“The Greatest Mystery of All”
Knowledge…it is something I value above most things. As a writer, my favorite days are research days…when I spend hours combing through Google articles, my eyes scanning texts for nuggets of information as my fingers tap out questions like: Why did megalodons go extinct? How does the filibuster actually work? Who invented the water slide? What exactly does G-force mean? And though sometimes it takes a bit of digging and much cross-referencing of sources, I can usually come up with the answer (the climate changed, hard to say–but one of the first recorded water rides was built in New Zealand in 1906, the force of gravity or acceleration on the body).
Whenever someone in our house is feeling unwell, I turn to Google for a diagnosis before calling the doctor’s office. When our beloved Newfie passed away last month, I researched pet cremation because I wanted to know what would happen to him next. And when my brand new sewing machine quit working correctly, I turned to YouTube to figure out how to fix it myself–and learned about the function of tension in the process!
People say that knowledge is power, but its power comes from the fact that it leads to understanding. And understanding leads to informed decisions.
That’s why it often confounds me that so much of faith is still a mystery. Despite all of my knowledge of God, I still have so many unanswered questions. Why does God let people suffer? How does eternity work? Is heaven really a place in the hereafter, or do we have it all wrong? Will God truly send people away from him after working so hard to save humanity? If God forgives and forgets, why do so many churches still talk about judgement? And how can God really be everywhere at once?
Yet as I was meditating on Psalm 8 last week, a thought occurred to me. Though there are many mysteries in this life of faith, perhaps the biggest mystery of all is that God loves us.
We are a people who spend most of our waking moments focused on our selves–on our self-preservation and self-perpetuation. If I’m being honest, I would have to say that a large chunk of my thoughts are self-directed, from pondering what I want to eat to thinking through conversations in my head, it’s all about me, myself, and I. Sound familiar?
And yet, God loves us anyway. Why? We’ve never once given him a reason to do so. In fact, a quick scroll through history will show that we’ve given God ample reasons to wash his hands of us. But instead, he keeps calling. From the beginning to the end, our Father who loves seeks us out and gathers us home. And this all-consuming love of God is, I think, the greatest and most holy mystery of faith–a strange and perplexing force out there hovering in the cosmos like the Oort Cloud (Google it). I can’t tell you why God continues to love us–it’s enough to know that he does.
God set us apart…making us just less than divine, Psalms says, but crowning us with God’s own glory and grandeur. It’s overwhelming to think about–kind of like looking up into the vastness of the night sky. When I consider the stars, I am diminished. I remember that in the grand scheme of the universe, I am but a blink, a breath, a bubble. When I’m gone, I will leave nothing lasting–nothing immemorial. My name will not become a question future Jeopardy contestants will answer. But yet, God says, “You matter to me.” And he says the same to you.
How do we respond to such a mystery? How do we let the knowledge of God’s unfathomable love shape us? My hope is that it moves us out of ourselves just a little bit farther and closer to the one God has called each of us to become in him.
This week, I would encourage you to spend some time outside looking to the sky. Lose yourself in the great cosmos of stars and planets that circle above. Be small, and in that smallness remember how very much you are loved. And let that love be enough.
Blessings and Peace, Sara
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 we will conclude our message series looking at the life and teachings of Simon-Peter. This Sunday’s message is titled “Your Turn.” This week we turn our attention to the first of Peter’s 2 letter. Our Scripture focus will be in 1 Peter, chapter 2, verses 4 through 10.
As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders have rejected has become the cornerstone,”
And, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Our service will begin with the Gathering Song Every Hour by David Leonard. Come, Christians, join to Sing will be our Opening Hymn and We’ve A Story to Tell to the Nations will be our closing hymn. Our Praise Song for the morning is Sanctuary.
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 Outing at Big Surf Water Park – Don’t forget about Big Surf Water Park outing at the Lake of the Ozarks this Sunday! We are planning on meeting in the Big Surf parking lot between 2:00 and 2:15. We will plan on eating dinner together at 6:00 when the park closes. Bring a side dish or dessert to share. Sandwiches and drinks will be provided. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Baker. We hope you can join us for some summer fun!
Choir is Back – Choir rehearsals for the Methodist Music Makers will begin this month. We are switching to Thursday evening practices immediately following Praise Band rehearsals. Our first meeting will be Thursday, August 3 at 7:00 pm. We practice twice a month. We are always welcoming new singers and hope to see you there! Please contact Leah Gumbel for additional information.
Pack the Bus, August 5 – Help the Boonville Kiwanis Club pack the bus with school supplies at Boonville Walmart from 9:00 am – 1 PM. Donations benefit children Kindergarten – 5th grade.
Christian Movie Night – Our next movie night will be on Sunday, August 6th in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 6:30 pm. Come join us for popcorn and a movie, and bring your own soda.
S’mores N’ More – Join us as we celebrate National S’more Day on Thursday, August 10 on the church lawn. Live music will begin around 7. Guests are encouraged to bring a chair and come ready for some good food, good music, and great fun! All the S’more fixin’s will be provided. Don’t forget to invite a friend or two (or ten).
KIDS HOPE Celebration – Make plans to join us Sunday, August 13 as we celebrate a very special ministry – Kids Hope. Kids Hope is a program we participate in partnership with David Barton Elementary School where we pair up a mentor with a student for one hour a week. Some of the students need academic support, some need social support, some just can use another adult who cares about them and wants to be a part of their life. Join us on August 13 as we celebrate this ministry, say thank you to Debbie Maxwell for her years of serving as our Kids Hope Director, and welcome Karma Haller and Greg Silvey as our new Kids Hope Directors. If you are interested in learning more about Kids Hope, come to church on August 13 or speak with Debbie, Karma, Greg or Pastor Chris.
Church Picnic August 20 – Time for Some Food and Fun – The United Methodist Men are hosting our Annual Church Picnic Sunday, August 20 at 6:00 pm. We will gather at the church yard. UMM will provide the meat and drinks. Please bring a dish to share and also a (lawn chair or blanket). Feel free to invite friends, family and neighbors to join in on the fun.
Blood Drive – Our next Red Cross Blood Drive is coming up on Monday, August 28th from 2:00 to 6:00 in our Fellowship Hall. As happens most summers, the supply of blood available is in short supply and donors are greatly needed. To schedule a time for donating blood, click here.
Prayer Ministry – Did you know that every Wednesday morning a group of dedicated prayer warriors meets for about 15 minutes (over Zoom) to pray for our church, our members, our community, our world, and any other needs that arise? If this sounds like something you would like to do, please contact the church office (boonvillemethodist@gmail.com).
Events this week:
Sunday, July 30: Outing to Big Surf, 2:00 pm
Monday, July 31: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, August 1: Congregational Care, 7:00 pm, Lounge
Wednesday, August 2: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
The first holy truth in God 101 is that men and women of true faith have always had to accept the mystery of God’s identity and love and ways. I hate that, but it’s the truth.” – Anne Lamott