October 6, 2000
The Revival is Working
(The preacher has come to life!)
It's true. I've been revived. And good thing too!
We have a hard row to hoe between now and the end of this year -- at least, financially, we have. My own work will be hard.
But I have never been more excited than I am right now about this church and the privilege I have serving it.
And I have never been more sure of God's work among us.
If any year would burn a preacher out, this one would -- with the infernal mess we had in getting the thrift store started. It took so much of my time. I hated having to do it. But I knew it had to be done.
Now that it's accomplished, and I can turn my attention back to more important things, I feel a renewed joy.
In this great month of revival -- I am feeling revived!
I know that God is the source of my renewed energy.
I feel the Lord working in our midst, reminding us that "all things are possible" through him.
I know that, as a church, we will be able to do what we need to do -- when we need to do it -- for the sake of our Lord.
God will empower us to be the church that we need to be.
I think our Lord for his grace and power among us.
We have set some goals -- and we will set a lot more.
The first one is 140 in attendance every Sunday.
We will reach it. We had 119 last Sunday -- and that's only 21 away.
The day is coming in which we will have 140 and more in church every Sunday morning. When that happens regularly, we will have a great celebration -- and raise the bar again.
Help us make it.
Consider your commitment to be in worship a holy promise, to be kept faithfully. God will never fail a single promise to us. So if we have promised to support this church with our attendance -- let's do it!
If you have made that promise to this church, but for some reason you are unhappy with this church -- please! -- please! -- find a church you want to attend. Don't continue to make excuses for neglecting worship in your life.
But let me add that I don't think you will find a better church than St. Matthew. You may find one wealthier -- one with more stuff -- more programs. But you won't find a better -- and you won't find one that genuinely needs you -- your faith, your love, your witness -- more than this church.
So dear friend, if your heart, if your love is with us -- let us see the proof of it. Honor your promise to God in this church.
I hope to see you this Sunday. All 140 of you!
God bless ---
Max
This week the menu is pancakes and sausage, with OJ and coffee to drink. Doug Kelcey and Melinda Warner seem to be the kitchen crew. Any helpers?
Come early to Sunday School. Breakfast is served from 9:30 to 9:55.
Sunday school starts at 10:00. We had 51 in Sunday school last week. We need 70.
9:30 - Breakfast 10:00 - Sunday school 11:00 - Morning Worship
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES
DISCIPLES CLASS -- taught by Bob Gray -- "A Brief Romp Through the Minor Prophets." You are invited to join us.
PASTOR'S CLASS -- taught by the pastor -- "Paul's Last Journey." His friends did all they could to stop him. Paul said he had to go. Why was this trip so dangerous?
FRIENDSHIP CLASS -- shared teaching -- International Lesson series. A close and loving group.
OFFERING AND INCOME
MISSIONS & EVANGELISM
Gifts -- $105
Thrift Store -- $150
Sunday Night -- $52
Total: -- $307
(needed every week: $400)
DEFICIT FOR WEEK
($93 -- mission)
DEFICIT FOR YEAR
$12,000
Special Funds:
Flowers -- $15
Playground -- $0
Shelves For Choir Music -- $0
A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS
We are grateful for a good offering. And for this coming Sunday, we have received three gifts through the mail from folks who will not be in church.
It's a blessing.
The $12,000 is actually an estimate of how short we will be at the end of the year, if there were no special giving to make this up.
In other words -- we will need #12,000 in special gifts by the end of the year. Please consider what your year-end gift will be.
SUNDAY EVENING GOALS
We have "special events" -- concerts - for the next two Sunday evenings. We need a minimum of 50 present for this Sunday evening -- and no fewer that 75 for Sunday, October 15, 2000 when the St. Rita Catholic Gospel Choir is with us.
If we exceeded those numbers, it is great. If we fall below, it is not.
UMW News
United Methodist Women will meet Tuesday, October 12, 2000 for a very important meeting to elect new officers and get a fresh start. UMW has not had a full slate of officers lately. The following officers will need to be filled.
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Secretary
Secretary of Programs
Our goal in UMW is 20 women at every meeting. Let's make that 20 at this very important meeting next Tuesday.
NO SATURDAY SERVICE FOR TWO WEEKS
Our Saturday worship service is "preempted" for two weeks. This week we have a wedding at 6:00 -- and on October 14, we will support the Handley Street Festival. Saturday worship resumes on October 21, 2000.
AN IMPORTANT SERVICE
On Sunday morning, October 22, 2000, Elaine Geyer will be with us to share her remarkable religious experience. The pastor related this experience in his Pentecost sermon. Now you can hear it from Elaine herself.
Elaine was a member of the pastor's youth group at First Presbyterian Church in Grand Prairie 19 years ago, just before he entered the ministry. Many from that youth group will be here to share in this special Sunday.
Three weeks from now -- Sunday, October 22, 2000 -- 11:00 AM.
WEDNESDAY PRAYER TIME
A "Prayer and Share Group" meets every Wednesday in the church parlor -- 6:00 PM. You may come every week, or when you feel a special need for prayer. Some of us are finding this helpful. We learn that others have problems, too -- and God is here for all of us.
NEXT BOARD MEETING
The next meeting of our Administrative Board will be Monday, October 21, 2000 at 7:30. Our Finance Committee will meet just before that at 6:30.
YOUTH MEET EVERY WEEK
Our youth will meet at 12:30 -- following church, with "fearless leader" Angie Mahle. They have a great time.
ST. RITA CATHOLIC CHURCH
AND
THE GOSPELAIRES
IN CONCERT
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2000 AT 7:00 PM
AT ST. MATTHEW
Come early for refreshments!
We give thanks for these new additions to our church family.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2000 -- 6:00 - 9:00 PM
COSTUME CONTEST & PARADE FOR
ADULTS AND CHILDREN
BRING YOUR JACK-O-LANTERN FOR JUDGING
SOME REALLY SCARY STUFF TOO!
SPECIAL CARD ROOM FOR THE ADULTS
MOVIE ROOM FOR ALL TO SEE PAST PHOTOS
FUN GAMES FOR ALL (Musical Chairs, Sack Races & more)
FINGER SANDWICHES, SNACKS AND DRINKS PROVIDED
BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Created and maintained by Chuck and Terry Mencke
smumc@web-connection.org
This file last modified October 7, 2000
URL: http://www.web-connection.org/smumc/news.htm