“Earth Day”

God so loved the world that God gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life.” –  John 3:16

I find myself a little surprised to be writing to you today about Earth Day.  I’ve never been much of an “environment” person.  I want to care about environmental concerns, but rarely enough to really change my behaviors.  I believe we need to care for our planet, but I’ve never really done anything drastic – I don’t drive a hybrid or electric car, we haven’t gone solar, I couldn’t tell you what my carbon footprint is or even what carbon footprint means.  But as I reflect on many of our scriptures on this Earth Day, it is clear to me that how we treat our planet is not just a reflection of our humanity, but also of our discipleship.

From the very beginning, we see a God who cares intimately about all of creation.  Genesis tells us repeatedly how God meticulously tends to the different aspects of creation – forming the land and the sea, separating the land from the sky, establishing the days and nights, setting the stars in the sky, creating the plants, animals and eventually people.  After each act of creation, God looks out over what has been made and declares it good.  After concluding the work of creation, God declares that all of creation is very good. 

John chapter three, verse sixteen, that most beloved and well known of all scriptures, also gives us a deeper understanding of God’s love for this Earth he has given to us.  We love to tell others of a God who “so loved the world that God have his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish, but have eternal life,” and this is true.  But I want you notice something important in the words used here – John does not tell us “God loved all of humanity,” but that God loved the world.  The Greek for “world” that John uses here could also be translated “cosmos.”  Read this way we see a God who loves all of the cosmos and is seeking to redeem all of creation, not just people, through the sending of his son.

These are just two examples of the many times we are shown throughout Scripture the importance of not just caring for the people God created, but all of the creation God has given us to inhabit.  As Methodists we are to consider two of Wesley’s General Rules – To do no harm, and to do all the good we can” as we consider our relationship with God’s creation.  This Earth Day, I invite you to consider your actions when it comes to creation and consider how you might do more good and less harm to the gift of creation God has given us. 

Blessings, Chris

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 our worship service will look at what happened later in the day on Easter Sunday.  Our message is titled “Behind Closed Doors.”  Our scripture reading is from the Gospel of John, Chapter 20, verses 19-23.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.  The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Our services will begin with the song The Commission by CAIN. Our songs for the morning include Breath on Me, Breath of God, Mighty to Save, and Sent Out In Jesus’ Name.  The 10:20 service will include our service of Confirmation.

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.

Announcements

Confirmation Sunday – Please join us this Sunday as we celebrate our Confirmation Class.  There will be a reception in the Fellowship Hall after the 10:20 worship service.  Here is the list of our Confirmation Class and their mentors.

 Confirmands                                             Mentors

 Elizabeth Fiona Giroux                          Sara Snyder

 Joseph Avery Hamblen                         Whitney Venable

 Mason Ruark McGruder                       Mike Maxwell

 Brenner Hunt Parker                               Bob Koch

 Caden James Schlotzhauer                   Brian Jackson

 Garrett Wesley Snyder                            Karma Haller

 Stephenson Murod Snyder                    Elvin Farquhar

 Lauren Elizabeth Venable                       Linda Gordon

 Lucille Olivia Wooldridge                        Margene Farquhar

Blood Drive – Our next Red Cross Blood Drive is scheduled for Monday, April 25 from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm in our Fellowship Hall. Giving blood is a meaningful and important way to help be a part of the healing process for others. To make an appointment to participate, please click here.

Church Summer Camp – With summer right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about church camp.  There are lots of options and opportunities for church camp available, too many to print.  Please contact Pastor Chris or Melissa Baker for information on camp and scholarship opportunities.

BHS Chamber Choir Concert – First Presbyterian Church invites you to celebrate the end of their 200th year in ministry by attending a special concert featuring the Boonville High School Chamber Choir on Tuesday, April 26th at 6:00 pm.

Events this week:

Sunday, April 24: Confirmation Celebration, 10:20 am Worship Service

Youth Group, 6:30 pm, Jackson’s Home

Monday, April 25: TOPS, 9:30 am, Foundations Classroom

Red Cross Blood Drive, 2:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Church Lounge

Wednesday, April 27: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Church Lounge

Al Anon, Noon, Church Lounge

Friday, April 29: Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Lounge

Closing Words of Wisdom:

I believe in my heart that faith in Jesus Christ can and will lead us beyond an exclusive concern for the well-being of other human beings to the broader concern for the well-being of the birds in our backyards, the fish in our rivers, and every living creature on the face of the earth.” –John Wesley