“Hanging By A Moment”
It was a quick cut—a passing comment, really, that served as a glancing blow among preteen girls around a sticky Formica table in a crowded middle school cafeteria. Faces are now fuzzy, a kaleidoscope of teased hair and blue eyeshadow and jean jackets and Swatches. But the words are as searing today as they were more than 30 years ago when I was 12 and uncool and uncertain and unconfident. It’s funny how that shy awkward girl peeks out from time to time, a questioning presence from the past that asks me if despite the growth, despite the experiences, despite the successes, we might still be lacking. We sit together, hanging on a moment long ago, alone now at that long-gone cafeteria table, feeling…everything.
Moments—they are the focal points on which we paint our life portraits. Some make us cringe—those shameful moments that make us feel inadequate or undeserving or just plain dumb. Other moments are kinder, memories of love and joy and happiness that we cling to like a security blanket, filling us with warmth and gratitude. And then there are those moments that fundamentally alter the course of our lives—a great continental shelf that gives way, plunging us into a new world where life’s boundary lines are irrevocably redrawn.
I don’t know about you, but I often find that I get defined by my life’s moments. One negative encounter, one harsh comment, one piece of criticism, and I am cycling through every time in my life where I felt inadequate, or embarrassed, or just plain wrong. One amazing success and I’m suddenly content to stay in this space, to be confined to the safety of a present accomplishment, and never risk anything again. And yet, both of those tendencies are false narratives of who I am and who I was created to be.
The Bible is chock-full of people who could have been defined by moments. Moses killed an Egyptian and fled the country. David brought down his entire household when he coveted someone else’s wife. Saul stood by and encouraged a crowd to murder the apostle, Stephen. Jacob…well…let’s just say this patriarch of the faith had a LOT of moments that could have defined him. And yet, in the lives of each of these men, God was writing a different story. God didn’t let these moments define Moses, David, Saul, or Jacob. Instead, he used them along with a thousand other moments to tell his story of salvation and restoration.
The truth is, while our lives might be compiled of moments, we are not defined by them. Or rather, we should not be defined by them. It’s like pointing to one image on the Sistine Chapel and labeling it Michelangelo’s penultimate work. While beautiful, it was a paid commission, and not necessarily indicative of who Michealangelo was as a human being. Honestly, other than the chapel, David, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I couldn’t tell you anything about Michealangelo. In the same way, I couldn’t tell you anything about the speaker in the middle school cafeteria years ago, other than the fact that she happened to say something snarky that hurt my feelings when I was in SIXTH GRADE!
So, why do we hold onto moments like they’re the be all, end all of our existence? Why do we continue to cling to them as if they’re a lifeline, rather than the single strand of experience that they are? Like the saints who came before us, God is writing a bigger story in our lives. It is a story made up of countless moments. There are moments that sparkle, and others that burn. There are moments filled with laughter, and others punctuated by tears. There are moments we are proud of, and others we’d just as soon forget. God wants each of these moments, the hard, the shocking, the beautiful, the mundane because they are part of the masterpiece he is creating in our souls. If we elevate one moment above all others, we distort the story he is seeking to tell—that we are a people redeemed and loved and created to do good things.
I don’t know what moments you’re holding onto, but I do know that God is ready for you to let them go—to move past the past and embrace the whole beautiful, messy sum of who God is creating you to be. Let God tell his story in you, and marvel at the wonder of his work.
Blessings and Peace, Sara
From the Board
The Nelson Memorial UMC Administrative Board met Tuesday evening, May 21, and spent a considerable amount of time digesting the decisions from General Conference. After much discussion, the Board decided to not rush to any decisions. The next step of the Board will be to review the words of the Bishop and other guidance from the upcoming session of the Missouri Annual Conference (June 7-9). At our June meeting, we will discuss next steps.
Nelson Memorial UMC Board Members
Jessica Brownfield, Laura Burnett, Stuart Clark, Linda Gordon, Karma Haller, Jo Parker, Nancy Schler, Michael Thomas, & Philip Wooldridge (Chairperson)
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 “Minor Prophets, Major Impact,” looking at lessons from some of the Minor Prophets. This week we will focus on the Prophet Habakkuk. Our Scripture focus this week will be Habakkuk chapter 1, verses 1through 4, and 12 & 13.
The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received:
How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?“
Our services this week will begin with the song Hallelujah Anyway, by Rend Collective as our Gathering Song. Our Opening Hymn will be Open My Eyes, That I May See, followed by You Are My All in All, and we will close with Trust and Obey. At the 10:20 service we will have a piece of special music, In Christ Alone, sung by Eliana Giroux.
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 10:25 am following our Gathering Song. Additionally, we post a recording of our messages to our website by early Sunday afternoon.
Announcements
Red Cross Blood Drive – Our next blood drive is this Monday, June 3rd from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm in our Fellowship Hall. There are still appointments available if you’d like to donate. To schedule a time for donating blood go to: redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive. The need is always great and your donation is always appreciated!
Sagrada Bible Camp – Camp Sagrada has reached out to us requesting our help with transportation of campers. We are looking for help on the following dates: June 10 and 14 (Boys), June 17 and 21 (Girls), June 24 and 28 (Boys), July 8 and 12 (Girls), July 15 and 19 (Boys), and July 22 and 26 (Girls). Each day we will need a team of 2 adults, one of which can drive the Sagrada van, the other to assist. You can volunteer for one day, or one week. There will be a sign-up sheet in the east narthex. If you have any question, please contact Tim VonEngeln at (660) 882-3348.
Liturgists Wanted – Are you interested in serving in worship as a liturgist? We are always looking for more help in this ministry. Please speak with Pastor Chris if you are interested or would like more information.
Unpacking General Conference – Coming up next week will be the annual gathering of United Methodists from across the state of Missouri known as Annual Conference. The opening session (Friday, June 7 @ 10:00 am) will feature an address from our Bishop, Bishop Bob Farr, as he shares his reflections from General Conference and explains what the implications will be for United Methodist Churches in Missouri. All are encouraged to watch this address via livestream or the recording of the address anytime after 6/7. The livestream can be found here.
Now Hear This – If you have difficulty hearing during our worship services, we have listening assistance devices available for your use. They are located near the sound booth and are easy to use. Please ask Pastor Chris if you need help locating one.
VBS News – Help us spread the word that VBS is July 1-3. All that fun is just a month away! Please register for VBS by clicking here. If you have any questions about registration, please visit with Chelsea Jackson. Also, we are looking for some large cardboard boxes – television size, or maybe even refrigerator size. If you have or know of any that could be donated, please let Heather Beach know.
Are you ready to Start the VBS Party? – Kids of all ages can join their friends for a JOY-filled Sunday school experience as we get ready for VBS. In June, we’ll focus on celebrating what God is doing through games, Bible reading, crafts, and mission activities. Don’t miss out on this special Sunday morning party. The class meets upstairs in the 3-5 classroom each Sunday at 9 AM. See you there!
Save The Date:
- Sunday, July 21, 2024 – Ice Cream Freeze Off at 4:00 pm
- Saturday, August 10, 2024 – S’mores Night 7:00 pm
- Sunday, August 18, 2024 – Church Picnic at 6:00 pm
Concert – Matt Maher and Zach Williams are coming to Independence on October 20, 2024 on their Revival Nights Tour. We’ll be ordering group tickets for those interested in attending this live concert event. Tickets will be around $30.00 each. Look for a sign-up soon!
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:
Monday, June 3: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Red Cross Blood Drive, 2:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, June 5: Women’s Bible Study, 10:15 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, June 6: Praise Band Rehearsal, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, June 7: Missouri Annual Conference, St. Charles Convention Center
Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, June 8: Methodist Men, 8:30 pm, Lounge
Closing Words of Wisdom:
I do not at all understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” – Anne Lamott