Just These Lines Pastor Blog

Viewing Posts found in the Worship category. | View all posts
Featured image for “Birds to Fly With”
Read More
 Community
 Just These Lines
 United Kids
 Worship
 Youth

Birds to Fly With

Trinity Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say that it was a beautiful day to celebrate Pentecost at Matthews United Methodist Church (MUMC): the room was filled with red (the liturgical color for Pentecost); the music was out of this world; and Pastor Corey’s message on the Holy Spirit (With you … For you … In you)...
Featured image for “Generosity of Spirit”
Read More
 Blessing
 Community
 Hope
 Inspirational
 Just These Lines
 Worship

Generosity of Spirit

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...
Featured image for “Easter”
Read More
 Just These Lines
 Uncategorized
 Worship

Easter

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...
Featured image for “Have You Ever Heard of Euodia and Syntyche?”
Read More
 Global Impact
 Just These Lines
 Worship

Have You Ever Heard of Euodia and Syntyche?

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...
Featured image for “Our Story is Grace”
Read More
 Global Impact
 Just These Lines
 Worship

Our Story is Grace

5th Sunday after the Epiphany Just these lines, my friends … … to say that Karen and I are away for twelve days with our family in Southern California. Our family is gathering for several days to remember and celebrate Karen’s father, Bill Payne, who entered life eternal near the end of October 2023. Karen and her sister have been...
Featured image for “Joy in the Desert”
Read More
 Blessing
 Gratitude
 Just These Lines
 Worship

Joy in the Desert

Christmas Eve | 4th Sunday of Advent Just these lines, my friends … … to say that my heart is singing with gratitude today as I remember our time together on Sunday. There were over 100 children enacting our annual Matthews United Methodist Children’s Nativity for us. Is there any more magical moment in every year than when baby Jesus...
Featured image for “Swords into Plowshares”
Read More
 Community
 Generosity
 Inspirational
 Invitation
 Just These Lines
 Thankful
 Worship

Swords into Plowshares

3rd Sunday of Advent Just these lines, my friends … … to say I am still reveling in a Sunday of Sundays with beautiful 2nd Sunday of Advent morning worship and then, The Glory of Christmas in the evening. I was blown away by the beauty and sound of it all. I kept thinking, “This is our church! This is...
Featured image for “Climbing Together”
Read More
 Committment
 Community
 Generosity
 Just These Lines
 Worship

Climbing Together

23rd Sunday after Pentecost | All Saints Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say that my heart breaks for so much going on in the world; I have been spending extra time in prayer these days, offering to God my prayers for peace in Palestine and Israel, prayers for our national government amid chaotic leadership in Congress,...
Featured image for “Do You Believe in a Higher Power?”
Read More
 Generosity
 Just These Lines
 Worship

Do You Believe in a Higher Power?

22nd Sunday after Pentecost Just these lines, my friends … … to ask if you heard our Sanctuary Choir singing the Irish Blessing as a Benediction this past Sunday? If you missed hearing them or my sermon on The Pathway of Worship, you can click here. By the way, I love so many things about our church … BUT I...