January 2017 - In This Issue:
A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
2016 was a wonderful year for the Matthews Church of God and it ended on a high 
n ote.

We are so proud of our Sanctuary Choir for the tremendous job they did singing at the Billy Graham Library under the direction of Beth Baker. 
(They were invited to sing for the second year in a row) 

They were al so busy singing to the precious folks at the Plantation Estates Retirement Center as well as neighborhood Christmas caroling.

 


  Way to go choir, take a bow.


Our Kidz Church did an outstanding job with their Christmas performance of:  "The Mystery of the Manger; it's the gospel truth!". 

 

We are thankful for the contributions made each  week by our directors: Abby Salsedo & Melisa Pate.

Week after week and year after year they work together to invest in the lives our children.

This year they have six that will be leaving kidz church and moving up to the next level. These six children will be taking with them all those years of teaching and training. 

Only eternity will reveal how these two ladies have impacted the lives of these children.

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTIES

We always enjoy the wonderful food and fellowship that we have at Christmas time.
Everyone from the youngest to the oldest get involved in Christmas parties, singing and programs.
There were parties for our children, youth, widows, Sunday school classes and for the entire church.
 
To see more pictures of the Youth Christmas Party go here:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1202415199806241.1073741914.322812197766550&type=1&l=64ae9ec465


Our young people have had a tremendous year of outreach. They visited the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department and took baked goods and a card signed by all the youth to show support for their dedicated work.


     

We are very proud of our young people and their desire to be involved in the community and outreach. We are blessed to have Ed & Beth Baker leading them in the work of God.

ARE YOU READY FOR A COLLARD SANDWICH?

Mark you calendar because collard sandwiches are coming!

The Women's Ministries is sponsoring a "Collard Sandwich & Dumplins Supper" beginning at 5:00 p.m. before the Wednesday evening service.

There's nothing quite like a "Lumbee Indian Fried Cornbread Fritter Collard Green Sandwich" and the old fashioned "Lumbee Pastry" also known as "Dumplins" anytime but especially on a cold January night.

Make supper plans now!
THE SHEPHERDS IN CONCERT

We are looking forward to worshiping with "The Shepherds" on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. January 11.

The name  "The Shepherds" has become synonymous with Gospel Music. 

In the early 90's the group was formed out of Sandersville, GA and has turned into a mainstay in Gospel Music.

Their true family harmony and added youthfulness create a unique vocal blend with a progressive sound that is re-defining gospel music for future generations. 

Although their roots are primarily Southern Gospel, The Shepherds latest recording, "Reality" features a variety of styles in Christian Music that seem to be connecting with a diverse group of audiences.

The Shepherds perform mostly original material written by group member Debra Shepherd. Debra has not only become a respected writer for The Shepherds, but has also had many songs to be released nationwide and into other countries such as: Ireland, Honduras, Africa, and Russia. 

Many mainstream southern gospel artists have also recorded her songs including, The Freemans, The McKameys, The Hoppers, The Hoskins Family, The Inspirations, and The Kingsmen, just to name a few.

Some of the songs made popular by The Shepherds that have reached national chart status include:  "A Friend of God," "Oh Yes He Is," "It'll Be Hard Not Cry," "There's Still Time For A Miracle," "God Will Never Run Out Of Blessings," and their signature song  "There's  A Miracle In The Making."  https://youtu.be/3r5BkWAu-b4
MEN'S DAY

We will be celebrating our 6th annual "Men's Day" on Sunday, January 29 with the  theme "Man of God Walking by Faith".

Our guest speaker will be Bishop Ken Boyd who  has served in various positions in the Church of God including:
  • State Council Member, Youth Board and Evangelism Board Member for over 40 years.
  • He has served as State Administrative Bishop, (Oklahoma 6 years and West Virginia 6 years)
  • Evangelism (USA Missions) Director (ENC 4 Years) and Youth & Discipleship Director in Utah and Eastern North Carolina for 5 years.
  • His last pastorate was Praise Fellowship Church of God in Fayetteville, NC where he served for 6 years.
He has spent a total of 21 years in Administration and 26 years Pastoral Ministries full time.

Bishop Boyd has been married to Faye Pittman Boyd for 53 years and they reside in Wilson, N.C. 

They have two children: Jimmy (son) and Vanessa, pastor Destination Community COG in Fuquay, NC, Children, Jaxon, 15 and Bella, 12.   

Rita (daughter) and Scott Sauls serve Farmington Heights in Wilson, NC as Administrative Pastor.  Children, Aurie, 20 and Blaine 14.

Their greatest joy has been serving God, family and church for over 50 years.
 
NEW YEAR

So it begins, a New Year filled with hope and promise.

Make this year count for God; it is high time that we awake from our sleep and get to work. This could very well be the year that Jesus comes and He expects to find us busy. We must redeem the time because the days are evil and we are running out of time.

This is no time to sit on the sidelines or become an armchair quarterback; we have way to many back seat drivers in the church today. 

"The hardest thing about milking cows," observed a farmer, " is that they never stay milked." Ministry never ends; it is a continual cycle and everything in the work of God is important.

Martin Luther understood this when he wrote, 

"The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays -- not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors.  The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship."

Let's get busy and give God our best in the New Year!