• Mary’s Corner

    Let me begin by saying the newsletter is a day late this week, and that is my fault. My nursing job and the program I oversee at the hospital have received much of my attention and time. Still, I bring you peace and blessings in the name of Jesus Christ, who loves us unconditionally and is present with us always.

    I loved the music from Sunday. Traditional hymns are beautiful, but there is something especially uplifting about singing contemporary songs, especially those from the Gaithers. I don’t know if it’s the upgrades to the sound system or simply the strength of your voices, but the music has been so powerful lately!

    We also had a very successful school supply campaign for Bill J. Elliot Elementary. Thank you, Connie Michael, for coordinating delivery and serving as St. Matthew’s liaison to the school. The few leftover items will be donated to Eastside Ministries. Thank you, church family, for your generosity—you have truly cared for your neighbors.

    Tickets are still available in limited quantities for the MSB concert on September 20th. If you are unable to attend, please consider donating the cost of a ticket. That evening, we’ll be serving hamburgers and hot dogs, and we need desserts from those who can help. A sign-up sheet is located on the bulletin board, offering numerous opportunities to serve. Thank you to Brian McCosky for printing and distributing flyers, to Jason Hardy for handling online marketing, and to the Horizon Texas Conference for sharing the event details. I pray for God’s blessing over this outreach, that it may draw people into our loving, accepting, and affirming congregation.

    My love to all! I’m thankful for the cooler weather ahead and for the beauty of God’s creation.

    —Mary


  • Kids’ News – Faith in the Fire

    King Nebuchadnezzar made a giant gold statue and said, “When the music plays, everyone must bow down and worship it” (Daniel 3:5). If anyone refused, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace.

    The music played, and everyone bowed—except three young men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The king shouted, “If you don’t bow down, you’ll be thrown into the fire. Then what god could save you?” (Daniel 3:15).

    The three answered bravely: “The God we serve is able to save us. But even if He does not, we want you to know that we will never worship your statue” (Daniel 3:17–18).

    The king was furious! He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter and had them thrown inside. But when he looked, he gasped: “Didn’t we throw three men into the fire? Look! I see four men walking around unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:24–25).

    God kept them safe—no burns, not even the smell of smoke on their clothes. The king then praised the one true God who had rescued them.

    This story shows us that God is with us in scary times. Even when others pressure us to do wrong, we can stand strong in our faith.

    What We Learned:

    • Only God deserves our worship.
    • Trust God, even when it’s hard.
    • God is always with us in tough times.
    • Our faith can help others see God’s power.



  • Friday’s Word

    It is sad that the impending death of our democracy is largely a product of conservative Christianity.

    Bad theology equals dangerous theology. Conservative theology is exclusive, pushing those who are most vulnerable in our society beyond the pale of concern. That includes the poor, immigrants, and our gay friends and loved ones.

    So, what can we do? We can support churches that preach the inclusive love of the Gospel. Like St. Matthew.

    We enjoy your love from afar, but there are times when we would like for you to show up. Like tomorrow evening—Saturday, Aug. 30, at 6:00 PM.

    We will host a concert of Broadway music from our vocal “stars”—singers every bit the equal of the Broadway originals. (I kid you not.) And listen! In these hard times, when the struggle is before us, we need to be lifted. I can promise you joy. And laughter. And—supper!

    It is all free, but we will take an offering for Eastside Ministries, which helps feed those in need in our community.

    By the way, we are looking for customers on Sunday mornings, too. Worship with us is worth your effort—and even a little drive time. Come to my class at 9:45, the only place you can study my next book, Discovering God. After class, join us for breakfast, followed by worship at 11:00.

    Don’t let the churches with bad theology get all the support. Stand with us!

    Start Saturday night with the concert. That’s at 6:00. Meet me at the door.

    [email protected]
    saintmatthewumc.com