"What is a Thanksgiving Blowout?"

Thanksgiving Blowout

Sunday November 21, 2010

The ARC

5:32 PM

The “Thanksgiving Blowout” was born 24 years ago and quickly became an important St. Mathew tradition. Though the venue, style and persona of this tradition has changed over the years , its importance and value have only increased. You don’t want to miss it!


The “Blowout” began as a spontaneous, last minute, thrown together fun event. It was as simple as calling 15 families and saying “Come on over this Sunday night. We’re having a party! Bring a covered dish and let’s have some fun.”

Between 40 and 50 people, gathered in what is now the former nursery for a pot luck dinner. After the meal we hastily took down the tables and did a spontaneous spoof on the what was then known as "The Gong Show.” It became a tradition to call out a different emcee each year to give comic order to the evening. It was so bad it was hilarious. We laughed till we cried. New friendships were made. Old friendships deepened and a tradition was born.

It was quickly named “The Thanksgiving Blowout” because we blew the roof off with great food, outstanding and awful talent, boisterous laughter and over capacity crowds. It was and is the largest annual gathering of the St. Matthew family.

The gathering grew each year until we had to move across the street to the Mound Elementary cafeteria. Our church family was growing by leaps and bounds and so was the talent. Every year St. Matthew stars were born in what was the “Best Little Variety Show in Texas.” Standing room only crowds gathered to share a meal, elect elders and deacons and meet their growing church family.

We had two traditional services and families were joining every month. Besides being an event where we assembled to laugh till we cried, and groaned till we rolled our eyes, it became like a family reunion. Two different worshipping congregations came together to connect to family not seen in a while and welcome those who had since joined the clan. From standing in line for food to laughing, crying and groaning during the show to cleaning up after a long night, lasting relationships were forged, memories were made and the church felt small even as we grew larger and larger.

After years of a standing room only crowd at Mound, we joyfully moved “The Blowout” back to St. Matthew in 2003 after the ARC was built. By then we had grown to three worshipping bodies. From year to year “The Blowout” format changed, talent shows, concerts, dances, skits, but the aim was always the same. As the church grew, help make the church seem small and simply enjoy the gift of life that God has provided.

Today we have 5 worshipping bodies, two Sunday morning small group hours and numerous small groups that meet throughout the week. The venue, style and persona of this tradition has changed over the years , but its importance and value have only increased.

This year we will assemble for the same purpose but the tenor of the night will have an added element. As always, we will share a covered dish feast, wear name tags, enjoy sweet fellowship and elect elders and deacons. But we also gather as 5 different worshipping congregations to give thanks to God for all he has done in St. Matthew’s 39 year history. After the meal, the choir and band will jointly lead us in a time of praise and worship. The children will sing and prayers will be offered. We will elect deacons and elders, hear a report on our financial status, celebrate the past, dream about the future, and give thanks to God for the present moment. The evening will conclude around 7:30 with the sharing of the Lord’s Supper.

So “Come on over this Sunday night. We’re having a party! Bring a covered dish and let’s have some fun.” Bring a your favorite recipe. Bring the whole family. Bring a friend. Bring an appetite. Bring a thankful spirit but whatever you do come! The whole family is coming over and it won’t be the same without you. It is time to get reaquainted with the  whole family. St. Matthew now consists of five different services, but there is only one Father, one Lord, one Holy Spirit, one purpose and one family.

The tradition continues.

Proud to serve as one of your pastors,

Rick

Thank You God

Thank you God…….


....for the six families who stepped out in faith 39 years ago to start St. Matthew, Fuhlendorfs, Gomers, Methenys, Swans, Vandevenders and Wallaces.

....for all of the risk, taking, faithful, obedient elders and deacons who dared to follow your vision

….for pastors Tom Campbell, Charles Wallace and Don Thomas paving the way

….for the support of our denomination as we dared to be different from the status quo

….for the generous tithe’s and offerings of God’s people.

….for all the musicians and vocalists who have led us into worship

….for Wanda Gomer playing the organ for all 39 years

….for every youth sponsor, Sunday school teacher, small group leader, and bible teacher

….for every servant who cleaned, built, painted, moved chairs, accessed technology, folded

….for every meal cooked and shared, hospital visit made, funeral hosted

....for every mission engaged hand in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth

….for every staff person who sacrificed a lucrative salary for a rich rewarded calling

….for every acre of land and square foot of building

…. for every baby born and every resident of heaven

….for every child and every teen

….for every lost person saved, spiritual battle won, depression lifted and addiction defeated

….for every relationship restored, marriage preserved and brokenness healed

…..for sins forgiven

….for every prayer offered, heard and answered

….for every small and large group where life has been shared, celebrated and enjoyed

….for a bright and promising future filled with visions and dreams

….for hope, laughter, friendship, fun, energy, passion, drive, obedience and love

Thank you God for a great 39 years and the promise that the best is yet to come. Amen.