“All The Lonely People”
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Acts 2:42, 46-47
Earlier this month, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory warning about an epidemic facing our nation. No, this isn’t about Covid-19 or Monkeypox, and it doesn’t have anything to do with opioids. The epidemic the Surgeon General is looking to raise public awareness about is the “public health crisis” of loneliness and isolation.
Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight – one that can help us love healthier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives.” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy
May is mental health awareness month, and I have long been an advocate for removing the stigma around mental health issues. When I think about the loneliness epidemic, I first jump to the mental health aspects of it, including increased risk of depression, violent feelings, and suicide. However, loneliness has physical health effects as well, “including: a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 35% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults.”
The advisory warning included a recommendation of the best medicine to treat loneliness, and while I’m not one to jump to medicating problems, I am 100% behind this one – social connection. Just one additional hour a week of social connection can help reduce both the physical and mental health issues caused by loneliness.
This is where we can help. Our church’s vision includes being a place where “all God’s broken, hurting, and imperfect children (that’s all of us) discover wholeness and community.” The early church knew the importance of remaining connected to one another. From the very beginning of the Jesus movement, meeting together daily, both at the church (Temple) and in one another’s homes was foundational. The community of support and care that developed among those first converts to what would become Christianity became defined by their connections to and support of one another. This is what drew people to the cause – they saw the connection, support, love and care displayed by followers of Jesus and wanted to be a part of it.
Friends, in the midst of our current epidemic of loneliness, we have a renewed call to be the people of God who reach out and connect with those desperate for someone to know and care about them. This might be your next-door neighbor, the person checking you out at C&R or Dollar General, the server at your favorite restaurant, or even the person sitting in the pew in front of you. An invitation to join you for lunch or a cup of coffee, a conversation longer than the standard “How’s it going?” or even a friendly smile might make a difference much larger than you could ever imagine. As we look around us, it’s not hard to see people desperate for connection and the opportunity to be known by someone else. Please, today, tonight, this week – reach out to someone and let them know they are not alone!
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
Have you ever felt like your faith was supposed to be neat and tidy and easy, but it’s just not? This Sunday we will continue our message series titled “Messy Faith,” where we are exploring the realities of faith and spirituality in a complex and often messy life. Our Scripture lesson this Sunday will be from the Gospel of John, chapter 9, verses 1-12:
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “ but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam.” So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
“Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
Our services will begin with the song Lifesong by Casting Crowns. Our Praise Band will lead us in singing at our 10:20 service. Our other songs include The Lily of the Valley (8:00), Come As You Are (10:20), In The Garden and He Touched Me.
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
Summer 2023 Vacation Bible School – July 5th-7th, 9am – 11:30 am
Theme: Ready, Set, Move! Follow Jesus Here, There, and Everywhere.
The education committee is busy creating a hands-on, memorable experience that will allow children in our community to grow their faith as they understand how they can follow Jesus here, there, and everywhere. The program will inspire kids to: Do what He says, Believe who He is, Love who He loves, Share what He did, and Go where He leads. If you would like to lend a helping hand, please contact Risa Venable (573-881-7788). Together we can create a summer experience full of energy, movement, and lots of God’s Word!!
Sagrada Bible Camp – Camp Sagrada has reached out to us requesting our help with transportation of campers. We are looking for help on the following dates: June 12 and 16, June 19 and 23, June 26 and 30, July 10 and 14, July 17 and 21, and July 24 and 28. Each day we will need a team of 2 adults, one of which can drive the Sagrada van, the other to assist. You can volunteer for one day, or one week. There will be a sign-up sheet in the east narthex. If you have any question, please contact Tim VonEngeln at (660) 882-3348.
Thank You – The United Methodist Men would like to thank you for your support for our fund raising breakfast last Sunday. Our net profit was over $750.00. Thank You!
Christian Movie Night – Our next movie night will be held on Sunday, May 21th in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 6:30 pm. We will view Sight & Sound’s Noah. If you have any suggestions or recommendations for future movies, please text (660) 888-5408 and also let us know if you own it. Childcare will be provided if you need it, please let us know. Come join us for popcorn and a movie, and bring your own soda.
Recognizing Our Graduates on May 21st – We are putting together our list of graduates from high school and college for our recognition Sunday during the worship services May 21st. Our working list includes: High School – Trent Maxwell, and Hayden Jenks. College – Austin Krohn, Emily Lloyd and Noah Rogers. Please let us know who else we need to add to the list by emailing the church office at BoonvilleMethodist@gmail.com.
Directory Update – The updated directory is completed and copies are now available at church. Directories will be available in the back of the Sanctuary on the radiator stand by the south doors and also on the table in the East Wing. Please take 1 per family at this time. Additionally, an electronic version is available via the “Instant Church Directory” app which is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Only those whose email address is listed in the directory will be able to access our directory via this app. Once you have downloaded the app, you will need to log into the Online Member directory at https://members.instantchurchdirectory.com/ to complete your setup.
If you have difficulties setting up your account or accessing our directory, please make sure the email address you are using is the same one that is listed in the directory. If not, please contact Pastor Chris or Sandy Farris and we will update your email address in the system. Again, only those whose email address is listed in the directory will be able to access the electronic version of the directory. This is done as a way to keep the information secure.
Let’s give an extra special thank you to the team that worked so hard to make it happen – Sandy Farris, Maryellen McVicker, Nancy Schler, and Mike Thomas. Please pass along your appreciation to them for their work on this project.
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, May 13: Methodist Men’s Meeting, 8:30 am, Lounge
Sunday, May 14: Happy Mother’s Day
Monday, May 15: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Leadership Development Team, 6:00 pm, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, May 17: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, May 18: Baby Grace Distribution, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Church Annex
Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, May 19: Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” ― Mother Teresa