• Kids’ News

    This week, we talked about showing love for others. In our scripture, Paul explains what love should look like for the church and others in the community. He says we should hate evil and cling to what is good. We should love one another like family and show honor to one another. He also said we should serve the Lord enthusiastically. We are to find happiness in hope and stand our ground in trouble. We must celebrate with those who are happy and cry with those who are sad.

    Paul calls upon us to bless people who harass us and not curse them. Jesus taught us to treat one another as equals and not to think of ourselves as better than anyone else. We are not to seek revenge on those who have wronged us; we are to show respect for those who believe something differently than us. Most importantly, we are to live in peace with everyone. We are called to love.

    We were extremely happy with the wonderful group of kids we had Sunday. They are all aware of the way they should treat others. And they practice this in their daily life at school. Have a wonderful week. See you in church.

    Blessings



  • Ordination Update

    Great news! I have just received an email from the Central Texas conference office indicating that I will be allowed to interview with D-Com on August 22, 2024. Pending successful outcome of that interview process, I will be presented to the Board of Ordained Ministry in spring of 2025.

    I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your love and support all these years; one more time I’m asking for your prayers. Blessings to all Mary.


  • 2424 – Living Your Authentic Life

    YouTube player

    Watch the full service on our YouTube channel by clicking here.

    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/saintmatthewumc/episodes/Episode-2424—Living-Your-Authentic-Life-e2k7v1t

    John 1:14-18 J.B. Phillips New Testament

    14-18 So the word of God became a human being and lived among us. We saw his splendour (the splendour as of a father’s only son), full of grace and truth. And it was about him that John stood up and testified, exclaiming: “Here is the one I was speaking about when I said that although he would come after me he would always be in front of me; for he existed before I was born!” Indeed, every one of us has shared in his riches—there is a grace in our lives because of his grace. For while the Law was given by Moses, love and truth came through Jesus Christ. It is true that no one has ever seen God at any time. Yet the divine and only Son, who lives in the closest intimacy with the Father, has made him known.

    Hymns:

    393, “Spirit of the Living God”

    “Nothing Else” by Cody Carnes.

    “ We Fall Down” by Chris Tomlin.


  • Friday’s Word

    Lord Jesus, Lead the Way

    Funny—there is a kind of giddy hopefulness in the United Methodist Church now.

    We’ve lost a third of our churches nationwide. Most of them are smaller churches, but some are very large.

    But ah!—the freedom we feel! It’s like a great load has been lifted.

    As Bishop Saenz put it, “We are no longer supporting homophobia in the name of Jesus Christ.”

    Or as I have said, we are no longer promoting hate.

    The vote at the General Conference was 93% in favor of removing the hateful language against gay people in our Book of Discipline.

    It was placed there in 1972, a darker time, a time of greater ignorance about human sexuality.

    Many churches are still trapped in that time. They push a gospel that excludes people for being who they are. And until recently, we United Methodists were in on that sin.

    But God has delivered us. And we are reveling in the freedom to live for Jesus Christ.

    You know, evil has an allure and it is the allure of power over others.

    It leads to a perversion of Christianity.

    Christians in Germany wanted power over the Jews.

    White Christians in the South wanted power over black people.

    Men want power over women—and in many churches, they still have it.

    It is all wrong.

    This lust for power over others who are different is a sin. And United Methodists have had a conversion experience.

    Praise the Lord!

    We are free now to love others as God loves us.

    And we are ready as a church to go where God calls us.

    Lord Jesus, lead the way.