Outside the Box: Looking for the Light of Christ

Dear Fellow Ministers,

What a great day of worship we had on Sunday! If you missed, please know that you can always view our services here. We celebrate that we had our Bridge Builders group at “Mother Emmanuel” AME Church in Charleston, a retreat of our confirmands, Family Worship, four worship services (including Centro Cristiano Hosanna) and all of our regular happenings. And, we celebrated the baptism of Joshua Andrew Carter. God is at work in and through Matthews United Methodist Church!

We are continuing our worship series about God’s Resilient Love. This week we will be reading a very familiar passage from John 3:14-21 and consider how God loves us so much that he gives us a choice of being people who look for the Light of Christ or are bound by the darkness of the world. I hope you will pray through this text with me as God forms a sermon in us.

MUMC is blessed with amazing people and groups who help us be the best we can be. In my video this week, I share lots of upcoming events (Kid’s Spring Consignment Sale, Micah Connection Potluck, Campus Tour & more). I also share about our amazing Endowment Committee who has stewarded our Endowment to be over $1 million! Review the 2025 Annual Report to learn about the impact we’re making or check out the “Peace of Mind” Planning Guide for practical ways to help you prepare, protect those you love, and ensure that your wishes and values are known.

We are blessed to get to “do ministry” together! Thank you for the out of the box ways you seek to honor God. I hope you will consider inviting someone to worship with you this next Sunday (or sometime soon). We will have a gathering to “Explore Membership at MUMC” on Sunday, March 22 at 3 pm if you or someone you know might be interested in joining MUMC. Register here. I am honored to get to be in ministry with you in the Promised Land of Matthews UMC!

In Christ’s Service,
David

Did you know that some MUMC members participated in the Hunger Walk for Common Heart, one of our Global Impact partners? Common Heart’s goal is to eradicate food insecurity in our community.

Did you know that Bishop Carter invites all WNC congregations, especially clergy & lay leadership, to the Bishop’s Climate Summit: For Such a Time as This on April 18, 9am-4pm at Maple Springs UMC? All the info, including registration link, is here. Please note that this is also the date of our MUMC Leadership Connection.

Did you know that the United Youth Ministry with the help of our whole church community collected $2,020 and 470.8 lbs. of food for this year’s Souper Bowl of Caring? This nationwide effort raises awareness & funds for food insecurities. This year, the funds & non-perishable food items will be dispersed between Common Heart, COS Kids, Matthews Help Center, Turning Point, Ozanam Inn (in New Orleans, LA), and MUMC’s Micah Connection Food Drive. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful mission of United Youth!