What a Good—COLD—Sunday!

Well—I lied—inadvertently—in last week’s newsletter. I said—jokingly–the heat would be working on the cold upcoming Sunday. Of course, it
would. It always has been.

But not last Sunday. It wasn’t working properly. It got up to 55 degrees in the sanctuary. Everybody kept their coats on and we had a great time.

The heat is being fixed this week.

(Fortunately, the rest of the church was warm.)

This Sunday

I always wind my old grandfather clock in my living room every Sunday. I was doing so last Sunday evening and was suddenly fascinated by the thing that provides the power that keeps it running. And I decided what I want to preach on this Sunday. My scripture is the story of Jesus casting out an “unclean spirit” (Luke 4:31-37). My sermon title is “The Source of Power.”

Mary is gone one more Sunday.

Kristi will be back.

The heat WILL be on.

Expect a time of joyful worship.

God bless—MB

Do NOT forget the great breakfast Winston prepares for us every week—10:30 before worship. It has become a great time f fellowship.

See you at breakfast.

Hello from Marsh Harbor!! I pray that you are all warm and safe. I watched you shiver Sunday morning during the service and I am grateful to the many of you who showed up AND stayed for the service. Please, please reach out to me or to Max if you need anything during this inclement weather. We do not want anyone to suffer needlessly if the church can help. I won’t trouble you with the weather details from here. I do not want you to experience the cold and being jealous.

I submitted everything to the Board of Ordained ministry on Saturday about 3pm. I’m sure you heard me shouting with joy. Twelve thousand words, 42 pages, and most of my heart and mind went into that document. I also realized that by answering those 16 questions, I now have the framework for 16 sermons. I will interview in March and have my results very quickly after the interviews. I cannot tell you how very much I appreciate your prayers and support. I would not have completed all of this without you. Love to all, Mary

This Sunday we were ready to follow Jesus as he met his first disciples. Unfortunately, the cold weather kept our kids at home. When I went to church at 9:00 to make coffee, I realized that wind was really cold and couldn’t get in the church fast enough. That is when I knew our lesson would continue to take place next week.

I hope we see you in church this Sunday! We will travel with Jesus on the shores of the Galilean Sea.

10,000 words wasn’t enough folks. I still have 2 questions to answer and submit. I am grateful for this opportunity and painfully aware of the “this is a test” purpose of the exercise. I will share some of my writing with you after this is over and I can look at it again. 

I will be out of town the next two Sundays. Until I see you again, be safe and careful. Wash you hands, avoid large crowds and stay home if you are ill. My love to all, Mary

It Was a Good Year

I hesitate to say that. It may have been a hard year for some of our people. But 2023 was a good year in our church.

We reached many with the Gospel.

Our people have been wonderfully faithful.

We may as well face something as we move forward. The church is no longer just the folks in the pews on Sundays. We have many people who cannot come but who are faithful in watching online and faithful in giving. And there are even readers of Friday’s Word who think of St. Matthew as their church, or one of their churches. They may attend another church regularly and still watch us every week.

It’s a new day.

But one thing we want to do in the new year is to get more people into our pews on Sundays. We want them in on the fellowship—if this is possible.

I like to see you when I am preaching.

But I do thank God for all of you who can now be with us in spirit—or in Spirit—if not in person.

This larger church, beyond our walls, is important to us now.

A Bit More

I’m preaching at Lakewood Village (now, Christian Care Community) Sunday afternoon. If some of the residents there wanted to come to St. Matthew on Sundays—would there be a way?

Mary will be gone for two Sundays.

She will preach for us when she returns.

Expect a time of joyful worship this Sunday.

Don’t worry if it’s cold.

The heating is working.

God bless—MB

Tracy Maxwell is back home and improving after surgery.

Doug Montgomery’s mom passed away—aged 97. Our love to Doug and Cindy and all of Doug’s family.

We remember Larry Norris and those who loved him.