Be Still & Know

4th Sunday after the Epiphany
Just these lines …

… to say, oh my, what a weekend! It all began with Bingo Night on Friday with nearly 300 people gathering to have food, fun and some good community.

Then Saturday morning brought us the thoughtful, reflective, inspiring wisdom of our Resident Bishop, Ken Carter to our annual Leadership Connection. You can watch our morning by clicking here, and read Bishop Carter’s key points here.

Then on Sunday, it all culminated with Pastor Paul’s “memorable” (as one person described to me) goodbye message (click here), moving music of great excellence, and then our wild wonderful, crazy, zany County Fair gathering to celebrate Pastor Paul. If you want to see him as Elvis, click here. It is a short film of Pastor Paul doing a fundraiser for stained glass windows in the Chapel of the University City United Methodist Church.

I heard from Pastor Paul and he wrote, “Please convey to the staff and the church my heartfelt gratitude for their kindness, support, and generosity throughout our time together. I will forever be thankful to the people of Matthew’s UMC and to those with whom I have served for being allowed to serve alongside of you as one of your pastors. It is one of the greatest joys and privileges of my life and I will never forget you.”

Paul Craig, you are immortalized in our hearts.

 

 

Sunday also brought our annual recognition of the amazing young women & men, and their outstanding leaders involved in our scouting work. Scouting is a deep, deep level partner of our ministry here at MUMC. All of our Scouting BSA (Boy Scout) efforts are coordinated so ably by David Wheeler. You see him every Sunday morning in our Sanctuary Choir. David, we are so grateful for you. We also support several Girl Scout troops here at the church. Visit these websites to learn more about scouting programs at MUMC: Troop 39, Troop 139, Pack 214, and Girl Scouts.

In the last few days our United Methodist bishops have shared a Pastoral Letter Addressing the Plight of Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees in the United States. Please click here to read. I remind you this is not something that is far removed or distant from us. A beautiful part of MUMC is Centro Cristiana Hosanna. Let us join our bishops in praying for “… migrants, immigrants, and refugees among us and to welcome them with the fullness of Christian love, remembering that as we welcome these, our brothers and sisters, we welcome Jesus our Lord.”

Video Devotional

I hope you’ll watch and listen to my devotional for this week, Be Still and Know.

Pastoral Transitions

The Rev. Linda Kelly is coming our way. Linda has been in the office some this week and she’ll be preaching for us come Sunday, February 2. Please be sure to welcome our Interim Associate Pastor.

Upcoming Events

• Charge Conference – Wednesday, February 5, 7 pm to make a pastoral salary adjustment and approve the 2025 spending plan. Zoom link here; passcode: council
• MAGI Spiritual Gifts Workshop – Saturday, February 8, 8:30-12:00. Details
• Souper Bowl of Caring – Sunday, February 9 Details
• Emergency Response Training (ERT) – Saturday, February 15, 9:00-4:00 at MUMC. Open to all ages 16 & up (16 & 17 year olds should be accompanied by parent). Limited to 40 individuals. Register here
• Community Forum for Racial Bridge-Building – Tuesday, February 18, 7 pm at MUMC, Details
• Parents Night Out – Friday, February 21, Details
• Civil Rights Excursion to International Civil Rights Center & Museum and Gillespie Golf Course & the “Greensboro Six” Mural in Greensboro – Saturday, March 1, 8:00-4:00. Registration & details
• Join one of our small groups or studies, including Strolling With the Spirit, The Prayer Course, and I Want to Trust You. Details

 

Mark Your Calendars for the 2025 Global Impact Mission Celebration

2/16 – Mission Fair in The Commons between services from 9am-Noon. Speakers in Worship & Small Groups.

2/19 – Dessert Event in The Commons at 7pm with Kathy Izard, “Trust the Whisper” Author

2/22 – Saturday Serve Day from 9am-Noon. Individual & family serving opportunities on-site and in the community with mission partners. Register

2/23 – Speakers in Worship with a Focus on Western NC Disaster Relief

3/2 – Global Impact Life & Faith Commitment Sunday

 

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).

In our Spanish-speaking CCH community, Pastor Roldan will be preaching from Exodus 33:12-18. His message is entitled, Beyond the Ordinary.

In all our morning services, we will be serving the Sacrament of Holy Communion. In addition, Pastor Linda Kelly, our Interim Associate Pastor (following Pastor Paul) will be preaching from Luke 4:14-30. Her sermon title is An Earthly Meal with An Eternal Message: Rejection is to Be Expected. Linda writes, “As we consider the realities and ramifications of rejection, I suggest the answer to ‘Where do you think Jesus is standing?’ is on the side of all those being rejected and in the middle with outstretched arms reaching out to both sides. In my personal effort to understand the reality and damage of rejection, demonizing, and distancing from others, I am wondering if the human desire to belong, be valued, be seen, which is of God has been so corrupted by the ways of the world that rejection is the dark and dangerous side of the human coin of a need to belong.”

I hope you will invite a friend to come and experience a fun, zany, boisterous, and deeply devoted group of followers of Jesus that gather each week in worship to make sense of the world around us. Who knows … maybe they want to be a part of our unique community.

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 Charlie’s Heart Foundation has awarded a milestone $1.1 Million in grants to over 25 nonprofits, helping hundreds of children and families? The organization was established by MUMC members, Michael & Rebecca Holt, to honor the life and legacy of their son, Charlie, who died shortly after his 5th birthday in 2017. Their mission is to “fund holistic programs that promote the mental well-being of vulnerable families.” Read this week’s article in The Ledger outlining their story and the accomplishments of the organization to learn more. *Shared with permission of The Ledger.

Did you know that our Hope & Minds Mental Health Ministry is focusing on co-occurring: Mental Health and Chronic Illness for the month of February? Cancer, heart disease, chronic pain, diabetes, mental illnesses, and more touch every family at some point, and often mental illnesses and other chronic conditions co-occur. People with cancer often have depression; people with schizophrenia often have diabetes; and people with chronic pain often have both physical and behavioral health challenges. For further information, click here.

Did you know that facility enhancements have been made on our campus? New flooring and paint were applied in our first-floor classrooms, the Main Kitchen was deep cleaned and a new stove and dishwasher were installed, hallway doors were stained, common areas and the Courtyard were pressure washed, a steel railing was added in the balcony, and a new cover was placed over the Memorial Book in the entrance to the Sanctuary.

Did you know that United Kids used their creativity and thumbprints to decorate a plant pot for Pastor Paul? The pot contained a lemon tree for Pastor Paul to nurture as he enjoys his retirement. We’re really going to miss you, Pastor Paul!