“Breaking out of the Church Bubble”

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2

One of the difficulties I have when I preach without notes is that sometimes I forget part of the planned message.  In the 10:20 service last Sunday, this happened.  We were focusing on the idea that Easter People seek out others for the good of the kingdom and looking at an example of Jesus doing so. 

Our scripture passage told the story of the religious leaders seeing Jesus spending time with those they found unworthy of his presence and time.  They looked down their noses at the “tax collectors and sinners” with whom Jesus was associating.  They muttered to one another, wondering what type of holy person would spend their time with people so obviously not religious. 

More often than not, when I’m honest with myself, I identify more with the religious folks than with Jesus here.  It’s not that I don’t know what I should do, but I, like the religious leaders in this story, seem to spend the bulk of my time with others already part of the church.  Jesus, on the other hand, spent a lot more of his time with those who didn’t yet know the importance of faith. 

Often in churches, pastors and church leaders have a tendency to stay inside the “Christian Bubble.”  Consider this question: of the people you spend your free time with outside of your family, how many of them don’t regularly participate in a church?  I know that if I’m not intentional about it, I can spend pretty much all of my time with churched people.  But if we look at Jesus, he was intentional about going to the places where he didn’t already know folks, places where he might find people who are seeking. 

I shared in the 8:00 service last Sunday about a pastor in Santa Barbara who writes about spending a majority of his time in places other than his church.  Dan Kimball has made it a goal in his ministry to spend more times in coffee houses, bars and tattoo parlors than he does in church gatherings.  In doing so, over the past 20 plus years, he has been able to share his faith and the source of his hope with over a thousand people he likely would never have met.

So my question for you (and myself) is where do you go to get out of your Church Bubble? 

Blessings, Chris

Worship This Sunday

This Sunday we will conclude our message series “Easter People.”  This week our message is titled: “Serve.”  Our scripture reading will be from the Gospel of John, chapter 21, verses 15-17:

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”  He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

We will begin our service with a video of the song Do Something by Matthew West.  Our hymns for Sunday include: To God Be the Glory, and Here I Am, Lord.  Additionally, our video hymn this week is Start A Fire, by Unspoken

COVID Precautions

Reminder: We have resumed our previous Sunday morning schedule – Worship Services at 8:00 & 10:20 with Sunday School at 9:00. 

Even with our return to this schedule and Sunday School, please remember the COVID precautions in place at the church: masks are required for everyone over the age of 2, social distancing is still expected (every other pew will continue to be closed), and we will continue disinfecting pews between services. 

We know there are some who are still not feel comfortable or able to attend 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 10:20 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

Vacation Bible School – VBS is back!  This year we will host Vacation Bible School the mornings of June 28 – 30 at the church.  Our theme is “Keep Running the Race Set Before You.”  We will kick off VBS with a fun event at the Boonville High School track on June 27.  If you’d like more information or to volunteer to help, please contact Risa Venable.

Scam Warning – There have been increasing reports of people receiving scam emails and text messages from people pretending to be pastors asking church members to donate iTunes and Amazon gift cards.  I will not reach out to you via email asking for donations, and will not ask for gift cards unless it is part of a mission project.  Please, if you see a message asking for money and it seems a little unusual, reach out to the church or wait until Sunday morning and ask in person.  Chances are, if something seems fishy, it probably is. 

Sagrada Bible Camp Work Day and Men’s Retreat – All men (and male youth, junior/senior high age) in our church are invited!  April 30 and May 1, 2021.   Nelson Memorial UMC Methodist Men are sponsoring a retreat the evening of April 30th beginning at 7PM at Camp Sagrada Scholarship Bible Camp.  It is located at 33495 Sagrada Beach Road, Lincoln, Mo. 65338.  Sagrada is a summer Bible camp for children whose parents are incarcerated.  Friday evening, there will be a light evening meal and devotion.  We will then bunk down in one of the dorms.  Bring your own bedding (sleeping bag) towel and personal hygiene products.  Showers are available.  Saturday, we will have breakfast, work through the morning, have lunch, and then finish working in the afternoon.  The projects will enhance the camp, and will include such things as replacing tire swing ropes, staining playground equipment, fence building, general cleanup such as raking, picking up sticks, etc.  

We will plan to be back in Boonville by 6PM Saturday evening.  We hope to get as many men and youth as possible to attend.  Plan to carpool from the church at 4PM Friday.  If interested in attending, you will find a sign-up sheet in the East narthex, or you may contact Tim VonEngeln at 660-882-3348.  Youth will need a parental permission slip if not accompanied by a parent. 

Community Work Day – The Methodist Men and Youth Group are joining together for a service project at Hain House on Saturday, May 8.  The fence around the property is in need of some love, and we plan to provide it.  We plan on starting work around 9:15-9:30 (following the regularly scheduled Men’s meeting at 8:30 am).  Everyone is welcome.  If you have them, please bring wire brushes, paint scrapers, and maybe some paint brushes.  All materials will be provided.

Honoring Graduates – We will honor our graduates in worship next month.  Please contact the office (boonvillemethodist@gmail.com) to let us know about your graduate to make sure they are included!  We are excited to honor these special people and their achievements!

Breakfast Anyone? – The Methodist Men will hold a fundraiser breakfast the morning of Sunday, May 16 from 8 am – 12:30 pm.  There will be plenty of food available for all and the freewill donations will go the various mission projects of the Methodist Men.

Events this week:

Monday, April 26: TOPS, 9:00 am, Foundations Classroom

Al- Anon, 8:00 pm, Church Lounge

Wednesday, April 28: Al Anon, Noon, Church Lounge

Friday, April 30: Methodist Men Retreat to Camp Sagrada

Saturday, May 1: Methodist Men Retreat and Work Day at Camp Sagrada

Closing Words of Wisdom:

“Jesus never says to the poor: ‘come find the church’, but he says to those of us in the church: ‘go into the world and find the poor, hungry, homeless, imprisoned.” ― Tony Campolo”