“Spiritual”
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” Romans 12:1
Earlier this week I was in a meeting with a group of pastors and we were discussing spiritual practices – specifically Bible reading. There was a statement made (one I’ve heard several times over the years) that as pastors we need to spend time in Scripture that isn’t part of prepping for a sermon, Bible study, meeting, or devotion. The gist was that in order to be considered a spiritual practice, our time in the Word must be just for our own inspiration and not for any other purpose. The implication was that my time spent in the Word for ministry–sermon prep, outreach, and or congregational care—is not “spiritual.”
All this got me thinking about what makes something “spiritual”. People often talk about “spiritual practices,” or being “spiritual but not religious,” or even on the importance of “experiencing the spiritual” in our daily lives. But what makes something spiritual? For something to be spiritual, does it need to take place in a certain location (like a church, or more specifically the church Sanctuary)? Does in need to be led by someone with a certain position of authority (like a clergy person)? Do we have to sit in a certain position, wear certain clothing, or have some type of ambiance (like candles or soft music)?
In his day, Jesus encountered religious leaders who believed and taught that there was a specific list of activities and behaviors that defined something as spiritual. Prayers had to be said with a specific set of words, in a specific location, and only by certain, authorized individuals. Jesus taught and represented a different understanding. Jesus went to those deemed sinful and impure, ate and drank with “untouchables,” “worked” on the Sabbath and showed how our entire lives could be made holy, not through prescribed activities, but through our attentiveness to the Spirit of God.
In his letter to the church in Rome, a place where it would be very dangerous to admit worshiping anyone other than the emperor, Paul shared his thoughts on how to be spiritual. He instructed these emerging believers to consider everything they do as a act of worship – making meals can be holy, your daily work (whatever it is) can be holy, spending time with family and friends can be holy, everything you do can be holy. “Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering.” In everything you do, be mindful of God’s presence, goodness, and grace. In doing so, your whole life can be considered a holy offering to God.
Friends, I’m sure that not everything I do could or would be considered holy. But that certainly isn’t because God says it’s not. It’s because of my inattentiveness to the Holy Spirit. This week, I encourage you to “take your everyday, ordinary life” and place in the hands of the only who can make even the most pedestrian of activities holy.
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 continue our message series titled “Modern Wisdom: Biblical Truths From Modern-Day Proverbs. Each week we will look at a popular saying and see what Biblical truths we can find in them. This week we will look at the phrase “Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained.” Our Scripture focus will be from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25, verses 14 through 18:
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five more bags. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”
Our services will begin with the Gathering Song Hallelujah Feeling by Caleb & John. The Opening Hymn will be He Leadeth Me. Our Praise Song will be Spirit of the Living God, and our Closing Hymn will be Take My Life and Let it Be.
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
Christian Movie Night – Our next movie night will be this Sunday in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 6:30 pm. We will be watching “Moses” of Sight and Sound production. If children attend they will be watching “Prince of Egypt”. Come join us for popcorn and a movie, and bring your own soda.
Disaster Response for Hawaii Wildfires – (Updated as of Aug. 14, 2023) Wind-driven wildfires on Maui have prompted evacuations and caused significant loss of life and widespread damage. UMCOR is coordinating with the California-Pacific Annual Conference to process an initial grant for emergency supplies such as shelf-stable food, water, hygiene items and tools to help survivors recover belongings. As first responders continue to provide initial aid in the area, please join UMCOR in prayer for those affected. Gifts can be made in the following ways:
- Online at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/901670
- By toll-free telephone call: 1-888-252-6174
- By check made out to Global Ministries/UMCOR with “Advance #901670-Hawaii” written on the memo line and mailed to Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY, 10087-9068 (Check made out to Global Ministries/UMCOR with “Advance #901670-Hawaii” written on the memo line.)
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 – What a great time we had at the Church Picnic! Thank you to everyone who came out and shared some amazing food! An especially big thank you to Sam Giroux and the other Methodist Men who organized the evening and baked out in the heat as they grilled our meal. Thank you for braving the heat on our behalf.
Blood Drive – Our next Red Cross Blood Drive is coming up this 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.
Looking for New KIDS HOPE Mentors – It is that time of the year when the students are gearing up for a new and different school year. It is such an exciting time of the year, however there are many students who come to school lacking a constant person in their life. Do you have 30 minutes a week this school year to help? If so, please consider becoming involved in the Kids Hope USA ministry. KHUSA mentors are partnered with one child, one day a week for 30-45 minutes virtually to build upon a positive relationship. If you are interested in making a difference in the life of a child at David Barton Elementary, please contact Karma Haller (660-537-3061) or Greg Silvey (660-537-0087), our new Kids Hope coordinators know that you are interested! There’s definitely a need and please keep KHUSA in your prayers.
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 27: Youth Group, noon, Fellowship Hall
Christian Movie Night, 6:30 pm, Fellowship Hall
Monday, August 28: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Red Cross Blood Drive, 2:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, August 30: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, August 31: Praise Band Rehearsal, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary
Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary
Closing Words of Wisdom:
Holiness, as taught in the Scriptures, is not based upon knowledge on our part. Rather, it is based upon the resurrected Christ in-dwelling us and changing us into His likeness.”
― A.W. Tozer