August 2021

Church Conference: Please pray for Todd and Monty as they represent our church and for any of our members who attend. 

August Birthdays                                                                      August Anniversaries

2-Shane Ross                                                                                                                  3-Ronnie & Janna McElfresh

3-Monty Dollar                                                                                                             7-Randy & Jeannie Thomas(50th)

8-William Anderson                                                                                                   13-Travis & Sandy Copeland

13-Dixie Ross Kelli Green (Crow) August 23

18-Stephanie Kitchens

20-Tyler Jackson

23-Kelli Green (Crow)

Ongoing Outreach

Aspen Apartments:  The Second Friday Movie Night with our Aspen family was an even greater success! The Snow Cone Factory, operated by the Snow Cone King and Queen (Matt and Pam Ryan) was “the hot spot” of the evening, followed closely by Game Queen and King Center (Carmen and Ben Stueve). Pastor Todd was most popular as the Wannabe Kid playing and running with all those precious children.

A tiny testimony here, I didn’t want to go. I’d already burrowed into my kindle reading.  Yes, I let the Mr. talk me into it and by the time the Lion King started (the one using real animal likenesses that I cried even worse when Mustafa was falling down those rocks) started – I’d gone around and introduced myself to all the moms of the kids. They were delightful! I found out that if you put a dime as a necklace around a baby’s neck it helps teeth come in faster; and those braids only take five minutes to do a whole bunch (yes, I made her tell me twice it only took her five minutes to do her son’s hair); and another lady kept challenging me to do the hula hoop (which I’d done earlier and failed miserably).

So yes, the King of Helpers (Monty) noted the Queen of Talking (to everyone she could find) enjoyed the evening.  Which I did! I would encourage anyone to give it a try. These families are so worth the time if they never actually come to our church, but the church going to them is, as I found, a blessing to them and our church. It’s not for everyone, but it is one mission, if so inclined, is well worth a Friday evening.

Another BIG HUGE THANKS to those who helped move the movie equipment, screen, and sandbags and whatever else over to the movie area. It is always a joy to witness in so many ways to show our love and God’s love to our neighbors. I understand a whole different set of church members went last time.  Pam Ryan and committee, thank you again for such great organizational skills.

Which reminds me, I have a video of Mrs. Ryan showing off HER hula hoop skills…………

Wester Elementary:  School is starting VERY soon!  Please see Wendy or Todd for a list of needs for these teachers and their students.  If you’d rather donate money than shop, I hear Wendy is the Queen of Shopping to the Penny so if it’s better for you to donate money, please do so.  This is another mission that our church has taken and we as a church has been blessed as the children and teachers have been!  

We may have a small congregation, but boy do we have givers and workers who have been sharing in whatever area they feel most comfortable and supporting verbally the ones they don’t.  We really do ROCK!

TransformHERs Bible Study: This Women’s Bible Study meets on ZOOM every 1st and 3rd Monday at 7 p.m.  Carol Salesky leads this study. Be sure to keep up through our church emails for all meetings and ZOOM times especially during summer schedules.

The Tool Shed Men’s Bible Study: Meet via ZOOM every 2nd and 4th Monday evenings at 7:00 pm.  All men of the church are invited and any friends as well.  Again, keep up with emails should times change.

Other ZOOM meetings are ongoing during the week

Pastor Todd or Jeannie, our church secretary sends information at the first of each week with a reminder by a “day of” email. Be sure to be checking your emails from the church daily!

Sunday Morning Services are still back in the pews and on Facebook as well. It is so genuinely nice to see and speak people face-to-face.  Masks are welcome, or not, depending on one’s preference.  However, one chooses, please “attend” – we miss you when you’re not “with” us one way or the other.  Also, if for some reason it can’t be helped, all the sermons are on Facebook to either see/hear again, or view for the first time.  

Attention Choir Members and Potential Choir Members Carol Salesky

Is having a meeting immediately following the service on Sunday, AUGUST 8th, she will discuss the Fall schedule and invites thoughts, ideas, and voices to participate.   Please keep in mind that “making joyful noises!” is yet another mission to our church in sharing your vocal skills under Carol’s artful direction. Get your “do-ray-me” scales ready because Carol is rarin’ to go.

A REMINDER: Women’s Group will start back September 11th.

Men’s Group is meeting during the summer! Please contact Terry Rodgers or Todd or any of the men to be put on their email list to attend.

Yard Area: Has anyone been noticing the yard and how nice it looks lately?  The flowers, the grass being mowed, trash being picked up.

Of course, it is a never-ending job and I know many come during the week and water and keep the garden areas cleaned out and pretty.  Randy mows every other week, and the yard is looking great. Thank you, Randy!

Paula, Glenna, Richard, Audrey, Todd, Monty, Pam, and Wendy and others come at different times to pick up trash and PLEASE forgive me if I failed to mention anyone by name because (to me) this is a big deal for those who can physically help. 

If you can’t help on Saturday and are out and about any other day of the week and just want to stop by and pick up trash or make sure the flower areas are weeded, or anything seen that might be unsightly – please stop!

Enough can’t be said for the volunteers we have in our small but wealthy congregation of hard workers.  Money is always needed, but without our willing volunteers we’d just be another trashy yard.  😊

P.S.  Paula has requested plastic grocery etc. bags be brought to pick up dog leavings.  Some people really make it hard for these pets by giving them a bad name!  Leave them in the secretary’s office or the parlor on the table.

We’ve made it simple, secure, and convenient to GIVE ONLINE with a credit card or debit card for your tithes and offerings. If you prefer to give by check, our mailing address is:

St. Matthew United Methodist Church

5320 50th Street

Lubbock, TX 79414