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Blessing,
Community,
Hope,
Inspirational,
Just These Lines,
Worship,
Generosity of Spirit
2nd Sunday of Easter Just these lines, my friends … … to say that it was the holiest of Holy Weeks with the grandest of Easter mornings: a donkey leading our processional into the week on Palm Sunday; our deep level partners with Rainbow Express Ministries reminding us Jesus’ final gathering with his disciples on Holy Thursday; the finest Sanctuary...
Just These Lines,
Uncategorized,
Worship,
Easter
Easter Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say … Come. Come cry. Come laugh. Come be filled with awe. Come not expecting easy answers but instead unexplainable mystery. Come experience friendship with people you know and even those you don’t. Come roll back the stone blocking your heart that has kept you away. Come receive and give...
Global Impact,
Just These Lines,
Worship,
Have You Ever Heard of Euodia and Syntyche?
Transfiguration Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say that Karen and I will make our way home to NC on Friday, February 9. We are so excited about being back with you after our special time with family in Southern California. We gathered to remember and celebrate Karen’s father, Bill Payne, who entered life eternal near the...
Global Impact,
Just These Lines,
Worship,
Our Story is Grace
5th Sunday after the Epiphany Just these lines, my friends … … to say that Karen and I are away for twelve days with our family in Southern California. Our family is gathering for several days to remember and celebrate Karen’s father, Bill Payne, who entered life eternal near the end of October 2023. Karen and her sister have been...
Blessing,
Gratitude,
Just These Lines,
Worship,
Joy in the Desert
Christmas Eve | 4th Sunday of Advent Just these lines, my friends … … to say that my heart is singing with gratitude today as I remember our time together on Sunday. There were over 100 children enacting our annual Matthews United Methodist Children’s Nativity for us. Is there any more magical moment in every year than when baby Jesus...
Community,
Generosity,
Inspirational,
Invitation,
Just These Lines,
Thankful,
Worship,
Swords into Plowshares
3rd Sunday of Advent Just these lines, my friends … … to say I am still reveling in a Sunday of Sundays with beautiful 2nd Sunday of Advent morning worship and then, The Glory of Christmas in the evening. I was blown away by the beauty and sound of it all. I kept thinking, “This is our church! This is...
Committment,
Community,
Generosity,
Just These Lines,
Worship,
Climbing Together
23rd Sunday after Pentecost | All Saints Sunday Just these lines, my friends … … to say that my heart breaks for so much going on in the world; I have been spending extra time in prayer these days, offering to God my prayers for peace in Palestine and Israel, prayers for our national government amid chaotic leadership in Congress,...
Generosity,
Just These Lines,
Worship,
Do You Believe in a Higher Power?
22nd Sunday after Pentecost Just these lines, my friends … … to ask if you heard our Sanctuary Choir singing the Irish Blessing as a Benediction this past Sunday? If you missed hearing them or my sermon on The Pathway of Worship, you can click here. By the way, I love so many things about our church … BUT I...
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...