“Tell Them About The Dream!”

I saw an article last week about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech. I had forgotten a very interesting fact about that history making moment.  It almost never happened.  While Dr. King was delivering his speech, he was making his way to the conclusion of his prepared remarks and had yet to truly fire-up the gathered crowd. 

Dr. King’s plan was to conclude by telling the 250,000 people gathered to “go back to our communities as members of the international association for the advancement of creative dissatisfaction.” He paused before saying these words and looked over his shoulder for just a moment.  There he saw the face of the noted gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who had sung earlier in the afternoon.  “Tell them about the dream, Martin!  Tell them about the dream,” she shouted.  And the rest, as they say, is history. 

I had forgotten that one of the most inspirational, oft-quoted, and history-changing speeches in the history of our country almost never happened.  It wasn’t in the prepared remarks and it wouldn’t have been spoken if not for the support and encouragement of a trusted friend. 

This got me thinking about what hasn’t happened in our world, or communities, our church, or our own lives because that word of encouragement wasn’t offered.  What advancements in our society haven’t happened because a young child wasn’t encouraged to develop their gift of math, science or public-speaking?  What major feats haven’t been accomplished because instead of being told “you can do it,” so many people hear they are foolish for trying?  Whose lives haven’t been changed because they didn’t receive the encouragement they needed to have the courage necessary to take a risk? 

This story is a reminder of the power that words can have.  Not just those history making words delivered by Dr. King, but those words of encouragement given to him by a friend that gave him the courage to make that bold statement.  I invite you to think about how you can use your words this week to encourage and inspire others.  I invite you to think about how you can others achieve their very best.  I invite you to remind others to “tell them about the dream.”

Blessings, Chris

Worship This Sunday

This Sunday, we continue our message series “Piecing it Together: Solving the Biblical Puzzle.”  This series will seek to introduce the major themes (or puzzle pieces) of the Bible and to show how they define the Word and work of God.  This week’s puzzle piece is about Jesus’ role in God’s redemption plan.  Our scripture reading will be from the Gospel of John, chapters 1, verses 1-14:

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  The Word was with God in the beginning.  Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being.  What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.

A man named John was sent from God.  He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light.  He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light. 

The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world.  The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light.  The light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him. 

But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God’s children, born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God.

The Word became flesh and made his home among us.  We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” 

We will begin our service with a video of the song My Lighthouse by Rend Collective.  Our hymns for Sunday include: O, How I Love Jesus, and Sent Out In Jesus’ Name.  Additionally, our video hymn this week is Glorious Day, by Casting Crowns.

COVID Precautions

It is a New Year, but we still need to remain vigilant in our COVID precautions.  Please, if you are not feeling well or for any reason believe you might have COVID, please worship with us virtually until you are feeling better. 

Please remember the new COVID precautions in place at the church: masks are now required for everyone over the age of 2, social distancing is expected, we will be disinfecting pews between services and we have modified our worship schedule to accommodate for having no more than 25% capacity (approximately 50 people) in our Sanctuary.  Our services are now at 8:00, 9:15 & 10:30.  We also request you not hang around too long after the service is over so we can have enough time to wipe down the pews and prepare for the next service.

We know there are many who do not feel comfortable attending worship at this time. Please know that even though we don’t get to see you weekly, we still want to minister to you.  Every Sunday afternoon we will post a recording of our 10:30 worship service on our Facebook page and the message on our website.  We hope this helps you feel connected until we are able to gather again without concern. 

Announcements

Blood Drive – Our Blood Drive is this coming Monday, February 1!  We currently have 23 people scheduled to donate blood.  There are still some appointments available if you or someone you know is interested in giving.  To schedule a time for donation, click here.

Ash Wednesday – Join us February 17 at 7:00 pm for our Ash Wednesday Service.  This will be a simple service of meditation, contemplation, confession and receiving ashes.  This year, instead of receiving the sign of the cross in ash on your forehead, we will sprinkle ashes over those who comes forward, as a sign of repentance and a reminder of our mortality. 

Church Conference – Our District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Mi Hyeon Lee, will be here to hold a Church Conference on Tuesday, February 16 at 6:00 pm to vote on the proposed new Administrative Board for Nelson Memorial.  If the new structure is approved, an additional vote will be held to affirm the officers elected at our Church Charge Conference in Nov 2020.  All are welcome to attend this meeting, but only professing members of Nelson Memorial UMC are eligible to vote. 

Following the Church Conference, the Administrative Board will hold their February meeting.  Attendance can be in person in the Church Lounge or via Zoom. 

Inclement Weather Policy – As recent weather events have shown, our winter weather in Missouri can be challenging!  And while we encourage our members to attend worship as frequently as they are able, we also know that when it is treacherous to travel, the wiser long-term answer is to stay safely at home.  The Trustees do have a contract with a service to clear our sidewalks and steps when it snows, so if the city has cleared the roads, we will have worship services. 

If a decision is made to not hold Sunday services because of inclement weather, an email will be sent out to notify the congregation of a cancellation, we will notify the local television stations KMIZ and KMOU and have them add it to their reports.   Additionally, we will post the closing on our Facebook page and church website.  If you do not have access to email, or if you do not have access to the media (because of power outages), call a church friend before heading out. 

Events this week:

Sunday, January 31: Youth Group, 11:30 am, Fellowship Hall

Monday, February 1: TOPS, 9:30, Foundations Classroom

Red Cross Blood Drive, 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Education Committee: 5:30 pm, Church Lounge

Al- Anon, 8:00 pm, Church Lounge

Wednesday, February 3: Al Anon, Noon, Church Lounge

Sunday, February 7: Red Sunday in worship!

Closing Words of Wisdom:

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.’” — Mark 10:27