Friday’s Word

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Our Old Sins

Westover Plantation still stands along the James River in Virginia. It was built by William Byrd in 1730.

My ancestor, Capt. Daniel Lewellen, lived across the river.

Mr. Byrd is famous for having kept a diary, one of our best sources for colonial life in Virginia.

I found one passage very interesting. Byrd said that after dinner one evening his wife and her sister were arguing over the inerrancy of scripture.

It’s an old argument.

My ancestor and Mr. Byrd went to the same church, also still standing.

And both owned—bought and sold—enslaved human beings.

Another ancestor, Jessee Lewellen, was a Baptist preacher. He started a church in North Carolina around 1830.

It is still there.

And although a preacher, Jessee owned three people.

As a biblical inerrantist, he could justify that sin.

One of his sons, Jessee Jr., just like Abraham in the Bible, had a child by a woman he owned.

Which leads us to Beverly, our black cousin in California. She is planning a big family reunion next summer in Mississippi.

Our black and white family–all together.

Except for cousin Sam.

He appeared on a family zoom call with a Confederate flag behind him and he used the “N-word.”

Like the old buildings in this narrative, the evil of racism still stands, with its sister sin of homophobia.

And if you are a biblical inerrantist like my ancestors, you can justify any sin you want.

But if you listen to Jesus above all, the old sins must go. His love is our hope.

Max’s Corner

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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

Mary’s Corner

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Greetings to all of you in the name of the risen Christ! I hope you are experiencing the love and blessings of God as you read this newsletter. Fall is coming this week and I am thankful for a break from the summer temperatures. Fall also brings flu, COVID,  and other inconvenient illnesses to our communities. Remember to take care of yourselves and each other during this time when your immune systems will be challenged. Sleep, healthy meals, hand washing, and avoiding large crowds are vital to maintaining your good health. If you feel sick, please stay home and rest. 

I will be out of town this weekend but will return on November 5th to share the message and vision for the Central Texas Conference of the UMC from Bishop Ruben Saenz. In advance of this message, please think about the following questions: “What does our church do well?” and “What does our church need to do better?” These two questions are part of the process that Bishop Saenz has asked us to work through as we strive to multiply followers of Jesus and to become relevant to the neighborhoods we serve. I am excited to share with you and to move forward in our ministries to this broken world. I pray for all of you continuously, thanking God for your presence in my life. Blessings, Mary