“What Do You Want?”
When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” John 5:6
A couple of weeks ago, one of the boys came home upset that he had missed an opportunity he had signed up for and that was supposed to have happened that day. The second he walked in the door, he asked us if the event was supposed to have taken place, to which we replied—yes. He was upset because no one told him whether it was actually happening, and he placed the blame squarely on anyone he could think of. I asked him why he didn’t inquire about it at school, since he clearly knew it was scheduled for that day (why else would he have asked us). He continued to assign blame to everyone else, rather than seeing his own ability to influence the outcome.
I wasn’t mad about the miscommunication nor was I mad about missing this opportunity (turned out it had been postponed). What concerned me the most was the attitude of victimhood being displayed. I suggested that next time something like this happens, perhaps he could be more assertive and ask someone in the office. I agreed it wasn’t his fault, but continued to try to explain how in the future he could potentially act differently and influence a different outcome. (These words fell on deaf ears.)
What I wanted to get across was that in life, we don’t have to sit passively by while things happen around us. It can be easy to believe that most of what happens around us is out of our control, when in reality we have a lot more power than we think.
In the above scripture passage, Jesus is at a healing pool, and he sees a man who has been seeking healing for nearly four decades. Jesus asks the man if he wants to get well. The man responds that he does, and it’s not his fault that he hasn’t been healed already. No one is there to help him. Others keep jumping ahead of him. It is all out of his control. There is nothing more he can do. And with a word of direction from Jesus, the man finds out he is able to bring about his healing, simply through this conversation.
It can be easy, and tempting, to think that we don’t have control over a lot of the areas of our life. We tell ourselves that whatever lot in life we lament is out of our control. But the thing is, we have more control than we realize. Advocating for ourselves and others, speaking up, asking the questions, going to that meeting, and saying that prayer are some of the things we can do to exert authority over our lives. We are not simply passengers on the ride of life, we can influence the outcome. What we want matters, and we have the power to direct the course of our lives as we seek to follow God’s will.
I invite you, as you experience circumstances that feel out of your control, to stop and ask yourself the question: “Do I really want …?” Just as Jesus taught that man at the healing pool that what he wanted matters, he is seeking for us to know that truth too.
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 “There’s No Place Like Home” message series. This week’s message is titled “Yearning For Home.” Our Scripture focus will be from the book of Exodus, chapter 16, verses 1-3.
The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into the desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
Our services will begin with the song Rescuer, by Rend Collective. Our opening song in the 8:00 service will be Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise. At the 10:20 service, the Praise Band will lead us in Great Are You Lord. Our other songs will include Great Is Thy Faithfulness and O Jesus I Have Promised.
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
Mark Your Calendars – The Living Nativity is returning Sunday, December 22. This year, it will feature NMUMC children and youth. Rehearsals will take place Sunday mornings during children’s church beginning November 3.
Deck the Halls November 24 – Sunday, November 24th after the 10:20 worship service, we invite all to come help us deck the halls and hang the greens throughout the Sancutary to bring out the Christmas joy. Carry, haul, fluff and decorate till your hearts content, lending a helping hand to beautify the church.
Annual Community Thanksgiving Service November 26 – The Boonslick Ministerial Alliance will hold their annual Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday, November 26 at 6:30 pm at Christ Episcopal 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.
Christmas Poinsettias December 9 – Those of you that would like to purchase a poinsettia in memory of or in honor of a loved one, please pick up one of the forms located on the table back in the refreshment area. The list will be in the December 24th bulletin. Please deliver the form to the church by Monday, December 9th or drop it in the offering box on Sunday. Please make checks payable to Nelson Memorial, UMC, in the amount of $15.00, and in the memo line write poinsettia. Thank you!
Salvation Army Bell-Ringing December 14 – We are scheduled to “ring the bells” at Walmart on Saturday, December 14, 2024. 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).
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, November 18: TOPS, 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon Meeting, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, November 19: Administrative Board, 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, November 20: Women’s Bible Study, 10:00 am, Lounge
Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, November 21: Baby Grace Distribution, 5:00 pm, Annex
Choir Rehearsal, 7 pm, Sanctuary
Friday, November 22: Al-Anon, 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Closing Words of Wisdom:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us . . . And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ― Marianne Williamson (Author)