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Just These Lines,
Don’t Finish What You Can’t Start
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...
Just These Lines,
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...
Just These Lines,
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...
Just These Lines,
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....
Just These Lines,
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...
Community,
Generosity,
Global Impact,
Hope,
Just These Lines,
We Are Matthews,
Worship,
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...
Just These Lines,
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,...
Community,
Global Impact,
Just These Lines,
Service,
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...
Just These Lines,
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...