New Year, One Word: Compassion
Over Christmas, our family took a trip to NYC–along with half the world’s population! It was beyond crowded at most of the tourist spots. Just for some perspective, here’s a look at our ferry on the way back from Ellis Island:
See those life vests up above? Just decoration…if that sardine can went down, we were all going with it.
If I’m being honest, I am not really at my best among hordes of people. In my better moments, I see crowds as a nuisance–something to get through in order to experience something I want. And at my worst…well…I mostly wish they would just all go away so I can fully enjoy whatever I want to enjoy. It’s selfish and entitled, and I am fully aware of that in the moment. Unfortunately, that awareness doesn’t always precipitate change.
That’s why I am floored that Jesus’ response to the overflow of people hounding him along his journey isn’t one of exasperation; rather, Matthew tells us (three times!) that Jesus saw the crowds and had compassion.
Compassion is a powerful word. It’s more than just feeling bad for someone. Instead, to have compassion means that you are so deeply concerned about the circumstances of another human being that, according to Merriam Webster, you have “an urgent desire to aid” them. When Jesus saw the crowds around him, his heart was broken open. He saw their sickness, both spiritual and physical, and was compelled by an urgent desire to make them better.
Too often, when I look at others, I don’t see them with compassion. I see the poor choices, the dirty fingernails, the tattered clothes, the coarse language, the cloying neediness, the boisterous braggadocio, the condescending glance, the mental illness, or even the gleaming success….and I walk away full of my own self-righteousness, somehow thinking that Jesus’ compassion is a gift only for me.
In the gospel of Luke, Jesus gives those who will listen a lesson on compassion. Love your enemies, he says. Do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for–and this is the kicker– he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people.
God is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. And who might those ungrateful and wicked people be, per se? Get a mirror.
God always sees right into the hearts of his children. And when he finds their particular sickness (which we all have), he doesn’t turn away. He is so concerned for them, for us, that he has an urgent desire to act. God brings healing and hope to all those he encounters. And, if we’re willing, he’s offering us the chance to take part in this healing with him by showing others compassion.
We are called to be a people of compassion–a people who are so concerned with the problems facing other human beings that we have an urgent desire to aid them. But so often, we let our own sickness keep us from engaging in this practice. We put ourselves first, and quite honestly, most of us don’t even show compassion there.
This year, my focus word is compassion. I want to look at others with Jesus’ eyes–to see beyond the surface and into the heart, and to allow that knowledge of who, what, and why someone is (fill in the blank) break open my soul and lead me to act rather than pass by. It won’t be easy…I realize that I’m fighting against some deeply ingrained habits of behavior. But if I open the door of my heart to God’s compassion, I think that change will come…
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 begin a new message series, Cringe, which will take a look at a few of the more difficult teachings of Jesus. This week we will begin by taking a look at the first sermon Jesus ever gave at his hometown synagogue. This can be found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 4, verses 16-30:
He came to Nazareth where he had been raised. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,
God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s time to shine!”
He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.”
All who were there, watching and listening, were surprised at how well he spoke. But they also said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son, the one we’ve known since he was just a kid?”
He answered, “I suppose you’re going to quote the proverb, ‘Doctor, go heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we heard you did in Capernaum.’ Well, let me tell you something: No prophet is ever welcomed in his hometown. Isn’t it a fact that there were many widows in Israel at the time of Elijah during that three and a half years of drought when famine devastated the land, but the only widow to whom Elijah was sent was in Sarepta in Sidon? And there were many lepers in Israel at the time of the prophet Elisha but the only one cleansed was Naaman the Syrian.”
That set everyone in the meeting place seething with anger. They threw him out, banishing him from the village, then took him to a mountain cliff at the edge of the village to throw him to his doom, but he gave them the slip and was on his way.
Our Gathering Song this week is Build Your Kingdom Here, by Rend collective. Our Opening Song in the 8:00 service will be Open My Eyes, That I May See. Our Praise Band will lead us at the 10:20 service in I Will Follow. We will also sing Be Thou My Vision and Sent Out In Jesus’ Name.
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
Red Cross Blood Drive – You still have time to sign up for our next blood drive. With flu season beginning and blood and platelet donations continue to be essential to hospital patients. Donors are needed to come together to help others in this time of need. We will be hosting another blood drive the afternoon/evening of Monday, January 15th from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm in our Fellowship Hall. To schedule a time for donating blood go to: redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive. Thank you!
Adult Mission Trip – April 2024 – On December 10, 2021, a violent, long-tracked tornado moved across western Kentucky producing severe to catastrophic damage in numerous towns. We are planning to return to the area during the week of April 14, 2024 for our adult work team to help with the renovation of a home. If you are interested in joining our group and wish for more information, please contact Bill Salyer, Tim VonEngeln or Larry Long for details. No one under the age of 18 will be allowed on the work sites without an accompanying parent or guardian
Music & Pie, 28th Annual Silver Pirate Band Concert and Pie Auction – Mark your calendars: Friday, January 19th, Time: 6:45 pm, Location: LSE Auditorium. Come support our students, enjoy some sweet treats, and celebrate the incredible talent we have in our #OnePirateShip community!
Blessing Bags – The Outreach committee have prepared Blessing Bags and invite you to pick some up and distribute them as you see a need. They are in various places around the church. Please take one or two (or more) and leave them in your car. As you see someone needing food or help, share this bag with them. This is a great (and easy) way to help people in need. Thank you to all involved for preparing these and giving us this opportunity!
Baby Grace – The monthly distribution will be held this Thursday, January 18, 5:00 – 7:00 pm. If you would like to help with the distribution, sorting and sizing, or other aspects of this program, please contact Barbara Wooldridge.
Thank You for Your Generous Donations – Because of the faithful and generous giving of our members, we were able to pay our district and conference apportionments for 2023. These are the funds that enable our ministry within the North Central District, our connected ministries throughout Missouri, and our missionaries and ministries around the world!
Events this week:
Saturday, January 13: Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Lounge
Jesus and Justice Small Group, 9:30 am, Lounge
Monday, January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Office closed
Red Cross Blood Drive, 2:00 – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Al-Anon Meeting, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, January 16: Education, 5:00 pm, Lounge
Administrative Board, 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, January 17: Women’s Bible Study, 10:00 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, January 18: Baby Grace Distribution, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Annex
Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, January 19: Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
I have decided to love. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love. And the beautiful thing is that we are moving against wrong when we do it, because John was right, God is love. He who hates does not know God, but he who has love has the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of ultimate reality.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.