“From the Bishop”
For our focus this week, I thought I’d share with you some thoughts from our Bishop as he and our denomination prepare for a very important event in the life of the UMC. I appreciate the words he shared and hope you will too.
Blessings, Chris
We are in General Conference season. As I think about and pray for General Conference, Jeremiah 29:13-14 (MSG paraphrase) comes to mind.
When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”
Above all else, I hope we seek God amid all the changes facing The United Methodist Church at this year’s General Conference.
From the beginning of the Methodist movement, conferencing has been an important part of our development as a church. Conferencing together has its roots in Biblical times. Early followers of Jesus who lived in different places and had a variety of cultural norms and beliefs about Jesus came together in a Jerusalem conference. Since that early gathering, the global church has produced many councils who prayed and sought the Lord’s leading and guidance. They created covenants that clarified their understanding of what Jesus meant and how the church of their day should operate. Today, we still repeat some of the same agreements reflected in the Apostles and Nicene Creeds found in The United Methodist Hymnal.
Methodists have been conferencing every four years for a very large part of our history as a church. Our conferencing typically answers three basic questions:
- What should we preach?
- Where should we preach?
- How should we practice ministry?
Like the old organizational process of form and function, we spend a lot of time on what form our theology and ministry should follow and how we should function together. Our Book of Discipline is probably one-third form and two-thirds function.
I’ve attended five General Conference sessions through the course of my ministry. At the General Conference, we speak at least 10 different languages worldwide (there are four official written languages). Typically, we worship, encourage and reconnect. We pray, we sing, and we have many holy conversations. We agree and disagree on how these conversations should go forward. Yet we are a church that reads the Bible, looks to the leading of the Holy Spirit and holds our doctrinal and general rules in common.
At the same time, portions of the Book of Discipline can be expanded or changed as a reflection of the continued evolution of the church. In 1941 Karl Banth, the great German theologian, reportedly said, “The church should always be reforming, always renewing” a saying derived from St. Augustine. In other words, the church must continually reexamine itself to renew itself.
We Methodists do our reexamining out loud and in front of everyone. It is often messy and slow. However, our commitment to conferencing allows us to continually take another look at ourselves around our form/theology and function/practices. I value this form of self-governance of our church. We collectively walk together to find our way forward, even when disagreeing.
I invite you to pray for the General Conference session as we clarify our mission and revise our rule of life in faith together for the United Methodist Church. Remember that we are a part of Christ’s universal Church, clergy and lay, and together we make new disciples for Jesus Christ.
Let us have a generous spirit among our strong convictions and be reminded that we are not a society of saints where everyone must be pure and holy and agree to belong. Rather, let us be a school for sinners where all are welcome and provided with grace and love and who are aimed at loving God, loving others and doing all the good we can.
When you hear news from the General Conference, please check the source, because we live in a society filled with misinformation. Please be patient as we reevaluate how the information you find affects the Missouri Annual Conference. Remember, we are not a confessional church, where we must be of one mind to belong. We are a diverse church united in our love of Christ and others.
In Christ,
Bishop Bob Farr, The Missouri Conference
of The United Methodist Church
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 our message series titled “Moving Forward With Hope.” This week’s message is titled “Always Growing,” and our Scripture focus is from the book of Hebrews, Chapter 10, verses 19 through 25.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we might spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – all the more as you see the Day approaching.“
Our Gathering Song at the 8:00 service will be Counting My Blessings, by Seph Schlueter. Tour Praise Band will kick off our 10:20 service with Build Our Kingdom Here. Our opening song will be Come As You Are, followed by Be Thou My Vision, and Just A Closer Walk With Thee.
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
Help Wanted – While we are searching for a Nursery Coordinator, we are looking for a group of 5 or 6 volunteers who would be willing to help in the nursery on a rotating basis. Requirements for this position include being 21 years old or older and participating in our Safe Gatherings training and background screening. If you or someone you know are interested, please contact Pastor Chris for more information or to apply.
New Family/Youth Mission Opportunity – If you have been thinking about a mission trip but don’t know where to start, please consider joining us at the Big Garden in Omaha, Nebraska this summer (August 4-7). The Big Garden was started by United Methodist Ministries in 2005 to create community gardens in urban settings. We will experience 2-days of hands-on work, educational opportunities, and small-group learning around issues of hunger, poverty, and food security. The minimum age requirement is only 5 years old so kids are welcome to join! Please contact Jo Ellen Parker (573-289-2473) to sign up or learn more.
UMM Fundraiser Breakfast – The United Methodist Men will hold a fundraiser breakfast the morning of Sunday, May 5th from 8:00 am – 12:30 pm. There is no cost for the meal, but freewill donations will be accepted and benefit various mission projects of the United Methodist Men.
Outreach Opportunities:
- We are writing notes of encouragement to ALL of the students at LSE as they take the annual state assessment in early May. Packets of notecards will be placed in the back of the church. If you’d like to write a note, simply take a packet–write a few words of encouragement, and return by this Sunday, April 21.
- We are also collecting prepackaged and individually wrapped snacks for LSE students for their testing days. Think granola bars, PB crackers, Goldfish, etc. These can be left at the church by April 28.
Simple Suppers – Simple Suppers have begun. We had a great first week and appreciate everyone who came out to join us. There is still room for more. Join us Wednesday evenings, beginning at 5:30, for a time of food, fellowship, and fun. Following the meal small group growth opportunities are being offered. Everyone is welcome to participate. Please speak with Cindy Koch if you have any questions or would like to help with these meals.
Events this week:
Monday, April 22: TOPS, 9:15 am, Lounge
Al-Anon Meeting, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, April 23: United Methodist General Conference Begins
Wednesday, April 24: Women’s Bible Study, 10 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Simple Suppers, 5:30 pm, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, April 25: Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, April 26: Al-Anon Meeting, 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
One family we dwell in Him, one church above, beneath, though now divided by the stream, the narrow stream of death. – John Wesley