Northminster Family,
This week, we continue our journey through the season of Epiphany, a season in which we remember the magi who followed the dreams they had each been given even though they led them far from home. This long weekend we will also observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. May we, like Dr. King, be possessed of a dream worth giving all of ourselves. May we, like the magi, have the courage to follow those dreams no matter where they might lead.
Grace and peace,
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...
Anita Breen who has been recovering from a long bout of pneumonia.
We celebrate alongside...
Pam Abadie
(17th),
Mary Delancy
(18th),
Jamie Grassi
(20th),
Judy Eddington
(21th) as they celebrate their birthdays.
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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Staff Notes
Or, why is the pastors' office so dark?
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Renee is back in town now so you can all rest at ease! But Zach & Claire are still gone for a few more days...
Zach and Claire will be on vacation Jan. 9-15, and will then be attending the annual Alliance of Baptists "MALT" (Mississippi-Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas) clergy gathering in New Orleans until the following Saturday. This year, MALT is hosted at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church. The Heltons will be back for worship on Sunday, Jan. 19.
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Welcome New Member!
Our Fellowship in Christ
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Samuel was born and raised in Ghana and has a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (2014) and a Master of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (2017) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana. He is a Pharmacist by profession and practiced from 2015 until moving to the States, specifically ULM, to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutics and Drug Design in Fall-2019.
Samuel enjoys cooking, admiring and learning unique but helpful virtues from anyone (irrespective of the age or status) that come his way.
Samuel says it has been a wonderful experience of fellowship at Northminister Church, which he found online. He also says the tangibility of love is evidence in each part of the service, with members and the special people he has met.
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The Work of the People
How we are responding to the Spirit of Love
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Northminster Book Club:
Educated, by Tara Westover
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The Northminster Book Club is currently reading
Educated by Tara Westover for our February 6 meeting.
Educated is the stunning memoir of a woman growing up in a fundamentalist, survivalist Mormon family in the mountains. It touches on unhealthy family dynamics, religious trauma, the power of shame, the importance of education and perspective, and the path to healing in a way that many of us can relate to, even if our circumstances have not been as extreme as those of the author.
Get your copy now so that you can join us for dinner and conversation on February 6. February's meeting will be held in the home of Mark Windham.
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January Mission Trunk: Humane Society
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The Humane Society Adoption Center of Monroe is dedicated to the welfare of all animals because of their intrinsic value and rights. Our primary purposes are the prevention of cruelty to animals, the relief of suffering among animals, the extension of humane education, and the provision of shelter-based services. Needs: Dog treats (no rawhides), puppy, kitten, dog, and cat food (canned or dry), all stock livestock food, hay and shelled corn, pine sol, lysol spray, dry shampoo, first aid supplies, old bath towels, sheets, blankets.
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We hope you've noticed that all our landscaping and flower beds have been trimmed, cleaned out and stuffed with pine straw! Now is the time to adopt your bed! By having one person take responsibility of a bed and recruiting one or two helpers, we can keep our property looking great all year around. Please see the sign-up sheet and available beds up for adoption on the bulletin board in the hallway. For more information, contact Bill Kight or any other Properties Commission member.
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Winter Book Study Begins Jan. 29
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Mark your calendar and go ahead and find your copy of Kate Bowler's
Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved for our Winter Book Study
this Jan-Feb
. We'll gather for
four meetings on Wednesday nights at 5:30 to tackle this readable memoir of personal grief and the pain that bad theology can layer on top of it. Please note that the book deals with the author's experiences with cancer and with infertility, so if these are triggering subjects for you this may not be the best season for you to encounter this book.
Dates & Readings
January 29: Preface - Ch. 3
February 5: Ch. 4-5
February 12: Ch. 6-7
February 19: Ch. 8-9 (and appendices)
Read more about the book and find a retailer to order from online at
katebowler.com. (You can find it at our local Books A Million in the "Biography" section as long as it's in stock, and there is one copy available at the library.)
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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.
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Around Town
How can we be present in our community?
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TONIGHT! The Monroe Symphony Presents: Justin Havard in Concert
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ULM Voice and Piano faculty member and Northminster music associate, Justin Havard performs a solo event on the piano. A wide arrangement of styles, genres, and interactions with the audience will make the cold January night come alive! Be sure to grab extra tickets for your piano students and friends who enjoy live performances! This "MSO Presents" concert will be held
tonight,
Thursday, January 16 at 7pm at Northminster Church. Tickets $15 at the door.
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CA Studios Presents:
The Lifespan of a Fact
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Sponsored by DH Clark and Craig Henry, CA Studios presents
Lifespan of a Fact at Lea's of LeCompte, 319 Louisiville in Monroe.
Dinner Theatre shows on January 18, 20 and 25 at 7pm with tickets at $35 per person.
Pie Theatre will show January 19 and 26 at 6pm with tickets at $18 per person. Reservations may be made at
castudiola.com or call 318-791-3048.
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Northeast Louisiana Food Bank's Annual "Empty Bowls"
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The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana’s 4th Annual Empty Bowls event will be held on
Saturday, January 25th, from 11 AM – 1 PM.
We're moving to a bigger space this year at the beautiful Bayou Pointe event center in Monroe.
With the price of an all-inclusive event ticket, guests can choose a beautiful bowl to take home as a reminder of all of the empty bowls in our community. A tasting of signature dishes will be served from over twenty local restaurants.
The delicious food will be accompanied by live music from local musicians, an on site pottery demonstration, and more. There will be numerous art and gift items available in the silent auction thanks to the generosity of local donors. For the kids, there will be fun activities like face painting to enjoy.
The goal is to raise awareness for hunger while also raising critical funds to provide food assistance to those struggling with hunger in our community.
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Sunday 1/19
9am - Choir rehearsal
10am - Sunday School
10:45am - Musical Preludes
11am - Call to Worship
Wednesday 1/22
6:30pm - Choir rehearsal
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Worship This Week
The text for this week is:
- Isaiah 49:1-7
- John 1:1-5, 9-14, 16-18
Sunday's sermon will be preached by
Zachary Helton.
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January
19th Potluck and Business Meeting 6pm
20th MLK Day-Office Closed
25th Daughters of Eve rehearsal
29th Winter Book Study 5:30
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February
1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Daughters of Eve rehearsals
5th Winter Book Study
6th Northminster Book Club
12th Winter Book Study
19th Winter Book Study
26th Ash Wednesday Service
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