Just These Lines Pastor Blog

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When the World is at Its Worst

26th Sunday after Pentecost Just these lines, my friends … … to say that Sunday was a defining moment in the 148-year history of Matthews United Methodist Church (MUMC). It is always heartwarming to see so many of you streaming toward our Joash Chest and making commitments. This year, it was especially so, because many of you were making two...
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What is Your Name

22st Sunday after Pentecost | Above & Beyond Kickoff Celebration Just these lines, my friends … … to say our parking lot was full of activity on Saturday with many of our Spanish-speaking friends as Pastor Roldan and our CCH community sponsored a health clinic for our neighbors. The Micah Connection provided support for this family-friendly event. Here is a...
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The World Needs More Compassion

21st Sunday after Pentecost Just these lines, my friends … … to say it was a beautiful Sunday (10/6) at Matthews United Methodist Church: assembling cleaning/flood buckets and hygiene kits in the Courtyard to go to Burnsville, NC; great coffee from Will Beans; Family Worship in the Gym; the Sacrament of Holy Communion on World Communion Sunday; gorgeous music; Scouts...
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Are You a Giver or a Taker?

20th Sunday after Pentecost Just these lines, my friends … … to say much of Western North Carolina was struck on Thursday and Friday of last week with a generational disaster. There have been 162 deaths over six states, many being from North Carolina. Roads are impassable. Food is at a premium. Power is still out over most of the...
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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...
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Mother’s Day

4th Sunday of Easter | Mother’s Day Just these lines, my friends … … to say that it is still appropriate for me to say, “Happy Easter” because Easter is a season in the church and not simply a day. In fact, every Sunday is a little Easter according to the liturgical calendar. Alister McGrath refers to the resurrection of...
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Practical Tips for Advent

3rd Sunday of Advent Just these lines, my friends … … to say that there were two things I hope you were able to see this past Sunday. First of all, I wish you could have seen our hallways lined with gifts from the Angel Tree. Then all our volunteers, led by Elizabeth Wetmore, getting them ready to be picked...
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All In Together

25th Sunday after Pentecost | Joash Chest Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say that I cannot believe Advent (November 28) is just around the corner! In a few weeks we will once again anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth among us. This year will be especially meaningful because we were unable to worship together in-person last...
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Falling Asleep

22th Sunday after Pentecost Just these lines, my friends … … to say thank you to Pastor Paul for his wonderful message (Engage in Invitation) this past Sunday. You can watch it here. All this fall, we’ve been learning that when we engage, we pledge, we commit, we bind ourselves by engaging in practices that, if exercised over time, will...