Just These Lines Pastor Blog

Pentecost | Sunday, May 28, 2023 Just these lines, my friends … … to say that this Friday (5/19) was a holy, holy day with the Metro Prom. For the first time in three years (due to Covid), we were able to host 16 bus loads of high school age young people from the Metro School. The school serves approximately...

7th Sunday of Easter | Confirmation Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say that this past week was filled with much to celebrate. On Tuesday evening our Bridge Builders Fellowship met with the Matthews Town Manager (Becky Hawke), the Assistant Town Manager (Melia Gordon), the Town of Matthews Human Resource Director (Tonya McGovern), and the newly appointed...

6th Sunday of Easter | Mother’s Day Just these lines, my friends … … to say that this past Sunday was Mental Health Sunday. Dr. Daniel Hale, the father of Graham Pierce, a church member, was our speaker for the morning. We are so grateful for Dr. Hale’s message and the beautiful connection with music and the arts given to...

5th Sunday of Easter Just these lines, my friends … … to say that it was a retreat weekend for Matthews United Methodist (MUMC). I was in lovely Hendersonville, NC with a number of men for our annual Men’s Retreat, our first one in four years (Covid really did a number on us). It was powerfully led by Earl Coggins,...

4th Sunday of Easter Just these lines, my friends … … to say that Sunday was an awesome day with so many moments of “the unforced rhythms of grace”: the baptism of Rhys Edward Toron (son of Sam/Jennifer Toron); those beautiful Children’s Chimers playing the old spiritual, Do Lord; the witness of Tonya Terry; our 9:30 Praise Team featuring Shannon...

3rd Sunday of Easter Just these lines, my friends … … to say each Sunday, I am filled with gratitude for this church and this place. Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter felt particularly moving and Spirit-filled this year for me. On Palm Sunday 930 people attended in-person worship and our streaming platforms captured an additional 852 online views live...

2nd Sunday of Easter Just these lines, my friends … … to say what a Holy Week 2023: Crowds of people gathering for Easter worship, including dozens of new faces Volunteers (Home2Home Ministry) helping families with no furniture A beautiful butterfly release in the Courtyard A powerfully inspiring Maundy Thursday service Pastor Paul and Pastor Corey speaking at Easter Sunday...

Easter Just these lines, my friends… …to say I got this note from an online worshipper this week: “O, Lord, what a morning! …the gorgeous Palms Prelude and The Holy City Postlude…the unique Processional with floral bedecked donkey…the delightful Childrens Choir…the stirring Offertory anthem with flutes and drums* and heartwarming Choral Benediction…the inspirational words from Pastor Chuck… How magnificent it...

Palm Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say it was a week of study, service, retreats and worship at Matthews United Methodist (MUMC): our Confirmands were away on retreat with Pastor Corey; 49 of our women enjoyed a day retreat in the Commons; and, a couple of dozen or so were working in our church/community garden preparing...