“Calm Amidst the Chaos”

In the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl the other night, Patrick Mahomes threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Skye Moore, which was a near mirror image of a play run less than 3 minutes earlier in the game for a touchdown to Kadarius Toney.  Coach Andy Reid was hailed as a genius by the announcers and every football expert for being gutsy enough to call the same play twice and get the same result.  The thing is, as Andy Reid pointed out later, that wasn’t the play he called.  In fact, there is video of Andy Reid trying to call a timeout prior to the play because the formation was wrong and he was worried disaster was about to strike.  The timeout didn’t get called before the play started and Reid expected the worst, but the team executed despite the error, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

I share this story with you not just because I am still riding high off the Chiefs’ big win, but because something similar happened here Sunday and I am still in awe.  As most of you know by now, Sunday morning during our 10:20 service, as we were singing the opening hymn, about 2/3 of the power went out in the building.  Long story short – the meter receiver located out in the alley on the east side of the church had a very small electrical fire.  This resulted in the wires getting fried and power going out.  Everything was contained immediately, emergency responders and Ameren representatives were on site quickly, and the damage was minimal.  Several men from our church walked the property, met with first responders, and tried to figure out how to fix the situation. 

Meanwhile, Pastor Dan, Elvin, Gary, Leah, and Sara continued the service, making necessary adjustments, as if everything was normal.  Not only that, but the children’s ministries folks were downstairs preparing the spaghetti luncheon (on electric stoves, in electric ovens, and with electric roasters).  As the power went out to the kitchen, they found a few outlets still working and figured a way out.  Others checked in the Annex and realized its kitchen was still functional, and prepared the rest of the meal in there.  More folks quickly found candles and other lights and spread them around the room and did their best to take advantage of the light we did have. 

As the service was winding down, I asked Gary Baker (who had just come from the kitchen) if the meal was still on.  I was getting ready to cancel it and ask people to make donations without the meal (effectively I was running around looking for a way to call timeout).  Gary told me they were ready to proceed.  We closed the service and invited people to lunch, and a majority of the congregation came.  A great meal was served, lots of joy and fellowship was shared, and over $1,200 was raised, all in a blackout, all because we didn’t call a timeout as it looked chaotic on the field. 

I want to applaud everyone for the calm and determined approach in which you carried on last Sunday.  There was nothing normal about what took place, but you wouldn’t have known it from the way it all worked out.  You would have thought that was the play we had called and practiced many times over.  Thank you for your flexibility and adaptiveness!  You amazed me once again.

Monday morning David Lorenz from Lorenz Electrical was here and assessed our situation.  He spent over an hour on the phone calling around for a part compatible with our dated electrical system.  To say it was like finding a needle in a haystack would be an understatement, but he succeeded.  The bad news is that the part was in Colorado.  As of today (Friday, Feb 17) the part is being installed, however Ameren will not have us reconnected until at least Tuesday of next week (Monday is a holiday).  This means will not have power (and therefore heat) restored to our building for worship Sunday morning.  After a discussion with Bill Salyer (our Administrative Board Chair), we contacted Chris Howard at Howard Funeral Home.  Chris generously agreed to provide us access to his chapel for our Sunday morning service.  So as not to impose too much on Chris, we will have just one service this Sunday, at 10:20 am.  Howard Funeral Home is located at 1397 W Ashley Rd, Boonville, MO.  We regret that appropriate spaces for Sunday School, children’s church, and a nursery will not be available.  We do intend to livestream the service on our Facebook page as usual, but understand that the quality might look a little different.

While I would much rather hold worship in our church with all the comforts of home, this is just not an option this week.  I am grateful to Chris Howard for his hospitality and am pleased we will have the opportunity to come together this week as a church family.  I am also grateful to everyone who has been so flexible and willing to adapt as we have had to move meetings, classes, appointments, etc.  This is not the situation we hoped for, but it is the one we have.  I appreciate everyone joining together to make the best of these difficult circumstances. 

As I said above, we are optimistic that power will be restored Tuesday of this coming week.  The Administrative Board is scheduled to meet this coming Tuesday and we will seek to address any continuing concerns from this incident.  The expectation is we will have Ash Wednesday Service in our Sanctuary at 7:00 pm on Wednesday of next week (Feb 22). 

Again, I thank you all for your prayers over this situation and your continued understanding as we make the best of this trying circumstance.  I think the play may end up looking like a success once all the dust settles. 

It is as honor and pleasure to be your pastor and to be in ministry with you to a God who can bring victory out of what looks like chaos. 

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 referred to as “Transfiguration Sunday” on the church calendar.  Transfiguration Sunday is observed every year on the Sunday immediately prior to Ash Wednesday.  The story of Christ’s Transfiguration is told in the first three Gospels.  This week we will look at the story as told in Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 17, verses 1-9:

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  There he was transfigured before them.  His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.  Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.  If you wish, I will put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.  Listen to him.”

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.  But Jesus came and touched them.  “Get up,” he said.  “Don’t be afraid.”  When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Our service will begin with the song Cornerstone by Toby Mac, featuring Zach Williams.  Our hymns include Open My Eyes, That I May See; Open Our Eyes, and Be Thou My Vision.  

We will not have paper copies of the worship bulletin available this Sunday.  A PDF of the bulletin can be found below.  We will also post the bulletin on our Facebook page. 

Virtual Worship Information

In addition to in-person worship, our service will be live-streamed. The service can be viewed on our Facebook Page.  The service will start at approximately 10:25 am following our Gathering Song.  The stream this week will be simpler than normal, as we will not have access to our usual equipment and software.  Additionally, we post a recording of our messages to our website by early Sunday afternoon. 

Announcements

Baby Grace Diaper Drive – Baby Grace is having a diaper and wipes drive during the month of February!  We keep sizes 1 through 4 on hand with size 3 and 4 being the most popular.  A package of wipes is included with each distribution of diapers.  Please consider helping with this mission.  There is a crib in the church foyer for contributions.  Monetary gifts are also welcome.  Just make the check out to Nelson Memorial, UMC and put in the memo line Baby Grace Diaper Drive.  Thank you.

Kids Host Valentine’s Lunch – On behalf of the Education Committee and the Nelson kids, we want to thank you for the love and support that was shown at the Valentine’s Day lunch.  The kids absolutely loved serving and hosting lunch to show God’s love.  A big thank you to all those who worked so hard, donated items, and prepared and served food.  You made this possible.  We raised over $1,200.00 for Children’s and Youth Ministries.  Thank you again, we are so blessed to have a wonderful and supportive church family!

Say Cheese! – Directory pictures will not be taken this Sunday, but will resume Sunday, February 26 in the church library.  We will contact those who had appointments on 2/19 to reschedule.   If you have not yet updated your contact information, you can fill out an electronic version of the form at the following link: https://forms.gle/rMLfxccrJmLxnQG36.

Ash Wednesday – We are still planning on holding our Ash Wednesday Service as scheduled.  Join us February 22 at 7:00 pm for our Ash Wednesday Service. This will be a simple service of meditation, contemplation, confession and receiving ashes.

CoMo Christian Men’s Conference – The CoMo Christian Men’s Conference will be held Saturday, March 4 at The Crossing in Columbia.  Sam Giroux, Methodist Men’s President, will be leading a group attending this event and they wish to invite all interested men to attend.  Levi Lusko will be the featured speaker.  Please speak with Sam if you have any questions.  More information can be found at https://comochristian.com/.

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/. 

Events this week:

Friday, February 17: Youth Group, 6:00 pm, Jackson’s Home

Sunday, February 19: Worship Service at Howard Funeral Home, 10:20 am, 1397 W Ashley Rd, Boonville, MO

Tuesday, February 21: Administrative Board, 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary

Wednesday, February 22: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge

Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall

Ash Wednesday Service, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary

Friday, February 24: Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Closing Words of Wisdom:

We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” – Dolly Parton