“Who Counts?”
A colleague of mine posts a devotion every week on various topics. For the month of June, she has themed her reflections around children’s books which communicate the Gospel in creative and impactful ways. I was blessed with her reflection this week on the “Lost Ones” as described in the Gospel of Luke and I hope you will be too. (If you’d like to read more of her reflections, you can find them at https://substack.com/@heatherwilletolson.)
Blessings, Chris
Amy-Jill Levine is a professor of New Testament and of Jewish Studies. Sandy Eisenberg Sasso is also Jewish and part of what I love about this book is that they bring a different perspective to these three parables than what we usually hear preached from the pulpit. If the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son, as they are commonly known, have become too familiar to you, I highly recommend this book for a fresh take on them.
One emphasis is on responsibility. The woman is at fault for losing her coin; she holds herself accountable, even if her neighbors say that one lost coin is no big deal. Likewise, the man insists on being responsible for all 100 sheep. It didn’t matter that he still has 99 other sheep; he is responsible for the sheep that was missing, too. In both stories there is an emphasis on the complete set. Without the one coin, without the one sheep, something is missing. Only with all ten coins is the coin collection complete. Only with all 100 sheep is the flock complete. While some people say that only missing one isn’t a big deal, the person responsible knows that that one makes a difference. In fact, finding the missing one makes such a big difference that in each case there is a party to celebrate. They are so happy to find what was missing, so happy to have their set be complete again, that they invite others to celebrate with them.
The third story is slightly different. It begins by pointing out how two sons are easier to count than ten coins or one hundred sheep. When the younger son returns home, the father is so happy that he invites others over to celebrate, like the first two stories. In fact, in the picture are both the man and the woman from the first two stories. What’s different is how the authors treat the conversation between the older son and his father. The son didn’t know there was a party going on; he was still out working in the field. His father had forgotten to invite him. The son finds out from a neighbor going to the party. To the father’s credit, in this version, he counts everyone at the party and realizes one person is missing, his older son, and he runs out of the house to go find him. The father isn’t realizing his mistake when the older son points it out to him or when he hears whispers that the older son is outside and angry. He realizes it before then because he pays attention and counts to make sure everyone is at the party.
Then, they have a conversation like what’s recorded in Luke 15, but with a different ending. Near the end of the conversation the father says, “I have two sons – one, two. I paid attention to my younger son, but I discounted my older son. I didn’t realize that he felt lost.” The father makes it a point to say that both sons count, that without one, the family is not complete. The story still does not say whether the older son chooses to join the party, but there is a level of compassion for the older son that always felt missing from other tellings of this story. The father validates the older son’s emotions: I didn’t realize you felt lost. There’s no judgment or criticism or denying that the older son feels this way or that he shouldn’tfeel this way. It’s simply acceptance. The father has two sons and he loves both of them and both of them are needed for the family to be complete.
“Who Counts” has less to do with who is doing the counting than it does with who is being counted. There is an emphasis on making sure that everyone is accounted for, and if someone’s missing, to go find them so that they are no longer missing. The nuance in “Two Sons” is that while there are only two people to count, they both feel lost. Not necessarily physically missing, but emotionally or spiritually missing. It’s like feeling alone in a crowd. You can be physically not alone and yet still feel that way and that feeling is still valid. The older son, who I often identify with, feels discounted. He does not feel as important as the fuss that is made over his younger brother. In this version, the father does not tell him how he should feel, does not become defensive in explaining the party. It’s calm, compassionate, matter-of-fact, and inclusive that everyone counts. Everyone is important. Each piece contributes to the whole and without all the pieces, something is missing. You are important. Your voice matters, too. Without you, something is missing. You count, too.
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
We continue our message series looking at the life and teachings of Simon-Peter. This Sunday our message is titled “Rock to Stumbling Block.” Our Scripture lesson this Sunday will be from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 16, verses 21-23:
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elder, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Our services will begin with the song First Things First by Consumed By Fire. Our hymns for the morning include God of Grace and God of Glory, You Are My King, and Have Thine Own Way, Lord.
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
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!!
Heritage Days – On June 24th as part of Heritage Days Celebration, the Outreach Committee will be spreading the love of God and inviting families to our church in the following ways:
Cooling Station: We’ll also set up a cooling station in the church yard with tents, fans, and cool drinks. If you’d like to volunteer during the day, please let Sara Snyder know.
Yard Games: NMUMC will set up some yard games at the church so families can gather and relax, and maybe have a face painting booth. If you have yard games you’d be willing to let us borrow (corn hole, horseshoes, etc. please bring to the church by June 22.
Christian Movie Small Group – Just a reminder that Sunday is movie night and it will be held in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 6:30 pm. We will view a Sight & Sound Video. Come join us for popcorn and a movie, and bring your own soda.
Sagrada Bible Camp – Thank you to everyone who has signed up to help with transportation to and from Camp Sagrada. All volunteer spots have been filled.
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/.
Save The Date:
- Sunday, July 16, 2023 – Ice Cream Freeze Off
- Thursday, August 10, 2023 – S’mores Night
- Sunday, August 20, 2023 – Church Picnic
- Monday, August 28, 2023 – Red Cross Blood Drive
Events this week:
Sunday, June 18: Movie Small Group, 6:30 pm, Fellowship Hall
Monday, June 19: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Leadership Development Team, 6:00 pm, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, June 20: Administrative Board, 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, June 21: Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
Sorrow looks back. Worry looks around. Faith looks up.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson