Everyday Epiphany

Baptism of the Lord
Just these lines, my friends …

… to say that Karen and I had a full weekend with our granddaughters at The Great Wolf Lodge in Concord. I am the new Grandpa Shark (of Baby Shark fame) of the Wave Pool at the Lodge. You would have been so proud of me and how much time I spent in the pool chasing my granddaughters. Our time at The Lodge was also spent doing all kinds of other activities with our precious granddaughters Lola, Rosa, Lenny and Lua.

One of the things I’ve always talked about with my children and grandchildren has been the subject of making decisions. Growing up, wisdom, and spiritual maturity has so much to do with our decision making.

We make hundreds of decisions every day. Most of us don’t even think about it. However, many of our decisions have a ripple effect, impacting not just our lives but those of our family, friends, and even, at times, those we don’t know. Our decisions matter.

The foundation for our decisions begins with deciding who or what we follow. Do we follow our desires? Do we follow the whims of others? Do we listen more to the media than to the heart of Jesus?

Only you can answer these questions. It is hard sometimes to figure out what the right decision is. So, I would like to offer some guidance. First, we must decide what kind of a follower of Jesus we will be. Will we be a lukewarm follower or a bystander, or will we give ourselves completely to the one who can change our lives? The kind of follower you choose to be is up to you. Jesus will not force you to do anything. It is always an invitation.

To help you in this endeavor, I encourage you to pray every day, the prayer of John Wesley, the founder of our Methodist movement, who prayed to do not his will but the will of God. It’s a hard prayer and sometimes I don’t want to pray it, but if we are serious about following Jesus, it will help us clarify the right decisions for our lives.

WESLEY’S COVENANT PRAYER (Modern Interpretation)

I am no longer my own, but yours.

Put me to what you will place me with whom you will.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you,

praised for you, or criticized for you.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.

And now, O wonderful and holy God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,

You are mine, and I am Yours. So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

Let it also be made in heaven. Amen.

If you were not able to be a part of worship this past Sunday, you can worship and listen to Pastor Corey’s sermon by clicking here.

Video Devotional

I hope you’ll watch my devotional for the week, Everyday Epiphany.

Upcoming Events

• Join one of our small groups or studies, including Strolling With the Spirit, Trust the Whisper, James-What You Do Matters, & Knowing Who We Are. Details
• Meet the Pastors Membership Interest Meeting – This Sunday, January 12, 3:00 pm in the Sanctuary Reception Area. Details
• Martin Luther King Commemoration Events – Sunday & Monday, Jan 19 & 20. Details
• Community Bingo Night – Friday, January 24, 5:30 – 7:30 in the Gym. Details
• 2025 Leadership Connection – Saturday, January 25, 8:30 – 12:00 in The Commons. Register by January 19. Details
• Pastor Paul’s Retirement Celebration – Sunday, January 26, 12:00 noon. See below for details.

Pastor Paul’s Retirement

Sunday, January 26 will be Paul Craig’s last Sunday to be with us. He will be preaching in all three of our morning worship hours that morning. Please plan to help honor him at a County Fair-themed reception beginning at 12 noon in The Commons. Bring cards/notes of thanks & gratitude for Pastor Paul and place them in the designated baskets. We will present these to Pastor Paul at the reception. If you would like to contribute to a love offering for Pastor Paul, you can do so with a gift to him directly (non-taxable for Pastor Paul) or you can mail a check (taxable for Pastor Paul) to MUMC with “Love Gift – Pastor Paul” marked in the memo line. You can also make your gift online. If you are unable to attend and wish to send a card or love offering, please do so no later than January 23 to: Pastor Paul Craig, Matthews UMC, 801 S. Trade Street, Matthews, NC 28105.

This Sunday in Worship

We invite you this Sunday to join us in person at 8:15 (Traditional), 9:30 (Contemporary), 9:30 (Family Worship in The Gym) and 11:00 (Traditional), or online at 9:30, 11:00 or 12:30 (Spanish – in person or here on demand).

In our Spanish-speaking CCH community, Pastor Roldan will begin a new worship series, Keep Moving Towards the Goal. He will be preaching from Isaiah 43:15-19 and his theme is God Will Do It Again. Amid the challenges of life, God will always continue to open paths for his people.

At Family Worship (9:30 in The Gym), we’ll be looking at the virtue of Resilience as we explore how trusting God in every season can help us to “Get back up when something gets us down!” Plan to stay following the service for refreshments and a Family Mission project for our friends at Room in the Inn.

In our Sanctuary services, I will begin a two-part sermon titled Is Same Sex Marriage a Christian Marriage? This week, we will use Romans 14:1-4 and Galations 3:2-8 as our scripture lessons. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday as we wrestle with this important question. Be sure to invite someone to church who might be struggling with some understanding on these matters as well.

And now, as always, during these strange, uncertain, and yet hope-filled days. Remember … God does God’s best work in moments like this.

Better … together,
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

 

Did you know that, on January 6 (Epiphany), the New Directions Sunday School Class sponsored a luncheon in The Commons for the MUMC Facility Staff as a way of saying “thank you” for all they do to keep our church beautiful? In addition to the luncheon, each staff member was given a plant & a Walmart gift card.

Did you know that our Hope & Minds Mental Health Ministry is focusing on the Mental Wellness for the month of January? As you transition into the new year, it may be beneficial to shift your focus inward after the rush of the holidays. January, recognized as Mental Wellness Month, provides an opportunity to consciously reflect, reassess, and recalibrate your mental health strategies. This event is not focused on survival or getting through the winter months but on proactively emphasizing mental health awareness and self-care. For further information, click here.

Did you know that God’s POD collected over 3 truckloads of supplies for our neighbors in Swannanoa? These supplies will go to western NC in the coming weeks. God’s POD will leave our parking lot on January 13. THANK YOU for your generosity.

Did you know that YOUR generosity completed 75% of the needed tool purchases to outfit the Western NC Conference Tool Trailer? Churches throughout our conference will use these tools as they schedule trips to western NC and repair homes devastated by Hurricane Helene. We are so grateful for your generosity. Send prayers with the tool trailer as it travels around western NC. It is scheduled to leave our property on January 13.