Outside the Box: Back to Sanctuary for Worship!

Dear Fellow Ministers,

Your generosity and your dedication to God has paid off in so many ways. This Sunday, we will go back in the Sanctuary for all of our services! Thank you for your patience as you understand everything won’t be exactly “right” (and to be honest, as long as I am your Senior Pastor, it never will be 😊). We will be working out “kinks” as we move along. Thank you for understanding!

SPECIAL NOTE: Please be careful as you walk through the halls. Our hallway flooring is being replaced because the glue is coming up. Insurance is taking care of this, but until it is finished (likely several weeks) we had to cover the floors to keep from tracking glue onto the new carpet in the Sanctuary. Some of the tape comes up, so please be very careful as you walk through the church!)

The Sanctuary REALLY is exciting not just because it is beautiful (it is!) or because every attempt has been made to be sure it is accessible (it has!), but because it is a place where we get to hear the “old, old story” in different ways each week. Our worship centers our lives as followers of Jesus. See the updated photos as well as my video update!

As we wait in this season of Advent, our process of moving back into the Sanctuary is illustrative. We have waited without knowing everything that is to come. That is what our theme is about in our worship on Sunday, from Matthew 3:1-12. The second Sunday of Advent has us deal with John the Baptist. He didn’t know all of the answers. But he was faithful in doing his part. Please read through this text as God forms a sermon in us.

What a great time to invite someone to church with you! Our worship services in the Gym have been full (and 11 am has seen many in our overflow section each week), but now we will have plenty of space in the Sanctuary for new friends! Let’s invite folks to experience the joys of Advent/Christmas with us here at Matthews UMC.

One of the great things that has happened while worshipping in The Commons and our Gym has been that we have sort of re-established “gathering” time in The Commons. On all Sundays except Family Worship Sundays, we will have WillBeans Coffee in The Commons. If you would like to contribute to Rainbow Ministries, you can add something to the “Tip” Bowl for that ministry. On Family Worship Sundays, our Age-Level Ministries will provide the coffee and you may leave tips for that ministry.

Thanks be to God for the GIVING nature of MUMC! Bikes, toys, food, and the love of Christ is being given in countless ways. (Tree of Blessings picture is featured above.) THANK YOU for your generous spirit. We hope you can participate in our upcoming special events during this Christmas season. Click here for a detailed list, including Christmas Eve Service times.

I look forward to being in ministry with you this week!

In Christ’s Service,
David

Did you know that Bishop Carter is offering an Advent prayer for each Sunday of Advent on the Western NC Conference website? Read this week’s prayer here.

Did you know that MUMC stickers are available to decorate your water bottle or laptop? Use these as a conversation starter to invite friends and neighbors! Pick one up for free at the Welcome Center. Thank you to Lori Williams for the painting of the church, Christian McLendon for our Embracing Disabilities artwork, and David Wheeler for capturing the photo with a rainbow over our steeple!

Did you know that MUMC volunteers led BINGO at Blessed Assurance Adult Daycare? Blessed Assurance is a Global Impact partner that provides care for senior and disabled adults and disabled Veterans. Thank you for supporting Global Impact!

Did you know that the MUMC Hearts & Hands group made 250 knitted hats that were distributed in Weaverville, NC? Bus drivers and elementary school staff handed hats out to children without one and they even showed up in pantries. Thank you to volunteers who made the hats…and thank you, MUMC, for your generous donations to Global Impact & Disaster Relief.

Did you know that members of the Faith Sunday School Class volunteered to process shoeboxes at the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center this past Monday? This is a great way to serve and get in the Chritmas spirit!