Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

  • Kids’ News

    Sue Kelcey

    This week, we looked at Jesus’ birth from Joseph’s perspective as we continue our celebration of Advent. Like Mary, Joseph heard about Jesus’ coming from an angel. Joseph had learned that his wife-to-be was expecting. Joseph was thinking of quietly calling off their marriage because he didn’t want to embarrass Mary. Then an angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him that the child Mary was going to have come from the Holy Spirit, and that Joseph should not be afraid to marry her. The angel even told Joseph that the child would be a son and that the child’s name would be Jesus. When Joseph woke up from this dream, he did just as the angel told him and married Mary.

    By naming Jesus, Joseph was officially accepting Jesus as his son. He willingly raised and cared for Jesus. Joseph listened and did as God asked and, because he obeyed, he was filled with the joy of having a son and celebrating, with Mary, the birth of Jesus.

    We need you all to be like Joseph and come to our Christmas program at church Saturday, December 16. We will have a wonderful evening filled with wonderful music, a wonderful dinner and if we are lucky, a visit from Santa. Please help us make sure our little ones are all in church that evening to visit with this jolly ole elf!! We will see you in church!

    Blessings

  • Saint Matthew Today for December 13th, 2023

    Jason Hardy
    2023-12-13-St-Matthew-TodayDownload

  • 2352 – Peace or Justice?

    Jason Hardy
    YouTube player

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

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    2 Peter 3:14-15 New International Version

    14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan

    Advent Two

    John Cleese (yes, the British comedian of Faulty Towers fame) has a great interest in near-death experiences.

    He says he finds that people who dismiss them have not read the literature.

    This goes for religious experiences in general.

    A grieving father shared this with me:

    Remember that fire we had over here last year. My little nine-year-old girl died in that blaze.

    She was all I had.

    I couldn’t eat or sleep. Couldn’t work. I grieved till I thought I would die.

    One day I wandered back into the rubble of the place we had lived. I sat down in the midst of the rubble. The sorrow was heavy on me.

    But then I felt a presence—a power—like a million volts of electricity. I felt it could blow up the world, but it was full of love.

    The love surrounded me, and I heard a voice.

    The voice from the power said, ‘Your little girl is safe and well. She is with me.’ And the power began to let me go. My heart was changed. I still hurt, but I do not hurt like I used to.

    I know a thousand stories like that. They point to a personal God who cares about our pain.

    But how many such stories do you know?

    I was guest preacher in a church some years ago. I talked about religious experiences.

    A woman said to me as she was leaving, “Pastor, I’ve been in church all my life. This is the first time I’ve ever heard that God does anything.”

    A lot of people believe in a God who doesn’t do anything.

    If that’s your God, you’ve been running from reality. It’s time to slow down and take notice.

    +++

    Christmas Show, Sat. Dec. 16, 6:00 p.m.

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan

    Eastside Dinner

    If you missed it last year—you don’t have to miss it again. Ronnie Sullivan’s family is cooking a big enchilada dinner for us as a fundraiser for Eastside Ministries.

    This is a great event.

    Unfortunately—I will NOT be there.

    Still recovering from my intestinal virus.

    I am still at the Jello stage.

    Second Sunday of Advent

    This Sunday.

    Second of four Sundays.

    And this is the way it falls every few years—Advent Four is on Christmas Eve.

    Pomp and Circumstance Got Delayed

    The additional pomp and circumstance of Advent begins THIS week.

    My sermon Sunday: “Jesus Got It Right”

    Keep this in mind: Both The Christmas Show on Saturday, Dec. 16th and the Christmas Eve Service on Sunday the 24th are at 6:00 p.m.

    Service for Eloise

    Friday—11:00 a.m.

    Laurel Land on Crowley Rd.

    And God bless—

    MB