Greetings, dear church and family,
I want to say thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make the celebration of life for Bill Parker such a success. Specifically, I want to thank Nan McCosky for cleaning the church, and a special thank you to Veta and all of the folks who served the lunch. Thanks to all who brought food, and especially for making every visitor feel welcome and special. Bill would be proud of you. Finally, I want to thank everyone who stayed to help clean up. The fellowship hall looked beautiful thanks to Connie and her decorating folks. However, I know there was a big mess to clean up after serving almost 100 people. I’m grateful for the way everybody pulled together to make this a special event for the Parkers. This isn’t the end of memorials for Bill. On October 15th, Bill will be interred at the DFW VA cemetery. He will receive full military honors there for his service in the Vietnam War.

This Sunday at 9:00 AM sharp in the fellowship hall, we will have a table set up for flu vaccines. These are the regular flu vaccines and are appropriate for folks over the age of nine. These are not the senior vaccines. The regular dose takes a few more days than the senior dose to be effective, but both provide the same immunity. Please be there between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM to get your vaccine.

Last weekend was a very busy time for us as a congregation. Words cannot express how grateful I am for all of you. I also can’t say enough about how this grief is going to impact us. Be gentle with each other, patient with each other, and kind. Look for opportunities to carry on the acts of service Bill did in our congregation. We need a new chairperson for the Pastor Parish Relations Committee (PPRC), as Bill Parker filled that position for us in the past. Winston will be arranging a meeting of the PPRC soon so that we can nominate a new chairperson. The PPRC is the “human resources” part of church operations, managing staff and pastor issues along with annual evaluations. Please be in prayer that God will raise up someone to serve.

I am preaching this weekend, and I’m hoping to see all of your faces in your usual seats on Sunday morning. The choir is working on some beautiful numbers, and this weekend is no exception. Try to be there on Sunday if you can. If you can’t make it to the church, please join us online at saintmatthewumc.com.

Love to all,
Mary

This week, we learned about how God asked Noah to build an ark. God saw that the earth had become very corrupt and filled with violence. So, He said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I will destroy them along with the earth. Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make rooms in the ark and cover it inside and out with pitch.” Although it wasn’t raining yet, Noah listened to God and began building the ark as instructed. The ark was to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high, with a window and a door on its side. It would also have lower, second, and third stories.

(A cubit was a measurement used in ancient times, typically the length of a person’s forearm—from the elbow to the tip of the fingers. This would make the ark about 450 feet long!)

Can you imagine building something this huge without any power tools? Noah got busy and worked hard, doing exactly what God asked. Once the ark was finished, it was time to load the animals. Noah, his family, and the animals God selected entered the ark, waiting for the flood to begin. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights. When the rain finally stopped, Noah sent out two birds to see if the land was dry. However, it was God who ultimately told Noah when it was safe to leave the ark. Noah continued to trust God and follow His instructions.

God’s promise to Noah extends to all of us. In return, He asks for our trust and faithfulness. Join us this Sunday in church, and together we’ll learn more about how God wants us to follow His teachings!

Service for Bill Parker

Bill’s memorial service will be this Saturday, October 5th, at 11:00 AM. This seems like a milestone event in the life of our church family. Bill was so loved, so faithful, and so much a part of our work as a church. He is greatly missed.

Lunch will be served after the service.

Knee Report

I may be headed for knee replacement surgery after all. My hematologist’s blood report will come in soon. If it shows my blood clots were a result of COVID and not a natural proclivity, I may be cleared for surgery. This will all take some time. I will be preaching from a stool for now. I’m already too late to try out for the Cowboys this year.

Gift

From Brian McCosky: “Woo Hoo!!!! Somebody gave $10,000 toward the new AC!!!! My faith in the generosity of my fellow man is about 90% restored. Without saying who it is, I think they should get special recognition in the newsletter.”

Thus noted. We do have people who love this church. Thanks be to God.

NDE Class Ends

My sister’s NDE class has been a source of grace, change, and comfort for those of us who participated. It has made a difference.

We hope the new study I start Sunday makes a difference. It will make a difference for me, as I prepare the classes, I will also be preparing the final version of my book, Discovering God.

Class at 9:45—followed by breakfast.

Speaking of Breakfast

This is “Winston Week.” Feel free to help.

Food and fellowship at 10:30.

This Sunday

Sermon: Revisiting Zacchaeus.

Anthem: How Beautiful.

God Bless,
MB

Remember the service Saturday—11:00 AM.

Greetings, dear church, on behalf of the Horizon Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church,

Great things are happening in our denomination, and I am excited to be a part of this ministry with you. The leadership of the conference has very specific strategic plans for our work together in the future. I will have more details about all of these in upcoming sermons. As I said on Sunday morning, being in the Abilene Convention Center and listening to a 1,000-voice choir of committed United Methodist believers in Jesus Christ lifted my soul to the rafters. I know that God will do great things in our lives as we serve God’s creation.

On Sunday morning, I also discussed the new air conditioning unit and the cost to our congregation for the comfort of a controlled temperature in our sanctuary. Once again, you have amazed me with your love and generosity. We received a donation of $10,000 toward the cost of the new unit! Without revealing the donor, let me just say that nowhere on earth are there folks like the ones we have at Saint Matthew. You are always willing to help, no matter the request. To you, dear donor, whoever you are, just know that you are God’s gift to us, and we are grateful for your generosity. There remains a balance on the cost of the AC, but this very generous gift pays a little more than half of what was due. Bless you all as you continue giving your gifts, tithes, talents, and time to God.

Preparations are in progress and moving along well as we plan for the celebration of life for William J. “Bill” Parker. Services are on October 5, 2024, at 11:00 AM. The service will be followed by a meal in the fellowship hall. We will need desserts, please, as we expect a large crowd. We will also need assistance setting up, serving the food, and, as always, lots of help cleaning up.

Blessings to all of you, and special blessings to those of you who are unable to be physically in the church. You are loved and missed.

Mary

Jonah was a man who didn’t want to do what God asked. God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and warn the people to change their bad ways, but Jonah was afraid and ran away. He got on a boat, hoping to escape, but a big storm came. Jonah knew the storm was because he didn’t listen to God, so he told the sailors to throw him into the sea.

Instead of drowning, Jonah was swallowed by a giant whale! He stayed inside the whale for three days, thinking about what he had done. Jonah prayed and promised to follow God’s instructions. So, God had the whale spit Jonah out onto dry land, and Jonah went to Nineveh to share God’s message. Because Jonah finally listened, the people of Nineveh were saved.

The story of Jonah reminds us that it’s important to do what God asks, even when it’s hard. God knows what’s best, and following His plan is always the right choice.