Just These Lines Pastor Blog

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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...
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The Dance of Trinity

Ordinary Time/Trinity Sunday/Father’s Day/June 12, 2019 Just these lines, my friends … … to say what a day of Pentecost celebration we shared. The Sanctuary was awash in a sea of red. Thank you for catching the vision of our day of red. Moreover, “thank you” Chamber Choir for inspiring music, Chalanda Frazier — our guest worship leader at the...
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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)...