Matthews
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April 2018 - In This Issue:
HE IS RISEN

When Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus went to Pontius Pilate and begged the body of the Lord. They had to rig a ladder to climb up the side of the cross, and then they had to pull the hands of our Lord off and over the nails. There was no way they could get the spikes out of the wood with His hands in between the wood and the nail head.  They removed His feet in the same manner. 
They took Him down from the cross, washed His body and wrapped it in white linen. They then placed His body in a new tomb, which Joseph had prepared for himself.

As they walked away from the tomb you could no doubt hear muffled crying. They were thinking, "It's over; the hope of the reigning Messiah is all over."
BUT on the third day the stone rolled away, and up from the grave He arose!

When Lazarus was raised from the dead, he had to have help to be loosed or unwrapped from his grave clothes. Jesus didn't need any help from men or angels even though the spices weighed as much as a hundred pounds.

In His resurrected and glorified state Jesus passed through the grave clothes; latter He passed through a closed door to be with the disciples.

John 10:17 

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Peter and John had walked with Jesus for 3 years and watched as He opened blind eyes and deaf ears; they watched as He literally raised the dead.

But then they watched Him die; all of their hopes and dreams were shattered! All they could think of was that it's over! For 3 long days they were in the depths of despair.
Peter even said, "I'm going fishing"; I'm going back to what I used to do. 

Luke 23:46 

46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

There was a six-year-old boy taking a walk with his grandmother when they decided to detour through the local cemetery. 
They stopped to read some of the tombstones and Grandma explained that the first date on the tombstones was the day the person was born and the second date was the day the person died. 
The little boy asked,  "Why do some tombstones only have one date?" The grandmother explained, 
"Because those people haven't died yet." 

The little boy was stunned by his grandmother's explanation because, that night, he couldn't stop talking about their walk. 
He said, with wide eyes,  "Mom, did you know some of the people buried in the cemetery aren't even dead yet!" 

But Jesus was dead and He was placed in the tomb, BUT 3 days later, death could not hold Him; up from the grave He arose!

When the disciples were told by Mary that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him; they did not believe her. Not only did they not believe Mary; they didn't believe what Jesus had told them.

When you visit a cemetery, you can't help but notice the beautiful epitaphs. Some epitaphs are carved in granite, marble or written in gold. 
But the most beautiful epitaph of all was the epitaph for Jesus. 
It wasn't written in granite, marble or gold; it was spoken out of the mouth of an angel.

Matthew 28:6 a

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said

Jesus is alive; death could hold Him!

Easter is about believing! 
Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?

John 11:25-26 

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?



HANDS OF GOD
Dr. Ken & Trish Bell

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Ken Bell, WNC State Administrative Bishop, will be  with us for Pastor Appreciation Day, Sunday, April 29 at 11:00 a.m.

Dr. Bell served a number of years as the Administrative Liaison to the General Overseer, Church of God International Offices and in other capacities as well over the past 25 years. 

This year's theme is: "The Hands of God" - Joining Hands with Our Pastor.

"...and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun" (Exodus 17:12)

Dinner will be served in the fellowship hall following the service.


MEMBER IN SPOTLIGHT

Our member in spotlight for the month of April is Amy Griffin.

Amy is a native of Charlotte, NC where she graduated from Independence High School and also attended King's Business College. 
She works for American Wick Drain, a  manufacturing company in Monroe, as Senior Inside Sales Specialist. 

In the summer of 2007 she changed careers to work in childcare and began pursuing her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. She feels she is using the talents and abilities that the Lord has given her and feels blessed to be able to do what she loves.

Amy is very active in the church serving as Team Leader for the Pastoral Support Team, Assistant Treasurer, and as a member of the Stewardship Committee. She works with the 4-7 year old Cubby Bear's class on Wednesday evenings and helps out with children's activities when she is needed. 

Amy is grateful for any opportunity to serve the Lord and wants to give Him the glory for all of His many blessings. She and her husband Chip have been married since 1998 and they have two beautiful children - Caitlin and Cody. She enjoys spending time with her family, church activities, reading and going to school.



A SURPRISE PARTY

A surprise party was held for the 1st Lady, Gayle Jacobs Brackett to celebrate her fight against breast cancer! 

A select few ladies were invited and came dressed in pink in recognition of breast cancer survivors.




CELEBRATING PALM SUNDAY




Matthews Church of God
517 E John St.
Matthews, NC  28105
704-847-5625




"A Church with open arms, a smiling face and a loving heart for all people."  
COME WORSHIP WITH US!