“Seeing the Good”
I’ve shared before that I have a love/hate relationship with social media. While it helps keep people connected and provides opportunities to share celebrations and prayer needs, it sure has an ugly side too. The United Methodist Clergy page is no different. All the arguments in society and in the church take place in that space, but with the added bonus of people believing they have divine authority.
I continue to use social media like Facebook and Instagram specifically because of those times where it provides me with something positive. This morning was one of those times. While thumbing through Facebook, I stumbled upon the following statement from a United Methodist pastor on why he has decided to be and remain United Methodist. I appreciate his reminder about what makes the Wesleyan perspective distinctive and special. I hope you enjoy these words as well.
Blessings, Chris
Why I am United Methodist:
Because we see flowers where others see weeds.
It’s all about grace and seeing people as children of God; it’s not about “us” and “them”, and a God that needs defending, but a world that needs to be loved.
It is about open hearts, open minds, and open doors, and though we are not perfect we are on that road to perfection.
We hold as our mentors Good Samaritans and Prodigal sons, faithful prostitutes and generous widows, unclean lepers and thieves on a cross. We realize we are all that strange mixture of Saint and sinner.
It’s never about being right but always about doing right. Our mission is not to defend the church but simply to do all the good we can, to all the people we can, in all the ways we can, as long as we can.
We see flowers where others see weeds, because we figured out long ago that we were weeds that someone watered with grace and love.
In a world that sees only weeds to be pulled, I am thankful for a church filled with God’s grace that sees things in a different light.
Blake Lasater, clergy in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
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 continue our “Courageous Faith” message series. Each week we will take a look at some of the forerunners in our faith and the courageous faith they displayed. Our message this week will look at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Our scripture reading is from the book of Daniel, Chapter 3, verses 1-6.
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then he summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and people of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
Our 8:00 service will begin with the song For God is With Us by for King and Country. Our praise band will open the 10:20 service with How Great is Our God. Our songs for the morning include Mighty to Save, God Will Take Care of You, and Jesus Calls Us.
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 10:20 with the Praise Band leading 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
Fellowship Dinner – Please join us as we try out a new idea for Food, Fun & Fellowship at NMUMC. We are kicking off the “5th Sunday Carry In Fellowship Dinners” on Sunday, May 29th. Our plan is to have a Carry In Dinner on each Month that has a 5th Sunday. We would have Carry In Dinners on July 31st and Oct. 30th. These are not fundraisers but just an opportunity to fellowship together. If anyone would like to volunteer to provide meat for any of these dinners, please contact Karma Haller. If those with last names starting from A-F please bring a salad, G-L please bring a vegetable dish, M-S please bring a potato dish and T-Z please bring a dessert. The schedules will rotate with each dinner. If you have any questions, please contact Karma Haller.
Save the Date – VBS July 6th-8th (9-11:30am) – Volunteers are needed to help with Vacation Bible School. This year, our program is called “Make Waves” and we will be teaching the children what they can do to change the world around them! Through fun activities, engaging lessons, and God’s Word, we’ll help kids understand how they can share God’s love with everyone. The program is open to children 4 years of age to those who have just graduated 5th grade. Please contact a member of the education committee if you are interested in helping!
UMM Fundraiser Breakfast – A Big thank you from the UMM! The proceeds from the fundraiser breakfast will benefit various mission projects of the United Methodist Men.
Service Opportunity – Camp Sagrada has reached out to us requesting our help with transportation of campers. We only have a few people signed up, so please consider helping out with this vital ministry. This is a ministry we did in the past. The camp’s mission is to reach children with the gospel, whose parents are incarcerated. Campers experience the love of Jesus, and that of camp staff/counselors, in a fun filled natural environment, perhaps rendering them more receptive to the gospel. The camp experience is so important for these children who are burdened by the absence or stigma of an incarcerated parent. We are looking for help on the following dates: June 6 and 10, June 13 and 17, and June 20 and 25.
Each day we will need a team of 2 adults, one of which can drive the Sagrada van, the other to assist. You can volunteer for one day, or one week. Any adult, 18+, is eligible to help with this project. Each volunteer will need to plan on several hours of travel. The Camp Sagrada Van as well as fuel will be provided. Please take a look at your schedule and see if you are willing to make a trip, and if so, which date? There will be a sign-up sheet in the east narthex. More information will be provided to volunteers as the dates near. If you have any question, please contact Tim Von Engeln.
New Way to Give – As we continue to pursue virtual ministry and ministry in our modern times, we have found we need to keep up with digital technology trends. We are excited to announce that in addition to being able to give to Nelson Memorial by check or Vanco (automatic withdrawal from your bank account), we now are accepting offerings via Venmo. We can be found on Venmo at @NelsonMemorialUMC. If you don’t know what Venmo is and would like to learn more, information about giving through Venmo can be found on our webpage at https://nelsonmemorialumc.org/give/venmo/.
Events this week:
Monday, May 23: TOPS, 9:30 am, Foundations Classroom
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Church Lounge
Wednesday, May 25: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Church Lounge
Al Anon, Noon, Church Lounge
Friday, May 27: Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Church Lounge
Closing Words of Wisdom:
We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others.” ― John Wesley
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