This Sunday: "The Art of Conversation, Part 2"

Scripture: Exodus 3: 1-10

Join us On Campus or Online | Sunday, April 28, 2024

The story of Moses’ encounter with God through the burning bush is one of the most compelling and memorable scenes in all of literature. It is the first mention of Moses interacting with God – a dramatic initial meeting. God disrupts Moses’ day, and invites him to disrupt the rest of his life (at the age of 80!). The challenge offered is great – daunting and perhaps life-threatening. And the assurance that God gives (beyond the mysterious encounter itself)? That at some point in the future Moses and the people will return to worship on that same mountain. It’s reminiscent of God’s call to Abraham and Sarah (also at 80!) – “Go to the place I will show you…” “Trust me,” God says. The confirmation won’t come until some unnamed future date. Moses argues based upon his inadequacy, but not based upon this shaky proof. What about you? Me? Us? How much proof do we want before we are willing to step into the unknown, at possible great cost, for the sake of others? What might God be asking of us in this season? What liberation is God trying to bring to God’s people? Let’s talk about it. See you Sunday.

So what is this May 5 event anyway?

It is a popular question around here and for good reasons. Partly because we are a curious bunch, and partly because describing what this event is…is challenging. It is a lot of things. It is a chance for every person to be heard and have their thoughts and experiences considered. It is a chance to hear from other Northway people that you might not normally think to ask questions. It is an opportunity to do some collaborative work and daydreaming about what God might have in store for us as a church.

There’s also some things it is not. It is not a decision making event. It is not an event where you are going to learn a bunch of new information. It is not an event where you are going to be able to sit back and just get data dumped into your brain. It is not a time that you are going to get clear answers about exactly what Northway is going to do in the next 5-10 years.

I’m 150 plus words in, and I’m still not sure you know what May 5 is going to be.

The goal of the event is for the Task Force to get a clear idea of what the church (that’s all of you) is feeling and thinking and hearing from God. We want to know what keeps you coming to Northway and what worries you have and what parts of your church you are really proud of. We want to hear from you what you are passionate about as a follower of Jesus and how your church home can be a part of what God is calling you to do. We also want to share our hope and excitement for what we already see the Holy Spirit doing through this process, even as we know we don’t know yet what comes next.

During staff development this week, Pastor Law pointed us back to Isaiah 43:19:

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

When we ask “what’s next,” what we are really trying to do is perceive how God is still doing new and miraculous things right here at Northway. We are asking everyone who can to attend on May 5 so we can ask this question together. For those who cannot make it on the 5th, we are ready and willing to meet you where you are and find out how you see God at work.

This is not a short pilgrimage, but God is already making new ways in the wild lands

and providing all that we need to keep going. Come help us see all that and more

on May 5.

See you in church,

Rev. Chesna Riley

Minister to Families, Youth, and Children

9:00 am - Sunday School

10:00 am - Fellowship

10:30 am - Worship Service

You may join us in the Sanctuary or online for Sunday morning worship service at 10:30 am. The service is also available on Facebook and YouTube. Below are some tips for worshiping with us online.

Announcements begin at 10:15 am, with the prelude to follow. Join us early! Prepare your own bread, cup and candle for communion. Turn on and adjust the sound to your computer. Children's Music Children will meet in F-202 at 9:00 am for music time. Following music, they will be escorted to their Sunday School classes.

Worship Rocks

Following the children's moment during the worship service, children (ages 3-5th grade) will be escorted to F-102 for their own kid-friendly worship experience.

After Church Choir Rehearsal

11:45 am in the Music Suite

"Conversations" Exhibit Lunch

and Artist Talk with Vikki Martin

11:45 am in F-101

RSVP here

After Church Youth & JYF Groups Will not meet this week, but will resume meeting on

Sunday, May 5 in Youth Hall.

Solomon's Porch (Men's Group)

2nd and 4th Saturdays

7:45 am in the Music Suite.

Diaper Distribution

4th Saturdays

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Front lot of the church.

Tai Chi

Mondays at 10:30 am In F-101 Contact Donna for info

972-271-3949

Mobile Food Pantry

1st, 2nd, 3rd Tuesdays

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Front lot of the church.

Midweek Bible Study

Wednesdays at 12:00 pm

Parlor and Zoom

Writing as a Spiritual Practice Wednesdays at 5:00 pm

Only on Zoom

Choir Rehearsal

Wednesdays at 7:00 pm

in the Music Suite .

NTA Men's Quarterly Breakfast

Saturday, May 4 at 8:00 am

First Christian Church, Garland

North Texas Area Assembly

Sunday, May 5 at 3:00 pm

Creekwood Christian Church

Flower Mound, Texas

Senior Adult Ministry Lunch

Monday, May 13

11:30 am in F-101

RSVP here

Tri-Area Men's Retreat

May 17-19

at Disciples Crossing

Register here

What’s Next ? A conversation About Northway’s Future!

 Mark your calendar for Sunday, 5 May as a “must attend” day for Church! 

This will be an enjoyable and important event for Northway as we journey together to find our Way Forward. The event will start at 10:00 am with Worship at the regular time (10:30 am) followed by lunch and activities aimed at understanding what you value most about Northway; your aspirations for Northway in the future, and assess our willingness to change. The Northway Task Force is planning a number of innovative and creative ways to identify our congregation’s preferences, so please plan on attending this important All Church Event.

The Task Force is working hard to pray and learn and research all the paths available for NCC as we journey together into whatever God is up to next. You are hearing announcements about the May 5 What’s Next? Event, and we want you to join us as we pray. However, we all know that church goes on before and after meetings, so we want to keep praying together all the way to Pentecost.

Our prayers are going to be short: short enough to be a single text message! To join in, sign up to receive a single text message daily through Pentecost. You will also be able to read the prayer on the church’s social media.

All you have to do is CLICK HERE to sign up for the text messages, or contact Pastor Chesna with any questions.

The World’s Largest Diaper Drive is a national effort in May to honor moms and support homeless, at-risk and low-income children and their families. Northway is collecting diapers on behalf of Hope Supply Co., the non-profit agency that provides the diapers for Northway’s monthly diaper distribution. 

Hope Supply provides diapers and other essentials to some 50 social service organizations around North Texas, including homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and transitional housing organizations (many of which you would recognize, including Family Gateway). Hope Supply receives many diapers directly from manufacturers and retail outlets, but a significant percentage comes from individuals.  We know HSC to be a top-notch organization that stewards resources well and provides great impact for those in need.

Northway’s goal is to raise $1,000 in monetary donations AND $1,000 worth of diapers (with 1 diaper equalling $0.35) between May 1 - 31.  Help us meet that goal by making a donation. Donated diapers must be in unopened packages. Diapers in the larger sizes (like 3, 4, and 5) are most needed, but all sizes will be distributed quickly and in the Dallas area.

Please help us meet our goal! Questions about the drive? Contact us here.

Happy birthday to Cindy Wabner, Paula Hammond, and Karen Anderson.

Hey Parents! If you'd like to keep up with Northway's activities for children and youth, you'll want to click here to check out our "Parent Connection" newsletter. If you're not receiving this weekly email, but would like to, send us a note.

Week of April 18 - April 24, 2024

Weekly Receipts: $8,956.

Year to Date Receipts: $146,908.

2024 Budget: $464,840.

Financial Update Note: Contributions will be reported at the time they are received, even if they are prepayments of annual pledges. If you have questions, please contact Laura Giffin or call the church office at 214-361-6641.