“The Front of the Jersey”
It is no understatement to say that Sara and I are huge Olympics junkies. Knowing we’d be away from home during the opening ceremonies, we made sure to record it so we wouldn’t miss a minute. All throughout the past week, all manner of Olympic events have been on our televisions or computer screens – from swimming and gymnastics to badminton, water polo, fencing, and team handball.
While watching some of the coverage earlier this week of a team event, one of the announcers mentioned something about the joy the athletes were showing competing as a team in a typically individual sport (it might have been gymnastics or swimming…we’ve watched so many events I can’t really keep them straight).
This reminded me of one of my favorite movies, Miracle. This movie tells the story of the 1980 US Hockey team which exceeded all expectations and won the gold medal. The movie depicts the transformation of a group of young hockey players seeking personal glory into a team that will be remembered for generations. One of the most memorable scenes comes as the coach, Herb Brooks, is disappointed by the effort his team displayed in an exhibition game. These young men are still playing for personal glory more than as a team, and so he calls them into a late-night practice to push them into seeing themselves as one unit. At one point during this practice, Brooks shouts to his exhausted team, “The name on the front of your jersey is a heck of lot more important than the name on the back!” The lesson Brooks wanted to instill in his team was that they represented something more than themselves.
This is a lesson many of us need reminding of from time to time. We live in a very individualistic society, and it can be difficult to remember that we represent something more than just ourselves. Whether it be our school, employer, our family, our church, or our God, we stand for more than ourselves. I think about this frequently while wearing shirts that have the church’s name and logo on them. I go into Walmart or the gas station and tell myself that the logo on my chest is there for all to see. This means whatever I say or do will not just reflect on me, but on the church, too. I am a walking billboard for NMUMC and for God. I just hope I am not doing harm to those “brands.”
What about you? You, too, are a walking billboard. We all represent much more than just ourselves when we are in the world, How are you representing your “brands?”
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 continue our message series titled “Upside Down: A Look at the Beatitudes.” This Sunday’s message is titled “Blessed Are: The Merciful.” Our Scripture focus will be from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18, verses 21 through 35.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seventy times.”
Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, cancelled the debt, and let him go.
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Our services will begin with the song Good Morning Mercy, by Jason Crabb. Our opening hymn will be Depth of Mercy, followed by Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) and There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy. We will observe the Sacrament of Holy Communion in both our services this week.
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
Pre-K/K/1-2 Sunday School Class – Beginning August 18, we will restart our Sunday School class for our youngest kids. Chelsea Jackson is excited about leading this class and planting seeds of faith. This class will meet in the room across the hall from the nursery during our Sunday School hour, starting at 9:00 am.
Calling All Singers – Choir rehearsals for the Methodist Music Makers have resumed! Per feedback from last year, we are going practice on the first and third Thursdays of the month and singing at church on Sundays following the first and third Thursdays of the month. Our next rehearsal will be on Thursday, August 15st at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Please bring your choir folder with you if you have one. Please contact Leah Gumbel if you have any questions or need additional information.
National S’mores Day – Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend our bonfire event on Saturday, August 10, which is National S’mores Day. Philip Wooldridge will be providing music for this event. It will be held on the church lawn at 7:00 pm. We hope to see you there. Bring along a few friends and a lawn chair or a blanket.
Pack the Bus – Join the Boonville Kiwanis Club on Saturday, August 3rd at the Boonville Walmart from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm to help us PACK THE BUS full of school supplies. Monetary and supply donations are welcome. Donations benefit children kindergarten-5th grade.
Boonville Back-to-School Bash – Don’t forget, ALL students grades K-5 are eligible to pick up FREE supplies at the Back to School Bash on Sunday, August 11th from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, with supplies that have been generously donated by community members! This event is sponsored by the Boonville Kiwanis Club.
Matt Maher & Zach Williams LIVE in Independence October 20 – Matt Maher and Zach Williams are bringing their Revival Nights tour to Missouri on Sunday, October 20! Want to participate in this night of praise and worship? NMUMC will be ordering group tickets for the event. Tickets are $35.00 each. Please use the sign-up sheet in the East Wing to order. Checks can be made out to NMUMC with “concert” in the memo line. You can also use cash or Venmo.
Church Picnic August 18 – Time for Some Food and Fun – The United Methodist Men are hosting our Annual Church Picnic Sunday, August 18 at 6:00 pm. We will gather at the church yard. UMM will provide the meat and drinks. Please bring a dish to share and also a (lawn chair or blanket). Feel free to invite friends, family and neighbors to join in on the fun.
LSE Welcome Back Breakfast – As school gets ready to begin, we will be welcoming LSE faculty and staff back with a breakfast on August 16. A sign-up sheet is available here. Also, please consider writing a note of encouragement to LSE staff that we can deliver along with breakfast. The more notes the better!
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/
Save The Date:
- Monday, August 26 – Red Cross Blood Drive 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Events this week:
Sunday, August 4: Mission Team departs for Omaha
Monday, August 5: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, August 6: Congregational Care Team, 6:00 pm, Lounge
Wednesday, August 7: Women’s Bible Study, 10:00 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, August 8: Baby Grace Size & Sort, 1:00 pm, Annex
Praise Band Rehearsal, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, August 9: Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, August 10: Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Lounge
S’more N’ More, 7:00 pm, Church Lawn
Closing Words of Wisdom:
To call yourself a child of God is one thing. To be called a child of God by those who watch your life is another thing altogether.” – Max Lucado