Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

  • Kids’ News

    Sue Kelcey

    We were blessed with a wonderful group of young people Sunday. We talked about the Sermon on the Mount as a place where Jesus taught his disciples.

    We talked at length about the Lord’s Prayer. The kids all knew it and we talked about how young they were when they learned this prayer. A couple of the boys said they started repeating this prayer when they were about 2! They all knew that this prayer contains elements Jesus considered important when praying: asking God for guidance in our lives, forgiveness, praise, and thanks.

    Did you know that the Lord’s Prayer is prayed all over the world and in many languages? It is a famous prayer that has been important to many Christians. This example was provided by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount as a way of teaching his disciples. However, the focus of Jesus’ teaching is not so much on a method of prayer as it is on our motivations for prayer and our relationship with God.

    As we left church to go to Children’s church, we were delighted to learn that a kind member had left a basket of treats on our table! We were all delighted that someone was kind enough to leave these treats. I want to extend a big “Thank You” to this kind person. You should have witnessed the delight of the kids when they discovered your thoughtfulness!

    During class, they all picked an 8×10 canvas picture to paint as a Valentine gift to give to the person of their choice. We are blessed with the kindness of your kids! See you Sunday.

    Blessings

  • Saint Matthew Today for February 7th, 2024

    Jason Hardy
    2024-02-07-St-Matthew-TodayDownload

  • 2405 – The Double-Minded Christian

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

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  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan

    10 on the “Big Ten” List

    Some legislators want The Ten Commandments posted on walls in Texas schoolrooms.

    I have a concern about #10. It lists a man’s wife as one of his possessions.

    Thou shalt not covet your neighbor’s house, or your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

    Note that the wife is not first on the list. The house comes first.

    But she is (we give thanks) above the ox and the donkey. And just above the slaves. Still, the wife is owned, just like the slaves and the ox and the donkey.

    This old attitude remains enshrined in the traditional marriage vow. The father says, “I give this woman to be married to this man.”

    Dad passed ownership to the husband, usually with a little money or a few sacks of grain to sweeten the deal.

    I’m not sure we want to solidify this image of marriage in the minds of our children. There are too many boys and men who think this way already.

    The “Big Ten” are a great and ancient moral code, but they don’t belong on classroom walls.

    Nor do the teachings of Jesus, for that matter. Keep church and state separate.

    But it is interesting that the legislators pushing The Ten Commandments never suggest posting words from The Sermon on the Mount.

    And why not?

    They don’t believe them.

    Jesus told us to seek no revenge, to love our enemies, and to be kind to those who are unkind to us. The Jesus way is not on the Christian Nationalist agenda. +++

    Sermon Sunday: The Double-Minded Christian.

    Tune in. I may be talking about you. 11:00 a.m.

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan

    Service for Curtis

    It is (as I write this) Monday evening and I am preparing for the memorial service for Curtis Anderson (husband of Linda) at Shannon Rose Hill on Tuesday at 2:00.

    Our love to Linda and family.

    Curtis has moved from illness to a full life, a great family reunion, and abundant joy.

    We give thanks to God.

    Last Sunday

    Good to have Mary back and preaching for us. (“Best sermon I ever heard,” said Annette Wells.)

    Julian’s solo was a “showstopper”—not the best term for a worship service, but you know what I mean.

    We do have music!

    This Sunday

    My sermon will be The Double-Minded Christian, based on a verse from the short letter of James, the 21st of the 27 books in the New Testament.

    This is Communion Sunday.

    The choir will sing the lovely Twyla Thorp anthem, How Beautiful, twice—once at anthem time and again as accompaniment to the serving of Communion.

    After worship this week, there will be an All-Council Meeting to discuss plans for the year.

    Those of the Female Persuasion

    Women! Do not forget the Saint Matthew Women United luncheon a week from this Thursday—Feb. 8—at 11:30. Lunch provided.

    Life Running Early This Year

    Everything—Ash Wednesday—Holy Week—Easter. All early this year. Ash Wednesday worship—the beginning of Lent—is two weeks away. Wed., Feb. 14, 7:00 p.m.

    See you Sunday.

    All of you, I hope.

    God bless—MB