“When It All Sounds Like Noise”
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense… The angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth …” Luke 1:11-13
This has been one of those weeks with lots of unexpected conversations and projects arising. We’ve replaced a hot water heater at the church, met with the electric company about some needed repairs, continued getting ready for all that Christmas Eve brings, and I’ve been working on my Christmas shopping for the boys. Each of the boys has asked for computer related items for Christmas. Now, I used to consider myself tech savvy (well, at least tech aware). I learned this week that I am not, nor I have ever really been so. Stephen is building a gaming computer and has very specific components he is looking for, with very complicated and lengthy item names and numbers, each digit being of the utmost importance as there are so many variations on the product. In the midst of trying to pick the exact right something or other component, I get a call about some issues with the electrical system for the church. The technician then goes on to explain to me in a very detailed and technical way what the issue is. I write everything down, understanding that everything he is saying is in English, but it mostly sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher to me. Suffice it to say, this week I have felt that while a lot was being said to me, all I heard was noise (and I’m not even talking about the 5th grade band concert we attended).
As we reread the various scriptures leading up to and following the stories of the birth of Christ, we read of numerous encounters with angels – messengers from God, sharing unexpected, albeit good, news. I wonder if the recipients of those messages – Zechariah, Joseph, Mary, the Shepherds – truly heard and understood what was being said, or if (at first at least) it all just sounded like noise? Take Zechariah for instance: here he is, going about a very important and sacred task, approaching the altar of incense on behalf of his people, and suddenly a messenger from God appears to him. Not only that, but the messenger tells him that at their advanced ages, he and his wife are about to conceive and have a baby. And this will be no ordinary child, but one who will help bring about the reign of the messiah. (First off, no parent really needs to be told that their child will be special, nearly every parent I know thinks their child is special, unique, and amazing.) I have to wonder, though, what did Zechariah actually hear? Was he so overwhelmed at the sight and sounds of this messenger that he was unable to truly hear the message? Was he so dumbfounded with the first half of the statement that his mind raced, rendering him unable to focus on the rest of the message? Was he so focused on his sacred duty that the angel’s message just sounded like noise to him?
It can be difficult for us sometimes to hear the true messages coming to us. Sometimes it’s because we are so busy going about our daily lives we are unable to hear the message in the midst of our busyness. Other times it is because we are simply overwhelmed by the content of the message. And other times we simply don’t understand the message and it just sounds like noise. What I learned this week all those times I heard Charlie Brown’s teacher talking was that I needed to use those opportunities to educate myself, learn more about this topic, and seek to understand the message buried in the minutia.
What about you? Is God trying to get a message across to you today? Maybe it’s about a task He has in store for you, but maybe it’s just about a way to better connect with one of your children, or even how to keep the lights on. No matter what it might be about, sometimes, in the midst of our lives, we just hear noise. I invite you to spend some time in the midst of the busyness and chaos of the next couple weeks to try and hear the voice of God speaking through all the noise.
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 is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Our Advent Messages this year will be around the theme of “Hope: An Advent Journey.” This week, our message for the 8:00 is titled “Experiencing Peace.” The scripture for this week is from the Gospel of Mathew, Chapter 1, verses 18-23:
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, and angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wide, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Our 10:20 service this week will have as the message our Children’s Christmas Program, “A Star is Born.” The children (and adults) have been working hard for many weeks to share the Gospel with us in this special way.
Our services will begin with the song I Still Believe in Christmas by Anne Wilson. Our Opening Hymn is What Child is This. The 8:00 service will also include the songs It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. The Children’s program will include several songs as well.
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 following our Gathering Song. Additionally, we post a recording of our message each week to our website by early Sunday afternoon.
Announcements
Christmas Eve Services December 24 and Christmas Day – We will have two services on Christmas Eve: 3 pm, and 7 pm. This gives people an opportunity to worship before it gets dark, for families with small children to get home early, and for those who prefer a traditional time for Christmas Eve worship to experience that. At each service we will sing, and celebrate the birth of Jesus. The offering at these services will go towards the Boonslick Ministerial Alliance. There will be one service on Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, at 10:20 am.
Living Nativity Help Needed – We will once again host our annual Living Nativity this Christmas Eve. The Living Nativity will be presented from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. We are looking for volunteers to be our “actors” during this time. We will have 3, 1-hour shifts and are looking for up to 8 volunteers for each shift. There will be a signup sheet in the East Wing Narthex. We thank you for your help with tradition!
Salvation Army Bell-Ringing – Thank you to everyonewho has volunteered to help ring the bell! The money gathered will be available to local residents in need. Thank you.
Children’s Christmas Program December 18 – Our Children’s Christmas program will be this Sunday, Dec. 18, during the 10:20 AM worship service. The children will present “A Star is Born”. Invite family to watch the livestream at facebook.com/nelsonmemorialumc.
2022 Angel Tree – Thank you to everyone who supported the Angel Tree this year. We had gifts for 19 children as a result of your generosity. The Angel Tree party was held on Saturday, Dec. 10th and was a lot of fun! As always, we are so grateful for the way in which our church family supports this Matthew 25 ministry to the children of incarcerated parents.
More Outreach Opportunities – Want to help NMUMC spread some holiday cheer this season? The Outreach Team has several opportunities for you to share God’s love with our neighbors. Here are three ways you can help in the next couple of weeks:
- Turkey Donations: We are partnering with Community in Schools (CIS) to provide Christmas dinners to a few families of students at LSE and BHS. Specifically, we are collecting funds to purchase 10 turkeys. If you’d like to contribute, please place money in the offering plate and designate it “turkeys.”
- Christmas Cheer Stockings: We have a few more Christmas Cheer stockings waiting to be delivered. Please pick one up and deliver it to the name listed on the stocking as a way of spreading Christmas cheer.
Adopt-a-Family: Please return wrapped gifts by Sunday, Dec 18 so they can be distributed to families in time for Christmas. Thank you to everyone who has helped participate in this ministry to families in our community!
Community Christmas Service and Hymn Sing – The Boonslick Ministerial Alliance will hold their annual Community Christmas Service on Tuesday, December 20, at 6:30 pm at the First Baptist Church of Boonville. This service will be in a Lessons & Carols format, with Rev. Chris Greenhagen offering a brief devotion. An offering will also be taken to support the Emergency Assistance Funds distributed by the Ministerial Alliance.
Library news – There are Christmas books for children and adults now on display in the library. Please stop by and check out one or two.
Giving Through 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/.
Year End Giving – Thank you for the offerings you have made and are making to Nelson Memorial, UMC. Your offerings, of your time, of your God-given talents, and of your gifts, help support all that we do. Nelson Memorial could do nothing without the faithful offerings of its members. Together, we are the Body of Christ. When we are giving, we are being the faithful people God calls us to be. As you consider your final contributions for 2022, please note that the church office must receive offerings on Sunday, December 25 for them to be credited on your 2022 giving statement. Thank you.
Celebrate New Year’s in Worship – We will have one worship service at 10:20 on January 1, 2023 as we kick off the New Year in worship. We invite you to come in your pajamas, comfy or lounge clothes as we start the New Year in comfort.
Events this week:
Monday, December 19: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, December 20: Boonslick Ministerial Alliance Community Christmas Service, 6:30 pm, First Baptist Church
Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary
Wednesday, December 21: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, December 22: Praise Band Practice, 6:00 pm
Friday, December 23: Church Office Closed
Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Lounge
Saturday, December 24: Christmas Eve Services, 3:00 & 7:00 pm, Sanctuary
Living Nativity, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, West Lawn
Sunday, December 25: Worship Service, 10:20 am, Sanctuary
Closing Words of Wisdom:
I found I had less and less to say, until finally, I became silent, and began to listen. I discovered in the silence, the voice of God.” — Soren Kierkegaard