Just These Lines Pastor Blog

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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...
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Pilgrimage of Trust

9th Sunday after Pentecost in Ordinary Time/August 7, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say that I continue to write to you from Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa. Karen and I are here with our son Ryan, our daughter-in-law Gina, and our granddaughter Rosa. We will begin to make our journey home later this week. It is a good...
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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...
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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...
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The Second Mountain

6th Sunday after Pentecost in Ordinary Time/July 17, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say that Dr. David Wilkinson…husband, father, Durham University President, pastor, theologian, astrophysicist and so much more, was a straight arrow for the crushing questions of our souls. For 48 hours I felt like I was sitting at the feet of the Rabbi. I...
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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...
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O Long May It Wave

5th Sunday after Pentecost/July 3, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say “thank you” for a wonderful day of worship. At 8:30 and 11:00 we concluded our service with a new hymn written by Choir member Darlene Presbo, Shall We Gather at the Banner, and our Sanctuary Choir sang a beautiful arrangement of Morning Has Broken. You...
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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...
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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...