Trust Fall

2nd Sunday in Lent
Just these lines …

… to say thank you to Rev. Linda Kelly for stepping into leadership while I was away for a few days with Karen. If you will, please take the time to watch/listen to Pastor Linda’s sermon, the first sermon in our Lenten worship series, Shaping the Virtuous Life. Her sermon was on Courage. You can do so by clicking here.

On Ash Wednesday, Rev. Dr. Joshua Noblitt shared a wonderful message with us at our service that evening. If you missed it, you can worship here.

As mentioned above, Karen and I have been away with dear friends Tommy and Laurie Little visiting our son, Chase, in Phoenix, AZ. We enjoyed some sunshine, wonderful meals, pickleball, a lot of laughing with our son, a little golf, and three Los Angeles Dodger Spring Training baseball games. Thank you, MUMC, for space for rest, relaxation and recreation. So special!

I have been reflecting a great deal on Lent, though. Last year, I gave up sweet tea for Lent. It went about as you would expect; I found myself longing for Easter resurrection many times. This year, I’ve decided on a different approach. It doesn’t involve giving up something as it does focusing on something. It is captured in a word that I’m claiming as a guide over the next forty days: Savor. I’m going to focus as much attention as I can on savoring every aspect of being alive.

• Savoring each conversation.
• Savoring each bite.
• Savoring each breath.
• Savoring each punchline.
• Savoring each sunset.
• Savoring each beautiful day.
• Savoring each ugly day.
• Savoring every sensation of being alive.

Other traditions might call this mindfulness. It is a focus on the present that counters grief (which pulls us into the past) and fear (which pulls us into the future). Savoring is a spiritual companion to gratitude, since one cannot be thankful without pausing, and pausing is an invitation to savoring. In a way, I guess I am giving up something for Lent after all.

• Giving up hurriedness.
• Giving up envy.
• Giving up shame.
• Giving up boredom.
• Giving up excess.
• Giving up selfishness.
• Giving up distractions.
• Giving up life as usual, to gain life as God intends.

I’ll let you know how it goes. And yes, I’ll be savoring every sip of my sweet tea.

Video Devotional

While attending a retreat, the facilitator wanted us to experience in our bodies a sensation of surrender. So, he paired us up and invited us to do a trust fall. In case you’re unfamiliar, a trust fall is where one person plants his heels and falls backward and blindly into the waiting hands of another. Let me tell you all about it in my devotional for this week, titled Trust Fall.

Upcoming Events

• Be sure to review all of our Lenten & Easter happenings here!
• Butterfly Project – Order caterpillars & habitats and care for your butterfly to be released on Easter Sunday. Order here by March 23 and pick up in The Commons on March 30 between 9 am -12:15 pm.
• Enjoy Dessert & Conversation with Kathy Izard, Trust the Whisper author on Wednesday, March 19 in The Commons.
• Women’s Empowerment Brunch with Guest Speaker Kristin Mockler Young – Saturday, March 29, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm. Register by Sunday, March 23.
• 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.
• 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 Acts 2:38-42, and his sermon title is An Effective and Productive Word.

This Sunday, I will take us into week two of our worship series, Shaping the Virtuous Heart: Restoring Our Communities and Redeeming Our Souls. My sermon is on the most ancient of virtues, temperance, and is titled Dousing the Flames from I Corinthians 9:19-23. We’ll talk about Ben Franklin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Seth Godin, and the Apostle Paul’s strange conflicts of his day. Also, we’ll ask ourselves, “Does temperance have any chance for a comeback in today’s world?” (Just a note that the New HVAC install is in progress in the Administrative & Sanctuary spaces, and partial heat is available through April 6. Please dress warmly or in layers. Thank you for your patience.)

I hope you will consider inviting someone in your world who may be interested in connecting with some of our Matthews United Methodist Lenten traditions. I would imagine we’ll be the only church around these parts with a donkey on Palm Sunday walking our aisles and hundreds of butterflies on Easter fluttering over the church.

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 Will Thames will be playing the organ on Saturday, March 29 of opening weekend for the Charlotte Knights? He will play during the gate admissions, during breaks of the game, and Take Me Out to the Ballgame for the 7th inning stretch. Will was featured in an article in The Charlotte Ledger last week, which you can read here. Shared with permission of The Ledger.

 

Did you know that a group came together Sunday to craft prayer beads for the people of Western NC? They took their time crafting the beads, adding a prayer with directions of how to use the them, then packed them in cute little bags to be delivered to the mountains. Also, the children at Family Worship crafted larger wooden prayer beads for the children in WNC, so both adults and children will receive their own set lovingly made by people of MUMC. Thanks to all who came out to share their talents!

Did you know that 300 teens played on our Youth Ministry Basketball League and that only one team was from MUMC? Our team of girls, led by Amanda Marcell and Ned Drulard, had a great time playing together while representing the Church!

Did you know that United Kids had the opportunity to learn and grow their understanding of Lent during our “Journey to the Cross” morning? The program included a special focus on acts of service where the kids worked on Snack Bags for the Salvation Army Youth program, Birthday gift bags and Birthday Cake kits for Bright Blessings, wooden prayer crosses for Families in Western Carolina and placemats for the Nourish Up program of Charlotte. What a great way to begin our season of reflection.

Did you know that the grand piano in the Sanctuary Reception Area is for sale? The donors have given permission to sell this instrument to go towards the music ministry of MUMC. The money will be divided between the general music ministry budget and the children’s music ministry to help sponsor any child(ren) who might need scholarships for this summer’s Music & Arts Camp. The piano is 24 years old and in good condition. According to our piano appraiser, this Young Chang Grand Piano PG-185 6’1″ c2001 is on a Jansen Grand Piano Dolly worth $1,200. The price of a new Young Chang 6’1″ piano model YC-186C is $16,995. The standard depreciation price is $6,798. The asking price of the piano, including the dolly, is $8,000 or best offer. Contact Craig Estep at 704-815-1907.