“Who Is Jesus?”

It’s a straightforward enough question, “Who is Jesus?” If you’re reading this, chances are Jesus plays a significant role in your life. But what would you say if someone – perhaps a coworker or an old friend – asked you to tell them who Jesus is, not just historically, but who Jesus is to you?

The Gospel of Mark, the oldest and most concise of the four accounts of Jesus life, shares the following story:

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets.”

But what about you?” he asked. “who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Mark 8:27-29

Jesus first asks the disciples what others are saying about him. Who do they think he is. After hearing their responses, he changes the question from “who do they say I am” to “who do you say I am?”

Mark doesn’t include this detail in his account, but I wonder how long it took before Peter answered this question. I wonder if, when Jesus asked the question, the whole group stood silent, not wanting to risk giving the wrong answer. The passage tells us that the disciples were there, which would lead us to believe John (the Gospel writer and self-proclaimed “beloved disciple”) was there.

John, like ten of the others, remains silent. Decades later, when John wrote his account of his experiences with Jesus, he no longer remains silent on the matter. John records in his Gospel seven different “I Am” statements of Jesus. Over the next 6 weeks, during the season of Lent (the 40 days leading up to Easter), we are going to take a look at the “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John as we seek to answer for ourselves “who is Jesus.”

I hope you will join us this Lenten season as we take time to consider who Jesus is to us and who he seeks to be, not just for us, but for the world.

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 is the First Sunday of Lent. This Lenten season our message series is titled “Who Is Jesus?” The series will take a look at the “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John. This week we begin with Jesus’s statement “I Am the Light of the World.” Our Scripture reading will be from John, Chapter 8, verse 12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Our services will begin with the song My Lighthouse, by Rend Collective. Our opening hymn is Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise. We will then sing Just a Closer Walk with Thee and close our services with This Little Light of Mine.

Virtual Worship Information

In addition to in-person worship, our service will be live-streamed. The service can typically be viewed on our Facebook Page.  We are experiencing some issues streaming to Facebook, but hope to have those issues fixed by Sunday. If not, we have a backup plan to livestream on YouTube. If that is the case we will post a link to the stream 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

Our Daily Bread and The Upper Room Devotional Books – Spend time each day in God’s Word with thought-provoking devotions to strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ.  “Our Daily Bread” and “The Upper Room” devotional books have arrived, please help yourself to one in the back of the sanctuary.

Sagrada Bible Camp Work Day and Men’s Retreat – The Methodist Men will hold their annual mini-mission trip to Sagrada Bible Camp April 11 – 12. You are invited to come down Friday evening for a time of fellowship and devotion, or to come down Saturday morning and join in the work to help get the camp ready for the summer season. Reach out to Bill Salyer with any questions.

Youth Group News

• Sunday, March 9th: Meeting at the Jackson’s House (6:00 pm – 7:30 pm)
• Sunday, March 23rd: Meeting at the Jackson’s House (6:00 pm – 7:30 pm)

Youth Mission Trip this Summer – The Youth are planning a mission trip this summer to LifeWise St. Louis. The exact dates are still being finalized, but will likely be something between July 21-31. If you or your youth are interested in participating in this trip or have any questions, please contact Chelsea Jackson, Jo Parker, or Sara Snyder.

Holy Week Events April 13 thru April 19

• Holy Week begins with our Palm Sunday worship on Sunday, April 13th. 
• We will have a Maundy Thursday worship service on April 17th at 7:00 PM.  
• Good Friday we will have a worship service on April 18th at 7:00 PM.
• On Easter Sunday, April 20th worship times will be 8:00 AM and 10:20 AM.

Pipe Organ Centennial Celebration – 2025 marks 100 years of ministry for our Pipe Organ. Donated by Margaret Nelson Stephens – our pipe organ was originally dedicated for ministry service on April 27, 1924. In honor of this Centennial Celebration, we will host a special service on Sunday, August 24 at 10:20. Dr. Jacob Hofeling, who regularly preforms with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra at the Kauffman Center in Kansas City, will be our guest organist that day. (This celebration is being planned to coincide with the annual Missouri Festival of the Arts, hosted by the Friends of Historic Boonville. The Festival runs from August 21-23.) Make plans to join us for this special service and celebration of 100 years of music ministry at Nelson Memorial for our Pipe Organ. 

Giving Through Venmo  – We can be found on Venmo at @NelsonMemorialUMC.  If you don’t know what Venmo is and would like to learn more, information about giving through Venmo can be found on our webpage at https://nelsonmemorialumc.org/give/venmo/

Events this week:

Sunday, March 9: Youth Group – 6:00 pm, Jackson’s Home

Monday, March 10: TOPS – 9:30 am, Lounge

Al-Anon Meeting – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Leadership Development – 6:00 pm, Lounge

Tuesday, March 11: PEO Meeting – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, March 12: Women’s Bible Study – 10:00 am, Lounge

Al-Anon Meeting – Noon, Fellowship Hall

Thursday, March 13: Baby GraceSize & Sort – 1:00 pm, Annex

Girl Scouts – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Friday, March 14: Al-Anon Meeting – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, March 15: Methodist Men – 8:30 am, Lounge

Fellowship Hall Reserved – 10:00 am

Closing Words of Wisdom:

“I want to know one thing, the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. Give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God!”― John Wesley