Last Friday morning, news broke of the ruling handed down by the Supreme Court in the case of Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This decision has resulted in a change in the laws regarding the legality of abortion. I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t have a strong opinion on this issue and, concurrently, didn’t have a strong reaction to this decision. I made the decision last Friday not to address this in my weekly note to you, as any response would have been knee-jerk and would not have been adequate and fruitful.
Today, instead of sharing my personal thoughts, opinions, or reactions about the decision, I thought it might be helpful to share with you what the United Methodist Church has to say about the issue of abortion, choice, and the sometimes terribly difficult decision about when (or if) to end a pregnancy. These statements come from our Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions, most recently approved by the General Conference of the UMC in 2016. (Reminder – the General Conference of the UMC is the only body with authority to speak on behalf of the denomination. Any statement made by an individual or group simply represents the opinions of that individual or group, not the denomination as a whole.)
“Our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion.
“But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child.
“We recognize tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion, and in such cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures by certified medical providers. We cannot affirm abortion as an acceptable means of birth control, and we unconditionally reject it as a means of gender selection or eugenics (see Resolution 3184).
“We oppose the use of late-term abortion…and call for the end of this practice except when the physical life of the mother is in danger and no other medical procedure is available, or in the case of severe fetal anomalies incompatible with life. This procedure shall be performed only by certified medical providers.
“We call all Christians to a searching and prayerful inquiry into the sorts of conditions that may cause them to consider abortion. We entrust God to provide guidance, wisdom, and discernment to those facing an unintended pregnancy.
“The Church shall offer ministries to reduce unintended pregnancies. We commit our Church to continue to provide nurturing ministries to those who terminate a pregnancy, to those in the midst of a crisis pregnancy, and to those who give birth.
“We mourn and are committed to promoting the diminishment of high abortion rates. The Church shall encourage ministries to reduce unintended pregnancies such as comprehensive, age-appropriate sexuality education, advocacy in regard to contraception, and support of initiatives that enhance the quality of life for all women and girls around the globe.”
I invite you to be in prayer for our country as the debate over this issue and others threatens to cause even deeper fractures in our already divided nation. Let us do all we can to speak the truth in love, let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us hear one another and respect one another, and let us each do what we can to bind up the wounds of those scalded by the overheated rhetoric over this issue and others. I believe God calls us to be healers as well as to share our own truth. As we celebrate our nation in the coming days, let us pray for our country and do all we can to lower the walls and build bridges as we seek to honor God in all that we do.
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 we continue our message series “Upon Further Review.” Our message this week is titled “Two People Praying at the Temple”. The scripture this week will be from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 18, verses 9-14.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth f all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Our services will begin with the song Mercy by Ben Fuller. The hymns for the morning include Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, and More Like You. This Sunday we will also celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion in both of our services.
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 the Gathering Song. Additionally, we post a recording of our message each week to our website by early Sunday afternoon.
Announcements
Vacation Bible School – Making Waves – Let us share our love for the Lord with your kiddos! Through fun activities, engaging lessons, crafts, and God’s Word, we’ll help kids understand how they can share God’s love with the people around them. His love has a strong ripple effect that can change the world. July 6-July 8th, 9:00 am to 11:30 am. To register, please click here.
Join Us in Missions – As part of the Vacation Bible School experience, our children will be participating in a shoe drive through Soles4Souls. We are inviting the congregation to help us collect gently worn or new shoes to donate. Let’s work together to shine our love for Jesus out of the walls of this church and into the lives of those in need. God can turn our blessings into someone else’s miracle. There are several collection boxes throughout the sanctuary.
Planning Ahead – Dates for Your Calendar
July 31, 2022: UMM Ice Cream Freeze Off
August 10, 2022: National S’more’s Day
August 28, 2022: Church Picnic
Upper Room Devotional – Spend time each day in God’s word with thought-provoking devotions to strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ. The “Upper Room” devotional books for July and August have arrived. Please help yourself to one in the back of the Sanctuary.
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, July 4: Happy Independence Day (Office Closed)
Tuesday, July 5: Congregational Care Team, 7:00 pm, Church Lounge
Wednesday, July 6: Vacation Bible School, 9:00 – 11:30 am
Al Anon, Noon, Church Lounge
Thursday, July 7: Vacation Bible School, 9:00 – 11:30 am
Friday, July 8: Vacation Bible School, 9:00 – 11:30 am
Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, July 9: Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Church Lounge
Closing Words of Wisdom:
It’s easy to talk about how much you love God, but loving others reveals how much you truly do.” Elizabeth George
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