I bring you good tidings of great joy! A Savior is born and remains with us. It has been difficult to look around and find joy very often this past year. Most of you will be reading this on January 1, 2025—the beginning of a new year and our hope that 2025 will be better. As I said on Sunday, the calendar is completely oblivious to our trauma and grief. The calendar has no idea what makes us happy or sad. We are what changes. We are where hope can be found! So yes, January 1 is the beginning of a new calendar, but we get to have new hope every day. God’s mercy is new every morning. My prayer is to be better in 2025. My prayer is to be more because people will need more. My prayer is to love more because love is in a battle against hate in our world, and I want love always to win.

I visited Keith Butterfield tonight in the hospital. His son Bruce was with him and has been all day. Keith missed church Sunday morning, and several of you asked about him. Doug Kelcey sent a friend on Sunday to check on Keith, thankfully, because Keith was very ill and needed transport to the hospital. Keith is at Texas Health HEB Hospital. The address is 1600 Hospital Parkway, Bedford, Texas 76022. Call before you drive over to make sure he is still there: 817-848-4000. You can get his room number from the hospital operator. Keith is very weak, and not able to eat or drink much. He was not completely sure what his diagnosis is, so please wear a mask when you visit him. And if you cannot visit, I know your prayers are greatly appreciated by Keith and his family. Let’s keep each other updated on his progress.

Keith is part of our church “home.” He welcomes visitors and tries to meet everyone he can. Keith’s love is unconditional for everyone, and his support is unwavering. Keith is often parked at the sink after a family meal washing dishes as part of the clean-up crew. We are blessed beyond measure that Keith is part of our church family. We are blessed beyond measure to have each other. Thank you for being my church home, the place where I bring my joy and my pain, the place where I can hang my heart. Let’s make 2025 a year of joy!!

Love,
Mary

The Sunday before Christmas, our children brought the Christmas story to life in a memorable performance. Caesar (Alek) declared that all the world would be taxed, while Joseph (Eli) and Mary (Rebekah) traveled to Bethlehem for the birth of Baby Jesus. Our Angel (Jade) announced this joyful news, and our shepherd (Remmie) came to see the newborn king. Narrator Josiah guided us through the story with grace and concluded by playing the guitar as Rebekah sang “Away in a Manger.” The children wrapped up by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

A heartfelt thank-you to the parents and grandparents for bringing these talented kids to church and supporting them in sharing their gifts with us. We are so proud of each of them.

Blessings!

🎶 Join Us for Our Annual Christmas Concert Tonight! 🎶

Come experience the joy of the season with beautiful music, fellowship, and fun at our Annual Christmas Concert!

📅 Tonight, Saturday, December 21

🕕 6:00 PM

📍 Saint Matthew UMC

The evening begins with a mix of festive secular songs and sacred Christmas music, including the Casting Crowns version of I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. Following the concert, enjoy delicious refreshments and a visit from Santa with gifts for the kids!

This beloved tradition is the perfect way to celebrate the season with family and friends. We can’t wait to see you there!

I Know We Had a Good Time

Because Jason is on vacation, he needed this page before he left—which means before we had our Christmas Open House last Sunday.

I’m sure we had a good time.

I had an ulterior motive for the Open House.

I wanted to get my house—and my life—in order before the beginning of a new year, and the Open House forced me to do that. (And it was hard!!!)

With my mobility problems of late, things had fallen apart at my place. I had to get my life and my work back in order. I want to devote all the time I can to ministry, and the way to do that is to get other projects out of the way.

I am looking to a new day in the life of our church. I want to put my energy toward that.

Part of that is being able to talk to you more often in the new year. If you are not yet on the church Facebook page, make a friend request. Or send me, personally, a friend request.

Let’s get ready to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every way we can in 2025.

Let’s begin now—with our two great Christmas services: the Christmas Concert and our Christmas Eve Service.

Bring the family.

Ask a friend to come with you.

Let us spread the Good News.

Unto us a Child is given.

Come, let us adore Him.

The Christmas Concert

Saturday, Dec. 21—6:00 p.m.

Dinner and Santa after

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

The most beautiful service of the year.

Tuesday, Dec. 24—6:00 p.m.

God Bless,

MB

BY THE WAY—No Pastor’s Class and no breakfast this Sunday or the next.

Edward Hjorth remains in rehab and in our prayers after his fall and hip surgery.

Let me know if this works or if you’d like anything adjusted further!

A Dinner—for Women

WOMEN’S LUNCHEON – Thursday, Dec. 12, 11:30 a.m. Every female person reading this is invited. The food is good—the fellowship even better. In the Fellowship Hall.

Another Dinner—a Fundraiser

For Eastside Ministries—helping the poor here at Christmas. Ronnie Sullivan and family are preparing an enchilada dinner this Friday evening—Dec. 13—at 6:00 p.m. This is always a great meal for a great cause.

Do support it.

Christmas Open House

At the Brennan Place

That’s this coming Sunday afternoon—2:30 to 5:00. Come and go or come and stay. Bring a bit of goodies, if you wish—but not necessary, and most people won’t. (My sister is doing some cooking.)

You can tour the house—lots of very old stuff—but this is not about the house. It’s about the Christmas fellowship. (The tree is up—and decorated!)

There are things to see: a chair John D. Rockefeller III bought in 1947 for Colonial Williamsburg, a 150-year-old painting in the hall that looks like Steven Moore, an old chest from 1697 that used to be in the Brooklyn Museum.

And perhaps Carolyn Bell, although that is far from certain. (She may not feel up to it.)

Address: 1506 King Arthur in Grand Prairie—one block north of I-30. (Take the 161 George Bush exit—over 161 to the service road on the other side, turn left to British—right on King Arthur.) I’ll be home.

The Class

The class is over until mid-January.

Breakfast continues.

Speaking of Breakfast

It’s a Winston Sunday.

Food and fellowship at 10:30 a.m.

Followed by worship.

Come, let us worship together.

God Bless,

—MB