Life Lessons from March Madness

4th Sunday in Lent
Just these lines, my friends …

… to say that this past Sunday was the day I shared my plans to retire (in 99 days) as your Senior Pastor after my 47 years of service as a United Methodist pastor. Oh my, what a ride! You can participate in worship, where I made my announcement after the sermon, by clicking here. (Read complete announcement.) I will conclude my ministry with MUMC on June 30.

My final Sunday to be with you in worship and to preach will be Sunday, June 8 in all three morning Sanctuary services. Karen and I will then be taking some days of vacation, attending the Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church in Western North Carolina at lovely Lake Junaluska, and then finally tidying up a bit around the office.

I also hinted on Sunday about the two persons that are coming as your next Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor. They are extraordinary … and you will hear their announcement in worship on Sunday, April 27, the day all pastoral appointment changes will be announced across The United Methodist Church in Western North Carolina. Then, the next night at our All-Church Gathering in the Sanctuary, these two new pastors to MUMC will be interviewed by our Lay Leader, Katrina Larrison. Moreover, their first Sunday to lead you in worship will be July 13.

John Wesley, the founder of our Methodist Movement once wrote the following words to a pastor at the end of a rather long ministry: “Be of good cheer! He who took care of the sheep before you were born will not forget them when you are gone.” I am absolutely convinced of the truth of that reality. The God who has guided us so faithfully through the years, will continue to be with us as we journey those sacred paths in the future. Just having this assurance gives me a great joy. What a privilege it has been for me to be your pastor.

One last thing today. Last week I mentioned our Pastor’s Discretionary Fund & Pastor’s Benevolence Fund. If you are able, might you consider a financial gift to these important funds for the church? These funds support a number of vital pieces to our ministry that are often unplanned but require action. Both of these funds have become ominously low in the past few weeks.

• The Pastor’s Benevolence Fund gives the Pastoral Staff discretion and authority to provide confidential financial support to persons in our church community who are in need, and may include food, medicine, or assistance with bills.
• The Pastor’s Discretionary Fund is under the direction of the Senior Pastor and utilized at his discretion for items that are not within the Operating Budget. This Fund is reviewed by the Finance Committee each month.

You can contribute to these funds here by choosing “Other” and typing “Pastor’s Benevolence Fund” or “Pastor’s Discretionary Fund” in the memo box.

 

Video Devotional

It is the biggest tournament in the world. It is basketball heaven. Sixty-four teams with 4 teams having to play their way in by playing in a mini-tournament before it all begins. It is the NCAA college basketball tournament, and it begins every March and culminates on the first weekend in April. And I love it. I think there are life lessons from it all. Please click HERE for some Life Lessons from March Madness.

• Jerusalem Marketplace – Sunday, April 13, 9 am – 12 pm in the Gym.
• Community Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday, April 19, 6-8 pm
• Maundy Thursday Worship – The Last Supper Service led by Rainbow Express Ministries – Thursday, April 17, 7 pm in the Sanctuary
• Good Friday Tenebrae Service of Shadows with Special Music Presentation – Friday, April 18, 7 pm in the Sanctuary

Be sure to review all of our Lenten & Easter happenings here!

 

Other Upcoming Events

• Meet the Pastors: Membership Interest Gathering – Sunday, March 30 in the Sanctuary Reception Area.
• 5th Sunday Fellowship – March 30. 12:15. Bring a dish to share & view American Coup: Wilmington 1898.
• Family Worship – Special date! Sunday, April 6 (moved from April 13), 9:30 am in The Gym.
• Wear BLUE on Sunday, April 6 to support our Global Impact Missions Partner Brave Step in their Color It Blue Movement to encourage survivors, loved ones, allies and the community to embody their advocacy and initiate new conversations about the pervasive issue of sexual assault.
• Leadership Information Session – Tuesday, April 8, 7 pm in Room 97/99 or Zoom.

 

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 12:30 (Spanish – in person or here on demand).

This Sunday in our Spanish-speaking service (CCH), Pastor Roldan will be preaching from Matthew 14:25-33, and his sermon title is A Palpable Help.

This Sunday, we continue into week four of our Lenten worship series, Shaping the Virtuous Heart: Restoring Our Communities and Redeeming Our Souls. My sermon is on the ancient virtue of prudence and is titled A Beautiful Life from Proverbs 3:13-18.

On Sunday we’ll also hear from our two Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship recipients from the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church (MMMBC) here in Matthews. For a number of years now we’ve been supporting young people out of MMMBC and the Crestdale Community. We always love to hear from them as well. So, this Sunday, be in your place to learn, love and support.

By the way, have you invited someone to Matthews United Methodist this holy season? It is what we do. Perhaps you are waiting for Easter, but this Sunday will be a wonderful day to introduce people to your church, to wonderful young people sharing their faith, to marvelous music and so much. Most of all, you will be sharing with them about a community of faith that seeks with every fiber of our being to make the love of God real.

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

Shaping the Virtuous Heart.
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

 

Did you know that Shannon Remley, our Music & Worship Arts Administrative Assistant, is stepping down from her position to focus on Kids in America, the band she has been performing with? Shannon will continue to sing with the Praise Team & Sanctuary Choir when she is available. We are so grateful for the many contributions to the staff team, worship services, and MUMC. Eon Malan, our Organist, will take on the Admin duties and will begin his full-time position as Organist/Administrative Assistant on April 1.

Did you know that several folks in our church are involved in the Walk To Emmaus, a 72-hour spiritual retreat? Larry Curtis, Chris Oldham and Clark Holmes will be on the Men’s Walk March 27-30, and Jenny Ward will be on the Women’s Walk April 3-6. If you are interested in participating in a future Walk to Emmaus, reach out to one of our pastors.

Did you know that Stanna Treadwell has written a book titled Life With A Cop: A Guide for Anyone Who Spends Time with a Cop? You can purchase it on Amazon here.

Did you know that 58 people participated in Coffee & Dessert with Kathy Izard, author of Trust the Whisper? Global Impact sponsored this event where we listened, learned, purchased books and enjoyed dessert!

Did you know that the work at the mobile home park in Swannanoa is almost complete? Friends are returning to 28 newly-repaired mobile homes and they can now park their cars in carports that were previously used as storage areas for supplies. Six months of waiting and praying. . . Praise God! We delivered crosses made by United Kids and Prayer Beads made by MUMC kids, youth and adults. THANK YOU!