Blessings and peace to you in the name of the risen Christ,

I pray that your week is peaceful and that you are dwelling in the Lord. Max preached a great sermon last week, one of his best I believe. It encouraged me and challenged me to always tell the truth. I will be preaching the 18^th and 25^th in preparation for my March 4^th Board of Ordained Ministry interview. Not sure which part of my responses to their 16 questions will make the best sermon, but I am certain that God will help me choose.

We had a very productive All Council meeting this past Sunday. I want to especially thank those folks who volunteer their time and talent in support of the ministries of Saint Matthew. These meetings are not fun, full of business and lengthy discussions about church operations. Serving on these committees is a noble and faithful contribution to the survival of our church. I am grateful for our volunteers. Special shout out to the person (you know who you are) who helped us find a more affordable electric provider and property insurance policy. The church saved thousands on electricity in 2023 (vendor change happened in April) and will save even more in 2024. It is exciting to see what God is doing at Saint Matthew.

There is a report out this morning stating that cases of influenza are on the rise. I know that the sinus infection I had last week wasn’t COVID but I am not certain I didn’t have the flu. Either way, the instructions remain the same: wash your hands frequently, stay away from large crowds, stay away from sick people, and stay home if you are feeling ill. If you are at home and need anything, please reach out to us at [email protected] . We check that email daily. Love to all! Mary

We were blessed with a wonderful group of young people Sunday. We talked about the Sermon on the Mount as a place where Jesus taught his disciples.

We talked at length about the Lord’s Prayer. The kids all knew it and we talked about how young they were when they learned this prayer. A couple of the boys said they started repeating this prayer when they were about 2! They all knew that this prayer contains elements Jesus considered important when praying: asking God for guidance in our lives, forgiveness, praise, and thanks.

Did you know that the Lord’s Prayer is prayed all over the world and in many languages? It is a famous prayer that has been important to many Christians. This example was provided by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount as a way of teaching his disciples. However, the focus of Jesus’ teaching is not so much on a method of prayer as it is on our motivations for prayer and our relationship with God.

As we left church to go to Children’s church, we were delighted to learn that a kind member had left a basket of treats on our table! We were all delighted that someone was kind enough to leave these treats. I want to extend a big “Thank You” to this kind person. You should have witnessed the delight of the kids when they discovered your thoughtfulness!

During class, they all picked an 8×10 canvas picture to paint as a Valentine gift to give to the person of their choice. We are blessed with the kindness of your kids! See you Sunday.

Blessings

Service for Curtis

It is (as I write this) Monday evening and I am preparing for the memorial service for Curtis Anderson (husband of Linda) at Shannon Rose Hill on Tuesday at 2:00.

Our love to Linda and family.

Curtis has moved from illness to a full life, a great family reunion, and abundant joy.

We give thanks to God.

Last Sunday

Good to have Mary back and preaching for us. (“Best sermon I ever heard,” said Annette Wells.)

Julian’s solo was a “showstopper”—not the best term for a worship service, but you know what I mean.

We do have music!

This Sunday

My sermon will be The Double-Minded Christian, based on a verse from the short letter of James, the 21st of the 27 books in the New Testament.

This is Communion Sunday.

The choir will sing the lovely Twyla Thorp anthem, How Beautiful, twice—once at anthem time and again as accompaniment to the serving of Communion.

After worship this week, there will be an All-Council Meeting to discuss plans for the year.

Those of the Female Persuasion

Women! Do not forget the Saint Matthew Women United luncheon a week from this Thursday—Feb. 8—at 11:30. Lunch provided.

Life Running Early This Year

Everything—Ash Wednesday—Holy Week—Easter. All early this year. Ash Wednesday worship—the beginning of Lent—is two weeks away. Wed., Feb. 14, 7:00 p.m.

See you Sunday.

All of you, I hope.

God bless—MB

Greetings beloved community,

I am recovering well from my sinus infection and will be back to my usual self in time for Curtis “Andy” Anderson’s memorial service. You will not get this newsletter until after the service, but I know you are praying for Linda and for their family as they go through this difficult time. I know Linda is grateful for this church and for the love and care we show to each other.

I am hoping that the sermons from Father Richard Rohr’s books are meaningful to you. I want to be relevant to you and to what is happening in your lives. I also want to avoid putting you to sleep😊 If you have any topics you want to know more about, please let us know. It is important to Max and me that we are preaching about the things that matter to you, along with the things God leads us to preach.

This Sunday, February 4, 2024, is All Council Sunday right after church. If you are on a church committee, please plan to attend. If you are not on a committee, show up and we will find a place for you to serve. We will be talking about 2024 plans and our 2024 budget. 

I pray you have a peaceful week, enjoying the few days of sunshine and moderate temperatures. My love to all, Mary

This week we discussed the Parable of the Mustard Seed. The kids knew exactly what a mustard seed is; last year they each received one.

They were amazed to realize that this tiny seed could grow into a tree that is 8 to 10 feet tall.

Sometimes we imagine the kingdom of God as being a time and a place in the future. Jesus said God’s kingdom is here on earth right now!

Jesus encouraged his friends then, and us today, to make sure we are all working to bring about God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom comes into being with tiny and almost invisible things — a tiny, almost invisible, seed turns out to have an enormous effect.

Do something this week to show someone God’s love. Make a pay-it-forward gesture that shows God’s love through you. You could do something nice for a friend or a neighbor or do something to show appreciation for a member of your church. By loving others, you show God’s love through you.

We hope to see you in church Sunday. We will review the most important thing — that you help someone feel cared for.

Blessings