JUST THESE LINES, MY FRIENDS… · 2017-04-21 · transformation from Julie Cochran and Dan...

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Let’s worship together! Sunday mornings at 8:15 (Classic), 9:30 (Contemporary), 11:00 (Traditional), 11:00 (801South), 12:30 Centro Cristiano Hosanna (Servicio en Español), 9:30 (The Deep Family Worship - 2 nd Sunday of each month). JUST THESE LINES, MY FRIENDS… … to say that many new faces joined us on Easter Sunday. As a church family, we want to ensure that everything we do furthers our calling to transform the world one life at a time. It all begins with how we welcome visitors and guests who worship with us. So, thank you Matthews UMC for extending welcome and hospitality! I watched as you responded to persons who looked as if they needed help, offering to escort them where they needed to go. If you didn’t know the answer you stopped at the Welcome Desk where others were ready to help. Your acts of hospitality created a welcoming and worshipful experience for those seeking the risen Christ! In case you missed it, here is the GodStory that was shared as part of my Easter message. It is a beautiful message of hope and transformation from Julie Cochran and Dan Schmutz. Visit MatthewsUMC.org to view the video. Our United Youth have a special night planned on Sunday, April 23, at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. It is a night of worship for teens, led by teens . It will be led by our very own Matthews UMC 13-member youth praise team. They are talented, gifted, passionate, Jesus-centered, spirit-led and filled with grace and truth. Moreover, the concert/night of praise will be recorded for an album project that should be released in the not-too-distant future. Please join me in praying for this beautiful evening of worship for teens, led by teens. Did you know that according to the seasonal calendar of the church, Easter is not just one day? It is actually an entire season. We all know about Lent (the forty days plus six Sundays leading up to Easter), but not many of us observe the Season of Easter (the days following Easter and leading up to Pentecost). Friends, Easter is not something you quickly step away from. Resurrection means that life has taken on new (and eternal) meaning. Duke University professor and theologian Jeremy Begbie puts it this way, “Christian hope isn’t about looking around at the state of things now and trying to imagine where it's all going. It’s not about trying to calculate the future from the present. It’s about breathing now the fresh air of the ending, tasting the spices and sipping the wine of the feast to come.” During the Season of Easter, many times in the past I have chosen to teach and preach about the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus. These stories remind us that Jesus was with those disciples and is likewise with us. Easter concludes on Pentecost Sunday (this year on June 4) when we will celebrate the biblical promise that after his body ascended (and was with us no more), his Spirit arrived (and is with us forever). In many traditions, the Season of Easter is not closely observed (or frequently mentioned) anymore. I think that is our loss. This past Sunday, we celebrated the endless Victory that came with the angel’s message: “He is not here, for he is risen!” But let’s not put Easter away. Instead, here at Matthews United Methodist, let’s at least spend the next weeks in Easter celebration. Sunday by Sunday, let’s embrace what the empty tomb means for us and for all. In December, we hear: “If only we could keep Christmas all year long!” That is also important and appropriate to say about Easter. We look forward to seeing you Sunday (April 23) on the second Sunday of Easter where we will continue our exploration of Easter hope with a worship message titled So I Send You. In our 801South community the 3-year anniversary will feature a baptism of someone who recently came to faith in Jesus, as well as the chance to provide for an upcoming bless-a-birthday party through Bright Blessings. Visit the recently redesigned 801south.org for more details. In our CCH community we will start a series titled A Resistance Race, and learn the importance of teamwork, based on Hebrews 12:1. Remember that in all our worshipping communities, everyone is welcome, nobody is perfect, and anything can happen. With Easter joy, I am your Pastor and friend, Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II [email protected]

Transcript of JUST THESE LINES, MY FRIENDS… · 2017-04-21 · transformation from Julie Cochran and Dan...

Page 1: JUST THESE LINES, MY FRIENDS… · 2017-04-21 · transformation from Julie Cochran and Dan Schmutz. Visit MatthewsUMC.org to view the video. Our have a special night planned on Sunday,

Let’s worship together! Sunday mornings at 8:15 (Classic), 9:30 (Contemporary), 11:00 (Traditional), 11:00 (801South),

12:30 Centro Cristiano Hosanna (Servicio en Español), 9:30 (The Deep Family Worship - 2nd Sunday of each month).

JUST THESE LINES, MY FRIENDS…

… to say that many new faces joined us on Easter Sunday. As a church family, we want to ensure that everything we do furthers our calling to transform the world one life at a time. It all begins with how we welcome visitors and guests who worship with us. So, thank you Matthews UMC for extending welcome and hospitality! I watched as you responded to persons who looked as if they needed help, offering to escort them where they needed to go. If you didn’t know the answer you stopped at the Welcome Desk where others were ready to help. Your acts of hospitality created a welcoming and worshipful experience for those seeking the risen Christ! In case you missed it, here is the GodStory that was shared as part of my Easter message. It is a beautiful message of hope and transformation from Julie Cochran and Dan Schmutz. Visit MatthewsUMC.org to view the video. Our United Youth have a special night planned on Sunday, April 23, at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. It is a night of worship for teens, led by teens . It will be led by our very own Matthews UMC 13-member youth praise team. They are talented, gifted, passionate, Jesus-centered, spirit-led and filled with grace and truth. Moreover, the concert/night of praise will be recorded for an album project that should be released in the not-too-distant future. Please join me in praying for this beautiful evening of worship for teens, led by teens. Did you know that according to the seasonal calendar of the church, Easter is not just one day? It is actually an entire season. We all know about Lent (the forty days plus six Sundays leading up to Easter), but not many of us observe the Season of Easter (the days following Easter and leading up to Pentecost). Friends, Easter is not something you quickly step away from. Resurrection means that life has taken on new (and eternal) meaning. Duke University professor and theologian Jeremy Begbie puts it this way, “Christian hope isn’t about looking around at the state of things now and trying to imagine where it's all going. It’s not about trying to calculate the future from the present. It’s about breathing now the fresh air of the ending, tasting the spices and sipping the wine of the feast to come.” During the Season of Easter, many times in the past I have chosen to teach and preach about the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus. These stories remind us that Jesus was with those disciples and is likewise with us. Easter concludes on Pentecost Sunday (this year on June 4) when we will celebrate the biblical promise that after his body ascended (and was with us no more), his Spirit arrived (and is with us forever). In many traditions, the Season of Easter is not closely observed (or frequently mentioned) anymore. I think that is our loss. This past Sunday, we celebrated the endless Victory that came with the angel’s message: “He is not here, for he is risen!” But let’s not put Easter away. Instead, here at Matthews United Methodist, let’s at least spend the next weeks in Easter celebration. Sunday by Sunday, let’s embrace what the empty tomb means for us and for all. In December, we hear: “If only we could keep Christmas all year long!” That is also important and appropriate to say about Easter. We look forward to seeing you Sunday (April 23) on the second Sunday of Easter where we will continue our exploration of Easter hope with a worship message titled So I Send You. In our 801South community the 3-year anniversary will feature a baptism of someone who recently came to faith in Jesus, as well as the chance to provide for an upcoming bless-a-birthday party through Bright Blessings. Visit the recently redesigned 801south.org for more details. In our CCH community we will start a series titled A Resistance Race, and learn the importance of teamwork, based on Hebrews 12:1. Remember that in all our worshipping communities, everyone is welcome, nobody is perfect, and anything can happen. With Easter joy, I am your Pastor and friend, Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II [email protected]

Page 3: JUST THESE LINES, MY FRIENDS… · 2017-04-21 · transformation from Julie Cochran and Dan Schmutz. Visit MatthewsUMC.org to view the video. Our have a special night planned on Sunday,

Please visit Adult Ministries under the Reach tab at matthewsumc.org to view the Adult Ministries Calendar.

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DID YOU KNOW?

2,886 persons were in attendance in our worship services on Easter Sunday 2017!

14 first-time visitor families, 16 out-of-town guests, and 89 other guests registered with us on Easter Sunday 2017!

Seven children provided special music during the CCH Easter service. Our worship leader, Raiko Rodriguez, teaches Saturday morning classes (with instruments) to these elementary and middle school students.

Extreme hospitality was shown by our Sunrise Service Ushers. They offered blankets to those in attendance!

Victoria Cruz ( Honduras), Hermenia Gamoneda (Dominicana), Ricardo Chicas (Salvador),

Zaida Chicas (Honduras), Magalis Rodríguez( Cuba), and Eugenio Dominguez (Cuba) from our CCH (Centro Cristiano Hosanna) community joined Matthews United Methodist on Easter Sunday!

Page 4: JUST THESE LINES, MY FRIENDS… · 2017-04-21 · transformation from Julie Cochran and Dan Schmutz. Visit MatthewsUMC.org to view the video. Our have a special night planned on Sunday,

CCH Intercessory Prayer Meeting: Saturdays from 5:30 - 7:00 am in the

Sanctuary. Everyone is invited to join us to pray for our own families, this Church

and this Nation.

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Isaiah 55:6

Please remember in your prayers: Friends and family of Charlie Holt; Pam Edwards upon the death of her mother; Lesley Edwards upon the death of her grandmother; and all those in our church family with special needs and concerns.

Global Impact Prayer: Amazing Lord, the growth of Rainbow Express Ministries is awesome to behold. Please continue to bless its newest endeavor, Will Beans Coffee in The Commons, and the young adults who joyfully serve there Monday mornings.

MATTHEWS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ∙ www.matthewsumc.org 801 South Trade Street Matthews, NC 28105, (704) 847-6261, Fax (704) 845-2830

Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and Watch us on Vimeo @MatthewsUMC

The Celebration newsletter is a weekly publication for the families and friends of Matthews United Methodist Church. The deadline to submit an article is noon each Monday, the week of publication. If you would like to submit information for publication,

please e-mail your articles to [email protected] or drop them off at the Church Office with “Celebration request” noted on the envelope. Please note that all articles are subject to editing for space and content. Subscribe online at MatthewsUMC.org.

studies classes

CCH Intercessory Prayer Meeting: Saturday mornings from 5:30 - 7:00 in the Sanctuary. Everyone is invited to join us to pray for our own families, this church and this nation.

WORSHIP MESSAGE

So I Send You

Scripture: John 20:19-23

For care and protection, we lift up all the men and women serving in our Armed Forces throughout the world.

Visit MatthewsUMC.org for more information. Childcare may be available if requested in advance. Contact [email protected].

4/28 - 30 Men’s Retreat

Bon Clarken—Hendersonville, NC Sign up at the Welcome Center or

contact Urb Brinker at 704-517-7967 or Dave Dillard at 704-575-5125.

4/29 Feast With Friends

11:30 am - 1:30 pm in The Commons Enjoy a delicious lunch with friends!

Donations Always Welcome.

WESLEY UMC Seeks to fill a part-time (15 hours weekly) Director of Children and Youth Ministries

position. The Director will develop, coordinate and implement ministries for

children and youth to provide opportunities for them to grow in their

Christian discipleship. If interested, please e-mail resume

to [email protected].