Then and Now

3rd Sunday after the Epiphany
Just these lines …

… to say that this coming Sunday is our final time to say goodbye to a church treasure, Paul Craig. Oh my! Nearly 20 years of faithful service with Matthews United Methodist (MUMC) and over 30 years of service as a United Methodist pastor. Well done, good and faithful servant. Please consider making a going away financial gift to him, showing up for his final time of preaching, and participating in his going away celebration (all the details are below). Indeed, he is a church treasure.

Last Sunday’s sermon was Part 1 on a question I’ve been wresting, “Is a same sex marriage a Christian marriage?” I concluded with the words, “Yes, it can be.” This past Sunday in Part 2, I shared how I came to that conclusion. If you missed it, you can worship with us and listen to my sermon by clicking here. In addition, you don’t want to miss the moment when Pastor Paul got his second special retirement gift. It will keep you laughing. You can click here to see the gift.

Our Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend was full. It began on Sunday afternoon with a peaceful march from the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church to the steps of our Town Hall where our hearts were filled with inspiration and challenge. Our Mayor (John Higdon), Town Commissioner (Ken McCool), college freshman Shiya Walthall from Abundant Life Church and Rev. Larry Whitley reminded us of the amazing legacy of Dr. King. Then the Monday Commemorative Worship Service at Mt. Moriah was full of moving music, the witness of two King Scholarship winners (Mehki Hosin & Melanie Johnson), powerful preaching from Rev. Alvin Denson, and so much more. It was great to see so many of our MUMC folks participating.

Heavy on my heart is my concern about the actions of mass deportation that are underway. I’m a Rule of Law person, but mass deportation is not the way to solve this crisis. These are persons created in the image of God and they are US, church members, volunteers in our ministries, and so much more. We like to think this is far removed, but it is US, the MUMC family and a moment when we live into our baptismal promises, of “a church that Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations and races.”

This past week, The General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church distributed a statement calling for a bold witness to stand against mass deportation policies influenced by misinformation, hate, fear and harm.

You can read more about the statement on the Church and Society webpage here. If you would like to get involved in our Justice Ministry at MUMC, The Micah Connection, contact Amy DeVore.

Video Devotional

I get chain letters and group emails in my inbox all the time, lamenting what society has become. Maybe it’s my age, or simply my spam. Maybe everybody gets these Then and Now emails. They seem to resonate with a lot of people. Watch my devotional here.

Upcoming Events

• Community Bingo Night – This Friday, January 24, 5:30 – 7:30 in the Gym. Registration closes today! Details
• Pastor Paul’s Retirement Celebration – This Sunday, January 26, 12:00 noon. See below for details.
• MAGI Spiritual Gifts Workshop – Saturday, February 8, 8:30-12:00. Details
• Souper Bowl of Caring – Sunday, February 9, Details
• Emergency Response Training (ERT) – Saturday, February 15, 9:00-4:00 at MUMC. Open to all ages 16 & up (16 & 17 year olds should be accompanied by parent). Register here soon, as this opens up to the Western NC Conference on January 20! Limited to 40 individuals.
• Community Forum for Racial Bridge-Building – Tuesday, February 18, 7 pm at MUMC, Details
• Parents Night Out – Friday, February 21, Details
• Join one of our small groups or studies, including Strolling With the Spirit, Trust the Whisper, The Prayer Course, I Want to Trust You & Knowing Who We Are. Details

Pastor Paul’s Retirement

This Sunday, January 26 will be Paul Craig’s last Sunday to be with us. He will be preaching in all three of our morning worship hours that morning. Please plan to help honor him at a County Fair-themed reception beginning at 12 noon in The Commons. Bring cards/notes of thanks & gratitude for Pastor Paul and place them in the designated baskets. If you would like to contribute to a love offering for Pastor Paul, you can do so with a gift to him directly (non-taxable for Pastor Paul) or you can mail a check (taxable for Pastor Paul) to MUMC with “Love Gift – Pastor Paul” marked in the memo line. You can also make your gift online. If you are unable to attend and wish to send a card or love offering, please do so no later than January 23 to: Pastor Paul Craig, Matthews UMC, 801 S. Trade Street, Matthews, NC 28105.

We have a few volunteer spots open to help at the reception. If you’d like to help, sign up here.

This Sunday in Worship

We invite you this Sunday to join us 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).

In our Spanish-speaking CCH community, Pastor Roldan will continue the worship series, Moving Forward. He will be preaching from Philippians 3:12-16, and his sermon title is Something to Think About.

This Sunday morning, Pastor Paul preaches his final sermon among us, A Way to Say Goodbye from John 13:33-35 (The Message). Pastor Paul writes, “Before Jesus offers a final goodbye and leaves his disciples after the Passover meal, he gave them a new commandment. They were to love one another. Just as Jesus said goodbye to his dearest friends, we all must say goodbye in many ways over the course of a lifetime. After serving among you for 19+ years, I realize that retirement is a very different way of saying goodbye. It means saying goodbye to friendships and community and a sense of self that are all wrapped up in a community we love. Today, I am saying thank you and goodbye to what we have been together and all that it means to me and my family.”

I hope you’ll invite a friend to come and hear this prince of a man (Paul Craig) with a remarkable pastor’s heart. Who knows, maybe your friend will find a connection in our community of faith.

Also, on Sunday at the 11:00 hour, we will be celebrating Scout Sunday. Join us as we welcome BSA Scouts from Troops 39 and 139, Cub Scouts from Pack 214, Brownie Scouts from Troop 644, and Girl Scouts from Troops 1796 and 3102, as well as many Scout leaders and family members. Scouting programs have such a positive impact on youth, families, and the community, and we have been blessed with many strong programs here at MUMC! This Sunday, Scouts will help to lead the worship service in a variety of roles, and we’ll get the chance to recognize some of their remarkable achievements over the past year.

And now, as always, during these strange, uncertain, and yet hope-filled days.

Remember … God does God’s best work in moments like this.

Better … together,
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

Did you know that our United Women in Faith were able to raise and distribute $15,673 for scholarships, MUMC summer camps, mission contributions and so much more in our community and beyond in 2024? Thank you to our United Women in Faith.

Did you know that Pastor Corey preached at Pineville UMC’s services on Sunday, January 19 as the guest preacher for their United Women in Faith Sunday? Her message was titled “The Power of One.”