Ukraine, God & Suffering

Palm Sunday
Just these lines, my friends …

… to say that it has been a big week around the church: Sam Hatcher and his bees at Seasoned to Perfection (STP), forty-three on Saturday at the Methodist Men Breakfast, Charlie’s Heart Carnival at Stumptown Park, a great turnout for the Congregational Rainbow Photo with Inclusive Grace (below), a lovely Muslim couple at Grace Exchange, Home2Home moving nearly a hundred pieces of furniture, four vibrant worship services on Sunday (you can watch here), preparations for Palm Sunday and Holy Week, and eight new households joining us in making God’s love real in and through Matthews United Methodist (photos below): Brad/Pam Barnes (Blane and Kalea), Pat May, Cameron/Rich Logar (Carson, Reid, Hadley), Amelia/Mark Mitchum (Ruthie), Bette McQueary, Charlie/Sue Sisson, Millie/Johnny Greene, Sylvia Moras/Bobby Meachum (Lyla). Please join me in celebrating these our newest disciples on the Way of Jesus.

I used to play a game with my kids. Each night as I was putting them to bed, I would say, “How much do mom and dad love you?” Then I would say, “Not this much. Not this much. Not this much. But this much.” All the while I was moving my hands further apart until they were completely outstretched. On the cross, Jesus Christ stretched out his arms, and hanging there in flesh and blood, he said, “Not this much. Not this much. Not this much, but this much.”

That’s the message of Holy Week. On Palm Sunday, Jesus rides into the center of the conflict of his days, the injustice, the hatred, and says, “I love you. Not this much. Not this much. Not this much, but this much.” He breaks bread and lifts the cup and says, “I love you. Not this much. Not this much. Not this much, but this much.” Finally, Jesus offers up his life on the cross to say, “I love you. Not this much. Not this much. Not this much, but this much.” It’s a week I wouldn’t miss for all the world.

• MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE – April 14 7:00 pm in Sanctuary
• GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE – April 15 7:00 pm in Sanctuary
  Choir & Orchestra presents Theodore DuBois’ Seven Last Works of Christ
• EASTER SERVICES April 17:
  6:45 am Sunrise Service (bring lawn chair)
  8:15 & 11:00 am Traditional Service
  9:30 am Contemporary Service
  9:30 Kids & Family Easter Jam in Gym
  10:30 Butterfly Release in Courtyard
  12:30 pm Servicio En Espanol

If you’re reading this on Wednesday, please join us tonight (April 6) at 7:30 pm in front of our Matthews Town Hall for an interfaith prayer service regarding the suffering people of Ukraine.

Coming Together, Following Jesus, Changing Lives

Wednesday Devotional

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch my devotional for the week, “Ukraine, God & Suffering.” Perhaps you’ll even have an opportunity to watch before many of us gathering in front of our Matthews Town Hall to share in an interfaith Prayer Vigil for Ukraine.

Our Path Forward: The United Methodist Church General Conference Postponement

If you missed our time together this past Monday evening (April 4), you can watch the recording here & view the handout packet here. I think you’ll find it helpful and hopeful about The United Methodist Church and Matthews United Methodist Church.  For more info, feel free to look review the information on our webpage. If you have any questions, please contact the Church Office at 704-847-6261.

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 our Spanish-speaking CCH community, Pastor Roldan will be preparing the community for Holy Week. On Palm Sunday he is preaching from Mark 11:1-10 and his sermon title: Let’s Stay Where We Should Be.

In our morning services, I am preparing a special Palm Sunday sermon titled, Make the Tears Come from Luke 19:28-42.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, if not before. Be sure and invite someone to church and tell them there will be a donkey leading the Palm Sunday way.

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

A most Holy Week,
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

Did you know that Ride Again Bicycle Ministry, the bicycle repair ministry founded and led by Tom Williamson, has now contributed over 50 bicycles to Hoskins Park Ministries?

Did you know that Chad Lloyd returned to Guatemala to complete a water filtration system started in 2019? The installation was via Living Water World Missions in Iztapa, Guatemala. This project featured a multi-step microfiltration and disinfection process through UV and Ozone treatment. Thanks to Lineage Foundation and Global Impact for funding the building required to house the filtration system.

Did you know that members of the Faith Sunday School Class built raised beds for Genesis Garden on Saturday? Our friends at Rainbow Express Ministries, a Global Impact partner, will begin planting vegetables and flowers soon! We are so glad that spring is here!

Did you know that Home2Home Ministries helped to furnish the home of another Napal Family as they arrived in Charlotte? Home2Home also loaded up the large 15′ truck from St. Matthews Catholic Church on Wednesday with 9 couches, 2 loveseats, 4 living room chairs, lamps, dining room table with chairs, and delivered to the Eastern NC area to help families. During the month of March, Home2Home Ministries sent out over 100 pieces of furniture to help those in need.