On Winners & Losers

2^st Sunday after Pentecost
Just these lines, my friends …

… it was a wonderful day celebrating our graduates and having Pastor Corey put the Word in words for us. If you missed it, you could watch it here. In addition, Rev. Amy Coles (Special Assistant to our bishop, Ken Carter) gave an outstanding presentation in The Commons of clarity and hope about current things happening in our beloved United Methodist Church. You can watch her presentation here.

Starting July 16, I will begin a seven-week period (8 Sundays) of leave for rest and renewal. It will be a time away from the daily ministry of Matthews United Methodist, enabling me to return on September 6 with renewed clarity and energy for the long haul of ministry.

I’m profoundly grateful for Bishop Ken Carter and our Staff-Parish Relations Committee, who are providing me this opportunity. Such periods of renewal are a provision in our Book of Discipline, which encourages clergy to have several weeks of spiritual growth and renewal every 4 years. (Paragraph 351.2) Click here for a brief FAQ about my time away.

In the meantime, my absence should not mean yours from the church! You can support my time away by maintaining your connection with the exciting ministries, programs, and worship services we are planning. Music and Arts Camp, Rainbow Express Camp and Vacation Bible School are all just around the corner. United Youth has some wonderful upcoming mission opportunities. In worship, Pastors Paul, Corey and Jenny will be preaching and they will be joined by several preaching guests.

As always, if you are traveling & cannot attend in-person worship, be sure to join us on our YouTube Channel at youtube.com/matthewsumc every Sunday morning or on-demand throughout the week. Lots of wonderful ministry continues throughout the summer at MUMC, so please continue to uphold the work of the church through your gifts & prayers!

I wish you and yours a restful and re-energizing summer season. May this be a time of renewed connection with God and the church, all summer long.

Important Things on the Horizon

• A Prayer Gathering for Victims of Gun Violence – This Sunday, June 12 at 6 pm on the Town Green (in front of Matthews Town Hall), we will join together with other communities of faith for a time of prayer, reflection, and action that will honor all who have lost their lives due to gun violence.I’m blown away by what one long-time member of MUMC is doing in response to the Uvalde tragedy. For 21 consecutive days he is writing to 50+ of his family and friends, sending along a picture and brief bio on the deceased from Uvalde and then asking, “What do you see as you look into their eyes?” He then invites us to pray.On Saturday, he sent the picture of Eliahna Torres. Our church member wrote, “The weather in Uvalde today is going to be over 100 degrees. Maybe too hot for a softball game, but I bet Eliahna would have been there. Eliahna’s favorite number (#4) was the same as my daughter’s. Maybe Eliahna would have learned to play tennis too. I bet she could skip rocks across the river. When I look into her eyes I see confidence – and what a smile! Pray for her family and friends.”What our church member is doing is an amazing labor of love.I hope you can join us on Sunday at 6 pm, on the Town Green in front of Matthews Town Hall.
• Annual Conference 2022 – During the week of June 12 our connection of United Methodist churches in Western North Carolina will gather to do worshipful work at lovely Lake Junaluska (near Waynesville, NC). We have several persons from MUMC attending as delegates. Our church lay delegates: Philip Tate, Nancy Harris, Amy DeVore, Becky Yates, and Liz Mockler. Our church clergy delegates: Paul Craig, Corey Milliet, Roldan Flores Jenny Savage and Chuck Wilson. Our district lay delegates: Rick/Kathleen Benjamin, Fred/Carol Goolsby, Mike Horai, Hugo Hernandez, Laurie Little, Don/Deborah Morrison, James Ross, Allie Watterson, Eric White and Karen Wilson. 
• Juneteenth – Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest running African American holiday. And for the first time in the history of Matthews, NC, our new national holiday will be celebrated on the Town Green, on Monday, June 20 at 7 pm. We will be joining with other community groups in celebrating this important day of remembrance, recognition, and restoration. See flyer for details.

Wednesday Devotional

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch my devotional for the week: On Winners and Losers.

This Sunday in Worship

We invite you to join us 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). In addition, Family Worship will gather in the Gym at 9:30 (the 2nd Sunday of each month).

In our Spanish-speaking CCH community, Pastor Roldan is preaching from Matthew 7:7-12 and his sermon is titled: Be Careful With Your Motivation.

At Family Worship at 9:30 in the Gym, we will be getting everyone ready for the summer as we focus on Family Time and the opportunity to bring God into our words and actions throughout our fun summer days.  Songs, games, skits and activities will be based on the scripture from Deuteronomy 6: 5-7: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength.  These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds.”

Pastor Paul will be preaching this Sunday in all our morning services in the Sanctuary. His sermon is from Mark 4:35-41 and titled, Tigers in the Dark. Paul says, “We are not the only ones facing fear on a regular basis. So did Jesus. He continually confronted fear in the crowds following him asking, ‘Why are you so afraid?’ Let’s talk about it on Sunday.”

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

Faithfully yours,
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

Did you know that our Handy Man Ministry members (Joe Culpepper, Chuck DeLong & Fred Goolsby) installed 2 trellises in the courtyard this week?  Thank you for all the hard work getting them in. Our Campus Garden Committee, led by Brenda Murphy will put plants in later this year.  Keep a look out for what they come up with for this new beautiful addition to the courtyard.

Did you know that Melissa DeLong was recently welcomed to the Standout Class of 2022 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation? Congratulations Melissa!

Did you know Frank Hinson retired when he was 65? Upon retirement he decided he would drive a school bus for Mecklenburg County Schools and recently retired after 14 years of service. He has done so much for children and families during the years. Thank you, Frank, for remarkable actions of service and faithfulness you have given to our children!

Did you know that this past Saturday the Boy Scout Troop 39 held an Eagle Court of Honor to celebrate five Scouts who reached the rank of Eagle Scout? One of the Scouts became an Eagle Scout in December 2019 but had to postpone his Eagle Court of Honor due to the pandemic. On Saturday, he came back to be honored along with four of his friends. Pictured below from left to right are: Karl Staats (Eagle number 198), Caleb Budd (197), Evan Roberts (199), Lachlan Bailey (200), and Ian Williams (190). Congratulations!

Did you know that these MUMC members volunteered as reading buddies for Greenway Park Elementary, a Global Impact Ministry partner, this spring? Their smiling faces show how much fun they brought to the classroom as they read with their buddy!! If you want to be a reading buddy this fall, please contact Tina Fincher (704-904-4446 or tinafincher1@yahoo.com) for details.

Did you know that Global Impact and the MUMC Handyman Ministry repaired and painted the storage shed at Matthews Help Center? Thanks to the fantastic group of volunteers for completing this project!