ST. MATTHEW'S EVANGELICAL

Church Improvements

2010-02-19T23:59:00.019-06:00

The beautiful plantings that you see in the church photos on this website are the result of the hard work and creativity of Helen H. In 2008, with the help of Mary Lou B., Helen cleaned out the area under the big stained glass window and planted these beautiful "knock-out" roses and other flowers and plants. We have enjoyed them every year since then. The way they set off our red doors is truly stunning!

Some other projects over the last several years that improve the appearance and function of the church building include the repainting of the church, new protective coverings for the stained glass windows that allows the beautiful colors to show through, new chairlift, new front doors (painted red again), a new roof, new handicap ramp and handrails, new bathroom fixtures, a new concrete pad for handicap parking, paved parking lot, fresh paint and a new ceiling in the fellowship hall next to the sanctuary, and new back doors and improved rear entries. In the fall of 2010 we installed beautiful new carpeting in the sanctuary.

Our project to renovate the walls in the sanctuary was begun on Monday January 23, 2012 and completed February 2. The pictures below were taken when the project was in progress and when it was finished. We were only displaced for worship one Sunday,. Jan. 29. February 5 we were back in our beautiful sanctuary. Here are some pictures.

A cake in celebration of our "makeover"

The sanctuary on 2/5/2012

smiling faces

the pews have been temporarily moved to fellowship area

Stained glass windows are carefully protected

Everything's covered and masked

ceiling is masked off

The Buzzard, the Bat, and the Bumblebee

2010-02-19T23:55:00.001-06:00

The Buzzard: If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The Bat: The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

The Bumblebee: A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

People: In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem! Just look up.

Sorrow looks back. Worry looks around. But faith looks up! Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and trust in our Creator who loves us!.

"Do not worry about anything; instead pray about everything." Philippians 4:6.