Letrsquos worship together Sunday mornings at 815 (Classic) 930 (Contemporary) 1100 (Traditional) 1100 (801South)

1230 Centro Cristiano Hosanna (Servicio en Espantildeol) 930 (The Deep Family Worship - 2nd Sunday of each month)

JUST THESE LINES MY FRIENDShellip

Just these lines my friends hellip hellip to say that we are moving into Lent This is a season of attentiveness to God preparation for Easter and an extended space for reckoning with the ways we resist Gods embrace and do harm to ourselves to our neighbors to our world Lent is a long walk toward forgiveness and hope

Unfortunately the Lenten season often gets reduced to the question ldquoWhat are you giving up for Lentrdquo Thatrsquos a good question but it can take us only so far The real question of the Lenten season is ldquoHow will I repent and return to God with all my heartrdquo We are called to be as honest as we are able about the ways we have ldquoleftrdquo God and slipped into spiritual mediocrity Psalm 516 points out ldquoYou desire truth in the inward being therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heartrdquo

As God gives us wisdom and insight about our true condition we can choose spiritual practices that are uniquely suited to help us return to God in the places where we have strayed or to renew our passion where our hearts have grown cold These practices have the potential to loosen the grip of sin and distraction in our lives creating space for attending to our relationship with God who is calling us back to him

If up to us we probably wouldnrsquot choose to devote a whole season to demanding disciplines but God knows we need it So we ask ldquoWhat practices will help me return to the Lord during these set-apart daysrdquo

How will I practice self-examination and confession in order to facilitate the truth in my inward being that God desires (Psalm 51 6) How will I create space for God to teach me wisdom and create a new and right spirit within me (Psalm 516 10) How will I give (Matt 623) How will I pray (Matt 65-13) Who do I need to forgive and from whom do I need to seek forgiveness (Matt 61415) How will I fast What do I need to abstain from in order to create more space for God (Matt 616-18) What earthly treasures am I attached to and how will I ldquolet gordquo in order to invest In Godrsquos kingdom (Matt 619-21) How will I be reconciled to God myself and how will I engage in the ministry of reconciliation this season (II Cor 5)

Realistically most of us will not be able to incorporate all these disciplines but we certainly can choose one or two that will help us to return to God with all our hearts In very private moments with God we can allow him to show us what disciplines practiced in what way would be most effective in helping us create space for cultivating our relationship with him[i]

Lenten Opportunities Community Forum on Racial Bridge-Building amp Diversity ndash Join the discussion March 15 at 7 pm in The Commons Holy Land Trip March 2018 - Karen and I are hosting a trip and hope you will join us Interest meeting March 20 at 7 pm in The Commons Care Cards for Holy Communion ndash Our Sanctuary worshipping communities (815 930 1100) normally share in Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month This Sunday (March 5) we will introduce the new tradition of Care Cards We invite you during the moments of Holy Communion to take one of the cards and write a note to one of the names printed in your Bulletin A simple note from you can make a huge difference in the life of someone who is homebound or facing great need You can leave it for us to mail

This Sunday in our Sanctuary services we will launch a worship series titled Ask Jesus and on this first Sunday of Lent we will be asking Jesus ldquoWhy Were You Temptedrdquo from Luke 4 Our 801South community will be celebrating Compassion Sunday as Kennedy (Kenn Eddy) Krezi a former Compassion International sponsor child who grew up in a Nairobi slum will give his testimony and share his music with us Our CCH community (Centro Cristiano Hosanna) will welcome Matthewrsquos Chief of Police and MUMCrsquos very own Rob Hunter as a guest

Wersquore really excited to see you on Sunday

So grateful to be on this Journey of Lent with each of you Dr Charles (Chuck) W Wilson II ChuckMatthewsUMCorg [1] Irsquom grateful to the insights of Ruth Haley Barton

Please visit Adult Ministries under the Reach tab at matthewsumcorg to view the Adult Ministries Calendar

-

CCH Intercessory Prayer Meeting Saturdays from 530 - 700 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 556

Please remember in your prayers Jan amp Greg Davis upon the death of their brother-n-law Rick Edwards Ruth Ford upon the death of her mother and all those in our Church family with special needs and concerns

Global Impact Prayer Generous and attentive God you know the needs of Donn and Cyndie Truax in reaching out to the homeless and loveless ( James 127 ) at Change of 1 in Gloversville NY Send the full -time staff person you have already chosen to come along side them as your hands and feet in ministry to that community

MATTHEWS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ∙ wwwmatthewsumcorg 801 South Trade Street Matthews NC 28105 (704) 847-6261 Fax (704) 845-2830

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter amp 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 communicationsmatthewsumcorg or drop them off at the Church Office with ldquoCelebration requestrdquo noted on the envelope Please note that all articles are subject to editing for space and content Subscribe online at MatthewsUMCorg

studies classes

CCH Intercessory Prayer Meeting Saturday mornings from 530 - 700 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 Were You Tempted

Scripture Luke 41-13

For care and protection we lift up all the men and women serving in our Armed Forces throughout the world Thank you to all our service men and women

Visit MatthewsUMCorg for more information Childcare may be available if requested in advance Contact kimmatthewsumcorg

35 Young Adult Gathering 7 pm in Room 202

312 The Deep Family Worship

930 am in The Gym

312 MLK Scholarship Recipient Shares Story

Claudia Alford Young Leader amp Crestdale Community Resident Will Share During

Worship

428 - 30 Menrsquos Retreat Register with

Urb Brinker at 704-517-7967

Special Needs Sunday School Volunteer in this ministry and make a

difference in a childrsquos life Contact Trish Tanger at 704-849-9541