Read Friday’s Word

It’s all about the concert.

That’s all we are pushing this week.

We have to bring the food.

I hope we have a lot of people from beyond the church. But we very much need our people from the church.

After this one, our monthly concerts will always be on the second Saturday.

And we will always need good support from our members. So, if you are able, just make Second Saturday Night a part of your monthly schedule.

Here’s something else important.

We will always have a joyful and uplifting time at these concerts. And they are very important to our church as both a fundraiser and as part of our evangelical outreach. They give people a touch-point for engaging with the church.

We—and we alone—can make sure that any guests that show up see a church comfortably filled.

Let’s give it our best.

And bring something for the dinner if you can.

If you can’t—don’t let that keep you home.

See you Saturday.

And Sunday. (Mary’s preaching.)

GOD BLESS—-MB

Greetings St. Matthew,

I am still basking in the joy and comfort I felt at the end of the service yesterday. It is so very good to be loved by God and to share that love with all of you. Blake’s song was very meaningful to me as well, on top of his beautiful delivery of the music. We are blessed to hear great singing and great preaching. While reading my email this morning, I learned a few things about the ordination process. I wish I could tell you that what I learned was good news; instead, it is rather frustrating to me. My upcoming interview is a second interview with the District Committee on Ministry. These interviews are annual interviews and this one is to procure a recommendation for commissioning. If that happens, I will then have three more interviews (over the next 3 years) with the Board of Ordained Ministry. So close, and yet still so far. I am begging God for patience today. And for the power to trust the timing and the process. I am so very grateful that you allow me to fulfill my calling now. You and I are not waiting for permission or acknowledgement from anyone before living the gospel in our neighborhood. This gives me strength and the willingness to persevere.

To the women of St. Matthew (and any other women), please join us on September 21st at 11:30 am as we renew our bi-monthly women’s lunches. Please RSVP to Veta McCullough by call or text: 8179941619 or by email: [email protected] or [email protected]. We had a glorious time at these events in the past and I hope many of you can attend. Please also let Veta know if you have any requests for programming as she and Peggy Decker are going to work to create some meaningful and enjoyable activities for the meetings.

Finally, I will be preaching this weekend and I need your prayers this week as I prepare.

My love to you all, Mary

It was obvious last Sunday that our kids were taking advantage of the last weekend before school starts. I certainly missed them!

Since this Saturday is Miss Vickie’s birthday, I picked up Bundt cakes to celebrate. We had a cake for Miss Vickie and baby Bundt cakes for each of the kids! Bridget was even there to help with any little children we might have. We had our lesson ready about the Passover.

The Passover is a Jewish holiday that honors the exodus of God’s people from Egypt. The most central part of the Passover is the seder meal. One prominent part of this meal is the unleavened bread. This bread is used to represent both the sadness and the hastiness in which the Israelites left Egypt. There was no time to allow the bread to rise.

The festival of Passover is one of great joy. People come together to remember God’s protection and God’s mercy for His people. When we celebrate Passover, we can celebrate all that God has done for us and trust in His promises.

Bring Mom and Dad to church this Saturday evening so we can celebrate the wonderful music our church has to offer! See you there!

Blessings

Blake is back (and had a good time in Europe) but will be gone on the 19th, when we have our next concert. That means Shannon and I will be doing the singing, along with Mel Creason, who will sing a song and accompany himself on guitar. (Shannon will sing, among other things, Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”) We will be doing pop songs with spiritual meaning. Expect a few surprises.

I will preach again this Sunday and Mary will take it the Sunday after the concert—the 20th.

This will conclude a series of sermons in which I have talked about why God wants us to spend time in this world, which is not always an easy place to be.

Some of my friends and I gathered at my house last Sunday evening in remembrance of a couple of people we loved. Our friend, Thomas Coker, died after a ten-year battle with prostate cancer. We also remembered Roy McCasland, who passed a few years ago. Thomas was technically a member of our church and Roy was an active member for many years. We had a good evening. My sister fixed a big meal for nine people. The refrigerator went out the day before. And the air conditioning died the day of the gathering. A little cool lasted in the house for the evening. But sleeping that night was impossible.

Life can be difficult.

Still—God wants us here in this world for a while. We continue to think about why.

Sure hope to see you Sunday.

I’m counting on it.

Don’t disappoint me.

Greetings St. Matthew,

Communion was so very meaningful this weekend. Maybe it was because it had been so long since we had been together or maybe it was because Max was back serving us. Either way, I was very moved by the Spirit among us as we accepted this holy sacrament. My spare time this week will be spent preparing and submitting my ordination paperwork (Phase III) to the Board of Ordained Ministry. I know that I asked for your prayers, and I want you to know that I can feel your prayers and your support. As I am answering these questions about my call, about my understanding of God, and about my commitment to the United Methodist Church, I am overwhelmed with how very grateful I am for St. Matthew. You are all the reason I stay committed to this path. My time with you and my time learning from all of you have kept me moving onward and upward through these storms.

Our next Saturday Concert will be August 19th and will feature Max and Shannon. Music starts at 6pm and the potluck dinner starts at 7pm. I look forward to seeing you there. Love to all, Mary