The Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service hosted by the Western North Carolina Conference (WNCC) of The United Methodist Church will be held Saturday, Jan. 14, 10-11:30 a.m., via Zoom, Facebook Live and YouTube. The theme is “It Starts with Me: The Quest to Create the Beloved Community” and the focus scripture is Micah 6:8.

M. Garlinda Burton, director for resource development for the General Commission on Religion and Race. will be the keynote speaker. A deaconess in The United Methodist Church, Burton has more than 30 years of experience as a writer, editor, producer and trainer around issues of intercultural competency, racial justice and gender justice. She is also committed to helping the church engage and nurture children, youth and young adults as positive and powerful change agents for the cause of Jesus Christ. 

The winners of the Youth Art and Essay Contest for students in elementary, middle and high school will be announced at this virtual event. The deadline to submit contest entries was Jan. 6.

*This event and contest are sponsored by WNCC Black Methodist for Church Renewal (BMCR), WNCC Commission on Religion and RACE (CORR) and WNCC-Justice and Reconciliation Team (J&R). Main contact: Rev. Tamara Ingram, 336-420-8347, pastortammyz@aol.com 

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Breakfast will take place on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. Tickets will be available beginning  Monday, Dec. 12. The cost is $20 each or $160 per 8-seat table. To purchase tickets, contact Marion Davis (Human Relations Department, City of Greensboro) at 336-373-2032 or marion.davis@greensboro-nc.gov. Anyone interested in sitting together as members of Saint Matthews UMC should contact Karlah Burton. Cash, check or money order only, please. Thank you! ~MLK, Jr. Annual Breakfast Planning Committee 

The Messenger Newsletter Committee needs your help to meet their goal of 500 by the end of December. We have faith that this is possible because of God’s bountiful blessings to each of us every day. Our 500 sentences will be published in a book and displayed in the church. We would love to have sentences from all our members and friends. Please send your many sentences soon to Wanda Edgerton. 

Christmas lights are symbols of the Light that came into the world with the birth of Christ. Enjoy them and use LED’s wherever you can to take care of the world that Jesus lit up with his presence. 

UNITED METHODIST STUDENT DAY is one of six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church. United Methodist Student Day calls the church to support students as they prepare for life in uniting faith with knowledge. The special offering provides scholarships for qualified United Methodist applicants.

Saint Matthews UMC will celebrate Student Day on Sunday, Nov. 27. To donate, you may select ‘Special’ or ‘Other’ on the church offering envelope or on the online giving app and then write in ‘Student Day’. Thank you for your support. ~Higher Education & Campus Ministry 

Calling all United Methodist Women who have an interest in being an officer for 2023-2024, the following positions are open: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Spiritual Growth Leader, Social Action and Nominations. Contact Roslyn Smith McLean as soon as possible. Share your gifts of talent, leadership and service.

There are two options for submitting photos: (1) via email in .jpg format to Pamela Moye or (2) in a sealed envelope labeled with your name in the “Membership” box in the multi-purpose

Join us at TRUNK & TREAT on Sunday, Oct. 30, 4-6 p.m., in the Britton Street parking lot for lots of fun and treats.

We need persons or ministries willing to help us by donating bags of individually wrapped candy, items to support healthy coping skills for children, (e.g., bubbles, pop-its, stress balls, etc.) and/or monetary donations to the Children & Youth ministry. You may place your physical donations in one of the bins marked “Trunk & Treat Donation” in the Narthex or near the Britton Street door exit. Monetary donations should be placed in a church envelope labeled Children & Youth and left in designated offerings receptacles. A special thank you to the United Women of Faith for providing healthy bagged food for the children. There is still space for those willing to pass out candy from their vehicle.

If you want to participate or if you have questions, please contact Jasmine Williams or Ajalyn Baker. Thank you in advance! — Children & Youth Ministries

Please submit your 2023 Stewardship Campaign documents (e.g., 2023 Commitment Card, SMUMC Worship & Service Opportunity Form, Box-Tops for Education) by Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. The campaign ends Monday, Oct. 31. Designated boxes are located on the information tables at the main and Britton Street entrances. Commitment cards will be processed by Lisa Pyrtle, finance secretary, and the Worship & Service forms by Tia Powell and Albertina McGirt. —The Stewardship Committee

The 2022 Saint Matthews UMC Fall Festival will be Saturday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall and adjacent parking Lot and on the front lawn. The theme is Healthy Eating. Join us for the activities listed below and so much fun!

• Healthy food/beverage preparation demonstrations
• Healthy recipes for children/youth
• Electric car show
• Polystyrene recycling
• Pumpkin patch
• FREE COVID-19 vaccinations
• Medical presentations (nutrition and disease prevention)
• Gardening demonstrations (Theme: Environment/Creation Care)
• Short films/videos

Participating vendors include Citizens Climate Lobby, Electric Motor Club of High Point, Second Harvest Food Bank of NW North Carolina, Recipe for Success, UNC Greensboro, Old North State Medical Society and other invited guests.

Saint Matthews UMC is a part of the Partners in Health and Wholeness Collaborative/NC Council of Churches. This event is hosted by the SMUMC Creation Care Ministry/Community Garden Project.