Encouraging You in this New Season

Just these lines...

…to encourage and challenge you in this new season to embrace incoming Pastors David and Susan, who are super excited and a little nervous (they are human), with the same welcoming and radical-love-of-Christ spirit of which you welcomed me. May you seek to discover together where our Triune God, who comes to all of God’s children in diverse ways, is leading this incredibly gifted, giving, and loving community called Matthews UMC. I pray you will allow your newly appointed pastors to arrive with new eyes, new ideas, and welcome the new vision they may bring.

I arrived as your interim pastor with an “expiration date” and after a recent conversation now refer to my “best by” date of 6/30/2025. You allowed me to be true to my call as a beloved child of God and to my call to serve and follow Jesus as a United Methodist clergyperson. As I re-enter retirement at my coastal condo, I’ll be reminded of the unexpected gift of serving with and among many incredible people, including the most gifted and giving Ministry and Support Staff that I’ve ever experienced.

I encourage and challenge you as a member of the Body of Christ called to ministry in the name and character of Jesus, to express your gratitude in words and most especially by saying “Yes” when staff is seeking volunteers, especially if your schedule allows for flexibility. If you are waiting to get involved, the arrival of new pastors just may be your season!

If you missed being here on Sunday, you missed wonderful worshipful music at all three services as we asked God to open our eyes and help us see clearly with the eyes of Christ. You can click here to worship.

Pastor Chuck asked me to continue his Just These Lines (fortunately minus the video) until the arrival of Pastors David & Susan, when they develop a communication plan of their own. In the meantime, be sure to catch the Celebration Newsletter email on Fridays at 12 noon for all of the wonderful happenings at MUMC! Click here to subscribe, if you’re not already.

Help Our New Pastors Get to Know You by Updating Your Profile in Realm!

Did you know that the Realm community connection tool not only allows for us to communicate with one another but also acts as our Church Database and Church Directory? Pastors David and Susan will join us July 1st and will be using the Realm Connect app (download here). Please be sure all your information is up to date, including your Profile Picture, Skills & Interests and Birth Date including the year. (If no year is listed, Realm assumes you were born in 1900 and says you are 125 years old!) Also, use Realm for Mobile Check-In for Worship & Groups, Register for Events, access the Church Directory & more!

Profile Updates & Worship Check-In:
Expand app menu by 3 Lines or 3 Dots (depends on Android or Apple)

• Add your Profile Picture
  Click on the circle (profile image) on the top left
  Click My Profile
  Click on circle next to or above your name in the app
  Take or select a photo to upload
• Add your Birth Date
  Click on the circle (profile image) on the top left
  Click My Profile
  Click pencil icon by Birthday (or anything you would like to edit). Scroll down to Add Skills & Interests
• Worship Check-In (In-Person or Online)
  Click Check-In (one person can check the whole family in) Check box for Check-In for Worship (no matter which service you attend)
  Click Check-In at the bottom of the screen

Link to Realm on your desktop at http://onrealm.org/matthewsumc. Please email [email protected] with questions or call the Church Office if you need assistance.

Volunteer at Summer Camps!

Summer Camps are just around the corner at MUMC! If you’d be willing to take a few hours and volunteer, we are seeking 5 adults who will be partnered with several older and very capable youth for Music & Arts Camp (Aug 4-8) — all that’s needed is your presence and loving heart! Vacation Bible School (July 21-25) also has openings for adult volunteers. Please register (links above in blue) to support this important outreach that provides programming for kids and families, many who are connecting with us for the first time!

This Sunday in Worship

We invite you to join us this Sunday in person at 8:15 (Traditional), 9:30 (Contemporary), 11:00 (Traditional), or online at 9:30, 11:00 or 1:00 (Spanish – in person or here on demand).

This Sunday is the Third Sunday after Pentecost. We are still Easter People after Pentecost living with the help of the Holy Spirit in Ordinary Times. I will be preaching in our morning worship services, and my sermon title is Foolish Choices from 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.

In the Centro Cristiano Hosanna (CCH, our Spanish-speaking service), Pastor Roldan’s sermon title is It is Wise to Be Correct from Psalm 77:1-11.

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday! Invite a friend or neighbor to church!

Gratefully,
Pastor Linda

Click here for the latest Celebration Newsletter (emailed last Friday) to see all church events & happenings!

Did you know that Charlotte Media Group (Matthews-Mint Hill, South Charlotte & Union County Weekly) published an article welcoming our new pastors, David & Susan?

Did you know that 27 persons from MUMC (including clergy and delegates) attended the Western NC Annual Conference last week? You can watch the sessions here, including the Recognition of Retiring Clergy Service with Pastor Chuck speaking on behalf of the 2025 class of retirees (click here to view that service). If you would like to serve as a delegate at the 2026 Annual Conference, let Pastor David or Beth Lynn know.

Did you know that our June worship bulletin focus has been on Pride Month? Learn about our welcome and come as you are to Matthews UMC, where we believe in cultivating an open and affirming space where everyone is embraced with unconditional love, regardless of their identity or whom they love. Our Inclusive Grace Ministry is committed to offering unwavering support, nurturing connections, and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community both within and beyond our church walls. The ministry also provides educational resource links and ideas for ways to “do something,” including involvement in Reconciling Ministries Network, PFLAGG, Transcend Charlotte, and Timeout Youth.

Did you know that 10 singers of our Sanctuary Choir performed in the Rivertree Singers Choral Festival on June 21 in Greenville, SC and presented Dan Forrest’s orchestral concert work, Jubilate Deo, which is based on Psalm 100? The festival included with 145 singers and 46 instrumentalists from 24 states! Singers are: Olivia & Steven Beaver, Terry & Frank Brown, Heidi Hanson, Lee Kelly, Deborah & Don Morrison, Kathy & Eric White.

Did you know that the Morning of Wellness on Saturday provided a time of rest, relaxation and creative contemplation for everyone who attended? The inner wisdom gained from the Visual Journaling was both inspiring and enlightening while the Desk Yoga, Mindfulness and Breathwork provided a thoughtful time of attending to our bodies before being immersed in the therapeutic sound waves from the different instruments used in the sound bath to promote deep relaxation, relieve stress and let go of anxiety.