“The Advent Dilemma”
“Slow down!” I called, pulling in with both arms on a leash stretched taut between our big baby of a Great Dane puppy and my hand–her barreling down the trail and me being dragged behind. “You go my pace! I don’t go yours!” I cried as she finally came to a standstill, looking back at me with an expression of annoyance that clearly communicated I needed to do a better job of keeping up.
The problem of ploughing pell-mell through the woods (beyond a dislocated shoulder) is that we miss the wonder and beauty and peace that comes from contemplating all of creation on display around us. There’s not time to pause and ponder the bright yellow leaf that has fallen, absolutely perfectly, into the middle of the path. There’s no time to stop and stare eye-to-eye at the brown-eyed doe tentatively assessing whether it’s safe to cross the path. There’s no time to marvel at the way the crisp, cool air expands your lungs, and the how the earth smells sharp and rich as it seeks to reclaim the leaves and twigs and smashed nut shells of the previous season. There’s just no time…
This is how I often feel during the season of Advent (yes, it’s still a thing; no, it’s not a countdown to Christmas), like I’m being pulled through something marvelous that I really want to stop and enjoy, but there’s just no time. Where Christmas is bright, big, and boisterous, Advent is retracted and reflective, requiring a certain amount of stillness and awareness. These are qualities our society does not endorse. And so we sprint through it to take in as much of the holiday hoopla as we can instead of waiting and watching and listening for the arrival of the holy, like those wise bridesmaids Jesus spoke of in the gospels.
In the above Scripture passage, the prophet Micah is lamenting the path the people of Israel have chosen. They have relegated God to an afterthought, and instead of listening for him, instead of watching and waiting for the deliverance God longs to bring, the people are living as they wish. The people of Israel rush around seeking to make themselves happy in a misguided attempt to close the gaping hole that no amount of money, power, luxury goods, or food seems to fill. There is conflict and animosity, injustice and idolatry in the wreckage of God’s perfect order.
And then there is Micah, who must feel like he’s screaming into the wind, compelling the people of Israel to remember before it’s too late that God only wants these things from them: to be just, to choose love, and to walk in humble obedience with God. But God’s path is a slow one, filled with detours and unexpected pit stops, and the people have no desire for such a seeming waste of time. So Micah sits, pulling his cloak around him, and waits–believing with every fiber of his being that he will see the Lord’s salvation when it comes. Micah stops to watch. He stills himself to listen. He doesn’t check his watch, add to his to-do list, or strategize a shopping plan. He just waits. And hopes. And listens. Do you know what Micah hears in the waiting? He hears the voice of God.
This is the beauty of Advent, if we truly allow ourselves to indulge in it. As we wait, as we watch, as we still ourselves to listen, we, too, can hear the voice of God. Sometimes it comes in wonder, as we gaze at God’s beauty in nature or in the companionship of those we love. Sometimes it comes in song, as we pause to listen to Christmas hymns both new and old. Sometimes it comes in Scripture, as we take time to dive into God’s word and find revelation anew. And sometimes it comes in the quiet of our stilled thoughts…a soft and gentle whisper nudging us in a specific direction or wrapping us up in acceptance and love.
Newbery Award Winning Author Madeline L’Engle puts it this way:
Advent calls us into a holy stillness. While the world whirls in a carousel of frenetic energy, blurring our thoughts and confounding our senses, we are called to hop off the ride and sit, like Micah, on the side of the road…waiting and watching…believing with every fiber of our beings, that we will see the salvation of the Lord. Come, Lord Jesus….
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 continue the season of Advent. Our message series for Advent is titled “Prepare: Advent and the Message of John The Baptist.” This week, our Scripture reading will be from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1, verses 18 through 25.
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years?”
The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
When his time of service was complete, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Our services will begin with the Gathering Song Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth, by Bing Crosby & David Bowie. Our Opening Song is Hail to the Lord’s Anointed. Our Praise Hymn is Let There Be Peace on Earth, and we will close with the first two verses of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Our Choir will bring a prelude at the 10:20 service, previewing a piece from their upcoming Christmas Cantata.
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
Children’s Christmas Program December 17 – The children will present “Oh What a Night” during the 10:20 AM worship service. Invite family and friends to join you at church, or they can watch the livestream at facebook.com/nelsonmemorialumc. There will be a dress rehearsal after worship services this Sunday.
Choir Christmas Cantata – Our Choir has been hard at work the past few months preparing a Christmas Cantata for us. They will share their ministry with us during the 10:20 worship service on December 24. This program, titled: A New and Glorious Morn, is going to be the perfect way to start your Christmas Eve and Christmas celebrations. Please join us in person or via live stream.
Christmas Eve Services – In addition to our regular Sunday morning service on Dec 24, we will hold Candlelight and Communion service on Christmas Eve at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The Living Nativity will be on the lawn between services.
Help Us Spread Some Holiday Cheer – Our Sunday School classes will be Christmas Caroling on Sunday, December 24th at Riverdale Care Center. We will meet at the nursing home at 9:15 am and we plan on concluding at 10:00 am to leave time to return for the 10:20 service.
Living Nativity – We are excited to once again host the Living Nativity on Christmas Eve between our two Christmas Eve Services. We are looking for volunteers to be our “actors” during this time. We will have 2, approximately 1 hour shifts and are looking for up to 8 volunteers for each shift. There will be a signup sheet in the East Wing Narthex. We thank you for your help with tradition!
Community Christmas Service – The Boonslick Area Ministerial Alliance will hold its annual Community Christmas Service on Tuesday, December 19 at 6:30 pm at the Saints Peter & Paul Church. A special offering will be taken to support the ministry of the Ministerial Alliance. Make plans to join us for this special service.
Cookie Time! – On December 18, we will be delivering trays of cookies (or other goodies) to the faculty and staff at LSE. We’re looking for donations of home-baked goods. Please use the following link to sign up to bring goodies. Or, sign up in the East Wing. Cookies should be at church by Sunday, December 17.
Looking for New Liturgists! – It is time to put the new liturgist schedule together for the first quarter of 2024 and we are looking to add a few new liturgists to the rotation. There are no restrictions on who can serve in this ministry – you can be 9 or 90, male or female, and member or nonmember. This ministry is open to all who desire to participate. Please let Pastor Chris or Debra Windsor know if you are interested and they will share all the details with you.
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.
2023 Angel Tree – Thank you to everyone who took an Angel from the tree. The Angel Tree party will be this Saturday, Dec. 9th at 11:00 a.m., beginning with a short message in the Sanctuary and lunch to follow in the Fellowship Hall. Please make plans to join us in this very special ministry to our church. As always, we are so grateful for the way in which our church family supports this Matthew 25 ministry to the children of incarcerated parents.
Advent Study Books – The Advent books by Ruth Chou Simmons, Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always” have arrived and are available to be picked up by all who requested one. Please pick up your copy on the ledge by the South doors and mark your name off of the signup sheet in the back of the church. Thank you!
Christmas Poinsettias – Those of you who would like to purchase a poinsettia in memory of or in honor of a loved one, please pick up one of the forms located on the table back in the refreshment area. The list will be in the December 24th bulletin. Please deliver the form to the church by this Sunday, December 10th or drop it in the offering box on Sunday. Please make checks payable to Nelson Memorial, UMC, in the amount of $13.00, and in the memo line write poinsettia. Thank you!
Christian Movie Night – The next movie night will be held on Sunday, December 17th beginning at 4:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. We will be showing Nativity from The Chosen series. Come join us for popcorn and a movie, and bring your own soda. Please Note: There will be no other movie nights in December.
Christmas Cards for NMUMC Elders and Friends – We are asking the congregation to mail out Christmas cards to the following names below. The addresses for the names listed will be located on the refreshment table. We will also have a supply of Christmas cards for you if you need them.
Jack Bell, Frances Bradley, Virginia Brownfield, Ada Gingrich, Margaret Hopkins, Elise Langkop, Phillis Otis, Gene and Donna Reagan, Bart Riley, Carol Schenck, Leona Schmidt, Helen Taylor, Hessie Watts, and Dorothy Whitten.
Our church friends have been so pleased with your cards of remembrance in the past and we want to let them know again that we are remembering them during the upcoming holy season of love. God bless you for participating in this endeavor.
Events this week:
Saturday, Dec 9: Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Lounge
Salvation Army Bell Ringing, 10 am – 6 pm, Walmart
Angel Tree Party, 11:00 am, Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall
Sunday, December 10: Children’s Christmas Program Dress Rehearsal, following Worship, Sanctuary
Choir Rehearsal, following Worship, Chapel
Monday, December 11: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, December 12: PEO, 4:30 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, December 13: Women’s Bible Study, 10:00 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Friday, December 15: Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, Dec 16: Jesus & Justice Small Group, 9:30 am, Lounge
Sunday, December 17: Children’s Christmas Program, 10:20 service, Sanctuary & Online
Closing Words of Wisdom:
The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord.” – Henri Nouwen