Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

  • Mary’s Corner

    Mary Teague

    Dearest St. Matthew friends and family,

    What an exciting week for us! Our 8-year playground project was started and Phase 1 completed in less than 3 days. The equipment looks amazing and I cannot wait to complete Phase 2: Retaining wall with fencing and brick paver pathway.

    Another bit of exciting news is that you will all be able to purchase engraved brick pavers or sections of fencing in memory of or in honor of someone.

    This is, of course, just a fancy way of raising money toward the project. It is also a great way to let the world know how important that person was or is to you.

    I will have pricing soon for the brick pavers and sections of fencing. I am so very grateful to all of you for your spiritual and financial support.

    Phase 3 of the project includes the addition of a walking path around the property. We need to begin as soon as possible getting the fence up to keep folks safe. More to come this Sunday!

    I am preaching again from Step 4. This week we will talk about “The Good Things.” Making a searching and fearless moral inventory is not only about the things we wish were different about ourselves. Making a list of the good things is also included in this step and I encourage you to begin making your list now.

    My love to you all, Mary

  • Kids’ News

    Sue Kelcey

    This week we were all so excited that the playground had been constructed and we just had to go outside and “test drive” it.

    Everything seemed to meet their approval. Jade and Remy really enjoyed the swings, while Alec loved the slides. They decided that the playground passed inspection for you to bring your kids and grandkids to church so they can enjoy our playground as well!

    Our lesson this week was about Abraham as he journeyed to a new land. God told him not to be afraid because He would protect them on their journey.

    Abraham was confused that God would be protecting all of his descendants on this journey. He asked God, “What can You possibly give me since I have no children?“

    God patiently replied that Abraham should count the stars in the night sky if he thought he could. God told him that is how many descendants he would have. Abraham has questions, but he remains faithful to God.

    We learned that there are always questions about God’s desires in our lives, but we also learned in this story that God always keeps His promises, even when these promises are different from anything we could have imagined. We have a lot more to learn about this journey.

    Be with us Sunday as we travel further with Abraham and Sarah.

    Blessings

  • Saint Matthew Today for October 4th, 2023

    Jason Hardy
    2023-10-04-St-Matthew-TodayDownload

  • 2342 – Resentment

    Jason Hardy
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    Luke 15:28-30 New International Version

    28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

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  • Friday’s Word

    Max Brennan

    An Unseen Presence

    On 9/11, the center of impact on Building Two of The World Trade Center was the 81st floor. Only four people who worked above that floor survived.

    Ron DeFranco was one of them. But he says he did not make the descent through fire, smoke, and darkness alone. An unseen presence was with him.

    When he hit a wall of debris blocking the stairs, he crouched on the floor to get under the smoke. He was in despair.

    A voice said, “Get up!”

    It was insistent.

    The voice addressed him by name and told him he could do it.

    All the way down he felt pushed, guided, sometimes even lifted.

    “An angel led me through the fire,” he said.

    Moments after he made it out, the building came down.

    Another person buried under the rubble that day saw Christ standing before him. He knew he was safe.

    These stories are told in John Geiger’s bestseller, The Third Man.

    (Not a good name for this kind of experience, but it has a history.)

    I shared with you recently the story of popular singer M.I.A. (her stage name).

    She was in an isolated place with no phone service and was so ill she believed she was dying.

    Then Jesus appeared to her, silently loving and encouraging her.

    M.I.A. was Hindu and didn’t like Christianity.

    But she was faced with a new reality.

    She said, “When you need help, it is Jesus who comes to save you.”

    Accounts like these are too numerous to ignore.

    How do you deal with them? Do they fit your theology?

    Do they lift you or trouble you? Let me know.

    My e-mail is below.

    [email protected]