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 how are you doing with your summertime waiting (from last Sunday’s message)? I hope you’ll remember a couple things. First, waiting is the hardest work of hope. Second, what God does in you while you wait is just as important as what you are waiting for. We continue on Sunday (July 31) with our look at summertime spirituality from the Psalms. This week we’ll be looking at Psalm 121 and a “Summertime Travel Guide.” You may know that a few days ago a new bishop was elected to serve the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. Our new bishop is Bishop Paul Leeland who, with his wife Janet, will move to Charlotte next month. Bishop Leeland is from eastern North Carolina and has served small, medium and large membership churches. He was elected a bishop in 2008 and has served the Alabama/West Florida Annual Conference for the last 8 years. I’ll be inviting Bishop Leeland to come and be with us in the not-too-distant future. He will begin his work among us on September 1. This past week unveiled the 2016 edition of our Music and Arts Camp for children from kindergarten through sixth grade. I wish all of you could have experienced the culmination of this powerful week with their presentation on Friday evening, July 22, as over 400 persons gathered. This year's presentation was Malice in the Palace: The Story of Esther. We hosted 130 campers, led by 28 Adult volunteers and 29 Youth volunteers. It was a wonderful time of singing, acting and preparing choreography for the presentation, all the while sharing God's love with all those who participated. I loved it all. Please say a word of thanks to Craig Estep and his team for a stunningly wonderful week. By the way, ask about a special appearance of Jingles the Jester. Here’s a picture of me and this special guest.

Please visit Just These Lines under the Connect tab at MatthewsUMC.org to read Pastor Chuck’s complete reflections from this week.

http://global.matthewsumc.org/news/http://global.matthewsumc.org/news/http://youth.matthewsumc.org/http://youth.matthewsumc.org/

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

STAFF WELCOMES ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIANS Music & Worship Arts Ministry is thrilled to introduce two new staff team members: Jill Willis and Emily Shusdock! Jill is directing The Deep, Youth Choir and Music & Arts Camp in a full-time role. Jill comes to us from First UMC, High Point, where she was most recently contemporary worship director. She has been married for 21 years to Scott, who is a former police officer. They have two children, 20-year old Matthew and 17-year-old Katie. Jill is an avid runner who loves reading, hiking mountains, and many genres of music. She says she has “the most outrageous dream of someday conducting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!” Jill’s mother used to say that she was singing in her crib even before she could talk. As the daughter of an Episcopal Priest, Jill’s love for worship was instilled at an early age. One pivotal moment in her faith happened just before her father’s passing. Jill heard the song Gaelic Blessing, which is about the deep peace of Christ. This was the blessing that her father would share to close weekly worship. She felt God’s presence, which helped prepare her to say goodbye to the man who had shaped her life. Emily is a part-time director for our Children’s Choirs. She is a recent Master’s graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. Emily is an avid singer, handbell ringer, and plays a little ukulele when leading bluegrass worship (on the side). She also enjoys serving as Executive Director of The Same Stream recording choir. Emily is a native of Chapel Hill, where she grew up in the United Methodist Church. Most significantly, Emily was just married last month! She and her husband, John, recently adopted a rescue dog named Susie. Emily credits her love of music and ministry to her childhood choir director, Tim Baker, at University UMC in Chapel Hill. He encouraged her from the age of five when she had her first solo. Tim remains a mentor, and even played the organ in her wedding. Emily adds, “Choir can be a great place for children to connect with adults and other children while learning how to be a good neighbor and citizen of the world.” We welcome both ladies to the team with great anticipation for the ministries they will lead and the lives of children and youth they will guide. Youth and Children’s Choir Registration opening soon at MatthewsUMC.org.

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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: All those in our Church family with special needs and concerns. Please join us in celebrating: the birth of Emma Smith, daughter of Travis and Adrienne Smith.

Global Impact Prayer: "Compassionate and merciful God, inspire, uphold and protect our family mission team serving at Cornerstone Community Church in Philadelphia August 3-7. Bless the work of their hands leading Vacation Bible School, so that "future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord." (Psalm 22:30)

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 communications@matthewsumc.org 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.

8/4 Feast With Friends

11:30 am - 1:30 pm in The Commons Enjoy a delicious meal with friends.

Donations Gladly Accepted.

8/7 Peanut Butter Sunday Please donate to support the Feed The People Food Pantry.

8/19 Stephen Ministry Training Applications available at the Welcome Center. Details at MatthewsUMC.org.

8/21 801kids Info Session 10:45 am & 12:15 pm

A New Sunday Morning Experience For Kids - Coming This Fall!

Walk Through Bethlehem December 3, 2016

Sign up to volunteer at MatthewsUMC.org.

WORSHIP MESSAGE Summertime Spirituality:

A Summertime Travel Guide

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE: Psalm 121

Visit MatthewsUMC.org for more information. Childcare may be available if requested in advance. Contact kim@matthewsumc.org.

New Member Class SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

9:30 AM - 12 PM

To register, click New Member Class under the Teach tab

at MatthewsUMC.org, or contact Karen Schultz at 704-815-1901 or

karen@matthewsumc.org for details.

mailto:karen@matthewsumc.org?subject=MAGI%20Registrationhttp://www.matthewsumc.org/https://www.facebook.com/matthewsumchttps://twitter.com/matthewsumchttps://www.instagram.com/matthewsumc/http://vimeo.com/matthewsumcmailto:communications@matthewsumc.orgMatthewsUMC.orghttp://www.matthewsumc.org/events/stephen-ministry-training/http://www.matthewsumc.org/serve/walk-thru-bethlehem/https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121&version=NRSVhttp://www.matthewsumc.org/teach/short-term-studies/mailto:Kim@matthewsumc.orghttp://www.matthewsumc.org/#/new-here/become-a-memberhttp://www.matthewsumc.org/#/new-here/become-a-membermailto:karen@matthewsumc.org?subject=Count%20Me%20In%20Class