In a meeting this week, a colleague mentioned May Sarton's poem, "The Work of Happiness." I share it with you because maybe like me you find yourself cramming as much as you can into the next month before people scatter for summer. I found the reminder that "happiness is woven out of the peace of hours" a welcome one and maybe you will too. If you're looking for a place where "air is charged with blessing and does bless," look no further than our beautiful courtyard. I invite you to come enjoy it one morning or afternoon and reflect on these words.

The Work of Happiness

BY MAY SARTON

I thought of happiness, how it is woven

Out of the silence in the empty house each day

And how it is not sudden and it is not given

But is creation itself like the growth of a tree.

No one has seen it happen, but inside the bark

Another circle is growing in the expanding ring.

No one has heard the root go deeper in the dark,

But the tree is lifted by this inward work

And its plumes shine, and its leaves are glittering.

So happiness is woven out of the peace of hours

And strikes its roots deep in the house alone:

The old chest in the corner, cool waxed floors,

White curtains softly and continually blown

As the free air moves quietly about the room;

A shelf of books, a table, and the white-washed wall—

These are the dear familiar gods of home,

And here the work of faith can best be done,

The growing tree is green and musical.

For what is happiness but growth in peace,

The timeless sense of time when furniture

Has stood a life's span in a single place,

And as the air moves, so the old dreams stir

The shining leaves of present happiness?

No one has heard thought or listened to a mind,

But where people have lived in inwardness

The air is charged with blessing and does bless;

Windows look out on mountains and the walls are kind.

With great anticipation,

Betsy

PS - Just a reminder that we will no longer be sending our Sunday worship email. The live stream link can be found in the newsletter or on our website. If you have questions, don't hesitate to reach out to staff. We're happy to help.

Additionally, we will be utilizing Realm for more announcements and sign-ups. If you haven't signed up for Realm yet, we'll have a help desk after each worship service on May 7. Let us help you get connected!

9:00 a.m.

Outdoor worship in the lower parking lot

11:00 a.m.

Worship in the sanctuary



Rev. Betsy Lyles Swetenburg will preach

a sermon titled:

Is the Church Necessary?

In preparation, you are invited to read Acts 2:42-47

Missed a sermon? Listen to our podcast here!

Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather 

This Sunday, April 30, at 11 AM worship, we will sing Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather, hymn #311 in Glory to God. We sang this hymn for the first time in worship this past September, and haven’t sung it since, so please click here (or look for the video on Realm) to hear me sing the first stanza of the hymn. It is a unison hymn, but will be accompanied by handbells, violin, cello, guitar, ukulele, and percussion. I look forward to worshiping with you and singing this hymn together.

Bryan Page

Director of Music

The Stewpot Art Program is a community outreach program serving the homeless and at-risk populations of Dallas. It provides a safe environment and outlet for individuals to express themselves through art. With access to studio space and art supplies at the Stewpot, artists can come in on their own time and produce artwork throughout the year.

Northridge is honored to host the Stewpot artists on Sunday, April 30th from 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM in Quillin Hall. We hope you'll plan to join us to meet, welcome these artists, view and/or purchase the art while enjoying light refreshments. Ninety percent of the proceeds for each work of art goes directly to the artist, while the Stewpot maintains ten percent for supplies.  

For more information, visit thestewpot.org. 

Tuesday, May 2nd

1:00 - 3:30 pm

Share Your Time & Talents with Faith & Grief.

Join us at Northridge for a fun afternoon of creating art and remembering loved ones.

RSVP to info@faithandgrief.org

We are looking for servant leaders who would like to volunteer for our upcoming

Mother's Day event on Tuesday May 9th from 4:30 - 7:30 PM.

We are providing a dinner and activities that evening to honor our single mothers on campus in Waxahachie. Volunteers will set up and serve dinner, help the children with craft activities for Mother's Day cards, and then we'll clean-up afterward! 

Please contact Diane Pennington at 214-789-3291 or diane.Pennington@pchas.org if you would like to participate.

REALM HELP DESK

Have you logged on to Realm yet?

If not, on Sunday, May 7th, Deacon Susan Roe Jernigan and Rev. Savannah Shivers

will be at a Realm Help Desk 15 minutes after each worship service to help you. Susan will be at the Realm Help Desk after the 9 AM service, and Savannah will be at the Realm Help Desk after the 11 AM service.  You can also email Savannah at savannahs@northridgepc.org with any questions that you have and/or to set up an appointment.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

7:30 a.m. via ZOOM

Join us!

Questions? Contact Tim Jernigan at tjerni@aol.com.

The Short Stories of Jesus:

The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi

by Amy-Jill Levine

Earlier this year we examined two of Jesus’ parables in the class The Difficult Questions of Jesus. There are so many more of Jesus’ parables in the Gospels!

This week’s class will focus on Chapter Three and the parable of “The Pearl of Great Price”. We will discuss Matthew 13:45-6 and Matthew 19:16-30.

Study leader Rebie Nicholson will lead us in exploring this in a five week study beginning April 16 and continuing through May 14. Books may be purchased in class for $11.90 and can be purchased through Amazon by clicking here.

JOYFUL NOISE UPDATE

Beginning next Monday, May 1st, the Northridge Joyful Noise group will be meeting at CC Young in the Vista Building, Ninth Floor Community Room, at 2 p.m. This move will allow some to continue meeting with the Joyful Noise participants as it relieves some of the transportation obstacles. Please speak with Nell Green if you have any questions. Click on her name to reach her - NELL GREEN.

Worship Flowers & Flower Ministry

Did you know the flowers in the sanctuary on Sunday serve double duty? Not only do the flowers enhance our service, but the Deacons use them for outreach if you wish to donate them to the flower ministry. After the service, flower ministry volunteers make smaller arrangements and deliver the bouquets to Northridge members needing a warm friendly visit.

Please call 214-827-5521 or email office@northridgepc.org if you would like to contribute flowers for Sunday worship. Your dedication will be printed in the bulletin on that Sunday. Dates are open through the summer.

The approximate cost is $100.

This is a great way to celebrate a special event or honor a loved one. Thank you.

Morning Circle: May 9,

Lesson/Bible Study: 10 am

Optional Lunch Following

NOW Wraps Up A Great Year!

Tuesday, May 2, 6:30 pm, La Calle Doce

Night Owl Women, let's meet for dinner at La Calle Doce at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 2. (1925 Skillman, at Oram) We're through with our study (thank you, Lee!) and it's time to relax with fellowship and maybe a tiny bit of business before the summer.😊

Please let Linda Hale Buchanan know if you plan to come - she's reserving the table.



And if you need transportation, we will get you there!! Let Laura Coomber know.

Here's the restaurant website: https://lacalledoce-dallas.com/ 

We hope to see you May 2!