Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

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  • Kids’ News

    Sue Kelcey

    In our story this week, Jesus gathered his eleven disciples around him on a mountaintop in Galilee. Jesus commissioned his disciples with the task of forming a community of believers. This community was to embody Jesus’ presence in the world to strengthen and guide God’s children.

    Some of the disciples, however, expressed doubt. They were still having trouble grasping the mystery of the resurrection. While some worshiped Jesus immediately, others had questions.

    There are many times in the Gospels when the disciples expressed doubt even though they were devoted to Jesus. It’s natural that we, Jesus’ modern-day disciples, also experience some doubt. Just like the disciples before us, we need to accept a little mystery with our faith. Like them, we must accept that there are some answers that we do not have and some things that can’t be explained.

    Jesus knew this was a lot for the disciples to take in, and promised to be with them always as they spread the gospel.

    We call Jesus’ instructions to form a community of believers The Great Commission. A commission is a call for something God wants us to do. God commissions us all to share Jesus with the world.

    We can do this in many ways such as ministry, showing kindness, love, and respect. We are called to teach and serve others. This is what we do in Sunday school each week. See you in church on Sunday.

    Blessings

  • Saint Matthew Today for April 10th, 2024

    Jason Hardy
    2024-04-10-St-Matthew-TodayDownload

  • 2417 – The Body of Christ

    Jason Hardy
    YouTube player

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

    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/saintmatthewumc/episodes/Episode-2417—The-Body-of-Christ-e2i72u1
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    John 21:1-11 New International Version

    Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

    21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

    4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

    5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

    “No,” they answered.

    6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

    7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

    10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan

    God Hears Us

    Elaine had been a member of a church youth group I worked with. I had not heard from her in 18 years. Then I got her letter.

    She said she felt “compelled” by God to share her experience with me. Here’s a brief excerpt.

    I wanted a closer walk with God. I prayed every day for that. And one day, driving home from church, I demanded to know why I was unworthy to know Him better.

    And God came, very literally, right into my car. I was suddenly viewing specific moments of my life replayed in my mind with every tiny detail.

    God replayed all my prayers of recent weeks, word for word. I was hearing them and knowing them instantly.

    Then I saw and felt this overwhelming light, the most amazing light I had ever seen—a mixture of amber and rose and gold.

    And it was alive. I felt an awesome power and love.

    God let Elaine know her prayers were heard.

    All of them.

    Elaine called—and God responded.

    God is accessible.

    God is forthcoming.

    I have known this since my own prayer experience at fourteen. I prayed and received an audible reply.

    I said to myself after my prayer, “Nobody heard me.” A voice replied clearly, “I heard you.”

    No, prayer does not work this way most of the time. But these events tell us that all prayers are heard.

    And God will always respond in some way.

    These events also tell us that God is real, God is personal, and God cares about us.

    How often have I said this to you? God is an experienced reality.

    A recommendation:

    Worship somewhere this Sunday. For the joy of it.

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan

    A Glorious Celebration Easter 2024

    I’ll admit, it was the hardest Holy week and Easter for this pastor. I was dysfunctional when it was over.

    But it may have been the best.

    Mary had a sweet and moving Thursday service. Steven Moore said Good Friday was his favorite (and he has seen every Good Friday services we have ever had).

    And Sunday—for me—was the joy we want Easter to be. The music from Blake, Kristi, and our great choir, augmented with guest musicians, was over the top.

    Powerful.

    We had 120 in worship.

    And how fun it was to hear the laughing and hollering of children during the big egg hunt!

    And thanks to Mark Detrick-Kirkpatrick, we had an Easter with flair. His solid pink suit was a hit at church and on Facebook.

    Thanks to all who worked to fix meals, get the Good Friday display together, place the lilies, make the music—and those who gathered to sing God’s praise on Resurrection Day.

    Sunday’s Sermon

    The heart of the sermon may have been the story from Betty Ware, mother of Cindy Wheeler and Sheila Taylor—the “sister act” that sits on pew 2 every week.

    Betty passed many years ago, but her story of an encounter with a Risen Christ lives on to remind us that our Lord is still working, still appearing, and still watching over our lives.

    Now–life slows down a little.

    That’s OK. Preacher here can’t take two Easters in a row! Mary will preach for us this Sunday.

    The joy of Easter continues.

    He IS risen.

    See you Sunday.