Weekly Update, March 4, 2022

“Confessions of the Pastor’s Wife: The Complexities of Love”

Several years ago, I remember getting a phone call right before dinner. I was juggling plates, loading up food, and sniffing the milk to make sure it was drinkable when I glanced down at the caller ID and immediately sighed. Ugh…what now? 

The person calling me was someone I had been ministering to for awhile. This person was trying to get back on the path that leads to life, but it was a very rocky road, and I simply did not have the time nor desire to be a hiking guide. Instead of embracing the opportunity to show the love of God to someone in need, I instead chose to ask God why he insisted on brining people into my life who needed to be shown that love in the first place. With my best impersonation of Alicia Silverstone’s Clueless performance, I rolled my eyes to the sky and said, “Like, you know, God, I to-tal-ly have my own life!”

Of course, God responded in equal measure and I’m pretty sure I heard him say, “Are you serious right now?” I put down the plates and picked up the phone.

Sometimes, love is hard. If I’m being honest, I don’t always want to put out the effort to love. Love is messy. Love is complicated. Love is uncomfortable. Love makes you vulnerable. Love takes time. Love requires intentionality. Love is unpredictable. Love is hard. Why didn’t Paul say any of that in 1st Corinthians? I suppose no one would want to hang it on their living room wall…

It’s true though…real love is work. It’s so much easier to talk about it than to do it. Take my 13-year old. He’s come up with about 100 different screenplays over the years that he plans to put into development one day when he sets forth on his moviemaking life in LA. But, put a pen and paper in the child’s hand and he suddenly has something much more pressing to do than work out the details of a script that is so much more fun to just talk about. Scriptwriting is a lot of work. Talking about a concept, pretty easy.

The thing is, Jesus was pretty clear about the easy life, and it’s not for us would-be Jesus followers. Jesus said, if you want to follow me, you’d better be ready to work.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”  Matthew 16:24

If you serve me, you must go with me.  My servants will be with me wherever I am.” John 12:26

Jesus says that we can’t truly follow him unless we’re ready to give up ourselves and focus on others. We have to put aside our own ambition, our own wants, our own plans, our own will, our own perspective at times in order to put love into action. Because our job is to follow Jesus, and Jesus doesn’t always take us on a beach vacation. Where Jesus goes, life is rough. Where Jesus goes, people are broken. Where Jesus goes, shadows threaten. But Jesus makes rough places plain. Jesus heals the broken spirits. Jesus casts out the darkness with the light of his love. And my friends, he invites us to follow him on this journey.

I’m ashamed to admit that when it comes to putting love in action, I often don’t want to follow. I don’t want to give up my time, my energy, or my dinner plans to follow Jesus somewhere or to someone who makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to see the broken, or walk in the shadows. But then Jesus says, if you can’t put my love into action, then you can’t really follow me. And I want to follow Jesus. I want to follow Jesus because he is the way, and the truth, and the life.  I want to follow Jesus because I thrive in his presence. I want to follow Jesus because he gives my life purpose. So, I need to work more on talking less and walking more. I need to put Jesus’ love in action, so that others can know how great his love truly is.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

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 Week

This Sunday we will begin a new message series for the season of Lent titled “Dear Heavenly Father.”  This series will focus on the spiritual practice of prayer and provide some practical tools for increasing your practice of prayer.  This week our message is titled “How to Pray” and will focus on the scripture in Luke 11, verses 1 through 4.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.  When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.  Give us each day our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.  And lead us not into temptation.”

Our services will begin with the song Crazy People by Casting Crowns.  Our hymns for the morning include Sweet hour of Prayer and Into My Heart.  Our praise song for the morning will be Holy Spirit.  Our choir will provide the prelude this week with an arrangement of Amazing Grace to Pachelbel’s Canon.

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 at approximately 10:25 following our gathering song.  Additionally, we 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

It appears that Covid is beginning to loosen its grip on our community.  The Church Administrative Board reviewed the Covid data and our current practices at their recent meeting.  They would like to reiterate their encouragement to follow as many safeguards as you feel are necessary including masking, distancing, and hand washing/sanitizing.  We would also like to encourage you to take notice of the behavior of others and respect their potential desire for more distance or less touch. 

Masks remain optional for everyone and encouraged for those who are not fully vaccinated or are feeling any symptoms of any illness.  The Board is committed to continuing to monitor the latest COVID conditions and will discuss any further changes at upcoming meetings.  If you are ill or not feeling well, please consider staying home and worshiping with us through our live-stream. 

Announcements

“Soup ‘N Spuds” this Sunday – Our adult mission team is planning to travel this Spring to western Kentucky to help out with the cleanup and rebuilding efforts necessitated by the tornadoes that struck the area back in December.  Join us for our traditional “Soup ‘N Spuds” fundraising lunch this Sunday (March 6) after the 10:20 am services.  Along with baked potatoes and a variety of home-made soups, we will also be having a “cake walk”.  Freewill offerings will be accepted and appreciated!

Come and Make a Joyful Noise – Our Choir and Praise Band are looking for a few more members.  The Choir is looking for a few more voices, specifically men, but all are welcome.  The Choir practices the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm.  Please talk with Leah Gumbel for more information.

The Praise Band is also looking for a few more members.  A bass player or drummer is being sought, and an additional guitarist would be welcome as well.  Vocalists are also welcome.  The Praise Band rehearses the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm.  Childcare is available during Praise Band rehearsal.  Please talk with Larry Long, Sara Snyder, or Philip Wooldridge for more information. 

Time to Spring Forward – Daylight Saving Time begins March 13.  Don’t forget to “spring ahead” before you go to bed on Saturday, March 12.  We wouldn’t want anyone to be late for church! 

Easter Lily Orders – It’s that time again to order your Lilies for our Easter Sunday services.  Those of you that would like to purchase an Easter Lilley in memory of or in honor of a loved one, please fill out a form that is located on the table in the refreshment area or by the front doors. Please return the form to the church by Sunday, March 13th or place it in the offering box. This will give Marcey from Stella’s Florist plenty of time to order the lilies. Please make checks payable in the amount of $12.00 to Nelson Memorial, UMC, and in the memo line write Easter Lily. The lilies will help beautify the sanctuary for Easter and will be displayed at the Easter services. You may take your lily home after the 10:20 a.m., Easter service.

Events this week:

Sunday, March 6: “Soup ‘N Spuds” Lunch Fundraiser for Missions, Following Worship, Fellowship Hall

Financial Peace University, Noon, Church Lounge

Monday, March 7: TOPS, 9:30 am, Foundations Classroom

Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Church Lounge

Tuesday, March 8: PEO – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

NAMI – 6:30 pm, Foundations Classroom

Wednesday, March 9: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Church Lounge

Al Anon, Noon, Church Lounge

Thursday, March 10: Baby Grace Size and Sort, 1:00 pm, Church Annex

Praise Band Rehearsal, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary

Friday, March 11: Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, March 12: Methodist Men attending COMO Christian Men’s Conference at The Crossing

Sunday, March 13: Daylight Saving Time Begins

Closing Words of Wisdom:

Love leaves a legacy. How you treated other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring impact you can leave on earth.” – Rick Warren

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