Thursday, January 18, 2024

Celebrating 35 Years of Ministry: 1989 - 20248

HAS IT BEEN THIRTY YEARS?

It seems only yesterday, but it has been almost thirty years. Was it fate or Providential? I like to think Providential. It was April of 1994 and several of us from Northminster were attending the annual Alliance of Baptists meeting in Greenville, South Carolina. There was a workshop on the Alliance’s recent partnership with the Fraternity of Cuban Baptist Churches, and I decided to attend. The Fraternity was established about the same time as the Alliance as progressive Cuban Baptist churches also sought freedom from the confines of narrow denominational structures. A few Alliance churches had already partnered with Fraternity churches, and the purpose of the workshop was to encourage other Alliance churches to do so.

For some reason I was immediately hooked! As soon as I left the workshop, I ran into our pastor Dr. Welton Gaddy and D. H. Clark. The first words out of my mouth were “we’ve got to go to Cuba!” And go we did. In June of that year the three of us along with then member Delores Lindsey joined then Alliance executive director Dr. Stan Hastey and three other Alliance members for a ten-day visit. The purpose was to see if there was a progressive Cuban Baptist church that was a good fit for us. At the time of course Northminster was only five years old!

Thirty years later many memories of that trip come flooding back. Like staying in an unairconditioned dormitory at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Havana. Lots of flies! Ten people including us and two Cubans in an eight-passenger van. That was during what the Cuban’s called their “special period” right after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Like today’s “special period” there, pretty much everything was in short supply including fuel. As we made our way east from Havana, we would travel for miles (or kilometers) without seeing another vehicle. The thought was that we would make stops along the way to the eastern end of the island, about 500 miles, in hopes in finding a church with which to partner.

We got to Ciego de Avila, a provincial capital, about a six-hour drive from Havana. There we met a little band of progressive Cuban Baptists who only recently had begun meeting for worship and Bible study in the home Rev. Noel Fernandez and his wife Ormara Nolla. They had not yet been constituted as a church. Besides Noel and Ormara, Tury Paz was also part of the initial group and became founding members of Iglesia Bautista Enmanuel. As we’ve said many times “we fell in love” and decided there was no need for us to continue our search. We had found the perfect match. Another memory: Welton and Noel spending hours at Noel and Ormara’s kitchen table discussing theology and the importance of our partnership being as mutual as possible.

As is said the rest is history! Thirty years of history to be exact. Noel, Ormara, Tury, Eduardo Gonzalez (now Enmanuel’s pastor) along with others became our dear friends and fellow pilgrims on the progressive Christian journey. Over the years about thirty Northminster members and friends have made our almost yearly visits to Enmanuel, sometimes twice a year. D. H. and I figure we’ve been about thirty times. Noel, Ormara, Tury, Eduardo and others have visited with us at Northminster, some on multiple occasions. Northminster has provided important yearly “no strings attached” financial support for Enmanuel. Most importantly, our partnership has been one of mutual love, prayer support and solidarity.

In a few days seven of us Northminster members and friends will be traveling to Cuba to help celebrate the 30^th anniversary of our beautiful partnership. As usual we will again be taking much needed items that are in short supply there. Thank you to those of you who have contributed to that effort thus far. There is still time to do so by this coming Sunday. But more significantly we will take and share our love for our Cuban friends who have become our sisters and brothers. We covet your prayers as we go. I am so glad that I wandered into that Alliance of Baptists workshop thirty years ago. Little did I know what an amazing pilgrimage God had planned for me and for us. Thanks be to God!

Craig Henry

Opening Hymn: O Christ Jesus, Sent from Heaven James Crawford served as minister of the Old South Church in Boston for more than twenty years., His text uses imagery from the Gospel of John to indicate that the church's unity lies in the risk and hope of loving service.



Middle Hymn: O Radiant Christ, incarnate Word Commissioned by the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Ruth Duck's text provides a fitting center for Epiphany celebrations with its sense of wonder at the incarnation and petition that through Christ's revelation our lives may be changed.



Anthem: Justice, Peace, and Love by D.H. Clark. In celebration of thirty years as one family-Enmanuel and Northminster.

The Communion Anthem: Kyrie Eleison Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. Amen by Francisco Tárraga and arranged by D.H. Clark.



Closing Hymn: Jesus, the Joy of Loving Hearts Bernard, founder of the monastery at Clairvaux, was respected by popes and royalty alike. From the 42 verse Latin poem, American Congregational minister Ray Palmer freely translated selected verses to create this version.

We Celebrate with...

Mary Delancy (18th)

Judy Eddington (21st)

Tanya Schlosman (22nd)

Ann Files (24th)

as they celebrate their birthdays

Youth Group Meals

Our youth meet every Sunday at 5:00. We would like to offer them a light meal. If you would like to help provide a meal click the link to sign up. They love easy meals. Some suggestions are tacos, spaghetti, chili, sandwiches and pizza! 

Please review the available slots by clicking on the button to sign up. Dates will be added as planning continues. Thank you! We typically have between 10-15 youth and adults. Please call or text Laura (318-387-4446) with any questions!

YOUTH MEALS SIGNUP

JOE CASKEY FUNERAL SUNDAY 3PM

Funeral services for Joe Caskey will be held Sunday, January 21 at 3pm at Northminster Church with Rev. Jillian Hankamer presiding. The family will receive visitors prior to the service at 2pm. Click here to view obituary.

The family invites you to join them following the service at the home of Debbie Rivers, 3800 Forysythe Ave. for a time of fellowship and remembrance. You may stream the funeral service by clicking the link below.

https://youtube.com/live/fy21nbuPEHI?feature=share

BUSINESS MEETING SUNDAY AT 6PM

January Business meeting will begin at 6pm Sunday the 21st with NO POTLUCK this month. Craig Henry, outgoing Chair of the Coordinating Council will present the "State of the Church" report to the membership.

PARTNER CHURCH MONETARY DONATIONS ACCEPTED FOR MISSION TRIP

If you would like to make a monetary donation to our mission trip to Cuba, please do so prior to January 21 and make checks payable to Northminster Church with the memo line "PARTNER CHURCH". You may also do this through our Paypal account by scanning the QR code, and be sure to note "PARTNER CHURCH" in the comments.

If you would like to make a monetary contribution to the Hankamers, please make checks payable to Northminster Church and memo line "baby shower". You may also do the same through our Paypal account. Remember to memo the donation as "baby shower".

PUB THEOLOGY

Tonight at 7pm at The Fat Pelican!

SECURITY TEAM MEMBERS NEEDED

If you are interested in serving in this ministry, please contact Lola Wheeler (318-816-1341) or the church office for details.

HELP MAKE CUBAN LIVES A LITTLE BETTER

The current economic situation in Cuba is quite dire with shortages of almost everything. Seven Northminster members and friends will be traveling to Cuba on January 25 to celebrate with Iglesia Bautista Enmanuel our beautiful partnership of 30 years. Obviously we are limited to what we can take in our luggage, but we can take a few things. Here are the items they suggest we can easily carry and are much needed there:

Disposable razors

Gelatin of different flavors

Powdered soups of different flavors

Powdered chocolate milk

Different flavors of tea

Light jackets for women (all sizes)

Boxer briefs for men (all sizes, lightweight fabric for quick drying)

We will be collecting these items through January 21st We are using the mission trunk in the narthex for you to deposit items. During this season of giving please be generous and help make the lives of our Cuban sisters and brothers just a little bit better. It also helps them to know that during these difficult economic times for them they are not forgotten. Thanks for anything you can do!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MONETARY DONATION, PLEASE DO SO PRIOR TO JANUARY 21 AND MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO NORTHMINSTER CHURCH WITH THE MEMO LINE "PARTNER CHURCH". YOU MAY ALSO DO THIS VIA OUR PAYPAL ACCOUNT, BUT BE SURE TO NOTE IN COMMENTS "PARTNER CHURCH"

JANUARY MISSION EMPHASIS:

LOCAL HUMANE SHELTERS



Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter (kill shelter) 417 Well Road, W. Monroe. This shelter needs everything listed.

Human Society, 920 Freight Dr., Monroe This shelter does not need cat items.

River Cities Humane Society for Cats, 5302 DeSiard, Monroe They need everything listed EXCEPT dog food)

Trunk Needs: Dog treats (such as Milkbones). Please no rawhides, Puppy and Kitten food (canned or dry), Dog and Cat food (canned or dry), Cat litter, Puppy pads, all sizes, all stock livestock food, hay and shelled corn, Animal carriers, BLEACH, BIRKON, scrub brushes, Disposable gloves all sizes, Paper Towels, Tall Kitchen Bags. Laundry Detergent, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Dawn dishwashing liquid, First Aid supplies (like antiseptic spray), Old bath towels, t-shirts, sheets, blankets, etc...that can be placed in cages. Most of these rescues have Amazon Wish Lists you may search for and order directly for them.

Arrangement by Ellen Prather

If you would like to give flowers one Sunday in honor or in memory of someone special, please contact the church office. Approximate cost is $125-$150

International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemorative Program

Saturday, January 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT

10:00 a.m. Reception | 11:00 a.m. Program

Location: US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center and Vimeo

Join us for a morning of remembrance and reflection as The National WWII Museum commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day with featured speaker Eva P. Nathanson, a Holocaust survivor.

Nathanson was born in Budapest, Hungary, to an upper-middle-class Jewish family. After Germany invaded Hungary, Nathanson and her mother eventually went into hiding with the assistance of the resistance, spending time in attics, cellars, storage rooms, and even cabinets. When they were discovered, they were marched with many other Jews to the Danube River to be executed. Nathanson and her mother were pulled out of the river and brought to safety; they remained hidden until the end of the war. Postwar, Nathanson’s mother remarried, and they lived in Hungary through the revolution of 1956. They immigrated to the United States in 1957.

This event is free and open to the public, and registration is encouraged. If you cannot make it to the Museum for this event, watch the event live through Vimeo. For more information, email Maggie Hartley, EdD, Director of Public Engagement, at maggie.hartley@nationalww2museum.org.

Sponsored by Taube Philanthropies as part of the Taube Family Holocaust Education Program