Just These Lines, My Friends...… to say that this past Sunday gave us an opportunity to celebrate our Rainbow Express Camp. Nearly 350 campers, children, youth and adult volunteers made this a special week. Ellis Clary spent the week making short films and posting them on our Church social media. You can watch them at Instagram.com/MatthewsUMC. Thank you, Ellis! Here are just a few photos from the week.

I learned about the Christian calendar a little bit later in my years of following Jesus. We never talked about such things as Advent or Lent in my early church tradition. The closest thing we had to mystery was found at the church potluck: casseroles with crushed potato chip toppings, meatballs in crockpot gravy, butter beans with a slab of bacon, or lime green jello with floating slices of banana.It wasn’t until I began working in a United Methodist Church in youth ministry that I discovered the liturgical year and its agency for structuring life. Mimicking the arc of the life of Jesus, it starts in anticipation with Advent, celebrates the birth of the Messiah, discovers the transformation of Epiphany, carries through to the lament of Lent, the wonder of Easter, the empowerment of Pentecost, and the long season of Ordinary Time, working and waiting for the year to begin again.I began recalibrating myself to its rhythm. Its structure bears the weight of my days, and in the decades since I have not found the end of its capacity to bind me to Jesus – and thereby, to my own life.The power of the eternal year was known and celebrated ages before I caught on. Some of you have been living according to its rhythms for years. Great witnesses of the faith, ancient and contemporary, have perfected liturgies, written music and poetry, and strengthened the traditions that undergird the seasons.I’m hopeful we will bind ourselves more and more to this powerful ancient tradition.This Sunday our Sanctuary services will explore the 23rd Psalm, “Thou prepares a table before me …” as we: hear from Whitlei Cason, our 2018 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship recipient; see the latest short film of a child reciting Psalm 23; and welcome back Pete Leo, our Director of Worship and Arts, from a family vacation in Ireland to direct our Sanctuary Choir in one of my favorite anthems, The Lord is My Shepherd, by Bruce H. Frazier. I first heard this anthem at beautiful Lake Junaluska as Dr. Frazier, who holds the Carol Grotnes Belk Endowed Chair in the School of Music, Western Carolina University, directed choirs from all over western North Carolina. I know it will inspire you deeply.

I’m surely honored to be serving among you,

Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson IIChuck@MatthewsUMC.org

CELEBRATION NEWS • JULY 20, 2018

WORSHIPSoul of Summer: ”Thou

preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil;

my cup runneth over.”Psalm 23

@MatthewsUMC Read the complete version of “Just These Lines” at MatthewsUMC.org or pick up a hard copy at the Welcome Center. Subscribe online to receive weekly correspondence.

CONNECTMatthewsUMC.org/Connect• Subscribe to Weekly Highlights, Just These Lines & Celebration News• Watch Live Worship & Archives• Give Online, Text dollar amount to #704-885-5982, or via the ChurchLife ACS App • Submit a Prayer Request• Learn, Grow & Lead with Worship Resources on Social

COVER PHOTOAmanda and her son Joshua joined the church on Sunday,

and Joshua was baptized! Amanda is in the Air Force and

will be deployed in a few weeks. Please join in prayer for Amanda,

her mom, Joshua & his cousin (pictured), and all the family.

COME AS YOU ARE! 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 (second Sunday

of each month)

Celebration is a weekly publication for families and friends of Matthews UMC. Submit content to Communications@MatthewsUMC.org. Submission deadline is noon each Monday, the week of publication.

Please note that all content is subject to editing. Subscribe to weekly correspondence under the Connect tab at MatthewsUMC.org.

801 South Trade St, Matthews, NC 28105 • (704) 847-6261MatthewsUMC.org @MatthewsUMC

Please remember in your prayers: All those in our Church family with special

needs and concerns.

Global Impact Prayer: Sovereign Lord, we thank you for our continued

partnership with Hoskins Park Ministry. May those they serve continue to

grow in grace while transitioning from a life on the streets to one as godly,

independent, productive men.

CCH Intercessory Prayer: Saturdays at 6 am in the Chapel.

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

Forces throughout the world.

UPCOMING

7/23-7/27 Music & Arts Camp

7/27 “Are We There Yet? The Story of Moses” - Music & Arts Camp Performance, 7 pm in the Sanctuary. This musical, performed by the campers who will participate in Music & Arts Camp next week, will be a special treat you are sure to enjoy!

8/3 Alzheimer’s Care Seminar 8:30 am - 4:30 pm at Matthews UMC. Registration required at LeighOdomSLP.com. Nursing CEUs available.

8/11 College-Age Gathering at Dave & Buster’s Pineville, 8 pm. Registration required at College.MatthewsUMC.org.

Kathy White, Music Ministry Associate/Organist, will be on Renewal Leave starting Monday, July 23 through Sunday, September 9, for a period of study, rest, and spiritual reflection. During this time she will be caring for her husband, Eric, during his second glaucoma implant surgery, and immersing herself in the studies for future ministry impact and growth. Please email Debbie Fijan, Admin Assistant for Music & Worship Arts, at debbie@matthewsumc.org with any worship-related questions.

STUDIES & GROUPS

Disciple Bible StudyDetails under Teach at MatthewsUMC.org.

Covenant Bible StudyTuesdays, August 7-September 256:30 - 8:30 pmCost $14. Led by Adele Spil

Uninvited - Beginnings Women’s StudyWednesdays, September 19-October 31, 9:15 pm - 10:30 pmCost $16. Led by Diana Monago

Connect to classes and grow in your journey by visiting MatthewsUMC.org. Childcare may be available if requested in advance. Contact Kim@MatthewsUMC.org.

Welcome New Members

Please extend a warm MUMC welcome to our newest members (and their children) that joined our fellowship on July 15! Lynn Robertson; Bert Newsome; Greg & Abbie Mangum;

Jay & Diane Whyte; Ian & Caroline Wilds (Isla, Ashleigh, Kayleigh); Meredith Bigham; Houston Pitman; Norma Jean Burke; Amanda Deyton (*Joshua); Jack & Marjorie Loew; Walt

& Mable Miller; Gregg & Connie Prevost; Joe & Carlene Schock; and Bob & Lee Wilson.*Indicates Baptism