Every year, Jesus traveled with his parents, Mary and Joseph, to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. The city was crowded with families, prayers, and songs as people gathered at the temple to remember all that God had done.

When it was time to go home, Mary and Joseph started the journey with the others, thinking Jesus was nearby with friends or relatives. But as the day went on, they realized he was missing. Worried, they rushed back to Jerusalem and searched everywhere for him.

After three long days, they found Jesus in the temple. He was sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at how much he understood. When Mary finally spoke, she said, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you” (Luke 2:48).

Jesus answered, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). Even as a boy, Jesus knew where he belonged—close to God, learning and growing in faith.

What We Learned

• Jesus loved being close to God and learning about God’s ways.
• It’s okay to ask questions and learn more about our faith.
• God welcomes us into God’s house, just like Jesus.
• We grow in faith when we listen, learn, and stay connected to God.

I told you Sunday that, as I understand things now, I will be replaced as your pastor.

I have a few months left to serve, but I will set the date of my departure from preaching and leading worship.

And it will not be a complete departure.

I will continue to teach my class on Discovering God, which will also be set up as a podcast.

This will continue to be helpful to the church.

It will be my ministry.

On Sunday, we committed ourselves to be yoked to Christ and to let him lead.

That is what we are going to do.

There are disappointments in life.

But if we let our Lord lead, we are guaranteed to end up with him—and where he wants us to be.

The Pastor’s Class

Discovering God class resumes this Sunday, the 18th. It will be so good to resume our journey. Time: 9:45.

Breakfast this Sunday

It’s a “Winston” Sunday—but feel free to help.

At 10:30.

God Bless
[email protected]

Greetings, family and friends. I bring you peace and love in the name of God made flesh!

Sunday morning was a difficult morning for all of us. No one was prepared to hear the news that Max had for the church. I know that I am not alone in feeling a bit confused and worried. I wish I could tell you what was happening and where we are going from here as a church. The upcoming days and weeks will answer whatever questions we have and calm our concerns.

What I can tell you is that God is always present with us. God does not leave any of us alone, even when we sometimes feel anxious and overwhelmed. In Matthew 18 and Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of the shepherd leaving the 99 sheep to find the one lost sheep. Jesus wants them to know and wants us to know now that we are God’s beloved, and God will pursue us relentlessly to shower us in God’s love. Jesus was comparing the actions of the shepherd with the actions of God when one of us is “lost.” The interpretation of this parable clearly lets us know that individually, there is nothing God will not do to be in relationship with us. What we forget is that a shepherd watching over a flock of sheep is not God. While the shepherd cannot be in two places at once, God never leaves the 99 alone. God is all-powerful, always present, all-knowing, and all-loving. God can be with the many while seeking us all out individually. We read in Psalm 139, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

I have a note on my computer at the hospital. Just a small visual reminder of the good news of Jesus Christ. The note says, “do not let darkness have the final word!” No matter what we face, we are never alone. No matter how great the suffering, how scary the situation, or how sad our hearts become, God made flesh is more powerful than all of it. The Almighty creator of the universes and of things seen and not seen watches over us and walks beside us continuously. We cannot go away from God; we cannot flee God’s presence. God knows where we are, even when we feel lost.

My love to all of you,
Mary

Part of my job is to keep us honest about how we got here—and where we are going.

Now that Friday’s Word is gone, you will hear some around the church say that we can grow our church from the neighborhood around it.

Do not believe it.

Handley and Eastern Hills Methodist also had neighborhoods around them. These churches died.

But our great new playground will bring children into the church, and their parents will follow.

Handley had a successful daycare center. It was a lively place during the week. Neither parents nor kids came on Sundays. Handley died, ending a 145-year history.

When I came to pastor St. Matthew in 1982, there were three strong Methodist churches on the East Side—and one dying one.

Two of the strong ones are closed. The third, Meadowbrook, has merged with another once-great church—Poly Methodist—and is now no bigger than St. Matthew.

The one dying in 1982—St. Matthew—is still here.

It has taken extraordinary measures to maintain the life of St. Matthew—primarily the longevity of the pastor and Friday’s Word.

Friday’s Word is gone.

It will require new extraordinary measures for this church to continue to live.

One thing we will do is start a new YouTube channel devoted to the class I teach on my book, Discovering God. I am willing to say that this is an important book. It makes a difference.

We will need to advertise this new channel in every way we can. (This will cost a little money—but I will pay part of it.)

I am hopeful about the future.

We have made it this far together.

By the power and grace of our Lord, we will move on—all of us serving our Lord Jesus Christ in a New Year.

Truly, truly, the best is yet to come.

A New Picture Directory

We will have a new pictorial directory in 2026. The date for photographs has not yet been set, but we will aim for March.

Connie Michael has produced the most accurate list we have of present members and regular visitors. We will try to get everyone on that list pictured in the book.

Providing Rides

There are older folks at home and in a local retirement center who would love to attend St. Matthew. We need to provide rides. We also need to run a shuttle in the local community for children who want to come to Sunday school. We need a large van (or small bus).

Mary’s Ordination

Mary, we hope and pray, will be able to remain as our Associate Pastor when she is ordained in June. But this involves changes. Mary will have to be paid more when she is full-time, but our budget cannot bear any more. So, we will take the money we used for Friday’s Word to add to Mary’s salary. And my salary will have to be lowered to raise Mary’s.

No church the size of St. Matthew can afford two full-time pastors, but we can if both pastors are willing to make a sacrifice.

St. Matthew lives by being the exception to the rule. We can do it.

First Sunday of the New Year

Epiphany Sunday.

We will be just where we long to be as we begin a new year—at the Lord’s Table.

What a privilege! What a joy!

Sermon: Something New in the World

If you are able, come Sunday.

Your witness is our strength.