Joy Bringers

3rd Sunday of Advent
Just these lines, my friends …

… to say that Sunday began our 2nd week of Advent: we learned of Pastor Paul’s new granddaughter; we lit the Advent Candle of Peace; and we learned of one of the Christmas characters, Simeon. He had waited weeks, months, possibly years on the Temple steps to see the baby, the one that would be the Messiah, and when he came, he was prepared.

For so many though, when Jesus did come, he didn’t fit their picture. The prophet Isaiah tried to prepare us by writing, “He had no form of majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him … a man of sorrows and we held him of no account.” (Isaiah 53:2-3)

Kate Bowler reminded me last week in her podcast of those jaw-dropping images coming in from the James Webb Space Telescope. They are photos of deep space, and they are wild and surreal. Pillars of gas and dust, clouds of yellows and oranges and blues. It’s all the mystery and dazzling beauty of the universe. And when you look at them, you get the immediate sense that there is so much out there. But it’s not here yet.

Advent is a promise of something incredible coming our way, just like those distant galaxies slowly making their light known to us. It is the season about that lovely, quiet, stubborn hope that even in the middle of whatever is going on your life right now: loneliness or frustration or stress or feeling like there are cracks in the universe, that something beautiful is still on its way.

Come, Lord Jesus, Come.

If you missed being with us on Sunday, you can click here to worship.

Video Devotional

Over the years, I’ve both needed and been gifted with remarkable people who have brought joy to my life. These are the people who have encouraged me not to take myself so darn seriously and have helped me learn to find and to practice joy, even in the difficult times.

I hope you’ll take a listen to my devotional titled, “Joy Bringers” where we will learn of the liturgical tradition of the church, the 3rd Sunday in Advent (this year on December 15) and how it is called Gaudate (Gow-u-det-te) the Latin imperative command, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

Transitions

I’m so pleased to announce that on Wednesday, December 4, Bishop Ken Carter appointed Rev. Linda Kelly to be our intentional Interim Executive Pastor beginning Monday, February 3, 2025 through June 30, 2025. Linda, one of our former pastors, has been retired since 2020. Prior to her retirement, she served as pastor of First UMC in Lenoir, Weaverville UMC, Bradley Memorial UMC and as associate pastor of Matthews UMC and St. Stephen UMC in Charlotte. Linda was also the pastor of Trinity UMC in Gastonia, Asbury UMC in Huntersville and associate at Central UMC in Shelby after transferring from the North Carolina Conference where she had her first pastoral appointment as the associate pastor of Centenary UMC in New Bern. She completed her undergraduate degree at Wake Forest University and earned a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology from Duke Divinity School. Since her retirement, she has been living at the beach, spending time with her daughter, Kasey, and other family members and friends.

Rev. Kelly shares the following with us: “My response to Chuck asking me if I would consider being a 5-month intentional interim associate, after the retirement of my dear friend and beloved pastor, Paul Craig: Are you serious?! What an unexpected ministry opportunity to take a brief pause from my retirement life at Sunset Beach and return to serve among the giving and loving Body of Christ at MUMC after 20 plus years away serving a few other places. God continues to surprise me with new ministry opportunities. I am grateful for this gift of returning to live, love, and serve with you, as we seek to know and follow Jesus.”

I couldn’t be more thrilled with Rev. Linda Kelly saying “yes” to stepping out of retirement and coming to share life with us for a few months.

Update on General Fund Giving for 2024

Please take a moment to consider a gift to help us achieve our Year-End Goal. To meet our tithing budget for Fiscal Year 2024, we need $344,400 between now and December 31. It has been a wonderful year in countless ways, and we need this push to finish the year on an even higher note. You can click here to make a gift now.

Upcoming Events

• Jingle Jam Family Worship – THIS Sunday, Dec. 15, 9:30 am in the Gym. Details
• The Light of Christmas Concert – Sunday, Dec. 15, 7:00 pm. Our Sanctuary Choir & Orchestra present an awe-inspiring musical celebration. Details
• Carols After Work – Drop in on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, December 18 – 20 between 5:30-6:15 pm in the Sanctuary to celebrate the season with song.
• Nativity Services – Sunday, December 22. Register your kids or grandkids (by midnight tonight) so they can participate!
• Christmas Eve Services
  • United Kids Multi-Generational Family Worship 1:00 pm (50-minute service followed by Nativity with live animals), 2:30 & 4:30 pm Candlelight Services with Communion
  • Contemporary Candlelight Worship with Communion at 6:00 pm
  • Traditional Candlelight Worship with Communion at 9:00 & 11:00 pm (followed by Midnight Nativity with live animals)
• ONE Combined Worship Service – Sunday, December 29 at 9:30 am. Details
• View details for all the Christmas happenings at MUMC

This Sunday in Worship

We invite you this Sunday to join us in person at 8:15 (Traditional), 9:30 (Jingle Jam Family Worship in the Gym), 9:30 (Contemporary) 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 (Centro Cristiano Hosanna) community, Sunday brings the continuation of the Advent series, Closer Than We Think from Job 19:17-27. Pastor Roldan’s sermon title is, Let’s Keep Our Passion.

All are invited to our special Jingle Jam Family Worship service at 9:30 am in the Gym as we share in an action-packed Christmas celebration for the whole family. Music, Games, skits and activities will help remind us what this season is truly about as we celebrate Jesus — God’s greatest gift. Plan to stay following the service, for refreshments and a special Christmas ornament craft for the family.

This Sunday is the third week of Advent and we light the Candle of Joy. We continue our worship series, A Baby Changes Everything. My sermon for the third Sunday of Advent is titled Astonished as we listen to the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah from Luke 1 beginning with v. 5. Our scripture lesson for Sunday is filled with good news for anyone who may find themselves sitting in darkness.

Is there someone you know who may be sitting in darkness … someone who may have never experienced Advent in a church, or maybe it has been a long time since they gave church a try? You never know, this Sunday at MUMC, may open a whole new world for them.

And now, as always, during these strange, uncertain, and hopeful days, remember … God does God’s best work in moments like this.

A Baby Changes Everything.
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

 

Did you know that Matthews UMC is working with our Western NC Conference Disaster Ministries who has teamed up with Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), a nonprofit rebuilding in Swannanoa’s Alan Campos neighborhood? On Saturday, eight volunteers from CCH and MUMC joined 84 other volunteers to help rebuild as subfloors, drywall and roofing was installed in trailer homes that were severely damaged by Hurricane Helene. (Learn about ERT training.) Global Impact was also able to deliver a load of supplies from our God’s POD (Open Mondays 1-3 pm thru Jan 6 for New Items on List) to support the families impacted.

Did you know that the Tool Collection is underway for the WNCC Rebuild Trailer parked in our back lot until December 31? It will be shared among churches in our Conference as we rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Helene. Please consider donating from the NEW Tools Wishlist. (Simply select your items and choose “Amy DeVore/Registry Address,” and the tools will ship directly to MUMC.)

Did you know that The Micah Connection Creation Care Ministry team shares monthly tips on how to love and care for the Earth? Visit https://matthewsumc.org/groups/micah-connection to view excellent tips for this holiday season.

Did you know that Matthews United Methodist published our annual social media ads to invite the greater community to Christmas Eve worship? Share our video post or Facebook event with your friends! (If you don’t have a Facebook account, you can still view by closing out the login screen.)

Did you know that the Melody Makers Community Choir, led by Craig Estep and Kathy White, is now represented by 21 churches in our area? Over 500 people experienced this seasonal concert in the Sanctuary on Tuesday, December 10. Watch Here!

Did you know that our Hope & Minds Mental Health Ministry is focusing on the Holiday Season and providing a link to resources for the month of December? For many people, the holidays conjure up a Norman Rockwell-esque mental picture of people gathered to enjoy food, friends, and family, accompanied by feelings of love, warmth, and excitement. But for others, the holidays can cause them to feel anxious or depressed despite all the decorations and festivities. We hope these resources will help during this season.