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 February 2017 St. Matthew s United Methodist Church 2738 MacArthur View, San Antonio, Texas Why is the Methodist Church Not Growing? Year after year I get reports that the Methodist church has declined in membership and attendance in worship. Not all of the local churches are in decline but, overall, the slide continues. If we are going to stop this backwards trend it is important to understand when and why it started. This is just my theory. I offer it to you as that, my theory. When Methodism first came to America, it grew by leaps and bounds. As America expanded West, Methodist preachers were part of the expansion and little Methodist churches sprang up everywhere. I have heard about a lot of theories as to why that happened. People were needing a community to be a part of. It was fun and satisfied the soul. (Where do you think pot lucks started?) The common people could understand and relate to the message. (The message hasn t changed.) So what happened? In the middle of last century, a shift happened away from heart knowledge to head knowledge. Candler School of Theology opened in 1914 and, I believe, marked the beginning of the emphasis on theology (head). Most pioneers did not have college degrees. Their emphasis was on how Jesus Christ affected their lives and heart. I have not been able to find specific information, but my theory is the church began to experience decline when the church moved away from the heart and concentrated on the head. We had a discussion in my Wednesday night Bible study around this issue. I have heard it said more than once that people don t talk to others about their faith because they are afraid someone will ask them something about the Bible that they won t know. (head) Very few members are able to talk about theology with any authority. Before the movement to intellectual understanding of the Bible, people would talk about how God has changed their hearts. (emotional) If we want to build the Methodist church back up, I believe we should concentrate on sharing how God has changed us. We don t have to have biblical support for the change. Non-denominational churches are growing. They do not place a heavy weight on correct theology but on experience with Christ. The Methodist church is moving toward more local pastor s, men and women that do not have a full seminary degree. They are coming out of spiritual retreats such as Emmaus where God has touched their hearts. Their focus is on experiential relationship with God. I would encourage you to not worry about how much Bible you don t know. Share with your family, friends and strangers that you love God and how God has made a difference in your life. You are the expert on your life. No one can argue that point. Alan In This Edition: Page 2 Information, Admin Board Attendance Page 3 Sunday School Classes Page 4 Wednesday Night Free, PNO Page 5 UMW Page 6 UMM/Lunch Bunch Page 7 Ministry Outreach Page 8 Calendar Page 9 Prayer Concerns Page 10 Day School Page 11 Information Page 12/13 Agua Viva Page 14 Page 15 Thank You Notes 1

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 Pastor s Office Hours Monday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. - Noon Wednesday: 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Thursday: 9:00 a.m.- Noon 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) Fax: (210) dayschool@smumcsa.org 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 January Average Church and Sunday School Attendance January

3 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 Jeremiah. 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 The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel. Contact persons: Anne Verner ( ) or Judy Langford ( ext. 105) 3

4 Wednesday Night F. R. E. E. February 1, 2017 Fellowship Relationship Educate Energize Supper, worship, study for children, youth and adults 5:45-6:15 Supper 6:10-6:40 Children s Choir (Abel Chapel) 6:15-6:30 Worship 6:30-7:30 Study for all ages Pre Kindergarten - 1st grade Second & Third Grade Fourth Grade thru Sixth Grade Youth: Seventh grade through High School Nursery available for younger children Parents Night Out 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. If you have any questions, please contact Maria Cantu at $3.00 per child and scholarship's available, if needed 4

5 Sunday, Feb. 26, La Trinidad U.M.C. 300 San Fernando St, San Antonio, TX

6 Thanks to Richard Adams, Bernie Miller, and others, we had our meeting on January 8th. Joe Garvin and I were not present and we have been placed on UNPAID administrative leave until our hearing next month. I have a doctor s excuse, but Joe may be in serious trouble! Come find out what s gonna happen at our February meeting. Remember, we meet on the second Sunday each month at 8:00 am in the gym. Robert Freund 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 Luby s restaurant at 8710 Tesoro Dr. on February 8th. 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. 6

7 The Ministry Outreach Vision Team meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 prior to the General Vision Team meeting at 7:30. Co-chairs are Leila Hileman and Larry Etter. Contact either of Leila or Larry if you are interested on serving on the team. Parent s Night Out meets the first Friday of February. One of the main needs of this very successful program is additional volunteers. Please contact Maria Cantu (mgcantu2007@yahoo.com) if you would like to consider being a volunteer for PNO. The first Sunday of February St. Matthew s will celebrate Human Relations Day with a special offering. The offering will benefit work in community development, United Methodist Voluntary Services and Youth Offender Rehabilitation programs. Your gift will give ordinary people an extraordinary voice. On February 25, St. Matthew s will serve breakfast and lunch at the Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) clinic day. The San Antonio chapter of JFON offers affordable, highquality immigration legal services to low-income immigrants in our community. The monthly clinic provides an opportunity for immigrants in San Antonio to get answers to questions related to their immigration status. 7

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9 PRAYER CONCERNS UPDATED 1/25/17 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 Mary Homes Eastwood Norma Evans Jackie Fleenor Vivian Graham Richard Hargis Chuck Howell Marsha Humphries Nancy Leonard Linell Pipes 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) Jim (Sandra Beard s friend) Melissa Bradberry (Martha Bane) Geoffrey Scrimsher (Jas Marlin s Dad) Tracy (Niece of Steve & Carolyn Schrader) Milton (Friend of Steve & Carolyn Schrader) David Stringo (Austin Marlin s Uncle) This is for family and friends who have lost loved ones: Herb Eastwood, husband of Mary Eastwood Holmes passed away November 26, 2016 Effie Grimes, mother of Linell Pipes passed away January 19, 2017 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) Andy Miscisin, son-in-law of Lucy & Jack Hoover (Air Force) Jarrett Sonnen, grandson of Helen Olson (Afghanistan-Navy Seal) Dan and Stephan LaMothe (Air Force) Anna Virdell (Air Force) Matthew McConnell, grandson of Nilda McConnell (Navy) Zachary Herrmann, (Army) Tim Humphries, grandson of Jim and Marsha Humphries (Wisconsin, Army) Christian Wosnig, grandson of Linda Wylie (Marines) Kristen Jankoski, granddaughter of Carolyn & Steve Schrader (Navy) Paul Franco, Jackie Ledford son-in-law (Marines) Christian Cantu (Army) 9

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11 Children s Choir Children s choir for ages kindergarten through 6th grade has now moved to Wednesday nights as part of F.R.E.E. Dinner is at 5:45 and the children practice from 6:10 to 6:40 in the Abel Chapel. After choir there is also Bible study from 6:40 to 7:30 for those who are able to stay. Amy is already planning for the children to sing in Worship on March 5th, April 30th, and on Mother s Day, May 14th 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. VITA is a free income tax service available to individuals with incomes less than $60,000. Preparation sites all around the city are open for the 2016 tax filing season. Call 211 for information, go online to vitasa.org or talk to Jeanie Etter. 11

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14 The Praying Church The nation is restless. People have not settled down after the election and after the Holidays into the New Year. Instead, we hear of Inauguration protests, marches, gun violence in our San Antonio area stores, anger flaring into road rage.... It s nearly impossible to avoid all this we are Christians living in a secular world. The secular world changes it goes one way, then another, swayed by media and Twitter and facebook and many more secular modes of communication that can foment very stormy seas. The news may be new, but the chaos isn t. It s existed outside of God as long as the satan has been able to have a sway over that talking snake. But, we are safe, assured of plans and a future. We know that God has rescued us from the waters of chaos, and placed us in the safety of eternal life here and now. That is God s promise in Jesus Christ, and it is repeated throughout Scripture. Even so, some days seem a little dicey. That just means it s time for more prayer. It s time for each one of us to join the other ones of us in seeking God s calm center and asking for peace, for God s Presence, for a time of rest and refreshment. Individually it s hard to navigate the chaos of today s world. But, together we can rely first on our God and then on one another. We must daily pray for one another, for one another s health and courage for that day. For the wisdom to see God within the confusion or dismay. For the joy to celebrate every good thing that comes along. For the time to reflect and give thanks. God needs God s people to be in constant prayer so that we remain steady and cast a strong, steady light into the world. That way, when people who don t yet know God see us, they will (hopefully) see God in us, and find a loving and comforting person to help them find a way out of the storm. 14

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16 fàa `tàà{xãëá United Methodist Church 2738 MacArthur View San Antonio, TX February 2017 Let your FAITH be bigger than your FEAR Check out our awesome website at - 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: