“Giving Thanks Faithfully”

Thanksgiving is typically my favorite holiday.   It involves some of my favorite food, spending time with family, and mostly relaxing (except for that whole preparing a big meal thing).  Given that it’s my favorite holiday, I’m one of those people who grumbles as the whole idea of starting to celebrate Christmas before Thanksgiving.  I came across an article this week by Ann Michel, an author on the topic of Christian generosity and stewardship, about the importance of thanksgiving for people of faith and it spoke to me, particularly given the focus of our current message series in worship.  I hope you enjoy this too!

Blessings, Chris

Growing up in a nominally religious household, Thanksgiving was the one night of the year when my family offered a blessing at the dinner table. I cringe when I think back on those prayers which so often used the language of piety to celebrate our relative good fortune. It’s never a bad thing to take stock of your blessings, of course. But I’ve become sensitive to the ways that our Thanksgiving rituals can foster a sense of gratitude that is more about pride and self-satisfaction than a humble acknowledgment of our dependence on God.

Faith calls us to a more fulsome embodiment of gratitude — one that focuses less on what we are grateful for and more on the God to whom we owe gratitude.

For Christians, the generosity of God is one of our most fundamental beliefs. God lovingly and graciously provides for our needs. God is the source of every good gift. But this belief can easily be distorted and even abused if we allow ourselves to see material excess as a sign of divine favor, if we mistakenly confuse God’s abundance with our proclivity toward overconsumption, and if we use the truth that everything we have is a gift from God to bolster the untruth that we somehow deserve what we have. These heresies are at the root of the American prosperity gospel. Too often, they lurk behind our expressions of gratitude as we gather for the annual Thanksgiving feast.

The truth is we don’t deserve anything. God’s gifts are unmerited and intended for all. God does not use generosity as a reward for a faithful few but rather to bring forth abundance for all. In a culture that extolls the virtue of self-sufficiency, it can be difficult to acknowledge our ultimate dependence on God’s provision. Having ample resources can leave us with the erroneous assumption that we can take care of our own needs, a hubris that blinds us to the ways God provides day by day.

Faith calls us to a more fulsome embodiment of gratitude — one that focuses less on what we are grateful for and more on the God to whom we owe gratitude. If gratitude is nothing more than celebrating what we have, it can spur us to want more. If gratitude points to God as giver, it reminds us of God’s generosity and inspires us be generous as God is generous. True gratitude always points to God not to ourselves. It is about the giver not the gift.

Churches often focus on gratitude and generosity in this season as part of their annual stewardship focus. This is a good thing — unless it’s nothing more than a fundraising ploy. Encouraging gratitude and generosity in support of God’s mission through the church is not an end unto itself. God’s purpose in calling us to lives of gratitude, generosity, and faithful stewardship isn’t merely to sustain the church. Rather, I’ve come to believe that the continued existence of the church is essential to sustain the powerful, transformative message of our faith regarding how we are to live in relation to money and material possessions.

Gratitude, generosity, and stewardship are more than a fundraising plan for the church. They are instruments God uses to counter greed and scarcity, to transform and reconcile communities, and to bring forth the abundant life that God intends for all God’s people. In an era of rampant consumerism and increasing income inequality, the world stands in need of the redeeming power of this gospel message. And keeping God the focus of our Thanksgiving is a good place to start.

Mission

To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Vision

Nelson Memorial UMC seeks to be a place where all God’s broken, hurting, and imperfect children discover wholeness and community while experiencing the warm and welcoming love of Jesus Christ.  We seek to connect with one another to grow in our knowledge and love of God, to encourage each person to live out their unique calling to serve God, and to make a difference in the Boonville community and throughout the world.

Priorities

Developing and Nurturing Faith in Children and Youth

Fostering Growth and Community in Worship and Small Groups

Provide Opportunities to Serve God in Boonville and Beyond

Worship This Sunday

This Sunday in worship we will conclude our series “Let’s Talk About Money.”  This week our scripture reading will be from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 19, verses 1-8:

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.  A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.  He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately.  I must stay at your house today.”  So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord!  Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

This Sunday we will begin our service with the song– Thank You Lord – by Chris Tomlin, Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line.  Our hymns this Sunday are Leaning On the Everlasting Arms & Jesus Call Us.  Our praise song this week is Lord, I Need You.  Additionally, the choir will sing I Will Give Thanks as the prelude at the 10:20 service.

Virtual Worship Information

In addition to in-person worship, each Sunday we will live-stream our 10:20 worship service. The service can be viewed on our Facebook Page.  The service will start approximately 10:25 after the gathering song.  We will continue to post a recording of our message each week to our website by early Sunday afternoon.  We are excited to be able to extend our worship services in these ways.

COVID Updates

At our most recent Administrative Board meeting, the board reviewed COVID numbers in the state and Cooper and Howard counties, and our congregation’s current practices. The Board made the decision to remove the seating restrictions in the Sanctuary.  Starting this Sunday, all pews will have cushions and be open for seating.  Masks are still optional for everyone and encouraged for those who are not fully vaccinated.  The Board is committed to continuing to monitor the latest COVID conditions and will discuss any further changes at upcoming meetings.

Announcements

Community Thanksgiving Service – The Boonslick Ministerial Alliance will hold their annual Community Thanksgiving Service this year on Tuesday, November 23 at 6:00 pm at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.  Please join us for this time of fellowship, worship, and community.

2021 Angel Tree – Our Angels have arrived and they are available on the Christmas tree in the Sanctuary.  Be sure to write down your name and phone number next to your angel tree number on the clip board provided in the front pews.  We ask that the children’s gifts be back in the Sanctuary no later than Sunday, December 5^th for the dedication of the gifts. 

The Angel Tree party will be on Saturday, Dec. 11th at 11:00 a.m., beginning with a short message in the Sanctuary and lunch to follow in Fellowship Hall.  We are needing dessert donations.  Please make plans to join us in this very special ministry to our church.  As always, we are so grateful for the way in which our church family supports this Matthew 25 ministry to the children of incarcerated parents.

Decorating for Christmas – We are looking for help to decorate the Sanctuary for Advent and Christmas.  Everyone is invited to stay after the 10:20 worship service on Sunday, November 28 as we beautify our space for the Christmas season.  With many hands making for light work, it shouldn’t take us very long to complete this work.  Thanks in advance for the help!

Living Nativity – Our Living Nativity Christmas Eve tradition will continue this year and your help is needed.  We are looking for people to be our “actors” in a “still scene” as part of this experience.  We are planning on have actors present from about 3:45 pm until around 5:00 pm, then another group from about 6:15 pm until our service begins at 7:00 pm, and back out there following the service for about 30 minutes.  Each group will need 6 – 10 people.  Please let Pastor Chris know if you are able to help.

Central Missouri Community Action Center Care Baskets – Nelson Memorial is the collection and distribution point for this year’s Christmas baskets.  Each basket contains approximately $100 worth of personal and household items, ranging from toilet paper, diapers, dish soap, trash bags, hand soaps, and other items.  Donations can be made to the church (indicate on the memo line “CMCA baskets”). Thank You!

Salvation Army Bell-Ringing – We still need a couple more volunteers to ring the bells at Walmart on Saturday, December 11th.  If you would like to take an hour, a sign-up sheet will be in the East wing narthex (where we serve refreshments after worship).  The money gathered will be available to local residents in need.  Child volunteers are welcome, but will need an adult present.

Women’s Bible Study – There will be no Women’s Bible Study on Wednesday, November 24th due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.  They will start back up on Wednesday, December 1st.  Thank you!

Coats for Kids Program – Thank you everyone who gave so generously of their time and money to Coats for Kids.  Blessings, Heather Beach.

Christmas Program – This year’s Christmas Program, “Stories of a Savior,” will be performed on December 19th during the 10:20 service. The story of our Savior does not start with His birth…it starts back with Adam and Eve and our NEED for a Savior. Come watch Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, David, Mary, Simeon, and Anna all tell their stories of a Savior.  Rehearsals will take place during Children’s Church (10:20 service) beginning in early November.

Important dates for children involved:

12/5/21 – Quick run through after 10:20 service 12/12/21 – Dress rehearsal after 10:20 (Pizza served for lunch). 

12/19/21 – Production 

Events this week:

Monday, November 22: TOPS, 9:30 am, Foundations Classroom

Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, November 23: Ministerial Alliance Community Thanksgiving Service, 6:00 pm, Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Wednesday, November 24: Al Anon, Noon, Church Lounge

Thursday, November 25: Happy Thanksgiving!  Office Closed.

Friday, November 19: Office Closed

Al Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Closing Words of Wisdom:

Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow