“Are you the Church that …?”
Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” Matthew 12:33
What a great day last Saturday was! My heart was warmed to see so many folks working together to serve our community. Through our collective work on Mission Extravaganza, we served many people throughout our community – making 9 blankets for Baby Grace, assembling 100 Blessing Bags, preparing and delivering 4 trays of goodies to our local first responders, and helping 7 families clean up their yards.
I had the privilege of delivering some of the goodies, and I want to share with you the story of one of those encounters. We had just delivered goodies to the Fire Department, where we received an almost apprehensive attitude to accepting the treats. Now we were standing outside the Ambulance Barn, curious about how the EMS teams would react to strangers with a plate of cookies. As one of the EMS workers opened the door, the blank look on his face quickly turned to a big smile as we put the tray in his hands and explained we were from the Methodist Church and wanted to thank his team for their service to the community. He stammered for a moment and then declared how surprised he was that we remembered them. “No one thanks us! They forget about us! Thank you for remembering us.” We reiterated our appreciation for their service and then went about our way.
While raking a yard, I had a conversation with one of the many volunteers who had spent the morning gathering leaves throughout our community. She shared that one of the people we had helped asked her which church we were from. She told this person we were from Nelson Memorial UMC, on Spring Street. “Is that the Church where I vote?” the resident asked. Once confirmed that we were indeed that church, the resident then asked about a couple of the other ways we serve the community, “Don’t you help kids at the school? And are you the church that gives diapers to moms and kids?” Again, our volunteer confirmed we did all those things—and more! “Wow, your church really cares about the community. Thank you for all the ways you serve!”
Several times in the Gospels, Jesus tells the disciples that others will recognize their faith through their actions. It brings me great joy to hear people not connected to our church tell me about all the fruit they have seen from those who are a part of our congregation. Thank you for how you are serving God and showing your fruit throughout our community.
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 continue our 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 1 Timothy, Chapter 6, verses 6 through 10.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.“
Our services will begin with the Gathering Song 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman. Our Opening Hymn in the 8:00 service is Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee. The Praise Band will lead usin Good, Good Father at the 10:20 service. Our other songs for the morning are All in All and Give Thanks.
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
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.
2023 Angel Tree December 9 – It is hard to believe Angel Tree is sneaking up on us. Our angels will appear on our tree on Sunday, November 19th. We will need the gifts back in the Sanctuary no later than Sunday, December 3rd for the dedication of the gifts. The Angel Tree Party will be held once again at the church on Saturday, December 9th at 11:00 a.m., beginning with a short message in the Sanctuary and soup and sandwiches to follow in the Fellowship Hall. After lunch, the kids will be participating in a craft event. We are asking for cookies to be provided.
Our Education committee will be joining in this special ministry. Everyone is invited to join with us in fellowship with our “angels”. 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. If you have any questions please contact Karma Haller or Debra Windsor. Thank you.
Deck the Halls November 26 – Sunday, November 26th after the 10:20 worship service, we invite all to come help us deck the halls and hang the greens throughout the Sanctuary to bring out the Christmas joy. Carry, haul, fluff, and decorate till your heart’s content, lending a helping hand to beautify the church.
Christmas Parade December 2 – Christmas Parade Saturday, December 2nd at 2:00. Meet at church at 12:30 on the west side of the church to get ready for the Christmas Parade. Everyone is welcome to ride. Wear a church sweatshirt, if you have one! Please bring a bag of candy to throw.
We will also be handing out hot chocolate packets again this year and we need your help collecting them. Please bring hot chocolate packets to the church by Wednesday, Nov 29.
Salvation Army Bell-Ringing December 9 – We are scheduled to “ring the bells” at Walmart on Saturday, December 9, 2023. We will need volunteers for one-hour time slots from 10 AM – 6 PM. Please help to make a difference with every ring. A sign-up sheet will be in the East Wing narthex (where we serve refreshments after worship).
Events this week:
Saturday, November 11: Veteran’s Day
Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Lounge
Jesus & Justice Small Group, 9:30, Lounge
Sunday, November 12: Christian Movie Small Group, 4:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Youth Group, 6:00 pm, Jackson’s Home
Monday, November 13: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, November 15: Women’s Bible Study, 10:00 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, November 16: Baby Grace Distribution, 5:00 pm, Annex
Praise Band Practice, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary
Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, November 17: Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
One of the principal rules of religion is, to lose no occasion of serving God. And, since he is invisible to our eyes, we are to serve him in our neighbor; which he receives as if done to himself in person, standing visibly before us.” – John Wesley