Just These Lines Pastor Blog

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Three More Things You Might Want to Give Up for Lent

2nd Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say what a rich and meaningful First Sunday in Lent: spirits lifted, heart-felt prayers, great congregational singing, uplifting handbell music to begin worship, a lovely baptism for Ridge Curtis Mitchum (Mark, Amelia and Ruthie Mitchum), a Lenten Kyrie, a beautiful arrangement of The Lord’s Prayer by our children … and how about the new benediction for...
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Holiness is Hard Work

1st Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say that on Sunday we concluded our annual Global Impact Celebration. I never grow tired watching the people of God called Matthews United Methodist streaming forward to make Faith and Life commitments. The morning (9:30 and 11:00) was filled with toe-tappin music – watch the video here of...
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Mission or Mission?

Transfiguration Sunday | Global Impact 3 Just these lines, my friends … … to say that I still get overwhelmed when I reflect to 1986 when I first stepped on the soil of Matthews United Methodist Church as one of your pastors. I pinch myself every day that I get to be a part of a community to belong to,...
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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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We Need Community

5th Sunday after the Epiphany | Global Impact 1 Just these lines, my friends … … to say that I hope you had the opportunity to be with us in worship. What a splendid day: Handbells all morning, our Sanctuary Choir singing Ken Medema’s Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying, 11th grader Maggie Fraser singing at 9:30 and so much...
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Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant

4th Sunday after the Epiphany Just these lines, my friends … … to say that I wish we all could have been at the church on Friday evening (1/20) for our Community Wide Bingo Night. Over 170 people enjoyed an amazing Italian dinner together followed by Bingo, lots of laughter, dancing and some great prizes! A very special “thank you” to...
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The Fragrance of God’s Love

3rd Sunday after the Epiphany Just these lines, my friends … … to say that Sunday morning (1/15) at Matthews United Methodist (MUMC) was filled with awe and wonder. We had beautiful music with trombones and piano from Wes Broome, Steven Beaver, and Kathy White, powerful singing from John Woodall, Maggie Fraser and guest vocalist, Brett Axell. We heard Tomorrow...
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When Justice & Moderation Collide

2nd Sunday after the Epiphany Just these lines, my friends … … to say Sunday was a wonderful day. Thank you to Pastor Corey for her sermon on Sunday. It is one of the finest New Year sermons you’ll ever hear. If you missed her excellent message, you can view it here. During the 9:30 hour for the Homebuilder’s Sunday...
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God Makes All Things New

Baptism of the Lord Just these lines, my friends … …to say that we gathered for worship this Sunday in the Gym due to our broken water pipes in the Sanctuary.  Pastor Paul preached a memorable message about the Wise Men.  You can view it here. At the time of this writing, we are set to return to the Sanctuary...