A Future of Impossible Hope
As I write this today, any number of awful things are happening in the world. Communities have been devastated by fire, flood, and wind. Wars rage, violence erupts on city streets, governments that are supposed to protect oppress instead. Tragedy strikes, grief lingers, jobs are lost, and doctors can offer little to ease the mind. Sometimes, it doesn’t seem like God likes us very much, let alone loves us.
In my experience, one of the biggest stumbling blocks to faith for people who are non-believers lies in the absolute tyranny of life itself. How can a God who is love sit idly by while tragedy strikes, trauma endures, sickness continues, and injustice abounds? Truth be told, the most reasoned and best articulated answer I can give people who question God’s motives is simply this: The world is broken, and sometimes, it sucks.
But I can also unequivocally tell you this–God does love us, and the proof of that is everywhere. It’s in early-morning hours as the peachy orange of a new dawn slowly pushes the night away and the birds emerge from their slumber to sing the day into being. It’s in the praise song that fills my heart and compels me to sing as I take my son to early morning band practice. It’s in the daily reminders that my life is full of people who love me: texts from my mom sharing news of the day, calls from my sister while she’s waiting in the drive-thru lane at Starbucks, Sunday evening conversations with my in-laws as we unpack our week. God’s love is in the rhythm of daily living that my husband and I have cultivated together over the past 19 years, full of conversations about everything and nothing, laughter and love. It’s in those moments where I look at my boys and see glimpses of the thoughtful and talented men they are becoming, realizing that God is working in their lives even when I don’t notice.
When your heart is full of compassion and kindness, that is God’s love shining through. Paul reminds us in the letter to the Ephesians that God’s love doesn’t just skim the surface of life. It’s not temporal or transactional. It doesn’t ebb and flow. Instead, it is deep and wide, reaching well above and beyond anything we can grasp, let alone comprehend.
I think if people truly understood the height, width, depth, and breadth of God’s love, if they knew they are well and truly loved completely, then I have to think the world would change. This, then, is our mission as those who already know God’s all-surpassing and ever-encompassing love: We must be bearers of love until every person on this planet knows there is something bigger, something more powerful, something more sacred than what our eyes can see. If we truly want others to know God, then we need to love them.
And so, today, I offer this prayer:
God, give us courage and strength to love as you have loved.
God, give us patience and wisdom to love those whom you love.
God, give us compassion and understanding when we are seeking to share your love.
God, give us power to show love in ways that help others see there is a greater love.
And God, let us love because you love us.
In Jesus’ Name…Amen
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 “Don’t Make A Mountain Out Of A Molehill.” Our Scripture focus will be from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 25 through 34:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Our services will begin with the Gathering Song Glory, Glory (God Is Able) by Crowder. The 8:00 service will sing How Great Thou Art as an Opening Hymn and the 10:20 service will be led in How Great Is Our God. Our Praise Song will be Seek Ye First, and our Closing Hymn will be God Will Take Care Of You. This Sunday we will observe the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
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
Growth Opportunity – Have you ever wanted to be one of those “chapter and verse people” – one of those folks who can recite important and meaningful verse of Scripture? We have a group for you. There are many reasons for memorization of scriptures where it increases your knowledge of God: of who he is, what he’s promised, and who I am in Christ (2 Peter 3:18). It will give you knowledge, wisdom, and understanding (Proverbs 2:1-6). It will help you remember God’s Word. Cindy Koch is putting together a group that will focus on learning and reciting Scriptures. If you’d like to be a part of this group, please contact Cindy Koch (660-888-5408) for more information.
Attention Walkers – A group is forming to walk the Katy Trail once a week. We will begin on Tuesday, September 12th , gathering in the lounge at 10:00 am.. If you have any questions please contact Cindy Koch at (660) 888-5408.
Thank You! – We received the following note from Angie Rogers, the principle at LSE.
Nelson Memorial UMC: I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful breakfast you provided for the LSE staff. The gesture will go a long way in boosting morale and spirits of our staff. Your support also serves as a reminder that their dedication and commitment to educating students does not go unnoticed. It’s people like you that make our community the best to serve! Thanks again for your generosity, Angie Rogers
Blood Drive – Thank you to everyone who participated in our Red Cross Blood Drive. 19 units of Blood were received, which will touch many lives. Again, thank you to everyone who so generously participated in this important ministry.
Church Library News – Cindy Koch is our own famous author for the month of September. The title of Cindy’s book is Come September. It is a story about a young woman named Carrie who is in her last year of journalism college. She was raised by grandparents who would not talk about her parents. Any information she learned had to be hunted down. On her 21st birthday, she is surprised with something that will help her find out the crucial missing pieces. She finds much more than just answers along the way. Check with Cindy if you want to purchase her book. All of the proceeds go to our Baby Grace program.
Upper Room & Our Daily Bread Devotional Books – The new “Upper Room” and “Our Daily Bread” devotional books have arrived, please help yourself to one in the back of the Sanctuary.
Christian Movie Night – Our next movie night will be Sunday, September 17 in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 6:30 pm. We will be watching “Ruth” of Sight and Sound production. On September 24 we will watch Sight and Sound’s production of “Esther.” Come join us for popcorn and a movie, and bring your own soda.
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.
Events this week:
Sunday, September 3: Youth Group, 6:00 pm, Jackson’s Home
Monday, September 4: Labor Day – Office Closed
Wednesday, September 6: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Outreach Meeting, 6:00 pm, Lounge
Friday, September 8: Lounge Reserved, 10:00 am
Saturday, September 9: Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Lounge
Closing Words of Wisdom:
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” — Harriet Tubman