“Doorknob Dilemmas ”

Our front doorknob wasn’t turning. Some mechanism within was stuck, and no matter how much force we exerted on it, the knob simply wouldn’t turn. It happened on a week when my husband was really busy. So, in an effort to solve a more hands-on problem without his help (not something I am particularly adept at), I bought a new doorknob. I sat down in front of the front door with my new knob and some screwdrivers. The box said “easy installation”. But then I opened the instructions.

“What the heck?” I thought, as I looked at the myriad pictures and letters and all sorts of verbiage that made absolutely no sense to me. I called my 12-year old from the couch to help me decipher the strange code in front of me. He couldn’t do it. Undeterred, I pulled out my phone and went to that fount of all knowledge–Google. Finding a set of instructions that made sense, I began the task of removing the doorknob. Fast forward about 45 minutes. The knob, which was supposed to have a click mechanism for easy removal, was not removed. I had removed every other part of the lock except the knob. Frustrated and tired of my home improvement project, I did the only thing I knew how to do. I grabbed a pair of my husband’s pliers and pulled and twisted and cut through metal until the rosette part of the knob was removed. Pulling up a video on YouTube made by a very comforting grandma-type figure who explained things clearly and precisely, I was finally able to spot the little hole with click mechanism to release the knob from the door. Success!

Replacing the knob was pretty simple, and although it doesn’t quite shut the way it’s supposed to (sigh) it at least turns and allows us both entry into and exit out of our house.

Needless to say, I am not a very patient person. If something doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to, my default mechanism is to throw/beat/push/pull the object until it finally does what I think it ought to do. My impatience leads to anger, and instead of solving the problem in a quick and effective manner, I only end up making it worse. This is why we’ve had to buy new remotes, garage door openers, and an occasional lawn mower. I don’t want to patiently figure things out, I just want them to work.

Here’s the rub with impatience…it always leads to a bigger mess than what you started with.

This is why patience is a fruit of the Spirit. It has to be cultivated, over time, in relationship with God. God is infinitely patient. It’s the reason we, as humans, still exist. If God was not patient, he would have wiped us all out millennia ago. Fortunately for us, God is patient. His plans unfold with slow precision…each step carefully calculated to reveal itself at the appropriate time. God is in the long-game. And if we want to participate with him in building his kingdom, we need to cultivate the art of patience. So, how do we learn patience? The same way we learn to exhibit any fruit of the Spirit…we spend time with the Gardener. When we spend time with God, he imbues his Spirit within us. Patiently he works in our hearts, so that eventually there is more of him and less of us. In time, we bear fruit, including the fruit of patience.

Proverbs 14:29 states:

Patience leads to abundant understanding,
    but impatience leads to stupid mistakes.”

I had a cool graphic ready for this verse. However, the computer I’m working on didn’t want to download it. In an effort to cultivate patience, I’m choosing to be okay with that. I’m letting it go, secure in the knowledge that the meaning is more important than the design.

This week, choose patience. See what God might start to cultivate in you.

Blessings, Sara

Worship This Sunday

This Sunday, we continue our message series “Piecing it Together: Solving the Biblical Puzzle.”  This series will seek to introduce the major themes (or puzzle pieces) of the Bible and to show how they define the Word and work of God.  This week’s puzzle piece is about The Church and role we are to play in God’s redemption plan.  Our scripture reading will be from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 28, verses 16-20:

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

We will begin our service with a video of the song Start Right Here by Casting Crowns.  Our hymns for Sunday include: Victory in Jesus, and We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations.  Additionally, our video hymn this week is Build Your Kingdom Here, by Rend Collective.

Also, this Sunday, in anticipation of the Superbowl we invite you to wear your Chiefs gear or your favorite red attire.  While worshiping God, we will have a little fun getting ready to root on the Chiefs in the big game.

COVID Precautions

Please remember the COVID precautions in place at the church: masks are now required for everyone over the age of 2, social distancing is expected, we will be disinfecting pews between services and we have modified our worship schedule to accommodate for having no more than 25% capacity (approximately 50 people) in our Sanctuary.  Our services are now at 8:00, 9:15 & 10:30.  We also request you not hang around too long after the service is over so we can have enough time to wipe down the pews and prepare for the next service.

We know there are many who do not feel comfortable attending worship at this time. Please know that even though we don’t get to see you weekly, we still want to minister to you.  Every Sunday afternoon we will post a recording of our 10:30 worship service on our Facebook page and the message on our website.  We hope this helps you feel connected until we are able to gather again without concern. 

Announcements

Annual Valentine’s Spaghetti Dinner – Next Sunday, February 14 will be our Annual Valentine’s Spaghetti Dinner.  Things will look a little different this year, but taste just as good! Masks and gloves will be worn during food preparation and handling. To-Go meals can be ordered ahead of time, order forms are available here.

We also will have a limited number of tables that can be reserved for lunch following our 10:30 service. Only one family will be seated at each table. Tables will be spread out and masks must be worn when you are not seated at your table. Please speak with Chelsea Jackson or Melissa Baker if you’d like to reserve a table! There is no cost for the meal, but donations will be accepted and benefit our children and youth programs.

Blood Drive – Thank you to everyone who supported our Blood Drive earlier this week.  34 units of blood were collected, surpassing our total last time!  Please mark your calendars for our next blood drive, scheduled for Wednesday, April 14 beginning at 1:00 pm. 

Ash Wednesday – Join us February 17 at 7:00 pm for our Ash Wednesday Service.  This will be a simple service of meditation, contemplation, confession and receiving ashes.  This year, instead of receiving the sign of the cross in ash on your forehead, we will sprinkle ashes over those who comes forward, as a sign of repentance and a reminder of our mortality. 

Church Conference – Our District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Mi Hyeon Lee, will be here to hold a Church Conference on Tuesday, February 16 at 6:00 pm to vote on the proposed new Administrative Board for Nelson Memorial.  If the new structure is approved, an additional vote will be held to affirm the officers elected at our Church Charge Conference in Nov 2020.  All are welcome to attend this meeting, but only professing members of Nelson Memorial UMC are eligible to vote. 

Following the Church Conference, the Administrative Board will hold their February meeting.  Attendance can be in person in the Church Lounge or via Zoom. 

Inclement Weather Policy – As recent weather events have shown, our winter weather in Missouri can be challenging!  And while we encourage our members to attend worship as frequently as they are able, we also know that when it is treacherous to travel, the wiser long-term answer is to stay safely at home.  The Trustees do have a contract with a service to clear our sidewalks and steps when it snows, so if the city has cleared the roads, we will have worship services. 

If a decision is made to not hold Sunday services because of inclement weather, an email will be sent out to notify the congregation of a cancellation, we will notify the local television stations KMIZ and KMOU and have them add it to their reports.   Additionally, we will post the closing on our Facebook page and church website.  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. 

Events this week:

Sunday, February 7: Red Sunday!

Monday, February 1: TOPS, 9:30 am, Foundations Classroom

Al- Anon, 8:00 pm, Church Lounge

Wednesday, February 3: Al Anon, Noon, Church Lounge

Saturday, Feb 13: United Methodist Men, 8:30 am, Fellowship Hall

Youth Group, 11 am, Fellowship Hall

Sunday, February 14: Education Ministries Spaghetti Dinner, following 10:30 service, Fellowship Hall and to-go

Closing Words of Wisdom:

“Patience is the companion of wisdom.” – Anonymous