Just These Lines Pastor Blog

3rd Sunday of Easter Just these lines, my friends … … to say that we continue to Practice Resurrection in worship during these Easter days. Also this past Sunday, we heard from our two bishops in North Carolina inviting us to pray and participate in the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. If you missed their message, you can...

2nd Sunday of Easter Just these lines, my friends … … to say that it was the holiest of Holy Weeks with the grandest of Easter mornings: a donkey leading our processional into the week on Palm Sunday; our deep level partners with Rainbow Express Ministries reminding us Jesus’ final gathering with his disciples on Holy Thursday; the finest Sanctuary...

Easter Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say … Come. Come cry. Come laugh. Come be filled with awe. Come not expecting easy answers but instead unexplainable mystery. Come experience friendship with people you know and even those you don’t. Come roll back the stone blocking your heart that has kept you away. Come receive and give...

Palm Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say how grateful I am for Tommy and Laurie Little and their entire family. They have meant so much to our church family for decades now. This past Sunday, Laurie gave a stunning message of hope and direction for us as a church as we concluded our worship series, Embracing...

5th Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say how grateful we are for all who participate in our worship, music and the arts ministry. I’m stunned each week by how you show up week after week to prompt us in so many ways with our worship. YOU mean so much to us. I do hope...

4th Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say what a rich, rich day with Amy Julia Becker as our guide for Week 3 in our Embracing Disabilities: Creating an EVERYBODY Mentality. Both Sunday morning and Sunday evening she touched us so deeply. You can watch both Sunday morning worship here and Sunday evening here. You...

3rd Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say that a deeply disturbing incident of Zoom bombing occurred at our Matthews Town Council meeting on Monday night (2/26). Several callers spewed hateful homophobic and antisemitic speech during the public comment time. I was not in attendance, but I’ve watched the 20 minutes of deeply hurtful commentary...

2nd Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say that we launched our 2024 Lenten series, Embracing Disabilities: Creating an EVERYBODY Mentality. I do hope you are participating at every level: Wednesday Dinners and/or Study (launching tonight), making Music Together special event (last day to register), daily devotionals (printed copy or PDF), Sunday Morning Groups (curriculum...

Transfiguration Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say that Karen and I will make our way home to NC on Friday, February 9. We are so excited about being back with you after our special time with family in Southern California. We gathered to remember and celebrate Karen’s father, Bill Payne, who entered life eternal near the...