JUST THESE LINES, MY FRIENDS… - - Matthews UMC · sunrise from our Sanctuary parking lot with...
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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 our Bishop, Paul Leeland will be with us Wednesday, April 5, 7 pm, in The Commons. I hope you’ll share this opportunity to hear our new Bishop for the first time at Matthews UMC where his subject will be “The Future of The United Methodist Church.” Holy Week (April 9-16) is just around the corner. I hope you won’t miss a single moment of this most important week. Palm Sunday (April 9 in all our morning Sanctuary services and The Deep): Jesus’ journey to the cross begins with a triumphal parade into Jerusalem led by our children amidst our own shouts of “Hosanna!” and the waving of palm branches. Special Music (April 9, 4 pm, in The Sanctuary): Hear the dramatic impact of Jesus’ final words upon the Cross set to music by a string quartet, accompanied by recordings of sermon selections by noted preachers such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Marty & Billy Graham. Admission $5. Maundy Thursday (April 13, 7 pm, in The Sanctuary): We return to the Upper Room, where Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples, demonstrating a new way to love and serve. Our preacher for the evening will be Elizabeth Carpenton, one of the many who grew up at Matthews United Methodist and have followed God’s call to ministry. Elizabeth is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary in New York City and is now serving on the staff of St. Francis United Methodist Church here in Charlotte. Good Friday (April 14, 7 pm, in The Sanctuary): Once again, we hear the account of Jesus on trial, beaten and crucified, and finally his death, through scripture readings and musical movements from J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion presented by our Sanctuary Choir, with soloists accompanied by members of the Charlotte Symphony Chamber Orchestra. Easter Sunrise (April 16, 6:30 am): “Up from the grave He arose!” At 6:30 am, we welcome the miracle of Easter morning again as we see the sunrise from our Sanctuary parking lot with songs of praise. Easter Sunday (April 16, 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 am in The Sanctuary and in 801South, 12:30 pm with Centro Cristiano Hosanna: “Christ is Risen, Indeed!” We worship the risen King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Hallelujah! James Bryan Smith says, “The most important aspects of our lives cannot be rushed. We cannot love, think, eat, laugh, or pray in a hurry … When we are in a hurry – which comes from overextension – we find ourselves unable to live awareness and kindness.” (The Good and Beautiful God, p. 584.) Our lives are full, that’s for sure, but we try to avoid functioning “in a hurry” because as Smith puts it, in that condition we are “unable to live with awareness and kindness.” We must have margin in our lives. The parable of the priest, the Levite, and the Good Samaritan is a great example of this (Luke 10:25-37). Two appear to be in a hurry and one had space to be generous. So, does “hurry” mark your life? A big part of what we are doing during this Lenten season is marking margin for that which is best. Assess your schedule so that after Easter – though life may be full – you will have time for loving, thinking, eating, laughing, praying and giving. This Sunday (April 2) in Sanctuary worship, we have several special things planned. We will send forth the Twer family (Michael, Paige, AnneLeigh, Juliann) as they head to serve in Belize during spring break. Then, while I am exploring in the spoken word from John 14 our question for the week, “Jesus, why are you so special?”, artist/illustrator Howard Nussman will be capturing the key themes in words and pictures to create a visual representation of the sermon. Our hope is that through the words that are spoken and the visual images created, we will all grasp more personally what Mary understood about why Jesus is so special. Howard and Phyllis Nussman have been serving in and through our community of faith for 25 years. Their son Jonathan lives in San Diego, their son David lives in Raleigh with wife Kathryn and new grandson Banks, and Jesse and Amy are both in college. All of the Nussman children grew up in our United Youth, where Howard and Phyllis served as youth counselors. Howard and Phyllis are also very active in the Family Covenant Sunday School class. Howard says, “The impact that Matthews United Methodist has had on our family over the years is huge. We are thankful God led us to Matthews, and can’t imagine worshiping and serving anywhere else!” If you get a chance, please join me in saying “thank you” to Howard for his willingness to join me in this adventure of communication. This Sunday (April 2) 801South will focus on prayer as a practice of pressing into the unseen, and will launch a new weekly inspirational Serve Team rally at 10:15 am. CCH held their first Immigration Clinic Saturday and will continue “Discovering God’s Purpose” on Sunday. See you Sunday in our community of faith where everyone is welcome, nobody is perfect, and you never know what might happen! Lenten mercies, Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II [email protected]
Transcript of JUST THESE LINES, MY FRIENDS… - - Matthews UMC · sunrise from our Sanctuary parking lot with...
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 our Bishop, Paul Leeland will be with us Wednesday, April 5, 7 pm, in The Commons. I hope you’ll share this opportunity to hear our new Bishop for the first time at Matthews UMC where his subject will be “The Future of The United Methodist Church.”
Holy Week (April 9-16) is just around the corner. I hope you won’t miss a single moment of this most important week.
Palm Sunday (April 9 in all our morning Sanctuary services and The Deep): Jesus’ journey to the cross begins with a triumphal parade into Jerusalem led by our children amidst our own shouts of “Hosanna!” and the waving of palm branches.
Special Music (April 9, 4 pm, in The Sanctuary): Hear the dramatic impact of Jesus’ final words upon the Cross set to music by a string quartet, accompanied by recordings of sermon selections by noted preachers such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Marty & Billy Graham. Admission $5.
Maundy Thursday (April 13, 7 pm, in The Sanctuary): We return to the Upper Room, where Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples, demonstrating a new way to love and serve. Our preacher for the evening will be Elizabeth Carpenton, one of the many who grew up at Matthews United Methodist and have followed God’s call to ministry. Elizabeth is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary in New York City and is now serving on the staff of St. Francis United Methodist Church here in Charlotte.
Good Friday (April 14, 7 pm, in The Sanctuary): Once again, we hear the account of Jesus on trial, beaten and crucified, and finally his death, through scripture readings and musical movements from J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion presented by our Sanctuary Choir, with soloists accompanied by members of the Charlotte Symphony Chamber Orchestra.
Easter Sunrise (April 16, 6:30 am): “Up from the grave He arose!” At 6:30 am, we welcome the miracle of Easter morning again as we see the sunrise from our Sanctuary parking lot with songs of praise.
Easter Sunday (April 16, 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 am in The Sanctuary and in 801South, 12:30 pm with Centro Cristiano Hosanna: “Christ is Risen, Indeed!” We worship the risen King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Hallelujah!
James Bryan Smith says, “The most important aspects of our lives cannot be rushed. We cannot love, think, eat, laugh, or pray in a hurry … When we are in a hurry – which comes from overextension – we find ourselves unable to live awareness and kindness.” (The Good and Beautiful God, p. 584.)
Our lives are full, that’s for sure, but we try to avoid functioning “in a hurry” because as Smith puts it, in that condition we are “unable to live with awareness and kindness.” We must have margin in our lives. The parable of the priest, the Levite, and the Good Samaritan is a great example of this (Luke 10:25-37). Two appear to be in a hurry and one had space to be generous.
So, does “hurry” mark your life? A big part of what we are doing during this Lenten season is marking margin for that which is best. Assess your schedule so that after Easter – though life may be full – you will have time for loving, thinking, eating, laughing, praying and giving.
This Sunday (April 2) in Sanctuary worship, we have several special things planned. We will send forth the Twer family (Michael, Paige, AnneLeigh, Juliann) as they head to serve in Belize during spring break. Then, while I am exploring in the spoken word from John 14 our question for the week, “Jesus, why are you so special?”, artist/illustrator Howard Nussman will be capturing the key themes in words and pictures to create a visual representation of the sermon. Our hope is that through the words that are spoken and the visual images created, we will all grasp more personally what Mary understood about why Jesus is so special.
Howard and Phyllis Nussman have been serving in and through our community of faith for 25 years. Their son Jonathan lives in San Diego, their son David lives in Raleigh with wife Kathryn and new grandson Banks, and Jesse and Amy are both in college. All of the Nussman children grew up in our United Youth, where Howard and Phyllis served as youth counselors. Howard and Phyllis are also very active in the Family Covenant Sunday School class. Howard says, “The impact that Matthews United Methodist has had on our family over the years is huge. We are thankful God led us to Matthews, and can’t imagine worshiping and serving anywhere else!” If you get a chance, please join me in saying “thank you” to Howard for his willingness to join me in this adventure of communication.
This Sunday (April 2) 801South will focus on prayer as a practice of pressing into the unseen, and will launch a new weekly inspirational Serve Team rally at 10:15 am. CCH held their first Immigration Clinic Saturday and will continue “Discovering God’s Purpose” on Sunday.
See you Sunday in our community of faith where everyone is welcome, nobody is perfect, and you never know what might happen!
Lenten mercies,
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II [email protected]
Ushers are needed for all Holy Week Services—Please contact Meg at [email protected].
Please visit Adult Ministries under the Reach tab at matthewsumc.org to view the Adult Ministries Calendar.
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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: Todd Havican upon the death of his mother; family & friends of Ralph Willis; family & friends of Dan Marion; Pastor Brad Hopper upon the death of his grandfather; and all those in our church family with special needs and concerns.
Global Impact Prayer: Lord we lift up the Twer family as they spend April 5 - 12, serving at Oasis Ministry in Belize. Please fill Michael, Paige, AnneLeigh & J.J. with Your spirit and bless their work and travel.
MATTHEWS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ∙ www.matthewsumc.org 801 South Trade Street Matthews, NC 28105, (704) 847-6261, Fax (704) 845-2830
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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 MESSAGES Ask Jesus:
Why Are You So Special?
Scripture: John 12:1-8
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].
4/3 Willbeans Coffee House
8:00 - 10:30 am in The Commons Coffee Shop provided by
Rainbow Express Ministries. Donations Always Appreciated
4/4 Seasoned To Perfection 11 am in The Commons
RSVP by Sunday to 704-815-1982.
Room In The Inn A guest who stayed with us through RITI tested positive for Tuberculosis.
All Volunteers have been notified, and anyone who came in close contact
with this individual is being tested. There is no risk of infection to the congregation or campus visitors.
Please contact Pam Gillespie at [email protected]
with your questions.
