“Grace? She Died Thirty Years Ago!”
Around our house, rarely does a week go by that we don’t quote National Lampoons Christmas Vacation at least once. One of our favorite characters is Aunt Bethany, the hard of hearing aunt who is the family’s memory, even though her memory is fading. This particular quote takes place as the family is sitting down for dinner and they invite Aunt Bethany to say grace before the meal.
Grace is one of those church words we use that often means different things to different people. We sing all kinds of songs about grace – Amazing Grace, Grace Like Rain, Your Grace is Enough, etc. We have sayings such as “There but for the grace of God, go I,” and there is even a popular belief that the word “grace” is an acronym for “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” In Christmas Vacation, “grace” refers to the prayer before dinner. In other contexts, “grace” refers to forgiveness, love, or mercy.
In United Methodist teachings, we also have different understandings of the word grace. In fact, in the Wesleyan tradition, there are three distinctive stages or ways we experience God’s grace – prevenient grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace. This week we will begin a 3-week message series titled “Blueprints of Grace” where we discuss these different stages of God’s grace. I hope you will make plans to join us over these next three weeks as we explore the meaning of God’s grace and discuss how we can help share the experience of God’s love, mercy, and grace with others.
As always, it is a pleasure to be your pastor and to be in ministry with you as we serve an amazing, loving, “grace-full” God.
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 will begin a new message series titled Blueprints of Grace. This series will be an introduction to the 3 different ways or stages we experience God’s grace. John Wesley taught these stages by using the metaphor of a house. This week, as we look at the first of these stages of grace, we will spend time on the front porch. The scripture this week will be from the book of Psalms, Chapter 139, verses 1-16:
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit down and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hands will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one came to be.“
Our 8:00 service will begin with the song Getting Started by Jeremy Camp. Our 10:20 service will begin with the song Come, Now is the Time to Worship, led by our Praise Band. We will also sing Your Grace is Enough, Standing on the Promises, and Spirit Song. Additionally, this Sunday we will share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
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 approximately10:20 with our Praise Band leading the Gathering Song. Additionally, we post a recording of our message each week to our website by early Sunday afternoon.
Announcements
S’mores N’ More – Celebrate National S’Mores Day August 10th with us! We will have a fire pit going and all the S’Mores fixings you will need. Live music will be provided by Philip Wooldridge. Bring a lawn chair and join in on the food, music, and fun. The fun will start at 7:00 pm. Please invite your friends, family and neighbors to join in as we celebrate this “holiday.”
Blood Drive – Our next Red Cross Blood Drive is coming up on Monday, August 15th from 1:00 to 6:00 in our Fellowship Hall. As happens most summers, the supply of blood available is in short supply and donors are greatly needed. To schedule a time for donating blood go to: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=NelsonMemorial&cid=siebel&med=email&source=bdc_email&utm_source=siebel&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bdc_email. Thank you!
Prayer Ministry – Did you know that every Wednesday morning a group of dedicated prayer warriors meets for about 15 minutes (over Zoom) to pray for our church, our members, our community, our world, and any other needs that arise? If this sounds like something you would be interested in participating in, please contact the church office (boonvillemethodist@gmail.com).
Looking for New KIDS HOPE Mentors – With the start of a new school year quickly approaching also comes the start of KIDS HOPE mentoring in September. If you are interested in becoming a new mentor, to a child at David Barton Elementary, you can do two things: 1) talk to one of our current mentors about the experience and difference this makes, and 2) let Debbie Maxwell, our KIDS HOPE Coordinator know that you are interested!
Choir is Back – Choir rehearsals for the Methodist Music Makers will be the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm in the Sanctuary. We are always welcoming new singers and hope to see you there! The next choir rehearsal will be August 16th, and an optional rehearsal on August 30th. Please contact Leah Gumbel for additional information.
Ice Cream Freeze Off Thank You! – The Methodist Men’s ice Cream Freeze Off was a great success. First place was Matt Parker with Cinnamon. Second place was Bob Koch with Washington’s Revenge. Third Place was a tie between Philip Wooldridge with Strawberry and Dark Chocolate and Ricky Powell with Garden of Eden-No Apples. Thanks to all of the ice cream and brownie makers. The free will offering was $359 to the United Methodist Men to be used to support the missions of our church. The United Methodist Men would like to thank all who participated, and supported this fund raiser. Special thanks to Elvin Farquhar for chairing the contest.
Events this week:
Monday, August 8: TOPS, 9:00 am, Foundations Classroom
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, August 9: PEO, 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
NAMI, 6:30 pm, Foundations Classroom
Wednesday, August 10: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
S’mores N’ More, 7:00 pm, Church Yard
Friday, August 12: Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, August 13: Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Church Lounge
Closing Words of Wisdom:
I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am.” – John Newton
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