Kids & Youth Kickoff Recap

13^th Sunday after Pentecost
Just these lines, my friends …

We are looking forward to having Pastor Chuck return from his time of rest & renewal (read FAQ) on Tuesday, September 6. Be sure to join in worship every Sunday morning in person, live online when you are traveling, or throughout the week on our youtube.com/matthewsumc channel.

Ministry Made Possible by Your Giving, Serving & Loving!

This past weekend our Age-Level Ministry Team and volunteers welcomed hundreds of kids, teens, and families from MUMC and our community for some back-to-school fun. On Saturday, August 27, United Kids sponsored an amazing Back 2 School Carnival for over 250 people, including 20 new families, complete with inflatables, games, prizes, cookout dinner, and tons of excitement. Then Sunday, August 28, United Youth Ministries sponsored the Teen-A-Palooza where 100 youth from MUMC and friends enjoyed cotton candy and sno-cones, games, obstacle courses, water slides, foam pits, and so much more. Our teens wrapped up the evening at sunset with an incredible time of outdoor praise and worship.

A huge thank you to our adult and teen volunteers who came out to support these events. Our Age-Level Team couldn’t have done it without each volunteer. It’s going to be a great fall at MUMC, and United Kids and Teens can’t wait to see everyone in a Sunday Morning Small Group, at Sunday Night Youth, or an upcoming family/community event.

Upcoming Opportunities

• Meet the Pastors New Member Class – Sunday, September 11, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
• ONE Combined Worship Service on September 18 at 10:30 to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. Prepare in advance by listening to these Hymns: Cantemos al Senor (Let’s Sing Unto the Lord) & Tu Has Venido a la Orilla (Lord You Have Come to the Lakeshore)
• MUMC Golf Outing: Driving for a Better Community – Thursday, September 22
• Arts & Crafts Extravaganza – Saturday, November 19, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Our Path Forward Session this past Sunday

If you missed the Our Path Forward Session this past Sunday in the Commons, you may view the recording here, view the Power Point presentation here and the handouts here. You may also view the updated MUMC FAQs here. If you have questions or would like additional information, please call the Church Office.

Featured Videos from the Devotional Archives

While Pastor Chuck is away, members of our staff are selecting video devotions from our archives to feature here. Watch this devotion titled, Govan Brown, about finding encouragement and connection in the most uncommon places.

Back to School Blessings

We hope that all students and educators had a great first week of school! Here’s a blessing you can continue to pray throughout the school year:

Let’s join in prayer for Back to School Blessings. O Holy God, the time has come for school to begin. As these your beloved children begin their studies, we ask a blessing on their backpacks in which they carry the books and notebooks, markers and pens and pencils they will use to learn.O Lord of Life and Love, hear our prayer. Bless, O God, all who will teach and educate your children in the coming days and weeks and months. Give them the wisdom to find inspiration for each child. Give them the energy and creativity and love that will make their work a blessing to each person. O Lord of Life and Love, hear our prayer. Bless, O God, all school administrators that they may be faithful stewards of the resources entrusted to their care. Make them fair and merciful, able to do their crucial work with a spirit of grace and compassion. O Lord of Life and Love, hear our prayer. Bless, O God, each one gathered here that we will seek every opportunity to grow in our knowledge and love of you – in our Age-Level Sunday Morning Groups, our United Kids & Youth experiences, all our Bible Studies, and of course our discovery of Holy Scripture in worship . Grant that we may see you more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly. O Lord of Life and Love, hear our prayer. And bless, O God, these our cherished children and teens, those whom we have promised to love and nurture at their baptisms. Keep them safe, keep them excited, keep them ever seeking to learn more and to develop their gifts. Grant that through their study, they may gain the tools to grow in love and faith and service, all their days. O Lord of Life and Love, hear our prayer. Bless, O God, these backpacks, lunch boxes, briefcases, and tote bags and all the children, teens, and adults who carry them. O Lord of Life and Love, hear our prayer. Amen.

This Sunday in Worship

We invite you to join this Sunday in person or online at 8:15 am (traditional – in person only), 9:30 am (contemporary), 11:00 am (traditional) or 12:30 (Spanish – in person only).

Rev. Dan Pezet (District Superintendent of the Metro District of The United Methodist Church) will be preaching in our morning worship services in the Sanctuary. Rev. Pezet’s sermon is titled Changing Focus from Acts 3:1-13a.

In our Spanish-speaking CCH community, Pastor Roldan’s message is titled: What Road Are You On? from John 14:1-11.

Be sure to stop by The Commons for WillBeans Coffee & Fellowship with Friends from 9-11 am on Sundays. Rainbow Express Ministries, a Global Impact Partner, is serving Rainbow Roast Coffee (by donation) specially made by local roaster, Magnolia Coffee.

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

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Did you that CCH (Centro Cristiano Hosanna) baptized 3 new members last week at Cane Creek Park? They will receive a total of 5 new members in worship this coming Sunday!

Did you know that Pastor Roldan & his wife, Lisbey, are fostering an 8-year-old boy named Mason Brooks? Please help us welcome Mason to our church community when you see him around our campus.  Congratulations, Pastor Roldan & Lisbey!

Did you know that Servants Heart (United Women in Faith) Circle had 12 ladies pack over 70 backpacks at the Matthews Help Center on August 13? They also donated 14 bags of school supplies.

Did you know that Global Impact provided 200 lbs of beef to Charlotte Rescue Mission? Dove’s Nest (women’s program) and Rebound (men’s program) provide housing and food for their clients. Your Global Impact giving puts food on many tables!

Did you know that the Parousia Class served lunch to The Males Place on Saturday and MUMC volunteers helped construct a shed for their garden? The shed kit was purchased by Global Impact dollars. Thank you for helping The Males Place have a shed to store tools and supplies.

Did you know that Jennie Hopper, therapist and wife of Brad Hopper, spoke on the concept of “empathy” at the mental health education series Tuesday evening, August 23rd? Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s thoughts and feelings in a situation from their own point of view, rather than your own. On September 27th at 7:00 pm in Room 158, Janet Dagenhart will explore the “addicted” brain as it relates to a variety of addictions.

Did you know that the Matthews Gives Back event hosted by the Matthews Police Department provided supplies to 250 students from 52 local households? Our Matthews UMC community was recognized as an invaluable partner to help pull off another successful community cookout and school supply giveaway to help kickstart the year for our local students. Thank you for all your donations and for those who shared their time to make this event possible! Enjoy these photos shared by Matthews HELP Center from the event.