“Uncomfortable Conversations”

September is national suicide awareness/prevention month.  Suicide is not something we like to talk about.  We fear the topic.  We hush our voices when discussing someone who has died by suicide.  We act as if by avoiding the subject, we can keep from putting the idea in someone else’s mind.  But the facts are clear—suicide is a major problem in our country and ignoring it will not help it go away.

According to numbers published by the CDC, in the year 2020, nearly 50,000 American adults (ages 18 and up) died by suicide – this works to one person every eleven minutes.  But for every person who died by suicide, there are 275 people who seriously consider suicide (12.2 million adults).  Moreover, the largest age group of adults who consider and act on thoughts of suicide are those over the age of 85. 

Yet suicide also is a major problem for young people.  According to a study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “Nearly 20% of high school students report serious thoughts of suicide and 9% have made an attempt to take their lives.”  The Jason Project, an organization dedicated to help parents and others see warning signs of suicide, recently reported that “Each day in our nation, there are an average of over 3,703 attempts by young people in grades 9-12.”  

I bring up this uncomfortable topic and share this information with you because this cannot be ignored.  Having a conversation with someone who is considering suicide could very likely save their life.  We should never be afraid to ask people – those we love, those we care about, those we know or even think might be struggling – “are you okay?  Do you know that you can talk to me?  Are you considering self-harm?”

Being present, asking hard questions, truly loving people – that is what following Jesus is about.  Each Christmas we celebrate that Jesus is “God with us.”  God was not just with us in the person of Jesus, however.  God is with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit, and through one another.  I have had so many people bring the presence of God to me in times where I felt alone.  We can, and need, to do this for others. 

If you know someone who is considering suicide or self-harm, please be willing to have the hard conversations.  Reassure them that you care about them and will help them through their struggles.  A new national hotline has been introduced at 988.  This number can be accessed 24 hours a day by anyone who is struggling.  They have counselors you can talk to and can help connect you with local resources to find support. 

I hope this conversation hasn’t made you uncomfortable.  But if it has, know you are not alone, but sometimes the conversations that make us the most uncomfortable are the ones we most need to have.

It is an honor to be your pastor and in ministry alongside you as we serve an amazing 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 continue our 4-week message series titled “The Movements of Faith.”  This series takes a look at how we live our faith in 4 ways – Gathering In, Lifting Up, Digging Down, and Going Out.  This week, we continue by looking at what it means to “Lift Up” God in worship and throughout our lives.  The scripture this week will be from Psalm 95, verses 1-7:

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and singing.  For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.  In his hands are the depths of the earth and the mountain peaks belong to him.  The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.“

Our 8:00 service will begin with the song Church by Evvie McKinney.  Our 10:20 service will begin with our Praise Band leading us in the song 10,000 Reasons.  Our other songs for the morning will be Great Are You Lord, How Great Thou Art, and Take My Life and Let It Be.

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 Gathering Song.  Additionally, we post a recording of our message each week to our website by early Sunday afternoon. 

Announcements

Collection for LSE – Throughout the 2022-2023 school year, we will be working to support Laura Speed Elliott Middle School in their efforts to provide for the needs of their students. This month we will be collecting single-serving snacks for the health room. These can include: granola bars, applesauce cups, Goldfish or Cheez-It crackers, peanut butter or cheese-filled sandwich crackers, pretzels, etc… We are also collecting a few other personal items that have been requested. Items can be left in bins outside the sanctuary doors.

September 30 Outreach Event: Homecoming Parade – During the homecoming parade on September 30, the church will be setting up a table on Main Street and distributing water. This is an opportunity to be a face in the community. If you would like to come distribute water, please let Sara Snyder know (417-343-1124 or sstephenson.snyder@gmail.com). We’re also in need of bottles of water to distribute. If you feel inclined, please bring packages of bottled water to church.

Mark Your Calendars – The education committee met recently and has some fun fall events coming up for you to mark on your calendar now:

October 16 – Celebration of Sunday School including a potluck breakfast, awarding of Bibles to 3^rd grade students,  and recognition of Sunday School leaders

October 16 – Church Fall Bike Ride – we will meet at the Katy Trail trailhead at 1:00 pm for a fun afternoon of bike riding.  We will ride about 2 miles, take a break and have refreshments, and ride back to the trailhead.  Everyone is welcome!

October 23 – We will gather at 5:00 pm for a bonfire, wienie roast and hayride.  Please plan to bring a dish to share.  More details will be shared as this approaches.

Time for a New Shirt! –

We are taking orders now for new church T-Shirts. Orders can be made here. Order forms will also be available in the Sanctuary and church office. A big thank you to Jo Parker for her work on this.

Events this week:

Sunday, September 18: Youth Group, 6:00 pm, Jackson’s Home

Monday, September 19: TOPS, 9:30 am, Foundations Classroom

Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, September 20: Church Administrative Board, 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary

Wednesday, September 21: Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall

Friday, September 23: Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, September 24: Visitation & Memorial Service for Tom Maxwell, 10:00 am, Sanctuary

Closing Words of Wisdom:

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” — Helen Keller