Hello everyone,

I continue to spend a considerable amount of time humming Broadway tunes from our Saturday concert or just grinning and remembering the joy that filled my heart during the performance. I know many of you were also as moved as I was, I could see it in your smiles and tears. We are so very, very blessed that God sent Shannon and Blake to our congregation. I am looking forward to many more concerts at St. Matthew. Thanks to everyone who brought food and a HUGE thank you to those of you who stayed to help clean up. 

Our next concert is scheduled for August, date and details to follow. Our BACK-to-SCHOOL bash is August 4^th. Hot Dogs and Movie Night are on the agenda. I still need volunteers to help set up and clean up that evening. We also need a room full of school-age kids! Thank you to those folks who gave me money on Sunday morning for the gift cards we will be giving away that evening. I received 3 donations. Only 27 more to go!!

I will be away this weekend celebrating my nephew’s wedding. I will join you online for worship. Blessings to all! Mary

We had an interesting lesson about King Nebuchadnezzar. The king commanded his palace master to bring in some young Jewish men to be trained to serve in the King’s palace. This may have been an attempt on the king’s part to win over the Jews. if these young men learned the Babylonian language and culture, they were assigned to work in the King’s palace. The King thought it might encourage all Jewish people to be loyal to Babylon.

As part of the training program, Nebuchadnezzar fed the Jewish men food from his own kingly menu. Think of the food you would eat every day if you were the king: this might have been the richest, most decadent food in all of Babylon, and these Jewish men would be able to eat it simply because the king allowed it. Daniel, however, knew that his food was more than a gift from the king—it was a gift from God. And to show that he was grateful to God for his food, Daniel declined to eat the king’s food. The chief official told Daniel that eating the king’s food was a requirement. For ten days Daniel arranged a test; for ten days Daniel and his friends ate vegetables and drank water. Mosaic Law allowed the Jews to eat more than vegetables and water, but Daniel thought that the meat and wine may have been given as a sacrifice to Babylonian gods, and he wanted to honor God in all his choices. God rewarded Daniel for his faithfulness.

We had a wonderful class of 6 youngsters that got to experiment with a different type of painting! I can’t say enough about these well-behaved youngsters! See you in church Sunday. Blessings!

Don’t miss the sensational concert happening this Saturday at the enchanting Saint Matthew UMC! Prepare to be swept away by the captivating melodies of popular Broadway musicals, including the timeless hits from South Pacific, the electrifying rhythms of West Side Story, the emotional journey of Les Misérables, and the haunting tunes of Phantom of the Opera. Immerse yourself in an evening of outstanding performances that will transport you to the magical world of Broadway. Mark your calendars and join us for a truly unforgettable experience!

Saturday, July 15
6:00 pm

A potluck dinner will follow the performance. All are welcome, and the concert is free of charge. An offering will be taken to help offset our financial shortfall.

FOR SUNDAY, JULY 16

SERMON: A Word from the Lord

SCRIPTURE: Galatians 1:9-11

As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed…For the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin. I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it. I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

THE BIG EVENT

You know what it is.

When Blake and Shannon sing for us, it’s a big event. And we’ve never heard them sing Broadway stuff. This should be terrific!

The “Broadway Night Concert” begins at 6:00pm this Saturday. Supper follows. It’s free, but we will take an offering.

The food is potluck. If we luck out, the food will be good. (I am bringing tuna sandwiches.) The fellowship will be great.

DON’T FORGET TO COME!

This Saturday at 6:00 pm.

MY SERMON LAST WEEK

Back after my illness. Still wasn’t feeling great. The sermon was long and tedious. But I’m feeling better. Don’t plan to do that to you again.

I do hope to see you Sunday (after I see you Saturday!).

GOD BLESS—MB

Hello to everyone! I hope you are all staying cool and dry in this heat and humidity. A little bit of rain is helpful, I think. Or it may just contribute to the humidity. Summer in Texas must be the closest thing to Hell we can imagine without actually being there. I look forward to the 3 days of mild fall weather we will probably have in November. 🙂 Yvonne Lee let me know today that her niece Cindy is being discharged this week from rehab and will return home. And Julie Maxwell tells me that Tracy still has serious pain and is scheduled for an MRI and several office visits this week. Charlotte Holder has had some relief from the procedure she had on her back, but she still asks for prayers from you. Keep these and all our folks with health issues in your prayers this week.

We have some exciting things coming up: July 15^th at 6 pm is our “Night at the Theater” featuring Shannon and Blake with a Potluck Dinner to follow. August 4th is our “Back to School Bash” for the kids in our congregation. A sign-up list will be available this Sunday to help with the event. We will have hot dogs and a movie night. This event begins at 5:30 with food and fellowship. The movie will start at 6:30. Everyone is invited, even if you aren’t going back to school. We will not need to purchase school supplies for the elementary school kids, but I think new backpacks would be good for all of them. Or perhaps gift cards so that they can pick out their own. We will discuss.

Finally, the Admin Board meets this Sunday after church. If you have anything you would like to be added to the agenda, please let me or Winston know.

Blessings to all, Mary