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  • Serve Joyfully: Living In The Ways of the Spirit

    Jason Hardy
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    Watch the full service online by clicking here.

    How do we serve joyfully when life feels anything but joyful?

    This Sunday, Rev. Mary Teague reminded us that joy is not pretending everything is okay. Grief, worry, pain, and life’s distractions are real. There are seasons when healing requires us to be still before God. Yet even in those moments, God has given us practices that gently draw our hearts back to Him.

    Drawing from Psalm 100:1-5, we explored how worship, gratitude, praise, and joyful service are more than spiritual disciplines. They are gifts God has woven into our lives for our healing. These practices do not remove the chaos around us, but they help keep that chaos from defining us by reminding us that we are God’s beloved children.

    In Colossians 3:23-24, we were encouraged to approach every task with wholehearted devotion, remembering that whatever we do, we ultimately serve Christ. Whether in worship, at work, or in caring for others, even ordinary moments can become acts of joyful service.

    The good news is that God has already created us to Love Boldly and Serve Joyfully. As we choose gratitude, praise, and faithful service, we rediscover the joy that has been there all along, waiting to draw us closer to God.

    Scripture: Psalm 100:1–5; Colossians 3:23–24

    Psalm 100 (English Standard Version)

    His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
    A Psalm for giving thanks.

    100 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
    2     Serve the Lord with gladness!
        Come into his presence with singing!

    3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;[a]
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

    4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!

    5 For the Lord is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.

    Colossians 3:23-24 (English Standard Version)

    23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

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  • A Word from the Pastor

    Mary Teague

    Hello, dear church family and friends,

    As we finish our Love Boldly series, I want to share a few ideas I learned in my previous nursing role that have stayed with me.

    First, taking care of yourself includes establishing intentional downtime. Set aside a specific time each day to step away from screens and unnecessary stimulation. Even five to ten minutes of quiet, mindfulness, prayer, meditation, or simply focusing on God’s creation can help your nervous system reset.

    Second, ask yourself, What are the things in my life that are truly meaningful to me? Identify two or three activities that bring you deep joy, then intentionally make time for them.

    Finally, reconnect with hobbies, interests, and relationships that have brought you joy in the past. These recommendations are adapted from an article titled Exiting Survival Mode, published on the Texas Health Resources intranet.

    As we begin our new series, Serve Courageously, I hope you’ll spend a little time thinking about this: service to others is work, but it is also fuel for your soul. I’ll have much more to share with you on Sunday morning.

    I am so grateful to be doing this work with you. By the grace of God and through the power of God’s love, we are building something new at Saint Matthew. I am excited to be walking this path together.

    I also ask for your prayers as you read this, especially if you’re reading on Wednesday. Today marks my final day serving as the Palliative Care and Hospice Program Coordinator at Texas Health Resources. I returned for one day to help with the program’s re-certification inspection and, if all goes as expected, I will officially hand off this role to my successor at the end of the day.

    Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and your prayers during this transition. I look forward to devoting my full attention to the ministry we share here at Saint Matthew.

    Love to all,

    Mary

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  • A Word from our Church Family

    Jason Hardy

    Our church family experienced both sorrow and joy this week. We said goodbye to our friend and fellow church member, Mac Selfen. We continue to lift the Selfen family in our prayers, giving thanks for Mac’s faithful life and the many ways he blessed our church family through the years.

    In the midst of our sorrow, God also gave us reasons to rejoice. It was a joy to see Keith Butterfield back in worship with us last Sunday, and we were delighted to welcome so many visitors to Saint Matthew. Moments like these remind us what it means to be the body of Christ. We grieve together, celebrate together, pray together, and welcome one another with open hearts.

    Whether you’re a lifelong member or joined us for the first time this past Sunday, thank you for being part of our church family. May we continue to encourage one another, care for one another, and faithfully reflect Christ’s love in every season of life.

    Would you like to share a word with our church family in a future newsletter? We’d love to hear from you. Email [email protected].

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  • Kids’ News

    Jason Hardy

    Be Still and Notice

    Have you ever been so busy playing or talking that you almost missed something important? It happens to all of us!

    This Sunday, we learned that God is always close to us, even when life gets noisy or busy. King David wrote that he wanted to wake up each day knowing God was with him. Sometimes the best way to remember that is to slow down for just a moment and notice.

    This week, try taking a “God Pause.” Stop for just a few seconds and look around. What beautiful thing do you see? Who can you encourage today? Where do you notice God’s love at work? When we take time to notice, we often discover that God has been with us all along.

    Family Challenge

    Choose one time each day this week, maybe at dinner or before bedtime, and have everyone share one thing they noticed that reminded them of God’s love. It could be a kind friend, a beautiful sunset, someone who helped you, or a moment that made you smile.

    Talk About It

    • What is something beautiful you noticed today?
    • When do you feel especially close to God?
    • How can you help someone else notice God’s love this week?

    Read

    Psalm 17:1-7,15 NIV

    Prayer

    Dear God, thank You for always being near us. Help us slow down, notice Your love, and share that love with others every day. Amen.

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  • Newsletter for July 29, 2026

    Jason Hardy
    2026-07-29 St Matthew TodayDownload
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