Just These Lines Pastor Blog

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Eastertide

2nd Sunday of Easter Just these lines, my friends … … to say what a Holy Week 2023: Crowds of people gathering for Easter worship, including dozens of new faces Volunteers (Home2Home Ministry) helping families with no furniture A beautiful butterfly release in the Courtyard A powerfully inspiring Maundy Thursday service Pastor Paul and Pastor Corey speaking at Easter Sunday...
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It’s Holy Week

Easter Just these lines, my friends… …to say I got this note from an online worshipper this week: “O, Lord, what a morning! …the gorgeous Palms Prelude and The Holy City Postlude…the unique Processional with floral bedecked donkey…the delightful Childrens Choir…the stirring Offertory anthem with flutes and drums* and heartwarming Choral Benediction…the inspirational words from Pastor Chuck… How magnificent it...
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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...
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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,...