204 S. Ninth St. • Columbia, MO 65201-4818 • 573-443-3111 • www.moumc.

org • March 8, 2018 • Volume 31, Number 10

Worship Looking Ahead

Services • Sunday, March 11: Dessert with the
Four unique Pastor at 1:30pm in Whittler Hall
worship • Wednesday, March 14: Prayer Shawl
opportunities Ministry meets at 1:30pm in the Parlor.
are offered on Anyone who would like to participate in
Sunday. the blessing of the shawls is welcome.
• Thursday, March 15: Central
Methodist University Band concert at
8am
7pm in the Sanctuary
McMurry • Sunday, March 18: Welcome Sunday
Chapel for those transferring or joining
Informal worship • Sunday, March 18: UMW Sophia Circle
with a personal will have an informational display
touch. Sharing in the Connector to collect Personal
prayer concerns Hygiene Kits.
is welcomed. • Monday, March 19: Easter Lily

9:15am
Dedication forms and payment due
• March 25 & April 1: NO Ignite Worship
“I AM...”
By Fred Leist, Lead Pastor
Sanctuary • March 25: Palm Sunday services at
Contemporary 8am, 9:15am & 10:30am An American businessman was standing on the pier of a
worship that • Sunday, March 25: Help us deliver coastal village in Mexico when a small boat with just one
includes a lily plants to the homebound to enjoy fisherman docked. Inside the boat were several large
children’s time, through Easter. The plants and delivery yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican
Praise Band. instructions will be available in the fisherman on the quality of the fish and asked how long
Connector. it took to catch them. The fisherman said, “Only a little
• March 29: Maundy Thursday at 7pm while.”
10:30am
Sanctuary • March 30: Good Friday at 7pm The American tourist then asked the fisherman why he
Traditional • March 31: Holy Saturday guided prayer didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish. “I caught
worship with 1-4pm in the MPR enough to support my family” came the reply. The visiting
music from the • April 1: Easter Sunday services at American said, “But what do you do with the rest of your
choir. 6:30am Sunrise, 8am, 9:15am and time?” The fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play
10:30am with my children, take a siesta with my wife, and stroll
• April 1: Easter Egg Hunt during into the village each evening to play the guitar with my
7pm 10:30am Sunday School!!! amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor.”
Cornerstone • April 8: Joy & Jazz Sunday with Tim
Coffee Shop The American scoffed, “Look, I have a Harvard MBA, and I
Whitmer Consort could help you. You should spend more time fishing. With
Contemporary • April 15: Confirmation Sunday at the
worship led the proceeds, you should buy a bigger boat. With the
10:30am service profits from the bigger boat, you could buy several more
by the Ignite
College Age boats. Eventually you would have a small fleet of fishing
Ministry Team. boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you
could sell directly to the processor and eventually open
your own cannery. You would control the product, the
processing, and the distribution. You would need to leave
this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City,
Set clocks forward then to LA, and eventually to NYC, where you would run
Saturday, March 10 your expanding enterprise.”
(continued on page 2)
(continued from page 1)
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will
all this take?” “At least 20-25 years” the visitor said.
“But what then, senor?” The American laughed and
said, “That’s the best part! When the time is right, you
would announce an IPO, sell your company stock to the
public, and become very rich. You would make millions!”
“Millions, senor? Then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire, move to a
small coastal village where you could sleep late, fish a
little, play with your grandkids, take a siesta with your
wife, and stroll into the village each evening to play your
guitar with your amigos!”
I don’t know the source of this story, but I understand why
it makes the rounds every so often. It illustrates the truth
that sometimes the way…the clear path to purpose and
deep meaning in life is right before us, but we just don’t
see it.
This Sunday we will continue our Lenten message series
focused on the “I AM” sayings of Jesus in the gospel of
John. Together we’ll explore what Jesus is affirming when
he says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one
can come to the Father, except through me.” (John
14:6)
Unfortunately, this passage has been misused by some
Christians to dismiss and invalidate other religions,
and has even been employed as a weapon justifying
mistreatment and abuse toward people of other faiths.
In my opinion, to do so is to miss the compassionate and
compelling message that Jesus is trying to communicate
to us about the true way to real life. My sermon this
Sunday will seek to shed some light on that message of
hope from Jesus. And I hope you’ll be here to join that
conversation.
2 MISSOURI UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Lead Team Digest
moumc.org/resources
Keeping up with what the Lead Team is doing? You can
find the summary of the meetings online at moumc.org/
resources. Paper copies are available in the office.
March 18: Empty Bowls Event
The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture invites you to
Empty Bowls on Sunday, March 18 at the Missouri United
Methodist Church. A simple soup, bread and water meal
will be served from 11am – 3pm at this free community
event to raise awareness of hunger in our community.
Donations are encouraged, and will support the Columbia
Center for Urban Agriculture’s local food philanthropy
project, Planting for the Pantry. Donations made to
Planting for the Pantry ensure that fresh local food from
the Urban Farm is distributed to local food pantries, as
well as support CCUA’s garden education programming.
Anyone who donates at Empty Bowls will leave with a
hand-made bowl made and donated by either students
from Lee and Shepard Elementary schools or community
members, volunteers, and artists through Access Arts.
Empty Bowls is a grassroots organized project to impact
hunger in collaboration with local artists, businesses and
community organizations. Founded in 1990 by a ceramic
artist and an art teacher in Michigan, the Empty Bowls has
expanded to over 150 events throughout the world.
Planting for the Pantry is a local philanthropic effort
to ensure that fresh local produce is grown and made
available at local food pantries in Columbia, MO. CCUA’s
Urban Farm at 1209 Smith Street grows fresh produce with
help of volunteers and takes food weekly to local food
pantries to be distributed to people in need.
March 8, 2018 - Vol. 31, No. 10
 Week of
March 12-
March 17
MONDAY: John 14:1-14 Directions
Have you ever been lost? Sometimes even with our sophisticated means of
plotting a course from point A to point B, we can become confused as to which
way to turn.
REFLECTION: Reflect on the idea of Jesus as the path to finding God.
TUESDAY: John 14:1-14 Trust
Maps are helpful, directing our path and giving us guideposts along the way.
REFLECTION: Reflect on a time when you had doubts about your path. Which
was greater, your trust in outward, tangible directions, or your trust in an inner
directive spirit?
WEDNESDAY: John 14:1-14 Proof and Knowing
Thomas had difficulty understanding the messages shared by Jesus. He wanted to
know exactly what Jesus meant.
QUESTIONS: Ask yourself these questions regarding your spiritual life: Do I need
tangible or explainable proof to believe in God? Do I need tangible or explainable
proof to accept Christ?
THURSDAY: John 14:1-14 Parents and Children
Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father before they would truly believe.
Jesus attempts to help him understand that Father and Son are one and the
same. Mothers and daughters; fathers and sons: we are our own selves, yet we
are our mothers and fathers as well.
REFLECTION: Reflect on this concept of different yet same when it comes
to mothers and fathers and their children. Transfer the concept of a healthy,
perfect relationship to that of God and God’s son, Jesus.
FRIDAY: John 14:1-14 Continuation
Jesus does the work of the Father. As a follower of Christ, we emulate the
behavior and the good works of Christ. Through our connection with Christ, we
are connected to God.
CONSIDER: Consider this concept of being connected to God through Christ.
Consider the continuation of relationship from God, to Jesus as the Christ, to all
of humanity.
SATURDAY: John 14:1-14 The Way, The Truth, and The Life
PRAYER: Directing God, thank you for sending us Jesus as the Christ who shows
us a pathway to understand and connect with you. Help us to follow His path,
glean the truth of your love and grace, and live the fullness of life you intend for
us. AMEN
“Who’s Going to Guide Me? - I AM!”- March 11
Scripture: John 14:1-14 (NLT)
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is
more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have
told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I
will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you
know the way to where I am going.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are
going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the
Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who
my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t
know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you
asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and
the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives
in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the
Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have
done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You
can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring
glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
MY NOTES:
Read or subscribe to the weekly guide at moumc.org/grow
Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.
Missouri United Methodist Church Periodical
204 S. Ninth St. Postage
Columbia, MO 65201-4899 PAID
Columbia, MO
573-443-3111 USPS No. 355460

“We exist to connect all people with Jesus Christ.

We do this by welcoming enthusiastically, growing deeply and serving courageously.” /MissouriUMC

March 18: Say Yes for Kids

“Join us to discover the many ways to say “Yes” for our kids and youth of the church! The Say
Yes Board will be open March 18-30 and in the Connector. For more information contact Linda
Leist at Linda@moumc.org or Katja Jones at Katja@moumc.org

Saturday Breakfast Café

Returns in April
Volunteers are needed to help serve breakfast between
7:30-9:30am, and provide food or Hy-Vee gift cards each
Saturday in April for the Breakfast Café. Five churches in
downtown Columbia take turns hosting this event which is
designed to reach those less fortunate in our community.
MUMC hosts the breakfast in April and June. If you are
interested in volunteering one Saturday in April, or if
you can provide a breakfast item such as a loaf of bread,
gallon of milk, box of cereal, etc. or Hy-Vee gift card to
offset the cost of scrambled eggs and sausage, please
contact Emily Murray at eagmurray@gmail.com.
Nursery Help Over Spring Break
Due to staff leaving for Spring Break, the nursery needs
help on Sunday, March 25 and Sunday, April 1. If you are
able to volunteer for any services on these dates, please
contact Gabriella Miller, MUMC Nursery Coordinator, at
gabriella@moumc.org to get more information.
Easter Candy Donations
Easter is right around the corner! This year we’re having
an Easter Egg Hunt during 10:30am Sunday School on
Easter Sunday, April 1. Children’s Ministry needs your
donations of egg-sized candy to fill the eggs. Some
favorites are Starburst, mini Tootsie Rolls, Laffy Taffy,
Hershey Kisses, etc. Please bring your donations to the
office no later than Sunday March 25. Only individually
wrapped candies, please. Questions? Contact Linda Leist
at linda@moumc.org.
April 15: Confirmation Sunday
Confirmation Sunday will take place during our traditional
service at 10:30am on Sunday, April 15. Join us as we
celebrate our confirmands on this special day that is a
spiritual marker in their faith journey. Contact Kim at
parker@moumc.org, or Katja at katja@moumc.org with
any questions!

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The church provides bus transportation to the 10:30am Sunday worship service.
Call 443-3111 before noon on Fridays. Bus service is available to all.
The Messenger (USPS No. 355460) is published weekly except the last week of the year by Missouri United Methodist Church at 204 S. Ninth St., Columbia, MO. Periodical postage paid at Columbia, MO.
POSTMASTER: for change of address, send to Missouri United Methodist Church Messenger, 204 S. Ninth St., Columbia, MO 65201-4818, March 8, 2018
Staff: Lead Pastor Fred Leist. Laura Bentley, Administrative Assistant; Adam Bordoni, Facilities; Tim Coday, Director of Music Ministries; Debbie
Craighead, Finance Assistant; Joan DeBoe, Pastor of Worship & Administration; Adriene Floyd, Office Manager; Courtney Gaunt, Director, Discovery
Days; Teressa Gilbreth, Director of Communications; Charity Goodwin, Pastor of Discipleship; Jacqui Jamieson, Assistant Director, Discovery Days; Katja
Jones, Director of Youth Ministries; Linda Leist, Children’s Ministry Coordinator; Jo Lee, Events Coordinator; Gabriella Miller, Nursery Coordinator;
Kim Parker, Pastor of New Generations; Preston Williams, Tech & Facility Steward; Music Staff: Craig Datz, Organist; Kaye Miller, Director of Wesleyan
Ringers; Rochelle Parker, Associate Organist; Marilyn Rowe, Serendipity Choir; Rachel Blomquist, Grace Notes Choir