Viewing Posts found in the Inspirational category. | View all posts
Growth,
Inspirational,
Invitation,
Just These Lines,
Our Faithful Next Steps
13th Sunday after Pentecost in Ordinary Time/September 4, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say that we have concluded week #2 in our worship series called The Spirited Life. Why, even my wife (Karen) was quoting back my sermon to me on Sunday afternoon as we were driving to Linville to have dinner with my sister. She reminded...
Community,
Hope,
Inspirational,
Just These Lines,
The Way God Sees Us
11th Sunday after Pentecost in Ordinary Time/August 21, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say what a day with Summer Brooke and The Mountain Faith Band! It may not have been your kind of music, but you couldn’t deny the joy, the richness of spirit and the love of God permeating every fiber of their being. Our...
Community,
Hope,
Inspirational,
Just These Lines,
Rosa Wilson & Rosa Parks
10th Sunday after Pentecost in Ordinary Time/August 14, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say what a splendid day it was with Rev. Nicole Jones this past Sunday. I was able to watch on live stream, and I thought to myself, “What a bright, bright light!” Her words on creating space and cultivating silence were important for all...
Community,
Global Impact,
Inspirational,
Invitation,
Just These Lines,
Service,
The Unstoppable Flow of Love
8th Sunday after Pentecost in Ordinary Time/July 31, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say that though I wasn’t with you in worship, we did give our best shot to worship with you by live stream. We were in and out with connectivity sketchiness, but I know it was a marvelous day of allowing God’s transformative work...
Inspirational,
Just These Lines,
Prayer,
Life, Love & Baseball
7th Sunday after Pentecost in Ordinary Time/July 24, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say what a great day of worship this past Sunday (July 21) at Matthews United Methodist: Matthews Brass at 8:15 and 11:00 (Wonderful!); baptisms at 9:30 and 11:00; new members joining at 11:00; and celebrating the 100th birthday of Mary Healy. You can...
Community,
Generosity,
Inspirational,
Just These Lines,
Service,
Youth,
The Speed of Love
5th Sunday after Pentecost in Ordinary Time/July 10, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say this is our fourth summer together at Matthews United Methodist, and my heart is full thinking of you. Your spunk, strength, curiosity and genuine sense of community for both the buoyant and the exhausted echo through the streets of our community with...
Change,
Global Impact,
Inspirational,
Just These Lines,
Leadership,
The Common Objects of Our American Love
3rd Sunday after Pentecost/June 26, 2019 Just these lines my friends … … to say that we had some beautiful days in the mountains at Lake Junaluska. It was Annual Conference week for United Methodist churches across Western North Carolina. The days were full, exhausting but renewing. I heard Sanctuary worship from this past Sunday (June 23) was surprising (power...
Community,
Inspirational,
Just These Lines,
Service,
United Kids,
We Are Matthews,
Youth,
Transformed Me Forever
Second Sunday of Ordinary Time/June 19, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say that it was a wonderful Father’s Day/Trinity Sunday at Matthews United Methodist (MUMC). Beautiful music and heartfelt preaching guided us into the presence of God. A high moment for me from Pastor Paul’s sermon was this statement: “A child is not likely to find...
Committment,
Community,
Global Impact,
Inspirational,
Just These Lines,
United Kids,
Youth,
The Heart of Summer
Pentecost/June 5, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say that last week was quite a week for us at Matthews United Methodist. Rarely in my 40+ years of serving in the church have I officiated four funerals in one week. We shared in celebrating the life of four persons (Judy Reynolds, Caleb Barnhardt, Maddon Shirley, Fairy Moore)...
