You’re Blessed…

17^th Sunday after Pentecost
Just these lines, my friends …

… to say that we are off to a wonderful return to our 8:15 worship service each Sunday. I was so pleased with the number of people making the effort to return to the Sanctuary for worship.  And how about that turnout by our Sanctuary Choir to welcome the return of so many?!?

As well, our Sunday morning was filled with riveting remembrances of 9/11, moments of recognition for a number of our Matthews police officers and fire fighters (photo below), powerful prayers (Pastors Brad and Paul) and riveting music … from John Woodall’s arrangement (9:30 service) of Alan Jackson’s Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) and our Sanctuary Choir at 8:15 and 11:00 singing Light Everlasting. What a powerful day!

In addition, we began a new worship series titled Engage. All this fall, we plan to Engage (to pledge, to commit, to bind oneself to) in a new step of discipleship by engaging in practices that, if exercised over time, will enable us to grow into a life that is centered on loving God and loving others.  If you missed our morning together, you can watch here.

On another note, this past Thursday, I had the incredible experience of riding along with Bo Bobrowski to northwest Charlotte and Hoskin’s Park Ministries (designed to help men who been living on the street, or are near homelessness, to be back on their feet as independent God-fearing men by experiencing grace through Jesus). We spent the afternoon visiting with many of the men living in the houses provided by the ministry. Then we had the privilege of serving the evening meal to 45 men followed by a Bible Study. It was a wonderful afternoon and early evening. We had 9 of our very own MUMC men to prepare, serve and then “hang out” with the men of Hoskin’s Park. If you’d like to know more about Hoskin’s Park Ministries, you can click here.

By the way, our Methodist Men’s group has its annual golf tournament on Thursday, September 16 at the Olde Sycamore Club. The proceeds of the tournament help to support three major mission areas identified by the men: Hoskin’s Park Ministries, Charlotte Rescue Mission and A Roof Above. If you are unable to play in the tournament but would like to contribute to the ministries supported by our men, please click here, choose “Other” & specify UMM Golf Tournament.

Wednesday Devotional

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch my “Meet Me at the Belfry” devotional for today. Please click here to watch.

A New Structure for our Age-Level Ministries

A global pandemic has brought both challenge and opportunity. One of those opportunities has been the capacity to take a fresh new look at how we are doing our age-level ministries. I’m so pleased to announce to you that one of pastors, Corey Milliet, will begin to give guidance and leadership to United Kids, United Youth and United Adults. All our current staffing in these areas will be under her watchful, caring, and creative eye. Please read this note from Corey about these exciting developments.

MUMC Praise Band Outdoor Concert

Don’t miss the first of our Matthews UMC Concert Series this Saturday, September 18 in our large parking lot! Food trucks at 5:00, followed by praise & worship music as well as family-friendly music. Bring the whole family, your lawn chairs & money for the food trucks. Click here for a sneak peek of the Praise Team’s rehearsal. (In case of rain, the concert will take place in the Gym.)

Matthews Playhouse: Greenwood

I know this is late notice, but I just good word about an important theater event coming up in Matthews this week.

The opportunity is a collaboration between the African American Playwrights Group of Charlotte and Matthews Playhouse.  They are producing the play, Greenwood. It is a love story that uses as its backdrop, THE BLACK WALL STREET MASSACRE that occurred in Tulsa, OK in 1921. Performances for the play (Greenwood) are scheduled for this Friday at 7:30 pm and Saturday at 2:00 & 8:00 pm on the Fullwood Stage in the Matthews Community Center. Note: Greenwood is a historical drama that contains mature content and situations, as well as adult language. Click here for more info.

Also, note that Matthews Playhouse is offering a special PAY WHAT YOU CAN evening this coming Wednesday (September 15th at 7:30 pm) where all funds received on that evening will benefit THE THEATRE GAP INITIATIVE, a local non-profit begun by a former Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools theatre teacher (Corey Mitchell). The THEATRE GAP INITIATIVE was begun to assist high school graduates of color who needed to take/choose to take a gap year and are interested in a career in the performing arts to successfully navigate the college application process.

If you are looking for ways to support black-owned businesses and careers/education of black young adults, you may want to make the Wednesday performance a priority!I hope you’ll join Karen and Chuck in making plans to attend one of these important community presentations.

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 preaching from Isaiah 40:27-31. His sermon is titled, God is Always Connected.

At 8:15 and 11:00 am, we are planning for a great day of music featuring our Flute Choir at 8:15 and Flute Choir & Bandestra (I think Craig Estep may have made that up) at 11:00. Also, our first graders will be presented with their Bibles during all three morning services.

We continue our fall worship series, Engage. My sermon title is Engaged by Grace. You can prepare by reading I John 3:1-3, 4:7-16. The challenge to each of us this fall is to engage in those practices that enable us to experience eternal life and grow into life that is centered on loving God and loving others.

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

We are in this … together,
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

Did you know that we were able to provide a gift certificate for all our Matthews Police Officers and Matthews Firefighters who were with us in worship on Sunday, September 12?

Did you know that MUMC is launching a 30-day campaign to encourage local Frontline Workers? We encourage kids, youth and adults to write notes of gratitude and drop them off in the baskets located in the Narthex and by the Front Office by October 15. Simply address your card and envelope to “Dear Frontline Worker” and we will deliver to area doctors, hospitals, and first responders!

Did you know that Pastor Chuck officiated at the wedding of Seth Ivey and Karine Lopes on Saturday, September 11 in the Sanctuary of Matthews United Methodist Church? Congratulations, Seth & Karine!

Did you Know that families at our Family Worship service on September 12^th exercised our Life App of “Initiative” and made 40 “Healthy Me” bags for refugee and Immigrant children attending aftercare programs at OurBRIDGE for Kids, a non-profit based in Charlotte.