Just These Lines Pastor Blog

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Listening Prayer

5th Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say that Karen and I had the remarkable privilege of spending four days (March 16-19) with 40 of the finest people I know. We enjoyed a meaningful time together: Hank/Tina Adams, Frank/Terry Brown, Beth/Rich Buchanan, Kristen Caine, Sandy Carson, Nate/Emma Clements, Earl/Jeannette Coggins, Jim/Lee Cornwell, Amy DeVore, Sally...
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Blind Spots

4th Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say that it was a rainy, gloomy Sunday, but for those participating in worship on Sunday, the Spirit was strong: country music artist Sara Kelly in Family Worship, music from the Sanctuary Choir, the Praise Band featuring Maggie Fraser, Steven Beaver on the trombone and Kathy White on...
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Big Boys Do Cry

3rd Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say the second oldest living member of Matthews United Methodist (MUMC) died this past week, Melba Westphal.  I had the incredible privilege of celebrating her remarkable life on Saturday. She was 101. If you missed worship on Sunday, you can watch & hear me talking about Melba here....
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Three More Things You Might Want to Give Up for Lent

2nd Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say what a rich and meaningful First Sunday in Lent: spirits lifted, heart-felt prayers, great congregational singing, uplifting handbell music to begin worship, a lovely baptism for Ridge Curtis Mitchum (Mark, Amelia and Ruthie Mitchum), a Lenten Kyrie, a beautiful arrangement of The Lord’s Prayer by our children … and how about the new benediction for...
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Holiness is Hard Work

1st Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say that on Sunday we concluded our annual Global Impact Celebration. I never grow tired watching the people of God called Matthews United Methodist streaming forward to make Faith and Life commitments. The morning (9:30 and 11:00) was filled with toe-tappin music – watch the video here of...
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Mission or Mission?

Transfiguration Sunday | Global Impact 3 Just these lines, my friends … … to say that I still get overwhelmed when I reflect to 1986 when I first stepped on the soil of Matthews United Methodist Church as one of your pastors. I pinch myself every day that I get to be a part of a community to belong to,...
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How to Flourish in Your Marriage

6th Sunday after the Epiphany | Global Impact 2 Just these lines, my friends … … to say “thank you” to Rev. Gaston Warner for sharing stories of transformation that we are making possible together. It was a powerful weekend. I was so deeply moved by his vision of hopeful, indigenous, sustained ways of empowering young people. Gaston cast that...
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We Need Community

5th Sunday after the Epiphany | Global Impact 1 Just these lines, my friends … … to say that I hope you had the opportunity to be with us in worship. What a splendid day: Handbells all morning, our Sanctuary Choir singing Ken Medema’s Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying, 11th grader Maggie Fraser singing at 9:30 and so much...
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Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant

4th Sunday after the Epiphany Just these lines, my friends … … to say that I wish we all could have been at the church on Friday evening (1/20) for our Community Wide Bingo Night. Over 170 people enjoyed an amazing Italian dinner together followed by Bingo, lots of laughter, dancing and some great prizes! A very special “thank you” to...