Outside the Box with Pastor David Christy: Embody Christian Community

Dear Fellow Ministers,

Thank you for your dedication to Matthews United Methodist Church. Week after week you worship in person or online, you support the church prayerfully and financially, and you seek ways to make God more present in day-to-day living. We are in that season when we start “getting back into routine” (is there such a thing?!). Thank you for choosing to make your church a part of your routine. This week we will begin a new worship series on Christian Community in A Me, My, Mine World. We will look at several scriptures that help us understand just what the routine of Christian Community is: September 7 – Joshua 24:19-28; September 14 – Hebrews 10:19-25; September 21 – Acts 2:42-47; September 28 – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Please join us in praying through these passages as we dive deep in what Christian Community is.

Pam and I continue to marvel at the way you all share community and offer genuine hospitality. In so many ways you embody what Christian Community is, and we are thankful. You can experience that through our worship last week. You may also consider joining one of our many Small Groups, a Short-Term Study that is beginning soon, and/or one of our regular Sunday Morning Groups.

I will continue to share my thanks to your for your flexibility in this time we are out of the Sanctuary. It is exciting to see people “waving” to the back that you have a few seats left in your row and to see people fellowshipping before and after the services. ALL of this work is being done in order for our Church to go “beyond hospitality” and provide for all with disabilities in ways that express genuine Christian Community. Thank you! And thank you to Carol Goolsby (our Trustee/Building Team Servant Chair) and the amazing servant leaders who are taking their time and talent to shepherd this process. (See this week’s pictures and my video update for this week.)

Thank you for prayerfully preparing for worship. It makes a difference when we expect to meet God in our time together. As people settle back into routine, this is a great time to invite someone to any of our weekly worship opportunities: 8:15 am (The Commons); 9:30 am (Gym), 11 am (Gym); 12:30 pm (Centro Christiana Hosanna in the Gym); and 6 pm (Youth Worship in Gym). Thank you for being The Church! You are prayed for every single day… I look forward to being in ministry with you this week in “outside the box” ways!

In Christ’s Service,
David

Did you know that we delivered FIVE carloads of school supplies to Greenway Park Elementary? Your donations provided hundreds of glue sticks, No. 2 pencils, folders, crayons and markers. Headsets, dry erase boards and cleaning supplies were also donated. THANK YOU for helping students and teachers have the supplies they need. Team up this Saturday (Sept 6) from 9 AM – Noon to spruce up the courtyard, playground, hallways, classrooms, bulletin boards, and help assemble outdoor benches at GPE. Bring gloves, water bottle, rake, hoe and/or shovel. Register for Beautification Day

Did you know that Pastor Corey was featured in a special segment on WSOC-TV that marked 20 years since Hurricane Katrina? Watch to hear about her family losing their home and the impact that made on her life. We are grateful for Pastor Corey’s ministry to serve others. She has a deep and personal understanding that goes beyond what many of us can comprehend when we welcome the stranger and serve others in need.

Check out all that is happening at Matthews UMC by reading our weekly Celebration News!