We have been talking for some time about the twins, Esau and Jacob. In last week’s lesson, Rebecca helped her son Jacob fool her husband into bestowing Esau’s birthright onto Jacob. When Esau discovers he has been robbed of his birthright, he wants to kill Jacob. Esau is very upset, angry, and confused. Rebecca sends Jacob away and Isaac finally does give Esau a blessing; however, the blessing is more like a banishment. Isaac says Esau will move far away and will serve his brother. Everyone in this story must have felt overwhelmed. It is easy to get overwhelmed when life gets hard.

When there is chaos all around us, we sometimes lose our ability to think clearly; and we don’t always respond in helpful ways. This story shows us what to not do. But this story allows us to act differently. We can proceed by asking God to be with us and strengthen our faith, to be able to be healthy and whole. See you in church on Sunday. Blessings.

Topic a Week from Sunday

You don’t need the sermon I will be preaching Sunday after this, but many beyond our church do. Ignorance is rampant. Ugliness is growing. We need to make it clear that Jesus was aware that people are different, and differences must be accommodated.

We need to continue to say that “gay” and “straight” are not categories God cares about.

They are differences that make no difference to God.

Although we don’t need to be convinced, I think all of us will be interested in some remarkable scripture in Matthew.

Following that sermon, I will begin the series I talked about Sunday.

Communion Sunday

Mary up to Bat.

Mary has been in Puerto Rico because of her serious addiction—to golf! She has been helping a friend run a tournament.

(I agree with Mark Twain: “Golf is one way to ruin a good walk.”)

But Mary is back to preach for us Sunday as we begin the eventful month of November.

We will gather at the Lord’s table.

All Saints Sunday

You will have a chance to turn in the name of someone you loved and lost this year. We will read out the names in the service, along with those in our church who have passed since November a year ago.

All Saints Sunday.

Julian Rodriquez will sing his first solo for us.

Kristi is out, so Blake will play the whole service for us.

I hope you are looking forward to the grace of Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas in our church.

God bless—MB

(Hey!—remember breakfast every week at 10:30. And don’t eat all the donuts before I get there!)

Greetings from the rain forest! I am writing to you from Puerto Rico, surrounded by palm trees, pinkish sand and…RAIN.  Gallons and gallons of rain with more predicted for the remainder of the week. While I am not able to play golf, I am able to enjoy the peacefulness of the golf course and the sounds of the ocean.

When I return on Sunday, I will be bringing a message to you about the plans that the UMC has for those congregations that stayed United Methodist. If it feels like we have been having this discussion for years, we have. My first knowledge of the movement of some away from the gospel and toward exclusivity came during my last year at Perkins in 2018.

For five-plus years, our Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors have been distracted by the extremists in our congregations who, as Paul describes, “see through a glass darkly.” The verse concludes, “but then, face to face” we will see God.

I cannot wait for that moment when the risen Savior welcomes me to that plane of existence where nothing is dark, nothing is unseeable. Until that time, I am so very grateful to be loved by a congregation like Saint Matthew.

It is beginning to rain again, or it may have never stopped. Either way, I am breathing and relaxing, waiting for the sun to shine. I look forward to being with you soon.

Mary

WE HAD A WONDERFUL LESSON THIS WEEK. Abraham and Sarah’s son Isaac was older when he married Rebekah. They had been married many years before Rebekah became pregnant with twins.

When they were born, they were quite different. Esau was born first, with hair, much like a robe, all over his body. Jacob was born next, holding on to Esau’s heel.

Even though they were twins, they were very different.

We had twins in class on Sunday, Bill and Cindy Wheeler’s grandsons, and their sister, Rebecca. It made talking about the twins Esau and Jacob even more interesting.

Esau was an outdoors type of guy; he loved to hunt and spend time in the fields. Jacob stayed in the house and helped his mom cook.

We discussed what was known as “a birthright.” This went to the oldest son, and they would inherit the family wealth. Esau was the oldest and would receive all the family wealth. He wasn’t too concerned with this; he wanted to be outside.

As their father Isaac was getting old, he had lost most of his sight. Their mother, Rebecca, devised a plan to have her husband, Isaac, bestow the family’s birthright on her favorite son, Jacob. She dressed Jacob with animal fur on his arms and went to Isaac to have the birthright bestowed on him.

Jacob had made a wonderful stew for the family. Esau had been out in the fields hunting; when he came in, he was very hungry and wanted something to eat right away. Jacob said he would give him a bowl of his soup if he would give him his birthright. Esau was very hungry and agreed to the request just to get a bowl of this warm delicious soup.

After Esau had the soup, I wonder what he thought.

Despite our differences, our uniqueness makes each of us a special part of God’s family. See you in church on Sunday so we can continue our travel with Esau and Jacob. Blessings

Last Sunday

I counted only eight — that’s EIGHT! — in our choir last Sunday, but what a lovely noise we did make singing a beautiful arrangement of Fairest Lord Jesus.

I am so proud of our choir.

And our choir director.

And our organist.

I felt good about our service last week.

I hope you were uplifted.

The choir will not sing this Sunday. No rehearsal.

Kristi, our organist, will be out. Julian, our newest choir member, will sing a solo. (And I assume Blake will play piano for the service.)

This Word to Jason

I always give my sermon title here each week, partly so Jason (Hardy) will be able to put it online. But—Jason—I will send it later.

I have several sermons (and scriptures) in mind and as of Monday evening I do not know which I will preach this Sunday.

Closing Out the Year

We are able to estimate—with some confidence—that we will be able to close out the year with all bills paid (including Conference apportionments) if we bring in $17,000 a month for the next two months—in other words—what we need every month to meet our budget.

This is good news.

But it does mean that we will need to be faithful for the rest of the year—and it may be necessary for some of us to think about a special Christmas gift to the church.

We have done a lot this year—including paying for the new playground.

We are grateful for the St. Matthew which is—and for the St. Matthew which will be in months and years to come.

We move on—with Christ our Lord.

He is the Rock on which we stand.

Let us worship him—this Sunday.

GOD BLESS—-MB