“It Just Doesn’t Add Up!”
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption of Jesus Christ.” Romans 3:21-24
For the past 3 days, I’ve been working on a project that feels like it should be easy. Yet for the life of me, I just can’t get it to come out the way it should. I’ve looked at it from every angle, talked to people with much more intellect and education in this field, reassessed, and I still can’t get it to make sense. In my head I understand how it should work, what should happen, and what the result should be. But no matter what I did and how I attacked it, I could not get the results to make sense. (It really made me very frustrated all week, because some things in life are just supposed to make sense.)
During my quiet time with God, I was thinking about my frustration regarding not being able to make sense of this project. After a few minutes, I received the thought – “not everything makes sense -salvation, life, eternity – these things don’t make sense, but it doesn’t make them any less real or true.”
Theologians, scientists, philosophers, and academics spend their careers trying to explain everything down to the last detail. It is their job to make sense of the world around us. But the truth is, some things in life, in this world, in God’s creation are beyond our comprehension. Not everything we encounter, not every problem we face, not every blessing we receive is going to make sense. When Paul discusses salvation in Romans 3, he explains one of those mysteries of faith – we are all sinners, unworthy of God’s love, but we get it anyway, because of God’s great love for us. Does it make sense? No. It is true? Absolutely!
This week, when you encounter something that doesn’t make sense, I invite you to not fight it. Instead, embrace it for its beauty and mystery. Sit and rest in the thought that even though things may not add up to you, they make perfect sense to our creator.
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 we will have a guest speaker – a friend of mine who I have known since we were in high school. Rev. Dr. Mark Sheets will be here and will share a message titled “Does Your Reputation = Your Testimony?” based on his favorite book of the Bible, Philemon.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To our beloved coworker Philemon, to our sister Apphia, to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church in your house:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God always when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the partnership of your faith may become effective as you comprehend all the good that we share in Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
For this reason, though I am more than bold enough in Christ to command you to do the right thing, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for the long term, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
One thing more: prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Our service will begin with the Gathering Song Lifesong by Casting Crowns. Cornerstone will be our Opening song, with Spirit of the Living God as our Praise Hymn and Have Thine Own Way, Lord will be our closing hymn. Our Praise Band will lead us in our first 2 songs at the 10:20 service. Also, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion this Sunday.
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
Best of Boonville – We already know that Nelson Memorial UMC is the best place in town to worship! We need your help letting everyone else know as well. The Boonville Daily News is conducting their annual “Best of Boonville” Reader’s Choice Awards and we have been nominated for the “Best Place to Worship.” To vote for Nelson Memorial, please go to www.boonvilledailynews.com and click where it says “Best of Boonville.” On the voting site, we are under the category of People and Places. Thank you for your support.
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.
Note of Encouragement for Teachers – On August 17 the Outreach Committee will put together a tray of breakfast pastries for the teachers at LSE to welcome them back to school. (This is a correction from the date that appeared in the newsletter.) Feel free to write a note of encouragement for teachers and staff to include. You can leave it in the Sanctuary or church office.
Choir is Back – Choir rehearsals for the Methodist Music Makers have started back up. We are switching to Thursday evening practices immediately following Praise Band rehearsals. We practice twice a month. We are always welcoming new singers and hope to see you there! Please contact Leah Gumbel for additional information.
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, please 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, August 6: Christian Movie Night, 6:30 pm, Fellowship Hall
Monday, August 7: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, August 8: PEO, 4:30 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, August 9: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, August 10: Baby Grace Size & Sort, 5:00 pm, Annex
S’mores N’ More, 7:00 pm, Church Yard
Saturday, August 12: Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Lounge
Closing Words of Wisdom:
True religion is not about possessing the truth. No religion does that. It is rather an invitation into a journey that leads one toward the mystery of God.” – John Shelby Spong