Good Service Last Sunday

Beverly Tye’s parting sermon was fine and gracious. Already we are looking forward to her first visit back after her move.

Lovely duet from Blake and Shannon—but what’s new?

I’m writing this hurriedly on Sunday afternoon just before I leave for the Annual Conference in Round Rock. It’s not so easy a trip, considering my bum knee. But it’s not that hard either.

Get back on Wednesday afternoon.

I will be preaching on Sunday.

Big Event!

Dwayne and Sheila Taylor—in this church for 31 years—will renew their vows in a service this Saturday—June 15—at 2:00 in the afternoon.

You—all of you—are invited.

Light refreshments after.

And lots of joy.

It’s 50 years together.

And we give thanks.

(Shannon will bring the music.)

Breakfast This Sunday

It’s a “Winston Sunday.”

Food and fellowship at 10:30.

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday and Sunday.

Hope you are with us for worship.

Don’t make me have to come looking for you.

God Bless—MB

ON MY MIND—the folks we love who are sick and others who have lost loved ones. May God’s grace and comfort be with those who need it most.

We said “so long” on Sunday to our dear friend, mentor, and retired pastor, Beverly Tye. While it was difficult to see her leave, I know it is temporary. She is a short drive by Texas standards, only four hours to Blanco, Texas. We will miss Beverly, but she has promised to visit and to keep in touch. Reverend Tye’s sermon on Sunday morning was meaningful to me. I had not considered myself someone called to ‘kiss a frog.’ She was spot on in her description of frogs and in their place in the minds of humans, not very attractive, do not invoke joy, etc. But the sound made by the tree frogs in my yard just after the sun goes down is very soothing to me. It is a sound I can listen to for hours as I let the stress of my day peel away. Maybe God intended frogs to be heard and not seen. 

We have our first summer concert scheduled at Saint Matthew on June 29^th at 6:30 pm. Musicians Cassandra Kirby and Nicholas Garza will be performing for us. Cassandra and Nicholas are great friends of Blake’s and are well-known artists in the local music scene. The concert is free of charge and an offering will be collected to support the ministries of Saint Matthew.

Don’t forget the ladies’ luncheon tomorrow with crafting beginning at 10 am and lunch at 11:30. Blessings to all, Mary

Sunday, we met a wonderful peacekeeper by the name Abigail. Her husband, Nabal, was a man of great wealth; he had 3000 sheep, and a thousand goats. Nabal was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

David sent out ten young men to keep the shearers safe for Nabal. David told his young men to greet Nabal and ask for food in return for their safety. Nabal grew very angry and refused to give them any food for the protection. The young men returned to David to give him Nabal’s response. David said to his men, gird on your sword. Every man girded on his sword; David also girded on his sword. David took about 400 men. But one of the young men told Abigail. When Abigail learns what happened, she quickly gathers supplies and food for David and his men. She then finds David and apologizes on behalf of her husband. Peace is established and David praises Abigail for her good judgement. Abigail’s’ act allows David and his men to experience peace through good judgement.

This story demonstrates the importance of peacekeeping efforts and provides us an example of what not to do if our gestures are not met in friendly ways. We have some exciting plans for Sunday. Hope to see you in church!

Great Service Last Week

But I wasn’t there.

My sister had a blood pressure flare-up and we spent the night before in ER.

I plan to be back this Sunday, but I am not preaching. Rev. Beverly Tye will deliver her “farewell address.”

Bev will be moving soon. We will miss her tremendously. She will have her chance Sunday to share her love with you and we will all have a chance to give thanks for her.

Expect another great Sunday.

Sunday afternoon I will be leaving for Round Rock for our two-day Annual Conference. We will be celebrating the new United Methodist Church—the one that is free to live up to its motto: “open minds, open hearts, open doors.” 

This is the LAST Annual Conference of the “Central Texas Conference.” Due to the loss of churches in the great dispute, we will be combining three conferences under a new name. Bishop Saenz will continue as our bishop.

And Mary and I will be returning to St. Matthew, appointed once again to serve this church. (My 43rd time. Not so many for Mary.)

Announcing where ministers are appointed to serve the coming year is the last order of business at Annual Conference before the closing worship, which includes a sermon from the Bishop. 

Mary and I will report briefly on the conference the Sunday following—June 16th. 

Breakfast This Sunday

It’s a “We-Bring-It” Sunday. At 10:30.

Something strange happened  on our last we-bring breakfast. It was a feast! Lots of food! Still don’t understand it.

Remember—“Beverly Sunday”

I know you will be present if at all possible.

              God Bless—MB

ON MY MIND—the folks we love who are sick and others who have lost loved ones. May God’s grace and comfort be with those who need it most.

It is a HALLELUJAH kind of day! I pray that you are also experiencing the kind of joy that comes with knowing that God loves you and that God is walking with you no matter what’s going on in your life. I am so grateful for the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit Sunday morning in our services. Your voices were beautiful as you sang both the traditional and praise and worship hymns. I’m grateful for your willingness to be flexible and to try new things. I’m excited to begin a new tradition at Saint Matthew, where we are able to learn a new song once or twice a month. I’m also profoundly grateful for the three new church members that joined us on Sunday morning. Carlene, Kathy, and Lynette have no idea really what they’re in for but I know that God is part of this and brought them to us for a very special reason. If nothing else, I know we will have great fun with them; they are always smiling! We have gained many new members this year. More so than in the last several years. And while we struggle to look around the world and find places where the church is relevant to the world, Saint Matthew continues to draw folks in who are looking for a place filled with God’s authentic people. I am so grateful to be a part of this ministry.

I had my first meeting this week with my mentor pastor, Reverend Kissa Vaughn, From Saint Barnabas United Methodist Church in S Arlington. We talked for a long time about the things I need to do to be successful with the board of ordained ministry. She also shared some wonderful programs and insights she had about doing ministry in the neighborhood where we live. I’m grateful for the time with her and grateful for another chance at coming before the board of ordained ministry. I’m living in that space right now between wanting to do so many things at the church and in the neighborhood and still having to work full time at the hospital. Please know that the hours I have after work and on Saturdays and Sundays that I spend doing church work are precious to me. The work I do as the associate pastor at Saint Matthew United Methodist Church fulfills me and lets me know that this truly is God’s calling on my life. I do not know what God has next, but I do know that God has this in God’s mighty right hand. 

My love to all of you, Mary