May 2021 - In This Issue:
  • WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR HANDS?
  • MOTHER'S DAY
  • CARTOONS
  • PASTOR APPRECIATION DAY
  • DEAR MCOG CONGREGATION
  • FELLOWSHIP DINNER
  • BOLOGNA
  • ASSOCIATE MINISTER
  • GOSSIP
  • EASTER SUNDAY
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR HANDS?

There is power when we raise our hands in prevailing prayer. Moses kept his hands raised in prevailing prayer and Israel won the victory!

I Timothy 2:8 
8 I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

The scripture instructs us to lift up our hands in worship and in praise to God. Our hands are important in worship because when we lift our hands, God acknowledges it and receives the praise.
Something happens in the spiritual realm when we lift up holy hands to the Lord.
What are you doing with your hands?
Psalm 134:2 
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

Moses laid his hands on Joshua and something supernatural happened, Joshua received a special touch of the spirit that caused him to be full of wisdom. There is something powerful about the laying on of hands.

You can receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.

Acts 8:17 
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

We need another Pentecost with a fresh outpouring of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is desperately needed in these last days as we face demonic powers. The power of the Holy Ghost will give us the boldness we need to stand in this evil day.

You can be healed by the laying on of hands.

Mark 16:18 b
18 They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

We've been dealing with a pandemic that has sought to bring us to a screeching halt with fear and fear has torment. Do we still believe in the healing touch of Jesus Christ? Do we still believe in divine healing? Then let us pray as the disciples prayed in Acts 4 to receive the boldness we need and to be full of the Holy Ghost and faith.
What are you doing with your hands?

Let’s lift our hands to the Lord in praise!
Let’s clap our hands and give the voice of triumph!
Let's lay hands on believers that they might be filled with the Holy Ghost!
Let’s lay hands on the sick and see them recover!


A teacher had been teaching her class about magnets. She then gave them a pop quiz. One of the questions was: “My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I?"

When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was surprised that half the class answered the question with the word “Mother”.



Children's Mother's Day Cards:

  • Angie, eight years old, wrote: “Mother, I am going to make dinner for you on Mother’s Day. It is going to be a surprise. P.S. I hope you like pizza and popcorn.”
  • Robert wrote, “I got a snake for you for Mother’s Day. I hope you like the snake better than the turtle I got you last year.”
  • Ellen wrote, “Dear Mother, I wish Mother’s Day wasn’t always on Sunday. It would be better if it were on Monday so we wouldn’t have to go to school.”
  • Little Diane wrote: “I hope you like the flowers I got you for Mother’s Day. I picked them myself when Mrs. Smith wasn’t looking.”
  • Carolyn wrote: “Dear Mother, Here are two aspirins. Have a happy Mother’s Day.”
PASTOR & 1ST LADY APPRECIATION DAY
DEAR MCOG CONGREGATION,
This has been a challenging time for all of us in so many ways. I appreciate your kindness, sympathy, and thoughtfulness during this past month with the loss of my mother. It gave you an opportunity to really show what a great congregation you are, you helped us through it all. You have no idea how much all you have done has meant, for all the little and big ways you’ve reached out to us.

We can never thank you enough for your expressions of kindness during “Pastor & 1st Lady Appreciation Week”, you always know how to make life a little brighter for us. You went above and beyond, and we were touched and grateful.

A very special thank you to our "Pastoral Support Team": Amy Griffin, Livian Hunt, Pearlyn Bremer, Lisa Pate, and Sonia Solis for planning this special week. There was nothing random about your acts of kindness, our hearts have been deeply touched and your thoughtfulness is a gift we will always treasure.
We were deeply touched and humbled by your generosity and thoughtfulness.

For all our burden-bearing, laughter-sharing, forever-caring friends, a very happy, hug-filled, heartfelt thanks!

We Love You,
Pastor & 1st Lady
FELLOWSHIP DINNER
It was so good to be able to share a meal together on "Pastor Appreciation Day". The fellowship was wonderful and the food was delicious!

A great big thank you goes out to our serving crew:
L-R Christina Cooper, Pearlyn Bremer, Livian Hunt, Jeanie Walker, Karen Fitzgerald, Ashlyn Hobbs, Stephanie & Scott Hobbs.
Several crows were sitting in a tree.  Most were quietly resting, but three old crows cawed and cawed.  They were trying to out brag each other, telling about everything they could do.  The rest of the crows knew most of what the three said was not true.  But they kept their mouths shut and politely remained quiet. While the three crows talked, they looked across the farmyard. They looked at the farmhouse and saw an open window.  They watched with interest as they saw the farmer's wife finish cooking up a pan of bologna.  She set it on the window ledge to cool. Most crows avoid people but the three were anxious to show how brave they were. 
All three left the safety of their tree and flew up to the house. They sat on the handle of the pan and stuffed themselves silly.  They ate every bit of the bologna. As they were eating, one of the crows bragged about what a good flyer he was.  He said he was so good that he could fly at top speed all the way around the far end of the field and back without stopping.  By now, the other crows were tired of the bragging.  They urged the crow to prove his words. So the crow took off at top speed.  Before he got half way he dropped to the ground and died of a heart attack. "I am in much better shape," said the second crow.  Then he flew off the handle of the pan at top speed.
He made it around the barn across the field.  Then, he collapsed and died half way back. The third crow was really bragging by then.  "I am the best there is," he cawed.  Then he took off at top speed; he left the handle of the pan and flew around the barn.  He made it to the end of the field.  He made it all the way back.  But, as he flew to sit in the tree with the other crows he began huffing and puffing.  Then he also dropped dead.

The rest of the crows shook their heads.  They all knew it was not a good idea to fly off the handle when you are full of bologna.

We are looking for an associate minister, possibly someone retired and looking for a place to continue to use their gifts without the pressure of pastoring. Maybe someone who is looking to the future to be groomed as a pastor and a place to serve. We will be glad to discuss compensation. Contact the pastor if interested: rdbrackett@matthewscog.org




Will Rogers said, "We ought to live in such a way that we would not be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."
EASTER SUNDAY
We praise God for a wonderful Easter Sunday! The church was full as we celebrated our risen and living Lord.

The choir and musicians did an exceptional job under the leadership of Beth Baker.

"Because He lives all FEAR is gone!"
Matthews Church of God
517 E John St.
Matthews, NC 28105
704-847-5625
COME WORSHIP
WITH US!
YOU CAN ALSO WATCH ONLINE:

&