“Revival and Awakening”
For the past couple of weeks, I have seen numerous stories about an impromptu worship service at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky that has gained national attention. Following a chapel service, a dozen or so students gathered together for some additional prayer. These students began to feel a movement of the Holy Spirit and entered into a time of confession and repentance, experiencing both renewal and revival. With the help of social media, word began to spread about what was taking place in the school’s chapel, and people started showing up. Initially, students from across the university came to experience what they were hearing and seeing on social media. Soon, people from throughout the community started coming too. Like a ripple on the water, word continued to spread even farther, and eventually people from around the world found themselves praising God in Wilmore, Kentucky.
This past Wednesday marked the beginning of the season of Lent, a 40-day period leading up to Easter and the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. Lent is intended to be a time where each of us can experience renewal and revival. It began this past Wednesday night as we gathered for a service of confession and repentance, acknowledging our mortality and sinfulness. It continues these next 40 days as each of us picks up the challenge to seek out intimate experiences with God in our daily lives, similar to those reported by many who experienced the holy at Asbury University. But we don’t have to travel to have an encounter with the holy—God calls to each of us right where we are—if only we open our hearts and minds to receive him.
As we continue to observe Lent these next six-weeks, I invite you to reflect on what a holy experience with God looks like for you. In our worship services, we are going to explore the idea of letting go of what is holding us back from receiving the abundant love and grace offered to us through Jesus Christ. Instead of thinking about things we can give up during Lent, we are going to discuss attitudes, thoughts, and actions we need to let go of in order to fully embrace Christ.
As we journey through this holy season, I encourage you to think about what God might be calling you to let go of to more fully experience the fullness of his grace.
Blessings, Chris
Updates
As there’s been a lot going on at Nelson these past couple weeks, I thought it would be good to share a few updates with you.
- Tuesday morning power was restored to our building. I’d like to express my gratitude to David Lorenz and his crew for their work to get us back up and running, as well as to Bill Salyer for coordinating all of it.
- Tuesday evening our Church Board met and reviewed multiple proposals to replace and upgrade our HVAC systems. After comparing the proposals and much discussion, we voted to accept a bid contingent on a couple of details being agreed upon. We are still working through some of the technicalities and making a plan for financing, but are hopeful work will begin on the HVAC system within the next few weeks.
- In the coming weeks we will share updates as to when work will begin and fundraising efforts. This is not an inexpensive project, but we are confident God is calling us to this undertaking in order to continue to best utilize our beautiful and historic building. I encourage you to be in prayer about ways you and your family might be able to participate in the effort to pay for these necessary upgrades to our infrastructure.
- While we are hopeful to get this work done in the near-future, the current furnaces are still not functioning properly. I say this to encourage you to continue to bring that sweater or jacket when you come for worship.
- Finally, I want to remind you of another project we are working on – the updating of our directory. Reminder, if you are part of our church family, we want you to be in our directory. This isn’t just for official members. Everyone is invited and encouraged to be participate. Pictures are being taken in our Library Sunday mornings between services and following the 10:20 service. Additionally, everyone is asked to update their contact information. You can do so by following this link: https://forms.gle/rMLfxccrJmLxnQG36, or by filling out the forms in the back of the Sanctuary.
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 first Sunday of Lent. Our Message Series this Lent is titled “Letting Go.” This Sunday’s focus will be on letting go of our sins. Our Scripture lesson this Sunday comes from Psalms 32, verses 1-8:
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from the trouble and surround me with the songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Our service will begin with the song Thank God For Sunday Morning by Cochren & Co. Our hymns include How Great Thou Art, Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) and I Surrender All. Our choir will bless us at the 10:20 service with a special piece titled Such Love.
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. Additionally, we post a recording of our messages to our website by early Sunday afternoon.
Announcements
Baby Grace Diaper Drive – Thank you to everyone who has already made donations to the Baby Grace diaper and wipes drive this month! While the month is almost over, we will accept donations anytime. 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 again for your support of this important ministry to our community.
Say Cheese! – Directory pictures will be taken the next two Sundays, in the church library. 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. We’ve only have a few families who have updated their directory photos thus far. Please help us as we seek to update our directory.
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/.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) change March 12 – It will soon be time to “spring forward” one hour at 2 AM, March 12 for Daylight Saving Time. As a practical matter, most of us will set our clocks up one hour sometime on March 11 so we can show up on time for worship Sunday morning.
Methodist Men’s Sagrada Work Retreat – The Methodist Men are planning on their annual retreat/workday at Sagrada Bible Camp March 24-25. The group will meet Friday afternoon/evening to carpool and plan to return Saturday mid-late afternoon. The time away will include spiritual development, fellowship, meals and projects preparing the property for the summer camping season. All men are invited, as are all youth (with a parent or approved guardian). A signup sheet is in the East Wing Narthex. For more information, please talk with Tim VonEngeln (660-882-3348).
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:
Sunday, February 26: Foundations Small Group, 6:30 pm, Gordon’s Home
Monday, February 27: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, March 1: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday March 2: Praise Band Rehearsal, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, February 3: Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
Lent is a time for discipline, for confession, for honesty, not because God is mean or fault- finding or finger-pointing but because he wants us to know the joy of being cleaned out, ready for all the good things he now has in store.”― N.T. Wright