Northminster Family,
This is a season of ups and downs. We celebrate the brightness of Epiphany amidst the dark and death of winter. Some of us are still caught up in the excitement of a new year with new or renewed commitments, while others are bogged down already in the throes of the spring semester. Some of us are hopeful about the turning of a decade, the trajectory of our nation, the progress we have made; others look at the public discourse and find little to celebrate and much to be desired, all they can see is how far we have to go.
Wherever you find yourself, know that you are not alone. And know that in this community, we hold the Christ light for one another. Even in the seasons when we struggle to uncover it, we know that the light of the world is already shining, deep within our bones.
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In the spirit of the Light, receive this blessing, offered as the benediction in our service on Sunday:
Blessed are you
who bear the light
in unbearable times,
who testify
to its endurance
amid the unendurable,
who bear witness
to its persistence
when everything seems
in shadow
and grief.
Blessed are you
in whom
the light lives,
in whom
the brightness blazes -
your heart
a chapel,
an altar where
in the deepest night
can be seen
the fire that
shines forth in you
in unaccountable faith
in stubborn hope
in love that illumines
every broken thing
it finds.
-Jan Richardson
Love and light,
Claire
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Prayers of the People
An opportunity to celebrate and pray alongside siblings in our community.
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We pray alongside...
Ellen Yeldell,
whose mother passed away this week at age of 101.
Samuel Boateng
, whose father died of cancer last week in Ghana.
Connie and Fred Rushing
, as Connie continues to recovers from surgery.
Welton Gaddy,
Northminster's Pastor Emeritus, as he travels to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend an international, invitation-ony meeting at the United Nations Office there.
The conference will explore the theme "Initiatives for Protecting the Youth from Extremist and Violent Ideologies: Implementation Measures," and his assigned topic will be: "National Identity and Its Role in Building Intellectual Security."
Dr. Gaddy writes:
"I would be most grateful for the support that comes from your prayers for this meeting and my participation in it and message to it. The support of the Northminster community has always been a vital part of my ministry. I am confident that the conversations in Geneva will be of interest to all of us who regularly worship together."
We celebrate alongside...
Marissa Jaquess (14th),
Mallory Graves (17th),
Marsha McGee (19th),
Conrad Rispoli (19th), and
John Cicero (19th) as they celebrate their birthdays.
Jason Smith, Congregational Engagement Specialist for the Alliance of Baptists, and his wife Myra Houser who are currently in Colombia finalizing the adoption of their two children. Many of you may have met Jason when he has visited with us at Northminster, most recently at the Agape Meal & Storytelling Night last November.
Frank Wilcox, who was honored with the
2019 Kitty DeGree Lifetime Achievement Award in Business last Thursday night. Frank served as Executive Director for the Monroe Housing Authority for 42 years. Read more about the award
by clicking here.
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If you have concerns and celebrations you would like us to add to the newsletter, please call the church office or email
office@northmin.org.
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Welcome New Members
All are Welcome in the Community of Christ
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Mallory Graves and Brennan Brown
Mallory, a secondary education major with a concentration in English at ULM, is from West Monroe, and she is currently teaching at Ruston High School. Brennan is majoring in psychology with plans to help teenagers, and is currently working at Partco in West Monroe. Mallory and Brennan fell in love while going to a bible study at ULM. They found Northminster while looking for a church home to join together to start their joint walk with God.
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Jaylynn Graves
Jaylynn is a student at West Monroe High School. She is actively involved in Robotics and Rebel Choir. Jaylynn and her sister, Mallory, enjoy getting to spend time together on Sunday mornings,at Northminsternd Jaylynn immediately started visiting Northminster with her.
Welcome to the Graves / Brown family!
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The Work of the People
How we are responding to the Spirit of Love
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Shrove Tuesday: Pancake Supper
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"The Feast Before the Fast!" It is a very old tradition for Christian communities to come together to use up all of the baking ingredients in their home that will go bad over Lent. What does that mean? Pancakes!
On the 26th at 6pm, come together for a time of fellowship, celebration, and preparation.
We need folks willing to bring their griddles and flip pancakes! If you're willing to help, please
email Zach.
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Northminster Advocates for Immigrants in Detention
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In response to Christ’s call to serve the most vulnerable, Northminster church has recently begun a coordinated journey to learn how to minister to the needs of immigrants in detention at Richwood Correctional in the following ways:
While in detention...
- Visiting at least 3 detainees, twice a month.
- Writing at least 5 letters (one letter per person) per month.
- Organizing and running seasonal book drives in coordination with Richwood
- Correctional.
- Coordinating and publicizing specific book requests from detainees.
Post Release...
- Providing your schedule of availability to transport detainees following their release. This includes transportation to places such as a bus station, hotel, or host home.
- Adding your home to a registry of places in which released detainees or their families (in town for visitation) may stay.
Fundraising...
- Creating avenues for individuals to donate to detainee’s commissary accounts or contribute to other needs (i.e. purchasing prepaid mobile phones or clothes), and publicizing those needs monthly.
- Coordinating a seasonal phone drive to collect old cell phones.
If you would like to partner with us in this work, please sign up on the "Work of the People" board in the hallway. If you would like more information, email Zach.
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Vote for Northminster's February Movie Night
The stories we consume shape our perceptions of the world and the kinds of lives we ought to live. Cinema is perhaps the most popular and advanced mode of storytelling in history, shaping us whether we’re intentional about that or not. Let’s make a space to allow good stories to shape us together.
In observation of Black History Month, please go to the Work of the People board to vote on one of three films by black filmmakers, telling stories about different pieces of black experiences in the US. Vote for the film you’d like to see us watch and discuss together. Voting will be open through this Sunday morning, Feb. 16th.
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Chris and his girlfriend Rose go upstate to visit her parents for the weekend. At first, Chris reads the family's overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter's interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he never could have imagined.
Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. Won Best Original Screenplay.(2017, R)
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Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer from Colorado Springs, CO, successfully manages to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan branch with the help of a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its leader. Based on actual events.
Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Score, Best Film Editing. Won Best Adapted Screenplay. (2018, R)
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Filmmaker Ava DuVernay explores the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing on the fact that the nation's prison
s are disproportionately filled with African-Americans. In this thought-provoking documentary, scholars, activists and politicians analyze the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom from 200,000 incarcerated in 1970 to over 2 million in 2016.
Nominated for Best Documentary Feature. (2016, TV-MA)
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Northminster Winter Book Study
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Next Wednesday night at 5:30pm we will conclude our study of Kate Bowler's
Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved for our Winter Book Study. Feel free to join us for the last night as we grapple with this readable memoir of personal grief and the pain that bad theology can layer on top of it.
Remaining Dates & Readings
February 19: Ch. 8-9 (and appendices)
Feel free to join us for any or all of these gatherings.
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Northminster Book Club:
The Devil in the White City
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The Northminster Book Club is currently reading
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson for our March meeting.
The next meeting will be March 5 at the home of Janet Dawson.
Go ahead and find your copy, then come join us for a potluck dinner and good conversation in March.
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A History of Racist Ideas in America
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The first step to dismantling racism is waking up to our place in the story. If you're interested in joining in with this informal, off-campus group reading through Ibram X. Kendi's challenging textbook,
Stamped from the Beginning
, their next meeting will be Feb. 28 in the home of Craig Henry to discuss chapters 13-20.
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February Mission Trunk:
GO CARE Community Health Center
GO CARE Community Health Center is a non-profit dedicated to comprehensive healthcare for everyone, with an emphasis on individuals who are low-income, medically underserved, and/or LGBTQ+. Needs include office supplies such as letter size copy paper, paper clips, binder clips, letter sized manila envelopes, inexpensive blue ballpoint pins (Bic Sticks), staples, and post-it notes.
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Holy Ideas
How might we respond to the Spirit of Love?
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The following are currently on the Holy Ideas board in the hallway. If you'd like to support an idea and help it become reality, be sure to stop by and sign your name to it. If you have questions, email the sponsor of the idea.
If the idea gets the support it needs (3 signatures) by the expiration date, the supporters will meet with the appropriate commission to clarify and refine the idea into a specific, time-limited plan.
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No submissions at this time.
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No submissions at this time.
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No submissions at this time.
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No submissions at this time.
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For more opportunities to get involved, check the hallway table and bulletin boards.
If you'd like information on getting involved in leadership commissions or Sunday School groups, you can
click here
.
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To support Northminster financially, you can
click here
or scan the QR code below.
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Around Town
How can we be present in our community?
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Art Show to Celebrate Black History Month at the NELA Delta African American Heritage Museum
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On
Saturday, February 15th from 3-5pm, the NELA Delta African American Heritage Museum will feature an exhibit of African wax prints on loan from the Mid-American Arts Alliance in MO. There will also be paintings by Bernard Menyweather, musical art by Karen Gant, and poetry by Jamie Mayes.
Adult admission is $10, admission for 11-18 year olds ia $5, and admission for children 10 years and under is free. Refreshments will be served. All proceeds go to the museum.
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Strauss Theatre Presents:
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
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"How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying!" brings big laughs and wonderful music in this clever lampoon of life climbing the corporate ladder. Winner of several Tonys and a Pulitzer Prize, this show tells the story of J. Pierepont Finch, who uses a little handbook to help him "succeed."
Patron Night
March 19th @ 7:00 p.m.
Other Show Dates: March 20,21,22,26,27,28
Times:7:00 p.m., Sunday @ 2:00 p.m.
Make your reservations today by calling the Box Office: 318-323-6681
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Note: We are in an exciting season of growth, as groups form and take on new shapes. This is wonderful! It also means we each need to be vigilant about checking in with the church calendar before putting any meetings on the books. Always alert Renee in the church office (office@northmin.org) before confirming any meetings/events that will take place at the church.
Remember the church calendar is always available on our website at
northmin.org/calendar
, or just click the "calendar" tab at the top of the page. For convenience, we'll also start including a button with a link in the "Upcoming" section of the newsletter each week (see below)!
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Sunday 2/16
9am - Choir rehearsal
10am - Sunday School
10:45am - Musical Preludes
11am - Call to Worship
12:30pm - NELA Food Bank meeting
Wednesday 2/19
5:30pm - Final Winter Book Study
6:30pm - Choir rehearsal
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Worship This Week
The texts for this week are:
- Matthew 5:17-37
- Galatians 5:13-15
- Romans 13:9-10
Sunday's sermon will be preached by
Zachary Helton.
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February
16th NELA Food Bank meeting at 12:30pm
19th Final Winter Book Study meeting
20th Family Ministries Meeting 6pm
23rd Stewardship meeting following worship??
25th Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
26th Ash Wednesday Service
28th
Stamped from the Beginning meeting
29th DeSiard St Shelter Breakfast
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March
7th Northminster Parents Dinner
4th Lent Book Study Begins
13th-14th Daughters of Eve Production Weekend
19th Family Ministries meeting
29th Movie Night: Boy Erased
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Ongoing
Daughters of Eve rehearsals:
Feb. 15, 22, 29
Winter Book Study:
February 19 at 5:30pm
Lent Book Study:
Mar. 4, 11, 18, 25, Apr. 1
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