Good Wednesday to you!

Anna is holding her own in the ICU at Fort Worth Harris Methodist Hospital. I am overwhelmed by the love and support shown to us. You are all angels on earth and I am grateful for those of you who sit in the sacred space of healing with Anna, and for those of you who hold us in prayer. I cannot imagine being anywhere else but with you at this moment.

I will admit to you that I have not ever had to write a newsletter article as difficult as this one is to write.

The Central Texas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry decided that I needed another year of “learning and training” before I could be commissioned as a provisional elder. I was in shock when I heard their verdict and I am still in shock as I update you. “I am profoundly disappointed” is about all that I can muster right now in the way of communication about the entire thing. I was not prepared that this might be the outcome. I am so sorry.

I am taking some time away from ordination work to discern what God has next for me. General Conference is in April and the issues of human sexuality are being discussed. The conference will then vote on the worthiness of the lives of LGBTQ persons as they relate to ordained ministry in a United Methodist context. I will not make any decisions until after that vote. I have not yet spoken to the District Superintendent so I do not know what is next for me. I am appointed to serve this church and will continue in my current role as Associate Pastor at Saint Matthew. As I said previously, I cannot imagine being anywhere else but with all of you.

This Sunday, we explored the story of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. This is something typically done by a servant, so the disciples were surprised. Peter said to Jesus, “No! You will not wash my feet!” That was a strong response. But Jesus, who would soon be led to His death, had a purpose behind His actions.

By washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus wanted to make it clear that in God’s world, all are created equal. The servant and the master are all loved equally by God and treated the same.

Many churches use this story during Holy Week and hold a foot washing service. Children might see this practice as a yucky job, not something we want to do today. Try comparing this practice with other acts of service, such as helping a neighbor take out their trash, caring for a sick friend, or helping them clean up a spill. Through this story, we can see that serving others, like Jesus did, is an unexpected act of love.

Easter will be here before we know it, so we must prepare for our annual Easter egg hunt. Last year we had lots and lots of eggs filled with candy and prizes brought to church for all our kids to find. This year we could use donations of individually-wrapped candy to fill our eggs.

The Easter Bunny has always been nice to us, but we also need your kids and grandkids to join the hunt. During church on Easter, we will have a movie and popcorn for the kids.

See you all in church!

Work to Be Done

We have several things we need to do.

We want to obtain devices for the hearing impaired.

Mary wants the big TV hooked into our system so that we can use it for presentations.

We have some lights that do not work and some that do not work right.

I announced that we would raise the money to do the work. But we do have money to cover it now and have decided to move on with the work.

I want us to stay up with everything. I am way too old to have to deal with financial problems. (Been there, done that—for 30 years.) But if we continue to be faithful with our giving, we will be able to get this necessary work done without any problems.

I look forward to getting the projects completed by Easter. Chuy’s men at 4Stage—who installed our system—will do the work.

Breakfast

We are still looking for one or two people to do breakfast for one or two Sundays in the month. I know it’s a job. But let me (or Winston or Mary) know if you are willing to help.

Communion Sunday

The sermon is called: “Just Face Reality.” We will talk about a wonderful (and humorous) story from John’s gospel about a man born blind and healed by Jesus. But the authorities simply and repeatedly refused to believe the man. Shannon has a solo for us. Blake is gone with his school choir on a trip.

We gather at the Lord’s Table.

It’s only four Sundays to Holy Week.

Remember our Mardi Gras lunch on Palm Sunday, March 24. (Yes, we have “Fat Tuesday” on Sunday. Don’t tell the Catholics.)

See You in worship.

Hello dear St. Matthew,

Just a quick note to tell you how very much I love you and appreciate the many ways you take care of me and my family. Anna is still in critical condition but is slowly improving. I am grateful for your prayers and support. Tyler has gone back to work and stays with her at night. Anna’s parents are helping every day, and we have the help of many special angels to fill in the gaps.

Great news to share on the shoe front: We have received pledges for 35 pairs of shoes for Blake’s Western Hills Choir. We even have enough funds to purchase socks!  Blessings to you for responding so quickly. I know Blake asked for used black shoes and we are getting them new ones instead. However, East Side Ministry always needs used shoes. If you still want to bring them to the church, we can get them to where they are needed most.

Blessings to you during this week of crazy weather. When this is published on Wednesday morning, them temp will have dropped 20+ degrees from what it is as I write. Summer AND winter in February.

Love to all, Mary

This week we discussed Zacchaeus. Vickie and I started the lesson by singing the song we learned when we were young, maybe you remember …

Zaccheus was a wee, little man,
And a wee, little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree,
For the Lord he wanted to see.

And as the Savior came that way,
He looked up in the tree,

And he said,”Zaccheus, you come down from there,”

For I’m going to your house today.
For I’m going to your house today.

… I will spare you the rest, but we sang as much as we remembered! The kids must have thought we lost our minds, but they listened quietly, and I know they will remember this lesson!

Zacchaeus was a tax collector; they were not liked because they would collect more money than the Roman government asked for and put the balance in their pocket. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, which meant that he was one of the best and probably very rich.

Jesus was passing through Jericho, and because he was so short, Zacchaeus climbed up a tree so he could see Jesus. Jesus saw him in the tree and told him to come down because he was going to his house today.

Why did Jesus choose to go to the home of a sinner to have a meal? Zacchaeus wanted to change his ways and asked to be forgiven.

How do you handle someone who has done you wrong and asked to be forgiven? Do you believe in second chances? With the help and guidance of Jesus, we can all learn that there is opportunity for second chances.

We all moved outside for our project. We made bird feeders out of pine cones. We found that birds love peanut butter with their seeds. It was a beautiful day and sitting at the picnic table and enjoying the sunshine made for a perfect day.

See you in church…