“New Year, One Word 2025: Openness”
As we were closing out 2024 with good friends around the table, sharing stories, food, and laughter, my husband posed this question: What are you most looking forward to in 2025?
These kinds of questions always stump me. They require some form of planning, which I’ve never been particularly good at. 2025 will definitely be a year of change in the Snyder household, as our eldest graduates high school this spring and begins to make his way into the world. And though I am excited to see what his future holds, I can’t say it’s what I’m most looking forward to this year. And so, I’m back to the original question, and my honest answer is simply this–I’m looking forward to seeing 2025 unfold and am open to all of the possibilities that it brings.
While it might seem blasé, or even a little trite, it’s the space in which I find myself on this New Year’s Day, and it truly fills me with excitement. I love looking into the future with no predetermined expectation or intention, because that, in my experience, is where God works best. God rarely looks at our calendars and picks a blank date in which to schedule a visit. Instead, he tends to throw our carefully planned itinerary out the window and invites us to step into the chaos of creation with him. There is so much possibility in that, if we are open to it…which leads me to my focus word for 2025: Openness.
I want to be open to all that God seeks to do in our lives this year. I want to be like the lake trout that I read about in Gayle Boss’s book of Advent reflections titled All Creation Waits. As Boss writes, the lake trout deposits her eggs among the rocky shoals of Lake Michigan and swims on, having done all that she can do while the eggs wait, “vital but dormant” until winter ends. Like the trout, I want to plant seeds this year that, while they might lie dormant for a time, will burst forth with life when God says it should be so. I want to be open to the fact that, while things might not go exactly as planned or hoped for this year, God is still doing a new thing, and, as the psalmist writes:
It always brings me immense comfort to reflect on the promises of God which have been fulfilled. Throughout Scripture, and in my own life, I see the goodness of his love manifested in the fulfillment of his promises. When God says he’ll do something, he does it. Though, admittedly, he and I often have a profoundly different sense of timing. Where I often respond in haste, God takes his time. He sees the bigger picture and, like any great artist, is willing to let his masterpiece unfold slowly, one brushstroke or typed phrase at a time.
For me, being open to what God is doing means waiting and watching. It means listening more and thinking before responding in situations. It means not rolling my eyes when new initiatives come around at work, and not bristling with indignation when someone suggests a change to how we always do things at home, or work, or church. Openness, for me, means being willing to put forth ideas, and then to let those ideas go if someone has a better one. It means connecting with others, even if I’d rather stay home and read a book, and engaging in tasks that I don’t like but that make a difference to someone else. Above all, openness means actively seeking those places where God is working and being willing to work with him, even if the work wasn’t something that I had planned or initiated or even find interesting.
I have no idea what 2025 will bring…there will be laughter, and likely some tears; there will be new beginnings, as well as bittersweet endings; people will come into our lives, and others will depart; we will have adventures, both planned and unexpected, and we will be faced with challenges both big and small. But if we are open to God’s working in our lives, if we are willing to put in the work to plant the seeds rather than just partaking of the harvest, what wonders might we behold?
It’s a new year, and God is doing a new thing. Though the news might be bleak, though the hearts of some might be sad and the spirits of others might be shaken, though some might be looking to the new year with hope and a sense of promise, and others with trepidation, one thing is certain: God’s not done yet.
2025 is open…are you open to what God will do within it?
Blessings and Peace, Sara
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
A tradition in many United Methodist Churches on the first Sunday of the year is to observe a service of Covenant Renewal. We will do so this coming Sunday, with our Scripture focus being from the Gospel of John, Chapter 15, verses 1 through 10.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s command and remain in his love.“
Our services will begin with the song Less Like Me, by Zach Williams. Our opening hymn will be Have Thine Own Way, Lord. We will then sing Let There Be Peace on Earth and close our services with Sent Out In Jesus’ Name.
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
A Word About the Weather – The weekend weather forecast includes a winter storm in our area this Saturday and Sunday. We want to remind everyone about our winter weather procedures. While we encourage our members to attend worship as frequently as they are able, we also know that winter weather can make it unsafe to attend drive (or walk) to church. We do have a company that will clear our sidewalks and steps when it snows, so if the city has cleared the roads, we will have worship services. But, if you do not feel like it is safe for you to get out, please stay home. We will, in all likelihood, livestream our service. Please take advantage of this option.
If a decision is made to not hold Sunday services because of inclement weather, we will post an announcement on Facebook and our Website. Additionally, an email will be sent out to notify the congregation of a cancellation and we will notify the local television stations KMIZ and KMOU and have them add it to their reports. If you do not have access to email, or if you do not have access to the media (because of power outages), call a church friend before heading out.
Church Charge Conference – Our annual Church Charge conference will be held Thursday, January 9 at 6:00 pm at the Community United Methodist Church in Columbia. This is the meeting where we approve various reports including the church officers for 2025 and the pastoral salary package. All members are welcome to attend. Please speak with Pastor Chris for more information.
Soup and Sandwich Luncheon – The Community Outreach Committee will be hosting a soup and sandwich luncheon on January 12th, following the second church service. There will be a free-will offering at the luncheon, with proceeds being used to support future community outreach projects. A variety of soup, sandwiches, desserts, and drinks will be offered, and of course, good Christian fellowship.
Red Cross Blood Drive – Our next Red Cross Blood Drive is coming up on Monday, January 13 from 2 – 6 pm. To register to give or for more information you can go to https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.
Puzzles – We still have a few puzzles of our beautiful stained-glass window remaining. The puzzles are $25 each and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please speak with Jo Parker or Pastor Chris for more information. The proceeds from the sale of these puzzles will go to support United Methodist ministries throughout the world.
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, January 6: TOPS – 9:30 am, Lounge
Al-Anon Meeting – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, January 7: Salvation Army Board – Noon, Fellowship Hall
Congregation Care Team – 6:00 pm, Lounge
Wednesday, January 8: Women’s Bible Study – 10 am, Lounge
Al-Anon Meeting – Noon, Fellowship Hall
Thursday, January 9: Baby Grace Size & Sort – 1:00 pm, Annex
Praise Band Rehearsal – 6:00 pm, Sanctuary
Church Charge Conference – 6:00 pm, Community UMC (Columbia, MO)
Friday, January 10: Al-Anon Meeting – 6:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, January 11: Methodist Men – 8:30 am, Lounge
Closing Words of Wisdom
Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time. – Oswald Chambers