Thursday, May 16, 2024
Celebrating 35 Years of Ministry: 1989 - 2024
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The Organ of Pentecost
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. In the Christian tradition, it is a celebration of the literal birth of the church. We will hear the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit in the manifestation of wind and dancing flames which anointed the thousands gathered. Peter reassured the crowd that this was a fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy: “…I will pour out my Spirit…Your sons and daughters shall prophecy and…see visions and dream dreams.”
This is truly a day to celebrate! Another exciting cause for celebration is the upcoming issue of The American Organist, the official journal of the American Guild of Organists. Each month there is a cover feature about exciting, new organs recently installed. In June’s issue, that feature will be the All Saints Meta Organ of Northminster Church. The cover is beautiful and glossy and will look something like the accompanying photo, although it was done by a professional photographer, Bailey Green. You will be able to see it as soon as the magazine is released. I have sneaked a peak at an advanced copy and it is eye-popping!
This Sunday, the organ music will feature pieces for Pentecost. There will be a couple of chorale preludes on hymns for this season, “Holy Spirit, Dwell with Us,” and “Come Down O Love Divine,” an arrangement of which will be sung by the choir at communion. Also included will be a work by Maurice Duruflé, who was organist at St. Etienne du Mont in Paris and composer of some of the most beautiful organ and choral music ever written. This piece called, Prelude, Adagio et Choral Varie sur VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS, is based on the Gregorian chant of Pentecost, “Come Holy Spirit, our Souls Inspire.” I will be playing the Adagio and the variations. Between each variation the choir will chant the theme. The final variation is a rousing toccata which I will reserve for the postlude.
For the sake of authenticity of sound, I will, for the first time, be using the sample set of the organ at the Abbey of St. Etienne in Caen, France. Since 1975, this organ has been recognized as a National Cultural Heritage. It is used for recordings of great organ works by renowned performers. It is a great example of the many organs in that region built in the late 19th century by Aristide Cavaille-Coll. These instruments are unsurpassed in their defining of the romantic French cathedral sound. As a reminder, the sample set is a huge set of digital recordings of each pipe in its natural setting. Therefore, there is a lot of reverberation, that is the sound gradually dies out after the key is released. In this instance, the time is considerable. This, in our sanctuary, is somewhat unnatural, but it will give you an idea of what it is like to hear these pieces played on the instruments on which they were composed.
The remainder of the service will utilize the same organ but with the reverb reduced to normal Northminster levels. It is still remarkably beautiful, as you will hear. Happy birthday Christian Church, Happy Pentecost.
Grace and Peace and Much Music in your Lives,
D. H.
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Join Us for Worship
Pentecost Sunday
Sunday, May 19 at 10:45 am
Rev. Jillian Hankamer Preaching
Preparing for Pentecost
Acts 2:1-17
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Opening Hymn: Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us Janie Alford is often described as "the Grandma Moses of hymnody." In her nineties, this retired medical secretary and Nashville, TN shop owner remained an active church worker and wrote many hymns. Nine of her texts were published in 1979.
Middle Hymn: Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song Carl P. Daw, Jr. wrote this text for The Hymnal 1982 (Episcopal) and expressly for the tune BRIDEGROOM. Born and educated in England, composer Peter Cutts has served as music director for churches in Massachusetts and on the faculty of Andover Newton Theological School.
Anthem: Let Thy Holy Presence Come Upon Us by Pavel Tchesnokov (1877-1944) and arranged by Hal H. Hopson.
The Communion Anthem: Come Down, O Love Divine by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1892-1958) with setting by John Leavitt and to the tune DOWN AMPNEY
Closing Hymn: Every Time I Feel the Spirit Among the thousands of spirituals that exist today are songs of gladness and songs of sorrow. This well-known spiritual is a song of joy, captured not only in the words, but in the lively rhythms.
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Our Concerns and Celebrations | |
John Carr
Darrell and Pat Cohn Cluck
Elvis Stelly
Mary Sandow
Iglesia Bautista Enmanuel, in Ciego de Avila, Cuba.
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Beau Burns, great-grandson of Peggy Burns
V. P. Dalrymple, friend of Anita Breen
Pattie Bewick, sister of Carol Ann Tubbs
Sarah Maloney, friend of Carol Ann Tubbs
Nora Kay Meredith great granddaughter of Kay Southern
Doug O'Neal brother of Debbie O'Neal
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We Celebrate with...
Marleigh Keene (20th)
Angela Boateng (20th)
Mark Clark (26th)
Korley Adkerson (Kane family) (26th)
as they celebrates their birthdays
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A NOTE FROM VEVLYN WRIGHT
Hello Northminster!
I hope that you are all doing well!
Me? I am well. My wrist is healed, though slightly out of alignment. Hopefully, next month, I will be working with a chiropractor to see about getting it totally realigned. A few weeks ago, I started lifting weights and have been doing physical therapy since December. Otherwise, life is great, albeit imperfect, of course.
My one-year anniversary of living in Richmond was 1 March. Still loving it! In December, I chose a church to join: St. John's Episcopal. It is the oldest church in Richmond (and where *enslaver* Patrick Henry delivered his, *Give me liberty or give me death* speech).
Like Northminster, it is a small-ish congregation. Also like Northminster, it is active in the community. Aside from the pastor and the friendliness of the congregation, I joined because it is active. As an added bonus, it is down the street from my apartment, so I can walk to church! By the way, I sold my car. I get around on public transport and Lyft.
Elsewhere, I am pleased to report that I have built a good network in the last year or so. Through this network, I have a good community-civic and social-leisure life.
This morning -- and on most Thursdays, for instance -- I was at St. Paul's Episcopal to volunteer in the Emmaus Lunch program. I work on the toiletries table. (On a Civil War history note, St. Paul's was the church of both Gen. Lee and Jeff Davis. In fact, Davis was worshipping at St. Paul's when he got the word that Union forces were en route to take over Richmond).
On a social life note, when I finish this little epistle, I will be meeting a chum at a nearby venue for the first concert in a May series of weekly concerts. (See the attached photo of Vevlyn, Nanette, Eric and Jarene at the *Music on Main* concert, featuring *Brencore Allstars,* on Thursday, 9 May at Main Street Station, Richmond, VA)
I am ecstatic that for the first time in my life I have a healthy life balance as it regards (1) Work; (2) Family-Friends; (3) Community-Civic, and (4) Social-Leisure life. Plus, good health. Above all, of course, a sincere relationship with my creator. Can't ask for too much more than that, right?
OK, I will end it there, I express my love, hugs and kind regards to the Northminster family!
Best,
Vevlyn (Wright)
Email: vevlyn1@yahoo.com
Ph./Text: 202-361-9226
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Congratulations!
We congratulate Emma Medders on her Future Farmers of America awards!
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Pie Face Fundraiser! Who would you like to see pied in the face? You have 8 church members from which to choose!
1.) Pastor Jillian Hankamer
2.) Erich Hankamer
3.) Debbie Chandler
4.) Mark Windham
5.) Beth Mayfield
6.) Jennifer Kimble
7.) Tiffany Smith
8.) Chels King
There is a clear donation box located on the table outside of Pastor Jillian’s office and envelopes for you to vote for your choice. Take an envelope, write “Pie (the person’s name)” on the outside of the envelope, and place your donation in the envelope and SEAL IT! Then drop it in the box. The person receiving the highest amount of money will be pied in the face by the winning team at the cabbage ball tournament on May 18th! So you have one MONTH to get the most money in the donation box toward your unlucky pick of the above 8 people! *Note* We will video the event and post it to social media for anyone that cannot attend the game on May 18th.
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Cabbage Ball Tournament. Cabbage ball is very similar to slow pitch softball; however, gloves are not worn. You can catch the ball with your bare hands instead. We will have the tournament on May 18th with the first game beginning at 9:00 am. The tournament will take place on the church grounds with a concession stand available for spectators and players to enjoy! Many of you have already been asked by a youth member to play for their cabbage ball teams in the tournament but if you haven’t and would like to play, please contact Jennifer (318)307-6716 or Tiffany (318)355-1368 and we will get you on a team. The cost to play is only $10 and this money will go directly to the youth member’s summer camp fees. If you have any friends or family that would also enjoy a day of playing, sign them up too and bring them along. If you don’t want to play but would enjoy hanging out with us, bring a chair and watch some games.
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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 Jennifer Kimble-Keen
(318-307-6716) with any questions!
YOUTH MEALS SIGNUP
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MEETING, EATS AND MEETING!
On Sunday, May 19 Norhtminster has a busy schedule. The Coordinating Council meet at 4:30pm. The the church membership and friends will meet for Potluck at 6pm followed by Business Meeting at 7pm.
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35th Anniversary Logo Revealed!
Our new 35th Anniversary Logo will debut on top of Sunday's Order of Worship . You’ll notice several familiar elements in the logo (the circular window with the trees, the same green/brown coloring, “Northminster” in the familiar serif typeface, the Micah 6:8 passage which capsulizes our ministry). You’ll also notice some new elements – obviously the “Celebrating 35 Years of Ministry,” a fresher font for “Church”, and the addition of organ pipes comprising the left side of the circular window(which celebrates our church’s passion for music ministry.
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FAMILY MINISTRIES SURVEY
The Family Ministries Commission has compiled a survey to determine what activities and volunteer opportunities the church family would be interested in. The survey link can be found here:
FAMILY MINISTRIES SURVEY
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PUB THEOLOGY
Thursday, May 20 at 7pm at The Fat Pelican!
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BOOK CLUB
Our next book is Dispatches from Pluto by Richard Grant. We will meet for potluck and discussion on Thursday, June 13 at 6pm in the home of Marilyn DeckerM 711 Oakhurst Dr., Bastrop. LA.
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MAY MISSION EMPHASIS:
MEDCAMPS OF LOUISIANA
Our May Mission is MedCamps of Louisiana. MedCamps’ Mission is to improve the health and wellness of people living with chronic illnesses and disabilities through unique recreational and educational camping experiences. They believe that all people, regardless of medical or special needs, deserve to experience life to the fullest and that camping is an American tradition which epitomizes normalcy and provides participants with a sense of well-being, belonging, accomplishment and self-worth. MedCamps has never charged a fee to attend camp.
NEEDS: Gift Cards (Wal-Mart, Target, Lowes, Academy), Sharpie Markers, Batteries (A, AA, AAA), Lysol, Lysol cleaning wipes, Baby Wipes, Air Fresheners. Cleaning supplies: Simple Green Cleaner, Duct tape, Paper towels, Toilet paper, , First aid kits, Light bulbs, Mosquito spray, Wasp and hornet spray, Latex Free Gloves, All laundry detergent: sensitive free.
Other: Acrylic Paint, Paint Brushes, Foam Brushes, Board Games/Card Games, Paintballs, Friendship Bracelet Kits, Costumes (for skits ETC)
In addition, they have an Amazon Wishlist located at https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/FX22QLB21E96
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This Sunday
9:00 am - Choir Rehearsal
10:00 am - Sunday School
10:45 am - Preludes
11:00 am - Worship Service
Noon: Northminster Fellowship
5:00 pm - Youth Group
Wednesdays
6:30 pm - Choir Rehearsal
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Upcoming Events
Saturday, May 18 at 9am: Youth Cabbage Ball and Pie Face Fundraisers
Sunday, May 19: Pentecost
Sunday, May 19: Coordinating Council meeting at 4:30pm followed by Potluck at 6pm and Business Meeting at 7pm
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Of Interest in the Community | |
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
ttis WILL be an outstanding production of this all-time favorite musical starring some of the finest singers and actors from here and around the country, including Preston Anderson and Camille Peterson from Northminster. For tickets, email Dr. Mark Clark at mclark@ulm.edu
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NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT MAY 24 FROM 6-9PM IN BASTROP | |
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If you have found a space of community, or healing, or hope at Northminster and believe in the work we are doing, please consider supporting us financially so that we will be able to continue creating spaces like this in all the days to come. Just click here, or scan the QR code with the camera on your phone. | | |
Northminster Church is located at:
2701 Lamy Lane
Monroe, LA 71201
318-388-3717
office@northmin.org
Church Office Hours:
Monday -Thursday 9am to 4 pm
Closed Friday
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