g{x `ÉÇ àéü St. Matthew s United Methodist Church 2738 MacArthur View, San Antonio, Texas 78217

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1 g{x `ÉÇ àéü January 2017 St. Matthew s United Methodist Church 2738 MacArthur View, San Antonio, Texas A Look at Scrooge in a Christmas Carol Have you ever thought about Scrooge in terms of the real Christmas? Scrooge is the personification of it s all about me. He didn t care about anyone. Life was all about acquiring wealth. Of course the story took what we all struggle with to an extreme to make a point. We are all born with the self-centered sin. From the moment we are born, we demand that others meet our needs. We need our diapers changed. We need our bottle. We want to be walked and held. We don t do that consciously. It is our human nature. When we get older we have different wants that we fixate on. We dream and plan on ways to get what we want without getting into trouble. We want a certain person to like us. We want to have a certain job or career. We want a certain car or house or lifestyle or whatever. We all have a little Scrooge in us which is why the story is so widely read. The Christmas Carol leads us to believe that we can overcome that selfcenteredness by just seeing the hardships our choices have made for others. I will agree that many times we see the evil in ourselves and make a decision to never act out like that again. But it is not a complete turning away from selfcenteredness unless Christmas intervenes. In This Edition: Page 2 Information, Admin Board Attendance Page 3 Sunday School Classes Page 4 Wednesday Night Free, PNO Page 5 New Women s Bible Study/ St. Matt s Lunch Bunch Page 6 UMW/UMM Page 7 The Praying Church Page 8 Prayer Concerns Page 9 Calendar Page 10 Day School Page 11 Youth The Bible teaches that we are incapable of overcoming our own selfcenteredness (sin). That is why God came to live among us in the person of Jesus. Jesus transformed people s lives. Mary and Joseph were transformed on Page 13 Agua Viva Christmas and everyday there after. The shepherds were transformed when they witnessed the birth of the Messiah. The wise men were transformed when they found the one that the star pointed to. Those Jesus healed were transformed. The disciples were transformed. Almost everyone who came into contact with Jesus was transformed. The only exclusions were the people who would not give up the objects of their self-centered wants and desires. If Scrooge really did a complete 180 it was only by the intervention of the Holy Spirit convicting him of his need to be forgiven. It is not the forgiveness of people that he needed, but the forgiveness of God. We, also, need to forgiveness of God and the power to live as Christ would have us live. Page 12 Mission Task As we go into the new year, it is always good to look back to see if there is anything we can learn from the previous year. Did we lead a lives as forgiven people? Were there areas in our lives that the Holy Spirit convicted us to stop doing or things we needed to start? As you start the new year, consider how far you have come in being transformed by the living presence of God in your lives and open your hearts to the transformations that God has planned for you in Alan

2 WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship Service/ Sanctuary 11:00 a.m. Blended Worship Service/ Sanctuary Sunday School 9:45 a.m. CHURCH STAFF Pastor Alan Delafield Administrative Pastor Susan Porr Associate Lay Pastor of Agua Viva Veronica Harvey Business Administrator Children & Family Ministries Director Judy Langford College/Youth Ministries Director Tim Diemert Day School Director Nikki Irving Secretary Diana Garza Music Director Amy Ballenger Pianist Richard Castillo Nursery Coordinator Annalie Tamez Custodian Raul Menesess Church Office Hours Monday-Thursday 9:00 am to 4:00pm Friday - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Phone: (210) Fax: (210) Church Address Information@smumcsa.org St. Matthew s Website St. Matthew s Day School Phone: (210) Bible Studies at St. Matthew s Monday: Monday Night Bible Study, 7:00 pm, Room 105 New Women s Bible Study, 6:30 pm, Abel Chapel Tuesday: Women of Faith, 8:00 am, Room 105 Tuesday Morning Bible Study, 9:30 am, Room 105 Wednesday: Agua Viva Woman's Bible Study 10:00 am, Fellowship Hall Agua Viva Spanish Discipleship Class, 6:45 pm, Room 301 Pastors Bible Study, 6:45 pm, Room 603 Administrative Board 2017: Chairman Mike Langford Vice Chairman Vivian Taylor Lay Leader for 8:30 am Jo Reinschmidt Lay Leader for 11:00 am Anne Verner Conference Delegate Kathy Cain Conference Delegate Alternate Sandy Beard Treasurer Mike Verner Secretary Jeanie Etter COM Chair Steve Schrader Finance Chair Fred Long SPRC Chair Lucy Hoover Trustee Chair Month Church Sunday School Small Groups December Average Church and Sunday School Attendance December

3 Sunday School For All Ages 9:45 AM PRESCHOOL 3 TO 4 YEAR OLDS Meet in Room 606. Contact person: Judy Langford ( ext. 105) KINDER THROUGH 1ST GRADE Meet in room 604 Contact person: Judy Langford ( ext. 105) ELEMENTRY 2ND THROUGH 4TH GRADE Explore the Bible using music, art, science, games, story, and cooking. They meet in Room 611. Contact person: Judy Langford ( ext. 105) TWEENS: 5 TH THROUGH 6 TH GRADE Meet in room 602 Contact person: Judy Langford ( ext. 105) YOUTH 7 TH THROUGH 12 TH GRADE Meet in the Youth Building. Contact Youth Team: Tim and Kelli Diemert ( ) COME AND SEE CLASS (All ages) Meet in Room 301 (Deats Bldg). A discipleship class on knowing Christ and making him known. Studying Book of Daniel. Contact person: Jim Humphries ( ) assisted by John Shero NEW SEASONINGS CLASS (Middle Adult) Meet in Room 603. Will be starting a new study on the book If the Church were Christians by Phillip Gulley October 31st. Contact person: David Mack ( ) SONSHINE CLASS (Senior Adult) Meet in Room 605. Studying The Book of Mark. Contact person: Marsha Humphries ( ) VOYAGERS CLASS (Senior Adult) Meet in Room 601. Adult Bible Study Workbook/ Study (Spring 2016). Contact person: Frank Tyk ( ) FRIENDS OF FAITH CLASS (Young & Middle Adult) Meet in the Fellowship Hall. Contact person: Greg Klaerner ( ) COVENANT BELIEVERS CLASS (All Ages) Meet in the conference room. Starting a new study Encounters With Jesus by Timothy Keller. Contact persons: Anne Verner ( ) or Judy Langford ( ext. 105) 3

4 Wednesday Night F. R. E. E. January 11, 2017 Fellowship Relationship Educate Energize Supper, worship, study for children, youth and adults 6:00-6:30 Supper 6:30-6:45 Worship 6:45-7:45 Study for all ages Elementary ages: Kindergarten - 4th grade Tweens: Fifth and sixth grade Youth: Seventh grade through High School Nursery available for younger children No Parents Night Out Until February 3rd 6:30 9:30 PM Ages 12 months to 5th grade Volunteers are always needed for our monthly Parent s Night Out Ministry Scheduled on the first Friday night of each month. Getting involved is such a blessing to the children. The children arrive at 6:30 pm for play, dinner, story, crafts, and games and stay till 9:30 pm. We are using our Power Xpress Sunday School curriculum as a basis for planning each month s activities. It s a blessing to reach children with the Good News of Jesus Christ. This outreach is a living expression of the vitality of this church. 4

5 New Women s Bible Study Hosea by Jennifer Rothschild Hosea, an old-testament prophet, preached his own life message using his marriage as the sermon illustration. The study of Hosea looks deeply at that message. You ll be guided to understand, but more especially to apply the message of the prophet of love. Be amazed by the love of Hosea for his wayward spouse and more amazed by the unfailing love of God for His wayward people, and for all people. Hosea showers us with hope as we experience God s unfailing love for us. WHEN: MONDAY NIGHTS - JANUARY 23 - MARCH 6 6:30 TO 8:30 pm WHERE: ABEL CHAPEL - Babysitting is provided Please contact Judy Langford to reserve your copy of the workbook. Cost of the study is $15. ST. MATT S LUNCH BUNCH Interested in great conversation, good food and wonderful fellowship? Start the New Year off with a fun group as we explore our local restaurants on the second Wednesday of every month at 11:30. Our next adventure will be at La Marginal a Puerta Rican restaurant at 2447 Nacogdoches Rd on January 11th. We will plan to meet at the restaurant at 11:30, but if you need a ride let Leila Hileman or Judy Langford know. We also are interested in other outings such as movies, field trips, or museum visits. Come and be a part of planning our spring schedule and picking out restaurants to visit. See you there 5

6 St. Matthew s UMW Lunch and Program Thursday, January 5th 12:00 Lunch provided by Lydia Circle 12:30 Pledge Service A Community United by Giving presented by Lucy Hoover short Business Meeting will follow (childcare can be provided, office) please notify church H.O.P.E.- Sunday, Jan. 8, 12:30, Youth Bldg, contact Annelie Tamez Lady Bugs- Sunday, Jan. 8, 12:30, Youth Bldg, contact Kelli Diemert Lydia- Thursday, Jan. 19, 10:30, room #105 Sarah-Saturday, Jan. 21, 10:00 contact Vivian Taylor Eve-Thur, Jan. 26, 7:00, Susanne Garvin UMW Book Club We meet on the third Wednesday each month to discuss books on the Reading List. Bring a sack lunch and join us, January 18 at 11:30 in room #105. Can t join us! Check the books in the Fellowship Hall for good books to read. Methodist Men: We had a great meeting on December 11th with our usual good breakfast and discussion with David Cain about their recent vacation in England, France, Germany and Italy. He was amazed how similar those countries problems were to ours. The men also agreed to assemble an outdoor storage shed for Mike Collins before Christmas and meet with students at the Wesley student center next year. So things are happening! Come join us on the second Sundays each month at 8:00 am in the gym. Robert Freund 6

7 The Praying Church: First God. Then the World. Luke 5:15-16: Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. As 2017 dawns fresh and new, is it time to embolden our lives by following Jesus a little more closely? What would that mean for your prayer life, and therefore, for your daily life? Jesus could very quickly have let himself BE CONTROLLED by doing God s work. The people needed healing, teaching, loving they needed Jesus to be with them. They pressed in on him, followed him, and grabbed at him. Only Jesus could answer their prayers. But instead, he often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Jesus life of prayer is the design for our own. Before we go out into the world, we need to talk with God. We need to praise God for who God is. We need to pray, confessing our sins and knowing we get God s forgiveness. We need to seek God s direction for the day ahead. We need to intercede for those who are sick, who need mercy, who are traveling, who are alone, lonely, who are the least in God s Kingdom. I ve wondered what Jesus prayed for. Scripture says he prayed a lot, and he prayed for long periods of time. He prayed at times I d rather be sleeping. He prayed at times when I would have chosen to act. He prayed at times when I would have felt angry or hopeless. Why? Relationship with God came first. Life flowed out of that relationship, and everything he did reflected it. He lived that relationship, regardless of the circumstances. He looked first to God, and only next to the circumstances. First God. Then the world. A strong prayer life developed after Jesus own example gives us the same power to live not controlled by the worldly life around us, but by the godly life within us. We live with the assurance that God is with us even as challenges come up. It s never easy, but with God and our Christian family surrounding us, we know we will make it through. 7

8 PRAYER CONCERNS UPDATED 12/20/16 Please review our prayer concerns list below. If you notice an individual has been blessed by healing, or if you feel your name or another name should be removed from this list, please notify the church secretary to remove the name. Church office or St. Matthew s Church Family who are hospitalized or need prayers for healing and other ongoing prayer needs: Tracy Brown Al Cargen Herb Eastwood Mary Homes Eastwood Norma Evans Jackie Fleenor Vivian Graham Richard Hargis Chuck Howell Marsha Humphries Nancy Leonard Steve Schrader Lisa Strand Zach Thompson Chris Thompson Carol West This is for family and friends of our Church Family: Meagan Wall, (Jerry Harvey s Granddaughter) Michelle & Paul (Niece of Jackie Ledford) Sandy Redman (Cevallos Family) Jim (Sandra Beard s friend) Mr. Lesch ( Bryan s Dad) Jake (Carolyn Twyford s Brother) Katie Oursland s Mom Rev. Maloney (Van Den Handle) Melissa Bradberry (Martha Bane) Geoffrey Scrimsher (Jas Marlin s Dad) Rick (Son of Ylita Hoffman) Tracy (Niece of Steve & Carolyn Schrader) Amanda (Great Niece of Marianne Dorsett) Milton (Friend of Steve & Carolyn Schrader) This is for family and friends who have lost loved ones: Susan Collins passed away November02, 2016 Tara Cooper passed away November 06, 2016 Johanna Thompson passed away November 19, 2016 Charity Siler passed away November 29, 2016 Family and Friends in Healthcare Facilities: Priscilla San Pedro Manor #312 Jeff Independence Hill Maurine Emeritus Oakwell Farms Carol Los Patios #226 Ylita Hoffman@ Los Patios Janet Los Patios Jean Los Patios Church Family and Family Members in active military: Trey Willette, brother of Ginger Klaerner (Afghanistan) Kirk Hebert, nephew of Jeanne & Richard Adams (Afghanistan) 8

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10 Out with the old in with the new! St. Matthew s Day School is blessed to see a new year with all of God s blessing to follow is going to be a great year and all of the St. Matthew s staff, students, and parents are claiming it. We ended 2016 with a blast with our annual Christmas program it was such a success, the children did an amazing job, funny, but overall an amazing performance. Our Pancakes with Mrs. Claus was just as exciting. My how, Mrs. Claus knows just the right things to bake. When Santa joined us for our Happy Meals we all made great memories. A few classrooms were not too impressed with Santa being there mostly the infants and toddlers. The staff dinner/ party was beautiful and very delicious the teachers would like to say thank you to everyone that was able to make this happen. The love and appreciation of the St. Matthew s Day School staff was defiantly apparent with this event. We have some exciting events and activities planned for January to start off the New Year. The Day School will be closed on January 2 nd for the New Year s Holiday. We will be closed on January 16 th in observance of the MLK holiday. Our Winter Play Day is approaching soon on January 27th; the kids are excited on the event s we 10

11 St. Matthew s Youth Happy New Year!!! Wow another year down in the books. We are so thankful for all that has happened in We can not wait to see what 2017 holds for St. Matthews UMC Youth it is going to be exciting. Don't forget to start watching for details of upcoming events and get registered. Hope your New Year is a blessed one. DNOW January 13-15th 5:00pm - 12:00 pm Location: St. Matthews Church & Host Homes Revealed Midwinter January 27-29th 5:00pm - 12:00 pm Location: Mt. Wesley Join us for a conference midwinter back at Mt. Wesley. We are excited to be back there and to see what God has in store for us. Please register by January 12th cost is $150. Tweens 2nd & 4th Sundays 3:00-4:30 pm 5th & 6th graders join us for Tweens. A group formed just for you. Youth Small Groups Wednesday 5:00-7:00 pm All Jr. & Sr. High join us for dinner and then small groups College & Young Adult Bible Study Wednesday 6:00-8:00 pm 11

12 Missions Task Force Update St. Ma hew s recently celebrated Students Day with an offering dedicated to na onal scholarships for students at Methodist Universi es. Other special offerings this year will be for UMCOR, Human Rela ons Day, Peace with Jus ce Sunday, and World Communion Sunday. January 22 is set aside for Feeding the Homeless in San Antonio. In addi on to food, we will be solici ng gi s of socks and jackets. February 19 is designated Agape Food Drive Day. We are asking now for reusable grocery bags. There is a basket in Fellowship Hall. All those beau ful red children s clothes were sent to the San Antonio Children s Shelter We would like to designate the February Communion offering for Human Rela ons Day. We would like to designate the March Communion offering for the Pastor s Discre onary Fund. We celebrate our contribu ons to the families of Regency Elementary with Christmas gi s. Parents Night out is always seeking volunteers. A few hours toward a child is a wonderful gi. Our tube for Heifer Interna onal was recently emp ed and forwarded toward the purchase of livestock. Please bring your quarters and help this project for children s Sunday School. Disaster Response training for Early Response is scheduled for January 28 at LaVernia UMC. Jeff and Veronica Harvey are always seeking volunteers for their Hispanic outreach. Some work is local and some is in Piedras Negras, Mexico. This group is in discussion and prayer about expanding our ministries into our neighboring apartments. Some ideas are for a er school care, perhaps partnering with other neighborhood churches, special event days for families, expanding the English as second language program, and others. We are seeking input. Contact Leila Hileman or Larry E er Please remember Agape Ministries. This me of year brings greater need for dona ons and volunteers. St. Ma hew s hopes to engage everyone in mission in some way: dona ons, me, and prayer are all vital to furthering the Lord s Kingdom. 12

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14 UNDER THE BRIDGE MINISTRY Our Church Family will be feeding the homeless on Sunday, Janu- ary 22nd Signup at Signup genius or call the Holland s at February 19th is designated Agape Food Drive Day. We are asking NOW for reusable grocery bags. Please place them in the Agape cart in Fellowship Hall. 14

15 Dear Friends, Just a word of thanks for all your many kindness during my daughter, Tara s long illness and passing. Your love and support have helped us greatley. We are blessed to be a part of St. Matthew s family. Love, I want to thank you my church family for all the prayers, cards and phone calls while I was ill. It warmed my heart and I very much appreciated it. With all my Love, Carol West 15

16 fàa `tàà{xãëá United Methodist Church 2738 MacArthur View San Antonio, TX January 2016 May you shine the light of Christ in the NEW YEAR!!! Check out our awesome website at - HOUSEKEEPER Caregiver Trini Requenes Member of Agua Viva Is available on Wednesday & Thursday to clean your house, please call for more infor- Comfort-Air Engineering, Inc. A New Generation of Comfort! Robert & Georganne Freund St. Matthew s members since 1984 Commercial / Residential / Sales & Service Jones Maltsberger / / Phone: