“Are You Thirsty”

As I was thinking about what to share with you here, my daily reading (Bible Gateway’s verse of the day) had me in Isaiah 55.  As we are on our Lenten journey, these words felt extra meaningful to me today, and instead of sharing lots of reflection on them, I simply invite you to read and consider these words. 

Invitation to the Thirsty

 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.  Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

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 second Sunday of Lent.  Our Message Series this Lent is titled “Letting Go.”  This Sunday’s focus will be on letting go of judgment.  Our Scripture lesson this Sunday comes from the Gospel of John, verses 43-49:

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee.  Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.  Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

The Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

Our service will begin with the song Build Your Kingdom Here by Rend Collective.  Our hymns include This Is My father’s World (8:00), Gift of Love and Help Us Accept Each Other.  Our praise band will lead us at the 10:20 service in the Build Your Kingdom Here and God Really Loves Us.

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 10:20 am with our Gathering Song.  Additionally, we post a recording of our messages to our website by early Sunday afternoon. 

Announcements

Time to Order Easter Lilies – Those of you that would like to purchase an Easter Lilley in memory of or in honor of a loved one, please fill out a form that is located on the table in the refreshment area or by the front doors.  Please deliver the form to the church by Sunday, March 12th or place it in the offering box.  This will give Marcey from Stella’s Florist and Gifts plenty of time to order the lilies.  Please make checks payable in the amount of $15.00 to Nelson Memorial, UMC, and in the memo line write Easter Lily.  The lilies will help beautify the sanctuary for Easter and will be displayed at the Easter services.  You may take your lily home after the 10:20 a.m., Easter service.

Baby Grace Diaper Drive – Thank you to everyone who has made donations to the Baby Grace diaper and wipes drive!  Your generous support helps us serve many families in our community.  Thank you again for your support of this important ministry.

Say Cheese! – Directory pictures will be continue to be taken this Sunday 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.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) change March 12 – Most of the country will “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:

Saturday, March 4: CoMo Christian Men’s Conference, carpool leaves at 7:15

Sunday, March 5: Foundations Small Group, 6:30 pm, Gordon’s Home

Monday, March 6: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge

Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, March 7: Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary

Wednesday, March 8: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge

Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall

Thursday March 9: Baby Grace Size and Sort, 1:00 pm, Church Annex

Friday, March 10: Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, March 11: Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Lounge

Closing Words of Wisdom:

The great thing to remember is that though our feelings come and go God’s love for us does not.”― C.S. Lewis