Liturgical Arts Ministry presents “Lift Every Voice”. A Black History play via Zoom.

Join the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement in a workshop on Loving People and Planet in the Name of God: Engaging the Local Church. The workshop will prepare you to (1) understand creation care and climate justice in the Wesleyan Tradition, (2) recognize environmental concerns and solutions, (3) incorporate creation care into your worship and (4) exercise environmental stewardship in the life of your congregation and community. It also will focus on practical approaches to greening your buildings, grounds, ministry and witness. 

Five two-hour sessions will be held Feb. 28 and March 4, 7, 11 and 14, from 7-9 p.m. The cost is $15, which includes the book, “Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action.” Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/loving-people-and-planet-in-the-name-of-god-engaging-the-local-church-tickets-138680070825 .

For more information, visit https://umcreationjustice.org.

“Life Lessons from Romans,” an eight-week Bible study on the book of Romans, will be held during the Lenten season beginning Wednesday, Feb. 24, through Wednesday, April 7. If you are interested in participating this weekly study, please contact the church office. 

Pastor Donnell FitzJefferies will lead the Ash Wednesday Service on February 17, 2021 at 7pm (EST) via Zoom.  Use the same Zoom link we use for Sunday Services.

Through fasting, we are more spiritually aware of God’s presence, His power and we can see Him more clearly. We can see what He demands from us and what He wants us to do. 

Biblical fasting always goes hand in hand with prayer. Remember that fasting is not “earning” an answer to prayer. God cannot be blackmailed by human effort. God wants to answer our prayers and He answers out of grace. Fasting simply prepares us for God’s answer. 

Guidelines for fasting:

• Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m., consume no bread, no carbohydrates, no sodas and no sweets
• Monday-Saturday, 6 p.m.-6 a.m., consume only water, juice, fruit smoothies; no social networks
• Sundays, all day, no fasting
• Contact your physician before starting any fast.

During Lent, we are asking you to pray every day at noon for three specific areas: 

1. Scriptural Holiness – Greater devotion to live scripturally holy lives (reading and following the Word); 
2. Evangelism – Creating disciples of Christ through effectively spreading the Word; and
3. Giving of Oneself for Others – Read Matthew 25:31-46, then put Jesus’ teachings into practice by choosing an act of service to perform throughout Lent. 

Boy Scout Troop 441 will not distribute “Scouting for Food” door hangers in neighborhoods this year, due to COVID-19. Instead, the troop will collect canned goods/nonperishable donations on Saturday, Feb. 13, from noon until 12:45 p.m., at the Britton Street parking lot. Thank you for your support of this annual event of the Boy Scouts of America. All donations will benefit the Saint Matthews UMC Food Pantry. 

Currently, the COVID-19 vaccine is being administered by appointment only to individuals 65 and older. For details, visit the website, phone or email the organization(s) listed below:

• Cone Health, 336-890-1188, covidvaccine@conehealth.com
• Cone Health Wesley Long Hospital, 336-832-7000
• Wake Forest Baptist Health
• Guilford County Health Department, 336-641-7944, CovidVaccineInfo@guilfordcountync.gov

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) of The United Methodist Church has more than 70 scholarship and loan opportunities available for students. Funds will be granted in September 2021.

The enrollment period is now through March 24.

APPLICANTS MUST: 

• Be a graduating high school student, full-time undergraduate, graduate student (even one changing his/her career path) 
• Be a member of the United Methodist Church for at least one year prior to applying 
• Be enrolled in an accredited college or university within the United States 
• Maintain at least a 2.5 GPA 

For information about GBHEM scholarships and loans, visit https://www.gbhem.org/loans-and-scholarships.

2020 was the first year Saint Matthews UMC members took advantage of this benefit. We want to increase the number of scholarship recipients with a focus on our male students in 2021. For additional information, contact Albertina McGirt (see directory or bulletin for contact information). 

United Methodist Women of the Western North Carolina Conference have a scholarship program for students attending one of the Methodist-related colleges in North Carolina and pursuing an academic course of study leading to a church-related vocation such as Christian Education. All applicants must be members of the United Methodist Church and must reside within the bounds of the Western North Carolina Conference. 

Methodist Colleges include Bennett College, Brevard College, Greensboro College, High Point University and Pfeiffer University. 

To request applications and additional information, please write to: Cathy McCauley, WNCC UMW Scholarship Chairperson, 6835 Farmingdale Drive, Apt. A, Charlotte, NC 28212, or email cathymc855@yahoo.com. 

Complete applications are due to the committee by March 1, 2021, so send your request to Ms. McCauley as soon as possible. 

For more information, visit https://wnccumw.org/scholarship-program. Contact Albertina McGirt at hefavorsme7@triad.rr.com with any questions or assistance needed to apply. 

Maria King from the Northern Piedmont District Office invites congregations of color within the district to attend a zoom call on Sunday, Jan. 31, 5 p.m., for A Conversation with Iulia Vann, MD, MPH, assistant health director for Guilford County. Dr. Vann eagerly wants to be available with updates about the COVID-19 vaccine and to answer questions you have concerning the vaccine in Guilford County. Our nation’s history of vaccines is just one of the many violent sins committed against non-Anglo communities. Vann is aware of this history and wants to be available for questions. If you have questions about this event, contact King at aking@wnccumc.org. 

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85889794634 

Meeting ID: 858 8979 4634 

Dial-in option: (646) 876-9923,85889794634#