You Are The Light

18th Sunday after Pentecost | World Communion Sunday | Youth Sunday
Just these lines, my friends …

… to say Sunday was an unforgettable day: beautiful, inspiring music, 22 first-graders receiving their Bible and the third week of our fall worship series, The Pathway of Discipleship. This week’s emphasis was The Pathway of Service. You can worship with us by clicking here.

At one point in my sermon, I said, “Picture a church where ordinary people have discovered the extraordinary nature of ordinary things.” Meaningful service is how so much of the extraordinary comes about in the Christian life. If we can help you find your place of significant service, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Also, in my sermon, I mentioned the need we have for mattresses through our Home2Home Ministry. If you know where we can find some good mattresses for families in need or to be a part of helping, please be sure to reach out to Earl Coggins.

Our United Methodist Men had their annual golf outing fundraiser on Thursday, September 21, and the best my team could do was third place. I even brought in a few ringers (my son, Ryan, and two sons-in-law, Ben and Tyler). Well, to no avail. But nearly $20,000 was raised for Charlotte Rescue Mission, Hoskins Park & Roof Above, which are local Global Impact partner ministries that our men have been supporting for years! Thank you, Skip Hull and team, for all the effort.

I hope you have marked your calendar to be with us on Sunday, October 8. It will be a special day of homecoming for Rob and Susan Fuquay. Rob is a former pastor of Matthews United Methodist back in the early to mid-1990s. Today Rob is the Senior Pastor of the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. I think Rob just may be the finest preacher in United Methodism. Susan, his wife, is the daughter of the late Bishop Richard Wilke, the founder of Disciple Bible Study. Susan, herself, put together the fast-track efforts for Disciple Bible Study. Rob will be preaching in all three of our morning worship services, and then on Sunday evening, 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary, they will be sharing with us about The Future of The United Methodist Church. I hope you will make every effort to be with us morning and evening.

Wednesday Devotional

My title for this week’s devotional is You are the Light.

October 15 & Campus Upgrades

The renovation of our Welcome Center is nearing completion. We’ve wanted to do a refurbishment in that space for a long while. In addition, on Christmas Day of last year, you’ll remember we had a frozen pipes episode that left us with six inches of water in the Sanctuary and throughout our hallways. We have finally gotten all things settled with insurance and are preparing new carpeting and flooring for our main hallways. It will be a fresh new look. Most of the work will occur from October 9 – October 20. That means on Sunday, October 15, ALL our regular worship services will be in the Gym. In the meantime, we apologize for the inconvenience.

Upcoming Events

• A Walk for the Cure – Saturday, October 14, 10:00-12:00; hosted by Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church (381 Crestdale Rd, Matthews). $25 adult if register in advance/$30 day of event; $10 child ages 5-12. Register at mtmoriahsmatthews.org, click Give, Make a Donation, choose Other under Fund, add “Walk for the Cure” under Note.
• Potato Drop – Saturday, October 21, 9:00-12:00. Sign up to volunteer! Details.
• All-Church Gathering – Monday, October 23, 7:00-8:00 pm. Details.
• New Studies: Faithful & Inclusive, Singles in Scripture, A Praying Life & The Lectio Course. View All

This Sunday in Worship

We invite you to join us this Sunday at 8:15 am (Traditional; in person only), 9:30 am (Contemporary; in person or online here), 11:00 am (Traditional; in person or online here) or 12:30 (Spanish; in person or on demand here).

In our Spanish-speaking CCH (Centro Cristiano Hosanna) community, Pastor Roldan will begin a new worship series on Biblical Stewardship, preaching from Psalm 24:1-6 and his sermon is titled, God is in Control.

This coming Sunday, we will be celebrating our annual Youth Sunday in all three of our morning worship services. We will also give thanks for World Communion Sunday and share in Holy Communion together. Pastor Corey will share a message titled The Art of the Unordinary, focused on Romans 12:1-3. Romans 12:2. This is also the theme verse for our United Youth Ministry for the 2023-2024 school year, where they are focusing on how Scripture calls us to be transformed, into the wholeness of Jesus. This Sunday through the leadership of our teens, let’s recognize the significance of cultivating a renewed mind, which plays a crucial role in our relationship with God, others, and ourselves.

Perhaps you know of someone in your neighborhood looking for the vitality of young people, some hope for the future, and a Table that is open to all. Be sure to bring them along with you this Sunday. They will be inspired and encouraged.

And now, as always, during these strange, uncertain, and hopeful days, remember … God does God’s best work in moments like this.

In the Community. For the Community.
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

Did you know that the grandson of Dale & Jackie Elam, Ian Brown (a junior at Providence High School) was part of a three-person team that won the Spectrum News Trivia Challenge competition against 16 nationwide teams? For their efforts, they each won $5,000! Watch this clip from Spectrum News.

Did you know that 26 persons from our CCH Spanish-speaking community on Saturday, September 23 at 6 am, gathered to pray in our Sanctuary for our MUMC community and the many persons who make us aware of prayer requests? This prayer gathering happens each Saturday morning in the Sanctuary. Thank you, Pastor Roldan, and our wonderful CCH friends. You are so very special to our church.

Did you know 15 ladies volunteered at Bright Blessings and prepared 45 birthday gift bags on Saturday, September 16? Five gifts were wrapped for each bag to help under privileged children celebrate. Servant’s Heart also donated lots of wrapping paper, tissue paper and ribbon.

Did you know that Marilyn Edwards, Sue Williams and Brenda Messera (MUMC members) helped organize food at the Charlotte Convention Center?

Did you know that parents and caregivers enjoyed a well-earned evening out on Friday when United Kids hosted over 30 kids for our Parents Night Out? Kids enjoyed a bug themed evening packed full of crafts, games, dinner and a special movie.