“1 Hour”
“Hi. I’m Chris. I’m going to be your Kids Hope Mentor. Every Tuesday I’m going to come and spend about an hour with you, doing whatever you want to do (mostly).” At this, my student began to jump up and down, with an ear-to-ear grin permanently etched on his face.
KidsHope is getting a little bit of a later start this year, but I am so excited to have it up and running once again. When I arrived at Nelson, KidsHope was one of the first ministries I was introduced to. Everyone who participated in the program had nothing but praise to share about their time as a mentor. I was impressed with these stories and excited to hear about the connections made, but a little apprehensive about participating myself.
I was nervous about what I would do each week with an 8–11-year-old. Would I be able to relate? Would we get along? Would he just see me as some old guy he was forced to spend an hour with? What if we didn’t have any common interests or things to talk about? What do I really have to offer that might help this student?
Over the past 3 years of working with KidsHope, I have learned this important lesson over and over again – showing up and being present is the most important thing I have to offer. Nearly every week I get the chance to offer a student undivided attention, asking about things going on in his life, giving him an adult who cares, who is reliable, and who wants to know about his life, interests, and thoughts. I know without any doubt that that one hour each week makes a huge difference, and I think it helps my student too!
But this isn’t an advertisement for KidsHope (though if you are interested in learning more about it, come and talk with me, Karma Haller, or Greg Silvey). What I really want you to consider this week is how can you take an hour of your time (something few of us think we have free, but we can always make time for what matters) and transform your life, and possibly someone else’s life too. What if you focused one hour each week on volunteering somewhere, or tutoring, or attending a Bible Study, or participating in a small group, or …(you get the idea)?
There are 168 hours in a week. I want to invite you to consider how you could change someone’s life (including your own) by taking just one of those hours and using it in a new way.
It is an honor and pleasure to be your pastor and to be in ministry alongside you to an amazing God!
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 begin a new message series titled “Grateful.” This series aims to move past just thinking about what we have to be thankful for and toward living a life shaped by gratitude. This week, our Scripture focus will begin with a reading from the book of Thessalonians, Chapter 5, verses 16 through 18.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Our services will begin with the Gathering Song Keep Me In The Moment by Jeremy Camp. Our Opening Hymn is Come, Christians, Join to Sing. Our other songs for the morning are This is the Day, and Give Thanks. Our Choir will share a special call to Communion in our 10:20 service, but we will observe the Sacrament of Communion in both services.
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
Mission Extravaganza – Tomorrow, November 4, beginning at 8:00 am in the Lounge we will gather before going in different directions with mission projects around our building and throughout our community. You can still sign up for any of these projects by clicking here, or you can just show up. Together, we will work to build God’s kingdom here!! If you are going to help with leaf raking, please bring a rake and gloves if you have them.
“BIG” Thank you from Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Thank you to the Tweens Sunday School Class and Congregation of Nelson Memorial United Methodist Church for your generous $6,037 donation to the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Pantry. You have put your “Faith into Action” in helping to provide supplemental foods for those who are food insecure in Cooper County. Cash donations enable the Pantry to add nutritional foods to those donated from the Food Bank; this provides a more balanced diet for individuals and families. Foods most often purchased by the Pantry include eggs, milk, cereals, meat, and canned goods. Thank you!!! The NHN Board of Directors, Ed Tiff Treasurer.
Coats for Kids – We will again be providing coats for kids who need them in the Boonslick Area. If you would like to contribute, make your check out to Nelson Memorial, UMC and in the memo line put “Coats for Kids” and place it in the offering plate or drop it by the church office. Thank you! Heather Beach.
Christian Movie Night – Our next movie night will be November 12 beginning at 4:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. We will be showing Christmas movies. If you have any suggestions please contact Cindy Koch. Come join us for popcorn and a movie, and bring your own soda.
Advent Study – The season of Advent is approaching and we are offering you an opportunity to join with others in reading through a beautiful Advent Devotional Guide. This text, Emmanuel, by Ruth Chou Simmons, subtitled “An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always,” provides an Advent exploration of what it means to intimately experience God’s presence in our daily lives. A signup sheet is in the back of the church if you’d like us to order a book for you. Please sign up by Nov 19 so we can be sure to have the books by the beginning of Advent.
HE Before Me Women’s Event – This special event will be held on Friday, November 17, at the Fortuna Baptist Church from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. This is a powerful night filled with worship, speaker, fellowship, snacks, and above all, an environment cultivated for women to encounter our Almighty God. If you have any questions please contact Judy Powell or Judy Long.
Annual Community Thanksgiving Service November 21 – The Boonslick Ministerial Alliance will hold their annual Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday, November 21 at 6:30 pm at the First Christian Church. There will be a free-will offering to benefit the work of the Ministerial Alliance. Please join in this community service sponsored by our local churches.
Thank YOU!! – The Snyder family wants to say thank you to everyone in the congregation for the overly generous and incredibly thoughtful goody basket presented to us last week. We want you all to know how blessed our family has been to be part of this wonderfully open, caring, Christ-centered community. It is both a joy and honor to serve with you at Nelson Memorial UMC, and we are so grateful to be part of the work God is doing through you.—Pastor Chris, Sara, Garrett, and Stephen
Events this week:
Saturday, November 4: Mission Extravaganza, Beginning at 8:00
Monday, November 6: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Be Still Small Group, 6:00 pm, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, November 7: Congregational Care Team, 7:00 pm, Lounge
Wednesday, November 8: Women’s Bible Study, 10:10 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, November 9: Baby Grace Size & Sort, 1:00 pm, Annex
Praise Band Practice, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary
Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, November 10: Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, November 11: Veteran’s Day
Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Lounge
Jesus & Justice Small Group, 9:30 am, Lounge
Closing Words of Wisdom:
Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” – Martin Luther King Jr.