“Spring Cleaning”
Officially, Spring begins this coming Thursday (March 20). But for the past week or more, we have been very fortunate with some beautiful weather. The mild temperatures and longer periods of daylight (along with high wind gusts and predictions of severe storms and major swings in the temperature) have definitely given us a great foretaste of Spring.
With the advent of Spring comes many annual rituals – among them the rite of Spring cleaning. For some, Spring cleaning is about tackling those projects that have been added to list throughout the long, cold winter. For others it can be about finally facing those tasks (like cleaning out a closet) that just have very little appeal.
For me, Spring cleaning is about creating space for new opportunities – like cleaning out garden beds so current and new plants have space to grow and thrive, or cleaning out my garage so I have space tackle some woodworking projects I’ve got in my mind. (I’ve decided this will be my hobby this year since golf is off the table for the next 6-12 months.)
I’ve always found cleaning out long-neglected messes to have an almost therapeutic feeling. We recently attacked the closet in our guest room and found things we had forgotten about, things we had been looking for, and some things that absolutely needed to be pitched. Once I got everything out of the closet, I determined what was still useful, what was no longer required, and what needed to be given an opportunity for a new life (perhaps via Savvy Seconds).
Last week we began the liturgical season of Lent. Lent is a time of examining our lives and souls, considering what areas of our lives are still helping us be fruitful disciples, what practices are no longer adding life or depth to our walks, and what we need to do in a new way to revive our souls. Lent, in a way, is a time for Spring cleaning of the soul.
As we continue to make this Lenten journey to the cross and tomb, how might you experience a Spring cleaning of the soul? Are there practices you have forgotten about that need to be rediscovered? Is there something that needs to be let go of? Is there anything that needs to be repurposed to lead to a more fruitful life? I invite you spend some time in the coming days considering what a time of Spring cleaning might look like for your soul.
Blessings, Chris
P.S. One of the Spring cleaning projects being undertaken at the church is cleaning out the garage/shed/storage area on the northwest corner of our property. This space, as so often happens, has become a dumping ground for those items we don’t have a current need for, but “you never know.” With an idea for utilizing this space for a new missional purpose, we are looking to clean out many of the items that no longer have a need for our ministries. Please take a look at the pictures at this link to see if there is anything that you know needs to be saved or is used on a regular basis. Please contact Pastor Chris or Mike Krohn and reference which picture the item is in.
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
We continue the season of Lent with our “Who Is Jesus” message series. In this series we are taking a look at the “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John. This week we look as Jesus’s statements “I Am the Sheep Gate,” and “I Am the Good Shepherd.” Our Scripture reading will be from John, Chapter 10, verses 7-10, 15.
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Our services will begin with the song Lead On, Good Shepherd by Patrick Mayberry. Our opening hymn is To God Be the Glory. We will then sing God Will Take Care of You and close our services with Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us. Our Choir will bring a prelude at the 10:20 service titled Come Thou Fount.
Virtual Worship Information
In addition to in-person worship, our service will be live-streamed. We are moving our livestream to YouTube. Our YouTube channel is Nelson Memorial UMC, and can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@NelsonMemorialUMC/streams. We will post a link to our Facebook page once the service begins. 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
Time to Order Easter Lilies – Those of you that would like to purchase an Easter Lilley in memory of or in honor of a loved one, please fill out a form that is located on the table in the refreshment area or by the front doors. Please deliver the form to the church office by Monday, April 7th or place it in the offering box. Please make checks payable in the amount of $15.00 to Nelson Memorial, UMC, and in the memo line write Easter Lily. The Easter lilies will be displayed at the Easter services. You may take your lily home after the 10:20 a.m., Easter service.
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 Mission Trip this Summer – The Youth are planning a mission trip this summer to LifeWise St. Louis July 28-31. 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.
Easter Cards for Elders & Friends – This year again we are asking the congregation to mail out Easter cards or other greeting cards with your own personal Easter greeting. The addresses for the names listed below will be located on the refreshment table or the counter next to the front entrances.
Virginia Brownfield, Ada Gingrich, Elise Langkop, Phyllis Otis, Gene and Donna Reagan, Bart Riley, Leona Schmidt, Helen Taylor, Hessie Watts, and Dorothy Whitten.
We know all the recipients will experience a special Easter blessing because of the thoughtfulness of all those who participate in this endeavor. Thank you for remembering these special people.
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.
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:
Saturday, March 15: Methodist Men – 8:30 am, Lounge
Fellowship Hall Reserved – 10:00 am
Monday, March 17: TOPS – 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon Meeting – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, March 18: Administrative Board – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, March 19: Women’s Bible Study – 10:00 am, Lounge
Al-Anon Meeting – Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, March 20: Baby GraceDistribution – 5:00 pm, Annex
Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, March 21: Al-Anon Meeting – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
The great thing to remember is that though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.” — C.S. Lewis