• Kids’ News

    This week, we met Paul, who was a tax collector. Paul decided he wanted to join the disciples when he arrived in Jerusalem, but they doubted Paul’s sincerity as a disciple of Jesus. Up until his experience of meeting the Lord on the road to Damascus and his experience of blindness and healing, Paul was an enemy of Christianity and a persecutor of those who practiced the faith. The disciples do not trust that Paul has changed. Barnabas brings Paul to the apostles and serves as a witness that Paul has changed. Paul makes a large impact on the new church. The church grows in strength and reverence for the Lord, as well as the number of people. This growth is attributed to the Holy Spirit.

    Since it was Mother’s Day, the boys planted flowers in a pot to take home. These were even more special because each one made their handprint, cut it out and, with Miss Vickie’s help, glued it on the flower pot. This made their Mother’s Day gift even more special. Hopefully, you had a wonderful Mother’s Day. See you in church on Sunday.

    Blessings



  • 2422 – The Great Miscalculation

    YouTube player

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

    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/saintmatthewumc/episodes/Episode-2422—The-Great-Miscalculation-e2jm3t4

  • Friday’s Word

    Free at Last! Free at Last!

    Kerry was having a severe allergic reaction. She called her wife, then rushed toward the elevator to get to the hospital.

    She died in the hallway.

    She then found herself headed toward a white, limitless Light. A loving and gentle force drew her toward it. But her journey was interrupted.

    She was stopped by her deceased grandparents. They were luminous and beautiful and she knew them immediately.

    They wanted to tell her they were sorry. They now knew something they had not known in the world. Her family had caused her to live her life in fear.

    Her family and her church had told her she was going to hell for being gay. She rejoiced that they now accepted her.

    But her grandparents had some bad news for her. It was not her time.

    Kerry wanted to stay in this abundant love. She wanted to get to the Light.

    And she did.

    There before God, “in deepest humility,” Kerry said, “I uttered seven words: ‘I’m gay, will you still love me?’”

    God’s words to her changed everything: “You are my child. I love you, I love you, I love you. Go back and tell them.”

    That’s what she has been doing, as have other gay people who have had near-death experiences.

    Just this last week, the United Methodist Church at its General Conference got out of the hate business. We removed the anti-gay words placed in our Book of Discipline in 1972.

    The chains that bound us have been broken. “Free at last, free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

    Free to live the Gospel of God’s unconditional love for all people.

    Let us rejoice!


  • Max’s Corner

    The Perfect Sunday

    It may have been—perfect.

    It was a fitting, moving, and festive celebration of our deliverance from those ugly words in the Book of Discipline declaring a malicious falsehood: that being gay is “incompatible” with Christian faith.

    Mary preached and consecrated the elements for Communion.

    Mary preached a fine sermon–and she preached from the high pulpit for the first time. (I forgot to tell her that, when she is up there, the fan in the north transept must be turned on. Otherwise—it’s hot!)

    Julian sang Bridge Over Troubled Waters—and got another standing ovation. 

     It was a great day.

    Our Special Offering

    Our special offering Sunday (to get us through a tight spot) was over $11,000. We give thanks.

    This offering will do two things, one immediate, the other later. It will help get us through our tight month (May) and later, it will help us meet our obligations at the end of the year.

    I depend on the people of this church always coming through.

    And the people of this church always come through. We lift our praise to the Lord.

    Breakfast this Sunday

    It’s a “We-Bring Sunday.”

    I’ll bring “pigs-in-a croissant.” 

    Let’s have breakfast together—10:30 a.m.

    Ascension Sunday this week—

    Then Pentecost.

    Sermon This Sunday: The Great Miscalculation

    We are in prayer for those who are ill and those who have lost loved ones.

    See You Sunday. (Just do your best.)

                  God Bless—MB

    BY THE WAY—we have a big dinner a week from Sunday—on Pentecost. Get ready to bring.