“Prayer and Action”
My morning devotion shared a story I thought I’d share with you. It tells of the story of Araminta Ross who was born into slavery sometime around the year 1820 in Maryland.
Although she never learned to read or write, her mother furnished her mind with a rich treasure of stories from the Bible. As she grew up, her faith also grew strong, along with her determined desire to be free. In 1849 she realized it was not enough simply to pray for deliverance from slavery, ‘She needed to combine faith with action. By escaping to the North,’ writes historian Catherine Clinton, ‘she felt she would be doing God’s will…After a remarkable escape, she made her way to freedom in Pennsylvania and, as was common for former slaves, took a new name: Harriet Tubman.”
Today is the anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s death in 1913. I am not going to rehash all this woman’s remarkable life and story, so much ink has already been spilled in that endeavor and has been done in a much more eloquent manner than I could. What I wanted to highlight here for you is how Tubman acted upon her prayers. Because of her mother’s witness of faith Tubman learned to pray to God for her needs—in this case freedom. But she also learned that she couldn’t just passively wait for God to answer her prayer; she had to participate in the answer. Through seeing opportunities, meeting up with those who had organized the Underground Railroad, and following the leading of the Holy Spirit, Tubman participated in the answering of her prayer.
I will confess to you that I am often passive in my prayers. I will ask God to do this or that or to provide for this or that, but then I walk away. I don’t actively work to prepare for my prayer to be answered. I don’t often participate in the answering of my prayer, I just sit back and wait. Then, if nothing happens, I wonder why God hasn’t answered my prayer. For instance, I might pray that God helps me to lose weight and ease the pain in my back. But I cannot simply maintain my diet and activity levels, both of which are not exactly the healthiest, and expect to magically lose weight. I need to actively participate in the answering of my prayer by asking for God to give me the strength and willpower to change the habits I need to in order to answer my prayer of weight loss and healthy habits. Otherwise, I’m really just making a wish instead of a prayer.
I invite you to think about the things you pray for – improved financial health, a more rewarding job, your children or loved ones to develop a relationship with God, a more meaningful way to live day-to-day. Whatever it is you are praying for, are you doing anything to help it come about, or are you passively waiting for it to come true? When we pray for God to act and take steps to participate in that answer, we are truly acting on our faith. I encourage you to think about your prayers and how you can actively participate in the answers to your prayers.
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 third Sunday of Lent. Our Message Series this Lent is titled “Letting Go.” This Sunday’s focus will be on letting go of negativity. Our Scripture lesson this Sunday comes from the book of Exodus, chapter 17, verses 1-7:
The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”
Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”
But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?
Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the leaders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the leaders of Israel. And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Our service will begin with the song Desert Road by Casting Crowns. Our hymns include Great is Thy Faithfulness, Forever, and I Need thee Every Hour. Our choir will share the song Down to the River to Pray in the 10:20 service.
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
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.
Say Cheese! – This will be the final week for directory pictures. Mike Thomas will be set up to take pictures this Sunday in the church library between services and following the 10:20 service. 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 – Don’t forget to “spring forward” one hour at 2 AM, March 12 for Daylight Saving Time. As a practical matter, set your clocks up one hour sometime on March 11 so you 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).
Palm Sunday Dinner – The Education Team will be hosting a carry-in dinner for Palm Sunday, April 2nd, after the morning worship services. There will be an Easter egg hunt for the children while the food is being put on the serving tables and readied for the dinner. Each child that participates will be given a bag of wrapped candies; donations of candies can be brought to the 3-5 years old classroom.
To ensure a good variety of foods, we request the following distribution:
Family names A to F Dessert
Family names G to L Side Dish
Family names M to S Meat Dish
Family names T to Z Salads
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 11: Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Lounge
Youth Group, 5:00 pm, Jackson’s Home
Sunday, March 12: Foundations Small Group, 6:30 pm, Gordon’s Home
Monday, March 13: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, March 15: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday March 16: Baby Grace Distribution, 5:00 pm, Church Annex
Praise Band Rehearsal, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, March 17: Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
If you are tired, keep going; if you are scared, keep going; if you are hungry, keep going; if you want to taste freedom, keep going.” ― Harriet Tubman