Senior and associate pastors of Marietta First United Methodist Church
The Rev. Dr. Sam Matthews, senior minister, and the Rev. Elaine Wilder, associate minister of Marietta First UMC are the featured speakers Sept. 1 and 8 respectively on “Day 1” with host Peter Wallace, the nationally syndicated ecumenical radio program also accessible online at Day1.org.
Matthews has served as senior minister of Marietta First for 10 years. A native Georgian, he is a graduate of Piedmont College in Demorest, and earned his M.Div. from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, and his D.Min. from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur.
Wilder, who was ordained in June as an elder in full connection in the United Methodist Church, is a graduate of Furman University, Greenville, S.C., and earned her M.Div. from Duke University Divinity School in Durham, N.C.
In his sermon for Sept. 1, “A Tough Call on Humility,” Matthews explores an incident in Luke 14:1,7-14. “We are called to humility,” he says. “In humility there is obedience and obedience is its own reward. The knowledge that we have fulfilled God’s purpose for our lives is the assurance of tranquility of soul and spirit, and not any down payment on premium seating. The scripture tells us that our host may come and move us to a more exalted place… and then again, he may not.”
Wilder’s sermon for Sept. 8, based on Psalm 139, is entitled “The Whisper of Courage.” “At its heart, I believe that Psalm 139 paints a glorious picture of courageous faith,” she says. “It paints the picture of what it means to dare greatly, to let God love us and to strive to love God, to step into the arena of faith and to wear the dust and sweat and blood that make for faithful Christian living.”
Each program includes interviews with the speaker conducted by Wallace, who is executive producer.
“Day 1,” has been broadcast every week for 68 years, formerly as “The Protestant Hour.” Featuring outstanding preachers from the mainline denominations, “Day 1” is currently distributed to more than 200 radio stations across America and overseas. The program is produced by the Alliance for Christian Media, based in Atlanta, Ga.
For more information, call toll free 888-411-Day-1 or check the program’s website, http://day1.org.