Easter

Easter Sunday
Just these lines, my friends …

… to say …

Come.
Come cry.
Come laugh.
Come be filled with awe.
Come not expecting easy answers but instead unexplainable mystery.
Come experience friendship with people you know and even those you don’t.
Come roll back the stone blocking your heart that has kept you away.
Come receive and give forgiveness.
Come shake hands and hug necks.
Come pass the peace with those you love and those you don’t understand.
Come sit beside someone you don’t know.
Come affirm your faith with others who are as flawed as you.
Come pray with those who know what deep grief feels like.
Come sing with those who know joy.
Come sit in silence with those who know words aren’t always needed.
Come listen for the Spirit’s movement.
Come and be unburdened.
Come let go of whatever has kept you away.
Come for you are always welcome.
Come because you belong.
Come hold on to hope.
Come this Easter.
Come.

Dear friends,

I invite you to worship with us on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. See below for our Holy Week and Easter schedule. I invite you not because you need to do your time to be counted on God’s “nice” list. I invite you because this week is God’s answer to the most difficult questions that faithful people (and really, all people) have about the hardest aspects of life.

We can’t rush ahead to Easter Sunday without setting our face, the way Jesus “set his face to go …” (Luke 9:51) to the cross. That’s where we, with him, face up to death; his death and our own.

Come. Come for honesty. Come for change. And, yes, come for hope.

If you missed being here on Palm Sunday, you can worship by clicking here. The morning was filled with our Jerusalem Marketplace, a donkey and beautiful, powerful witness and music.

I suppose no soul of any sensitiveness can live through Holy Week without an awed and grateful sense of being incorporated in a mystery of self-giving love which yet remains far beyond our span. – Evelyn Underhill

 

Devotionals

As we wrap up our Embracing Disabilities Lenten emphasis, enjoy this last video reflection by my friend, Haley Liszka. 40-Day Devotional: Complete PDF or Week 7.

In addition, please watch my special Holy Week video devotional titled, Hopeless Hope.

 

Upcoming Events

• Maundy Thursday “The Last Supper” Worship Service led by Rainbow Express Ministry community – This Thursday at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Details
• Good Friday Worship & Musical Presentation – This Friday, 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Details
• Community Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday, March 30, 6:00-8:00 pm. Egg hunts for ALL ages with food trucks, inflatables, games, prizes & more! No registration required. Details
• Easter Sunday, March 31 – Join one of our eight worship services including the Butterfly Release in the Courtyard at 10:30 am! Details
• Church Closed for Easter holiday – Monday, April 1
• A Christian Guide to the Enneagram – Starting April 7, 6 pm Last chance registration
• Feasibility Study Focus Groups for Sanctuary/Auxiliary Space Improvements – Begin April 21 with open sessions. Please click here to listen to the complete announcement if you missed it in worship. Times and locations will be shared in upcoming church correspondence.
• The General Conference of The United Methodist Church is coming to Charlotte April 23 to May 3. Click below for resources related to General Conference:
  • Beginner’s Guide– Welcometogc.org to register as a volunteer.
  • What to Know About General Conference Proposals
  • The Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC) is hosting an Everybody hospitality space at General Conference at Hilton Garden hotel, where they welcome attendees of all abilities. Click Here to purchase & donate supplies for this effort.

 

This Sunday in Worship

This Easter Sunday, we invite you to join us at any of our eight worship services:

• 6:45 am Easter Sunrise Service in the Small Parking Lot
• 8:15 am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary
• 9:30 am Contemporary Worship in the Sanctuary & Livestreamed
• 9:30 am United Kids Ministry presents an Acoustic Easter Jam Service in The Gym
• 10:30 am Butterfly Release in the Courtyard (weather permitting), Details
• 11:00 am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary & Livestreamed
• Centro Cristiano Hosanna Spanish-Speaking Services 6:45 am (Eagle’s Nest) & 12:30 pm (Sanctuary)

Nursery will be available during all worship hours for children up to 3 years old. There will be NO United Kids or Youth Sunday Morning Small Groups.
WillBeans Coffee – Fellowship & Coffee by donation between services in the Sanctuary Reception Area.
*9:30 & 11:00 will be livestreamed at MatthewsUMC.org

It is an active week for our Spanish-speaking CCH community. On Thursday they will be cooking for Room-In-the-Inn. On Friday will be a service where members of the community will be sharing the seven words spoken from the Cross by Jesus. On Sunday there will be a Sunrise Service and breakfast in the Eagle’s Nest. Then finally CCH will gather for a Resurrection Service at 12:30 pm. In this service, Pastor Roldan will play a special piece on his trumpet!

On Easter Sunday, Pastor Paul will lead us in our Sunrise Service at 6:45 am in the Sanctuary parking lot. Pastor Corey, Alix Arndt and all our age-level staff and volunteers will be leading Easter Sunday Family Worship in the Gym at 9:30 am. Then, in all our morning (8:15 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am) Sanctuary services, we will assemble the finest of musicians who have worked so very hard to make sure good news is spoken. My Easter sermon is titled Love Will Win from Mark 16:1-8.

You are considering inviting someone to worship with you on Easter Sunday, right? Did you know that recent research says that 8 out of 10 people would go to church with a friend if they were asked? I do hope you’ll find someone in your world to invite to come our way.

And now, during this disconcerting, uncertain, confusing and yet, hopeful week, remember … God does God’s best work in moments like this.

A blessed Easter to you and yours,
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

 

Did you know that Christian McClendon created the Roses at the Foot of the Cross artwork for our Lenten series? Christian was presented with a canvas featuring the watercolor art and was recognized by Church Staff and the Lenten Volunteer Planning Team for his leadership in the church. Click to “Meet the artist” and learn more about Christian on our social post.

Did you know that Genesis Garden will have a workday on Saturday, April 6 beginning at 9 am? Everybody is welcome. We will be spreading mulch in the common areas, cleaning up the beds and planting our vegetables. We have some tools available but please bring your own tools if you have any, especially shovels and rakes. We have a few planting beds open, so let Ken Merchant (704-698-5746) know if you are interested in working one of these beds.

Did you know that 17 people traveled to NarroWay Theatre in Fort Mill on Saturday to see the “Broadway of Christian Entertainment” production of The 4th Cross? Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal and impressive rendition of the last days of Christ which only made the Palm Sunday service much more meaningful this year. They had a very large cast of children, adults and animals which helped to bring everyone into the moment and feel as though they were a part of the crowd who was present at the crucifixion. The magnitude of this whole experience just brought the reality of Christ’s crucifixion up close and very personal.

Did you know that the Servants Heart Circle volunteered at Matthews Free Medical Clinic last Saturday? They put together gifts for donors, wrote notes of encouragement for clients and donated office supplies. They were also given a tour of the facility. The MFMC is celebrating their 20th year in Matthews this year!

Did you know that Matthews UMC launched an online store with Church Merch? The MUMC branded t-shirts, sweatshirts and tote bags are invitational tools and conversation starters when you are out in the community! Place your order online at Bonfire.com/Store/MatthewsUMC and items will be delivered directly to you. The “Love Like Jesus” theme is from our Embracing Disabilities focus!