Happy Quotidian New Year

1st Sunday after Christmas Day
Just these lines, my friends …

… to say that I hope you take a minute and read below about our financial update and current financial position as of December 28.

My heart is bursting with joy and wonder as I reflect on our 2023 Christmas Eve at Matthews United Methodist. We had over 2600 people with us in 8 different in-person worship services, with dozens more online. It was the first time in several years we had our 11 pm service and you can’t imagine how thrilled I was with our participation. Dozens came to ring Christmas Day in as we concluded our evening right at the Midnight hour in our Courtyard around the live nativity (with animals) singing Joy to the World. It was a bit of Christmas magic.

If you’d like to worship online with our 4th Sunday morning in Advent and Pastor Paul’s sermon, Be the Gift of Peace, you can do so by clicking here. If you’d like to worship online with one of our Christmas Eve services and my sermon, Experience the Gift, you can do so by clicking here.

A very special thank you to so many who made Christmas Eve possible: ushers, greeters, Boy Scouts, Praise Team, Stumptown Brass, Flute Choir, Joyful Ringers, soloists, music page turners, nursery workers, visual technicians, Sanctuary Choir, Facilities Team, Holy Communion Stewards, Kathy White, John Woodall, Joel Mullis, Shannon Remley, Craig Estep, pastors, shepherds, animal handlers, and so many more that I could be leaving out. If so, I’m so sorry. When it was all said and done, it took nearly 200 volunteers to be a part of our welcome to so many. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

These days of Advent and now Christmas have been ones I will never forget. Bless you for your amazing devotion.

 

Video Devotional

I hope you can take a few minutes to watch my devotional for the week titled, Happy Quotidian Year. I want to introduce you to a word which means the opposite of what you might think.

Financial Update: Close the Gap in 2023

As our fiscal year draws to a close this Sunday, December 31, I’m reaching out to you in faith, in hope and in love, with gratitude for every way in which you have continued to support the ministry of our church during these extraordinary times.

I want to thank all of you who participate so deeply in support of your church. I am so grateful for each of you who have said, “Yes! I love Matthews United Methodist (MUMC) and want to help it rise to the challenge!”

We continue to work thoughtfully, carefully, and diligently, every day and on every level, to ensure financial health for MUMC. We will continue to communicate our efforts to you and will continue to invite you to ask questions as we move the life-changing, transformational, and historic ministry of MUMC forward.

The past few years have brought unexpected change to MUMC, but there is so much that has stayed the same – including the spirit, warmth, energy, mission, values and authentic welcome that are all qualities of our beloved church.

We serve a God of change and movement, and we are called to move and change with the knowledge that we do none of this work on our own. God is with us, and we are called to be people of hope.

And so, we come to you with a question: Would you consider making a special fiscal year-end gift to our General Fund by this Sunday, December 31? We are only $161,300 short of our budget goal for the year.

• Give online here through our secure online portal (must be in transit by Sunday, December 31).
• To give by check or cash, you may place your gifts in the offering plate in worship this Sunday, December 31. Also, the Church Office will be open Wednesday and Thursday, December 27 & 28 from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. All other days through Sunday, December 31, you may place your gifts in the designated lockbox on the Administrative Hall door at the Church Office (please enter through front doors by the exterior mailboxes between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.)
• You may mail your check (MUMC, 801 S. Trade St., Matthews, NC 28105), and it must be postmarked by Saturday, December 30 to be recorded on your 2023 giving statement.

If you have questions about giving, please contact Debbie Fitts at 704-847-6261, ext. 106.

Because of you, and God’s ever-present help, we have great hope for our MUMC future.

Upcoming Events

• One Casual Worship Service on Sunday, December 31 at 9:30 am (No 8:15 or 11:00 am – this date only, No Kids or Youth Small Groups, Nursery is available for kids 3 & under.) Details.
• Watchnight Service at the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church – Sunday, December 31 at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church around 10:30 pm. Karen and I would love for you to join us to ring in the New Year with powerful worship and scrumptious breakfast afterwards in the Fellowship Hall. It will be a beautiful evening of remembrance and movement toward a future with hope.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend on January 14-15, including a Peaceful March to Matthews Town Hall on Sunday and a Commemorative Worship Service on Monday.

This Sunday in Worship

We invite you to join us this Sunday for ONE Casual Worship Service at 9:30 am (in person or online) or 12:30 (Spanish; in person or on demand here).

In our Spanish-speaking CCH community, Pastor Roldan will offer an end-of-year message titled, Let’s Finish Strong from I Samuel 7:7-12.

This Sunday morning, with one casual sanctuary service at 9:30 am, we will share together on the First Sunday after Christmas Day. Pastor Corey will be preaching. I hope you’ll invite someone to hear this bright light put the Word into words. Your friends will thank you for the invitation.

And now, as always, during these strange, uncertain, and yet hope-filled days. Remember … God does God’s best work in moments like this.

Better … together,
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

Did you know that week after week, without fail, our dear friends from Rainbow Express Ministries come into our Sanctuary and tidy things up, replenish our pew envelopes and straighten the Bibles and hymnals? What an incredible group of people they are and how fortunate we are to have such in amazing ministry for people with disabilities. Thank you, friends of Rainbow Express!