Baptism & Confirmation

5th Sunday of Easter | Confirmation Sunday
Just these lines …

… to say that I loved our Mother’s Day worship on the 4th Sunday of Easter worship. I hope you will long remember standing along with everyone else in the room confessing that our families are certainly less than what God longs for them to be. If you missed being with us, you can click here to worship.

In addition, holy moments were plenteous:

• The beautiful music of our Matthews Flute Choir.
• The baptism of Reese and Parker Morgan (Parents – Neal & Anna Morgan) in the 9:30 am hour and Lilly and Wyatt Sullivan (Parents – David & Melissa Sullivan) in the 11:00 am hour. These are moments not soon forgotten by these families.
• Our Praise Team with new additions, Ed Scholl (Pianist) and Shelley Medford (Director of Contemporary Worship). Thank you, John Biggers (Associate Worship Leader), for the fine leadership you displayed over the past months while filling in as our interim worship leader.
• A stunning anthem, In All Things Love, by our Sanctuary Choir and String Ensemble.
• The moving and thoughtful Mother’s Day prayer by Pastor Linda. In her prayer she asked us to mindful for our young adults away with Pastor Corey and Connor Johnson (our United College-Age & Young Adult Associate) in New Orleans this week in mission and service.
• The gorgeous anthem, My Mother’s Love, by our Children & Cherub Choirs, joined by Mothers & Grandmothers (in Family Worship and during 11:00 worship) under the direction of Ashley Broome. I saw tears in the eyes of most everyone.

And just yesterday, our Melody Makers Senior Adult Community Choir presented their spring concert, In Whom We Trust, to a full audience in the Sanctuary. There were 60 singers, and about 350 in attendance. If you missed it, you can watch & listen here. You are in for a treat! Save the date for the Christmas Concert on Tuesday, December 9.

Metro Prom

This past Friday (5/9) was a holy, holy day with the Metro Prom. There were a number of volunteers able to host 16 bus loads of high school age young people from the Metro School. The school serves approximately 250 students all of whom are cognitively disabled, ranging in age from 3 to 22. Many of the students have severe medical and physical needs; many of the students are in need of total physical care and assistance; and many have other multiple disabilities such as visual impairments, hearing impairments, and autism, in addition to their cognitive challenges. It is always a gift for us to dance and serve alongside these wonderful students and their courageous teachers for a few hours at this precious Prom.

New Senior Living in Crestdale Community

I wasn’t able to mention it in all of our worship services on Sunday, but I did want you to know that ground has been broken on a wonderful new Senior Living project right here in Matthews by our friends at the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church. This will be a high quality, mixed income community for people 55 and older. Pastor Larry Whitley of the Mt. Moriah Church told me that the plans call for a building with 72 units, 49 of those being one-bedroom and 23 two-bedroom apartments. This is a project that is affordable to a variety of incomes. I hope you’ll drive through the Crestdale community and see the work being done. This is an exciting step forward for the Town of Matthews and the Crestdale community. Join me in congratulating our many friends from Mt. Moriah.

Video Devotional

Not too long ago I was reflecting on my daughter, MacKenzie, and her baptism. MacKenzie doesn’t remember that moment, of course. She doesn’t remember her baptismal outfit, or her mother carrying her or me pouring water. She doesn’t remember her big sister Molly leaning in trying to steal a big hug and kiss from her soon-to-be-doused kid sister. She doesn’t remember her big brothers standing by ready to protect and serve and get her into trouble. Whether she remembers it or not, MacKenzie’s baptism was an acknowledgement that God’s grace was already at work in her life, and that God had claimed her as God’s child. Let’s talk about it for a few minutes in my devotional titled Baptism and Confirmation.

Upcoming Events

• Mental Health Fair – This Saturday, May 17, Drop In 9 am – 12 pm. Free coffee, treats & workshops. Nearly 20 mental health organizations/vendors will be present! Details
• Common Heart Food Drive – Now thru June 15: Immediate Need for non-perishable, unexpired food due to a 50% cut in their federal funding. Please place donations in bins at campus entrances. (MOST NEEDED: Cereal, Chef Boyardee, Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Mixed Veggies, Mixed Fruit, Snack Bars)
• Saturday Serve – May 17 from 9 am-Noon. Landscaping, painting & beautification for our Global Impact Partner, Turning Point Treehouse. Register here
• Women’s Tea: United Women In Faith – Tuesday, June 3, 10:30 am, The Commons. Enjoy tea, fellowship & a speaker focusing on updates from the Western NC relief efforts. Register by May 27. Space limited, Contact Jan Hull.

This Sunday in Worship

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

Our CCH (Centro Cristiana Hosanna) Community is such a special community. Pastor Roldan leads them so ably. These are beautiful people with hearts deeply devoted to God. This week, Pastor Roldan’s sermon title is A Change in our Navigation System from Acts 9:1-6.

This Sunday is also Confirmation Sunday. We will confirm 16 young people in the work and ministry of MUMC. It will be a high, holy day. Invite someone to come with you to watch a wonderful group of young people make their entrance into the church. It will be moving.

My message for these young people and for you will come from what I think is the highest moment of the Old Testament: Micah 6:6-8. The prophet lays out several things that are the heart of what means to follow Jesus.

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

Jesus is on the loose!
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

Did you know that Kelsey Havican was married to Larry Smith on Saturday, May 7, and the ceremony was officiated by Pastor Corey? Kelsey grew up at MUMC and is the daughter of Todd & Robin Havican. She is also the granddaughter of Wendy Barall, who made her wedding dress! Congratulations to this special couple!

Did you know that Tom Williamson has a ministry called Ride Again Bicycle Ministry? Tom repairs and donate bicycles to adults who need to have some sort of reliable transportation in lieu of, or in addition to, public transportation. He gives these bikes to organizations such as Charlotte Rescue Mission, Hope Haven, Anchor of Hope, Community Shelter of Union County and more. Tom is in need of bikes! The bikes that work best are mountain bikes with wheel size of 26″ or larger. Older name brand bikes such as Trek and Giant can be used, however, 10-speeds and bikes without gears do not work well for these folks. Call the Church Office for Tom’s direct contact info.

Did you know that our talented friend, Will Thames was featured on Carolina Impact on PBS Charlotte yesterday? Will has plays often at events at MUMC as well as other churches & senior centers in the area. Watch it here. Way to go, Will!

Did you know that our team of 9 did GREAT Recovery work in Asheville last week? Thanks, team, for a JOB WELL DONE! Watch for more work team opportunities in the coming months. Your contributions to Global Impact – Disaster Ministries make this work possible.

Did you know that MUMC partnered with Mills River UMC on the second tool trailer? Both Matthews UMC and Mills River UMC collected the tools, then they installed shelving and organized the trailer. We received the following email from Mills River UMC: “For several months, our missions committee had been praying for a way to “further equip” the volunteers coming to our area. You and Matthews UMC answered that prayer for us with this opportunity. We are grateful to be the Body of Christ with you!”
Rev. Luke Christy
Mills River UMC