shoes or a bag of socks to support this important ministry. They serve 250–300 people every Sunday in downtown Fort Worth—rain or shine.

I am so deeply grateful for all of you. Each of you carries your own burdens, faces your own crises, and walks through your own valleys. And yet, you still show up for one another. Watching how you give—your time, your hearts, your prayers, your resources—is truly inspiring. It humbles me every day, and it remains one of the greatest honors of my life to serve beside you in our shared calling: to tell others about Jesus and to stand against injustice and oppression.

With love and gratitude,

Mary