Just These Lines Pastor Blog

Viewing Posts found in the Community category. | View all posts
Featured image for “Jesus is Coming”
Read More
 Blessing
 Community
 Invitation
 Just These Lines
 United Kids
 Youth

Jesus is Coming

16th Sunday after Pentecost Just these lines, my friends … … to say that our Sunday (9/10) was a special one: Family Worship in the Gym (I heard there was quite a kazoo band on hand), the balcony presence of Stumptown Brass, the powerful music of our Praise Team, Kathy White on the organ after a time of vacation, the...
Featured image for “The Kindness Revolution Part 2”
Read More
 Community
 Just These Lines

The Kindness Revolution Part 2

3rd Sunday after Pentecost Just these lines, my friends … … to say that I was thrilled with our participation this past Sunday. Even as Summer bears down on us, the people of God called Matthews United Methodist were ready to worship and sing, this past Sunday, in the Sanctuary and Gym (Family Worship pictured below). I began our new series,...
Featured image for “Holiness is Hard Work”
Read More
 Community
 Generosity
 Global Impact
 Hope
 Just These Lines
 We Are Matthews
 Worship

Holiness is Hard Work

1st Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say that on Sunday we concluded our annual Global Impact Celebration. I never grow tired watching the people of God called Matthews United Methodist streaming forward to make Faith and Life commitments. The morning (9:30 and 11:00) was filled with toe-tappin music – watch the video here of...
Featured image for “How to Flourish in Your Marriage”
Read More
 Community
 Global Impact
 Just These Lines
 Service

How to Flourish in Your Marriage

6th Sunday after the Epiphany | Global Impact 2 Just these lines, my friends … … to say “thank you” to Rev. Gaston Warner for sharing stories of transformation that we are making possible together. It was a powerful weekend. I was so deeply moved by his vision of hopeful, indigenous, sustained ways of empowering young people. Gaston cast that...
Featured image for “Mother’s Day”
Read More
 Community
 Global Impact
 Gratitude
 Inspirational
 Just These Lines
 Service
 Worship

Mother’s Day

4th Sunday of Easter | Mother’s Day Just these lines, my friends … … to say that it is still appropriate for me to say, “Happy Easter” because Easter is a season in the church and not simply a day. In fact, every Sunday is a little Easter according to the liturgical calendar. Alister McGrath refers to the resurrection of...
Featured image for “We Are For”
Read More
 Community
 Gratitude
 Inspirational
 Just These Lines
 Leadership
 Uncategorized
 United Kids

We Are For

2nd Sunday of Easter Just these lines, my friends … … to say what a Holy Week 2022: crowds of people gathering for worship for the first time in three years (since 2019); people (Home2Home) helping families with no furniture; a beautiful butterfly release featuring the beautiful banner made by Wendy Barall (photos below); one of the best Maundy Thursday...
Featured image for “The Week of All Weeks”
Read More
 Blessing
 Community
 Global Impact
 Gratitude
 Inspirational
 Just These Lines
 Worship

The Week of All Weeks

Easter Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say these holy days are filled with so much: a donkey on Palm Sunday worship, children waving palm branches, memorable moments in Jerusalem Marketplace Family Worship, a sermon about the tears of Palm Sunday (you can watch here) and an interfaith prayer vigil on behalf of the suffering people of...
Featured image for “The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks”
Read More
 Committment
 Community
 Global Impact
 Gratitude
 Inspirational
 Just These Lines
 Uncategorized
 Worship

The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks

4th Sunday in Lent Just these lines, my friends … … to say thank you for all our worship leaders from Sunday: Kathy White, Craig Estep, DeAnna Clink, Dimitriy Soloshenko, Tim Martin, John Woodall, Joel Mullis, Tom Amann, Carl Roberts, The Melody Makers, Children’s Chime Choir (led by Karen Price & Tina Fincher) and Children’s Choir (led by Abigail Okland)...
Featured image for “Thoughts & Prayers, Part 2”
Read More
 Community
 Inspirational
 Just These Lines
 Worship

Thoughts & Prayers, Part 2

5th Sunday after the Epiphany  Just these lines, my friends … … to say that I hope you had the chance of hearing my youngest daughter, MacKenzie, speak this past Sunday. I know you picked up on her passion to walk in the way of Jesus. Also, I hope you heard our orchestra and their arrangement of the classic hymn,...