“Getting Ready”

Everything is coming together, and it is almost that time.  Class schedules have been received and extensively examined.  Backpacks have been upgraded.  Notebooks, folders, pencils and highlighters are all gathered and sorted out for each of them.  New clothes have been purchased (from the men’s department now instead of the boy’s department, I don’t like this change). 

The start of a new school year is right around the corner.  As parents, Sara and I are doing everything we can to help the boys get ready.  I have heard from many teachers and school administrators who are giving it their all to make sure everything is in place for a wonderful school year.  There’s just one more thing to do (okay, maybe more, but one thing I’d like your help with). 

Earlier this week I received an invitation for us to participate in a community-wide prayer event for Boonville Schools.  The Firm Foundation Foursquare Church is organizing a group of people to meet at the four Boonville Schools and spend some time in prayer over the students, faculty, staff, and administration on Sunday, August 21.  You are invited to go to any of the four Boonville Schools (Hannah Cole Primary, David Barton, LSE Middle School, or Boonville High School (Main Entrance)) at 1:00 pm.  There will be a host couple at each of the schools who will open with prayer and then invite anyone else to say any prayers they’d like to offer.  Additionally that day, we will spend some time in our worship services praying over not just the Boonville schools, but all the schools in our area – New Franklin, Prairie Home, Pilot Grove, Bunceton, Central Methodist Univ, State Fair CC, etc. 

We’ve discussed before how difficult a time the adolescent years can be, how so many of us say we’d never want to go back and relive our middle school days.  As a new school year rolls around, let us spend some time lifting up the children and youth of our community, as well as the adults who have dedicated their time and energy to serving them, and pray for a blessing on all of them. 

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 continue our 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 second of these stages of grace, we will spend time considering the front door to the house.  The scripture this week will be from the book of Ephesians, Chapter 2, verses 4-10:

Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“

Our services will begin with the song Thank God For Sunday Morning by Cochren & Co.  Our hymns for the morning include To God Be the Glory and Blessed Assurance.  Our praise song will be Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone. 

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

Soles for Souls Update – As part of our VBS last month, we highlighted the mission work of Soles for Souls, a ministry which provides shoes for those in need around the world.  The final results are in – we sent 250 pairs of new and lightly used shoes and a $50 cash donation to their distribution center.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this endeavor a success (especially Risa Venable for her leadership)!

Blood Drive – Our next Red Cross Blood Drive is coming up on Monday, August 15^th 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.  We only have 12 people registered at this point. Please consider participating. To schedule a time for donating blood, please click here.  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!

Church Picnic August 28 – Time for Some Food and Fun – The United Methodist Men are hosting our Annual Church Picnic Sunday, August 28 at 6:00 pm.  We will gather at the church yard.  UMM will provide the meat and drinks.  Please bring a dish to share and also a (lawn chair or blanket). Feel free to invite friends, family and neighbors to join in on the fun.

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.

Events this week:

Sunday, August 14: Youth Group, 6:00 pm, Jackson’s Home

Monday, August 15: TOPS, 9:00 am, Foundations Classroom

Blood Drive, 2:00 – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Outreach Team Meeting, 6:00 pm, Church Lounge

Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, August 16: Church Board Meeting, 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary

Wednesday, August 17: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge

Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall

Thursday, August 18: Baby Grace Distribution, 5:00 pm, Church Annex

Friday, August 19: Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, August 20: Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Church Lounge

Closing Words of Wisdom:

Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” – Max Lucado