Trial and Error

“Wow, I’m really good at this too!” 

I still smile every time I remember our niece, maybe three years old at the time, saying this phrase after hitting a plastic ball off a tee for the first time.  We were hosting a family celebration (Easter maybe) and the boys wanted to show off their “amazing” tee-ball skills to their grandparents.  My niece, who up to that point had never held a bat in her hands, picked it up, mimicked her cousins’ stance and took a mighty swing.  The ball flew about 15-20 feet, about the same distance as her cousins had managed to hit it, and she let out that above exclamation: “Wow, I’m really good at this too!” 

It’s pretty amazing when you have instant success at something.  But it is also pretty rare.  Most of the time when we start a new skill, hobby, or endeavor, we find that there is a learning curve.  We spend between hours to years learning how to develop and grow, finding out there was so much more to a given task or skill than we ever realized from our outsiders’ perspective. 

This is how I feel with the new streaming technology we have at the church.  It was so exciting when all the upgrades were finally completed and we had the capability to share our worship services in a new (to us) way.  But then came the task of learning exactly how to do it and what all it really entails.  For instance, on the particular software we use that gives us the capability of either streaming or recording the worship service, I thought all we had to do was hit the button that says, “begin streaming,” and it would happen.  But I’ve come to find out there are about 7 steps to take prior to hitting that magic button, and then one more after, before the streaming actually begins. 

Another lesson I have learned (and am continuing to learn) while beginning our foray into broadcasting worship is about the world of copyright laws.  Our church has long had a license to print or display copyrighted material in worship.  But, as I’ve found out, that license doesn’t cover broadcasting.  There is another set of rules and regulations around what can be streamed without violating copyright laws.  For instance, we cannot stream (or broadcast) pre-recorded materials that we did not create – this includes music and videos.  (I found this out the hard way last week when our worship service was flagged for a copyright violation for including the music video to “Say I Won’t.”)  We had to edit that part of the service out in order to be able to display the service online. 

With all that said, we are going to try again this Sunday to livestream our 10:20 service to our Facebook page.  In order to do so, we are changing our worship elements a bit.  We will still view the video for the song we are focusing on, but we will do so before the service (and livestream) begins.  Also, we will no longer include a video hymn in our service, as it is a violation of copyright restrictions (and probably always has been, we just didn’t know it).  Our intent is to incorporate at least one newer (made in the last 20 years) praise-oriented song each week into our service in the place of the video hymn. 

I am excited about our ability to offer a high-quality livestream of our worship services for those in our congregation who cannot be physically present each week, and for the potential this offers for new ministry.  I thank you all for your patience with us as we learn and grow in our proficiency in this new form of ministry and for your understanding as we make a few changes in our services to accommodate it.  We’re not there yet, but I’m looking forward to the day where we can say, “Wow, we’re really good at this too!”

It is an honor to be your pastor and be in ministry alongside you to a God who helps move us along to perfection!

Blessings, Chris

Worship This Sunday

This Sunday we continue our message series “Mixtape.”  This week’s message is inspired by the song Trust in You, by Lauren Diagle.  Our scripture reading will be from Exodus chapter 16, verses 1 through 5.

The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.  In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.  The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!  There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.  The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.  In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.  On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that it to be twice as much as they gather on other days.”

We will begin our service with the song Trust in You by Lauren Diagle.  Our hymns for Sunday include: God Will Take Care of You, All in All, and Trust and Obey.  

COVID Updates

At our Administrative Board meeting last week, the board reviewed COVID conditions and our congregation’s practices and agreed to continue to encourage social distancing in worship by keeping half of the pews closed for the time being.  Even though the CDC has revised their recommendations for masking, suggesting all people should once again wear masks when indoors, we are not changing our masking requirement at this time.  Masks are still optional, but encouraged.  The Board is committed to continuing to monitor the latest COVID conditions and will discuss any further changes at upcoming meetings.

Announcements

A/V Upgrade Update – Our technology upgrade is complete.  We have installed new cameras, projectors, and supporting equipment.  Our internet service has been upgraded to a high-speed connection, which will now allow us to livestream our worship services each week.  We will try again this week to live-stream our 10:20 worship service to our Facebook Page.  We will continue to post a recording of our message each week to our website by early Sunday afternoon.  (Apologies that it was not available until late in the day last Sunday.)  We are excited to be able to extend our worship services in these ways. 

Baby Grace – We have been receiving lots of donations for Baby Grace, which is such a blessing.  It also means we have extra work to do when we “size and sort” the donations.  Each month Baby Grace holds a “size and sort” worktime on the second Thursday of the month beginning at 1:00 pm (in the Church Annex).  Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Collections for Missions – The Outreach Committee thanks you or your contributions to the LSE Middle School and Boonville High School Hygiene Packs.  We will be able to give each school 6 of these packs for use when they are needed. 

We now turn our attention to the Personal Hygiene Packs for the annual MO Festival of Sharing.  Below is a description of what is sought for each project.  If you’d prefer to donate cash, that would be great.  Each pack has an approximate value of $20.

Missouri Personal Hygiene Pack:

1 bottle lotion (10-16 oz.), 1 fluoride toothpaste (6 oz. or more), 1 toothbrush (in original package), 1 bath size bar of soap (in package), 1 bottle shampoo (12-16 oz.), 2 razors, 1 comb or brush, 1 deodorant, 1 washcloth, 1 hand towel (please place items in a 2 gallon zip lock bag)

Items or monetary donations for the Missouri Personal Hygiene Packs are requested to be returned by September 19.

Choir Practice Beginning this week – Calling all musicians—the NMUMC Choir is returning this week! The choir is open to any musicians ages 12+ who are interested in singing or playing a musical instrument during worship. Practices will be held every other Wednesday evening beginning September 1, from 6-7 P.M. in the church sanctuary. Just let Leah Gumbel or Sara Snyder know.

We’re looking forward to making some joyful noise together!!  Please remember when signing up for choir that the church’s current Covid-19 policy makes masks optional for those who are fully vaccinated. If you have any questions, contact Sara Snyder (417-343-1124) or Leah Gumbel.

Events this week:

Sunday, August 29: Youth Group, 5:00 pm, Jackson’s home

Monday, August 30: TOPS, 9:00 am, Foundations Classroom

Al Anon, 8:00 pm, Church Lounge

Wednesday, September 1: Al Anon, Noon, Church Lounge

Choir Rehearsal, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary

Friday, August 27: Al Anon, 8:00 pm, Church Lounge

Closing Words of Wisdom:

The expert in anything was once a beginner.” — Helen Hayes