NEWSLETTER-REVISED
Thursday, July 21, 2022
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FOURTEEN DIFFERENT FACES AND VOICES
WE ARE GRATEFUL!
During the past twelve months at Northminster while we have been without a senior pastor or co-pastors, we have been fortunate to have fourteen guest preachers grace our pulpit. Fourteen! Fourteen different voices reminded us that there are different styles of preaching. Each voice in its own way was instructive, creative, prophetic. Fourteen difference personalities reminded us, each can be pastoral, compassionate, passionate. And if we add Jillian preaching her sermon in view of our call, there were fifteen. We are grateful!
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Where do we begin with our thanks? Obviously with our five Northminster members who preached for us on most occasions. Welton Gaddy was our beloved senior pastor for almost 25 years (and now pastor emeritus) and it has been so good to hear his great prophetic preaching again (with another sermon yet to go this coming Sunday). Our fellow member, pastor-preacher-poet-prophet Darrell Cluck, inspired us yet again on many occasions, as he has done in the past from time to time. Debi Chandler, our Director of Music, expert choral conductor, professor, singer, public radio host, sometimes preacher—when does she sleep?!—brought us important words. Mark Windham, who despite his busy schedule as executive director of GO-CARE, shared with us his preaching talent. And D. H. Clark, our organist and musician-in-residence, preached for us his first sermon (and an instructive one at that) after his ordination at Northminster. We are so fortunate to have these five gifted people in our midst. We are grateful!
And then there were our nine out-of-town guest preachers. It was so good to again have James Lamkin, recently retired from his pastorate in Atlanta, share his insightful preaching with us on several occasions and remind us of how we loved his preaching in our early days as a church. Another long-time friend who has preached for us before, Paula Dempsey, flew over from North Carolina, sharing with us just before her retirement with the Alliance of Baptists, reminding us that “all have a place at God’s table”. And speaking of the Alliance of Baptists, another Alliance friend, Jason Smith, drove down from Arkadelphia with his family to again lift up words of wisdom for us. Kyndall Rothaus from Waco has also preached for us before, and we again appreciated inspiring and prophetic words from her. We are grateful!
Two of our guest preachers had previously spent a lot of time with us at Northminster. We are so proud of our former associate pastor Carl Gregg, now pastor for the Unitarian-Universalist congregation in Frederick, Maryland for ten years, who again shared his intellect and humor. We are also thankful that Steve Jolly, our intentional interim pastor for two years, and wife Sandra, were able to come over from North Carolina and spend a weekend with us, with Steve sharing his usual wise, jovial self with us from the pulpit. We are grateful!
We also met some new friends, at least new to Northminster. Sheila-Sholes Ross, a New Orleans native and now pastor in Massachusetts brought her passionate prophetic voice to us and challenged us that “our purpose must be greater than our fears”. And speaking of passionate and prophetic, Elijah Zehyoue, from Washington D.C., new co-director of the Alliance of Baptists brought us an important and timely message about racial justice. Finally, Scott Stearman, a pastor for thirty years, recently living in Jackson, Mississippi, preached for us on several occasions, bringing his dry intellect and insight. Twelve months. Fourteen different faces. Fourteen different voices. We are grateful! We are better for having heard these voices.
And that brings us to number fifteen, our new senior pastor Jillian Hankamer, and with thanks to Scott Stearman for recommending her to us. We appreciated Jillian sharing her preaching talent and discernment when she preached for us “in view of a call”. We look forward to many years of her pastoral leadership and care and compassionate and prophetic preaching. May it be so.
Thanks be to God!
Craig Henry
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NORTHMINSTER ADOPTS WELCOMING AND AFFIRMING STATEMENT
At the church’s regular bi-monthly business meeting this past Sunday, the proposed Welcoming and Affirming Statement was approved. There was one modification recommended by the Coordinating Council based on the discussion held after worship on June 26. The idea of our adopting a statement began in the Coordinating Council in April, the statement was developed and was approved by the Council in June for recommendation to the church. The membership received the statement for consideration in June. The complete statement is set forth below.
WELCOMING AND AFFIRMING STATEMENT
OF NORTHMINSTER CHURCH
We the people of Northminster Church are a Welcoming and Affirming congregation. One of our most important founding principles, along with theological freedom of the individual member, is love and inclusion for all who enter our fellowship. Inclusion means not only acceptance and tolerance; it means full embracing love and respect for each other, a real desire to learn from each other, and an assurance that each member may participate fully in every aspect of ministry. We provide a safe, welcome and nurturing place for all who have felt marginalized by the church or by society at large. We, as a body, confess the church’s history of condemnation and exclusion of persons as being unworthy to be a part of the family of God. We further acknowledge this condemnation has harmed many lives in such forms as alienation, violence, and death.
We are committed to the work of justice and peace in our community and in the world for all people--not just the privileged few. In this work, we seek to follow the example set by Jesus in loving God and others as God loves us. We embrace all people with no regard to gender, age, race, ethnicity, immigration status, economic status, theological background, education, physical or mental condition, makeup of household, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We affirm and celebrate all loving and committed relationships.
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, you are God’s beloved, just as you are. You are worthy! You are welcome!
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Join us for Worship
Sunday, July 24, 2022
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Dr. C. Welton Gaddy preaches:
The Gift of Presence
Click the photo to view our Sunday service
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SUNDAY, July 24, 2022
Opening Hymn: O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Watts, minister of a Congregational Church in London, wrote theological and philosophical works and hundreds of “hymns of human composure” (everyday language). He augmented the congregational singing of psalms with a new style of hymnody. This hymn, based on Psalm 90: 1-5, is set to the tune ST.ANNE by William Croft, 1708.
The Prelude to Prayer: A Prayer of St. Patrick
Christ be with me, Christ within me….British composer, John Rutter, set these beautiful words from St. Patrick’s Breastplate (5th century) for the First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi in 1983.
The Anthem: Many Gifts, One Spirit
American composer, Allen Pote, wrote this anthem in 1986 for the First United Methodist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana. The text reminds us that with all of our differences, we are one!
Communion Anthem: Let Us Break Bread Together
This well-known African-American spiritual was arranged by DH Clark for The Northminster choir. Let us break bread and drink wine together and remember the love of Jesus, the Christ.
Closing Hymn: Come to Tend God’s Garden
John Dallas is the author of more than 200 hymn texts. This one was written for the 275th anniversary of the Synod of the Trinity (Pennsylvania), where Dallas has served as a pastor at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh. Set to the tune, KING’S WESTON, by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1925.
I so look forward to sharing worship with you all this Sunday.
Peace and blessings, Debi
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The Prayers of the People |
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We pray alongside.....
COVID SUFFERERS - we are hearing reports of several of our members having contracted COVID. PLEASE, if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of cold, fever, coughing, sneezing, etc., stay home, do not come to church and do not go out in public!
The oppression and suffering of the innocents in war torn countries.
Those with unspoken prayer requests.
New Pastor Jillian Hankamer, as she and her husband Eric prepare to move to Louisiana next week.
Renee Decker as she has suffered sudden hearing loss in her right ear and is receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy along with oral steroids over the next four weeks.
Paulette Capel, anticipating knee surgery on 8/15, and husband Mike Capel who will be her caretaker.
Anita Breen's friend who is suffering with COVID.
Patti Bewick, sister of Carol Ann Tubbs who is going home!
Montserrat Miller, cousin of D.H. Clark, serious illness.
Hugh Chandler, father of Debi Chandler, advanced Alzheimer's.
Sister of Tim Jaquess (Sammye) recovering from brain surgery, soon to be moved from rehab to assisted living and will follow up with radiation treatments for remaining tumors.
Judy Eddington, dealing with a serious medical condition.
Dibble Pate, continuing to recover from hip surgery, leaving the Guesthouse Nursing home on 7/21 and moving to the Georgia Tucker Assisted Living facility.
Tracy and Mary Sandow dealing with serious medical issues.
Our friends and sister church, Iglesia Bautista Enmanuel in Ciego de Avila, Cuba experiencing many economic hardships.
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July Mission Trunk Emphasis:
Exit 318 (A Goodwill Industry of North LA)
July’s mission trunk focus is the program EXIT-318, which stands for Ex-Offenders in Transition, a program funded by the Department of Corrections, presenting a re-entry accountability plan and program designed to reduce recidivism through a variety of services provided to assist with the transition from institutionalization to community integration. This is a program supported by many companies and local businesses, with a home base in Goodwill Industries.
Needs: Basic necessities: deodorant, razors/shaving cream, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush. Towels, washcloths. New undergarments, socks. Basic cleaning supplies: broom/dustpan, mop, dishwashing liquid, laundry soap, 409, Windex, etc. Bedding: pillows, sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters. Coats and other clothing. Gift cards are not advised.
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THANK YOU FOR “POUNDING”
THE HANKAMERS!
A big THANK YOU! to all of you who signed up to “pound” the Hankamers with items they will need to set up housekeeping in Monroe. Our list of recommended items has been completely signed up for, and we are so grateful for that. If you would still like to help out, please consider making a monetary gift to help with Jillian and Erich’s incidental moving expenses. As part of Jillian’s compensation package, Northminster is paying to move their furniture and household items as is our tradition with new ministers. However, there are other expenses they will incur, such as the cost of gasoline to drive their other vehicle here, utility deposits, vehicle registration in Louisiana, etc. To make a monetary gift just write a check to Northminster or give on our website and mark in the memo line “Hankamer pounding” or just “pounding”.
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Northminster COVID Information
Northminster follows state and CDC guidelines and accordingly recommends that if you are at high risk for severe illness - talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions; stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines; and get tested if you have symptoms. Immune compromised and unvaccinated individuals, and anyone experiencing cold or other illness symptoms continue to wear masks during our services.
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Choir to Resume Rehearsals Early
Wednesday, July 27 at 6:30pm!
We will end our summer break a little early and resume Wednesday night rehearsals next Wednesday at 6:30. This is so we can more readily prepare for Jillian’s first Sunday.
So remember Wednesday, July 27, 6:30 Rehearsal. Spread the word!
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VBS July 31- August 3
5:30m-7:30pm
Vacation Bible School 2022 will take place this year at Northminster beginning Sunday, July 31 and run through Wednesday August 3 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm.. If you have any question, please contact Beth Mayfield at beth@mayfieldconstruction.net or 348-2529
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Northminster Book Club
A big "Thank You" to Camille and Al Peterson for hosting our Book Club in June. We had a great group of 16 folks and if you are interested in joining the fun contact Debi Chandler at chandler@ulm.edu.
The next book is Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd. Potluck and book discussion will be in the home of Kyle Gregory on August 18 at 6pm.
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Save the Date!
Alliance Fall Gathering
NOVEMBER 10-12, 2022 in Montgomery, AL
Registration opens August 15!
We'll be gathering at the The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration created by the Equal Justice Initiative. EJI works with communities that have been marginalized by poverty and discouraged by unequal treatment. It is committed to changing the narrative about race in the U.S.
Check out the programming on our event webpage, and check back for more information as it becomes available.
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Have you inadvertently picked up a pair of wire reading glasses off the desk in the church office to use as readers? These are Renee's prescription glasses for mid-rang computer reading and have bi-focal lenses for close up reading. We all leave "readers" laying around and pick up any pair we see so perhaps someone mistakenly grabbed these on her desk not realizing they were prescription based glasses. The picture is similar to how the glasses look except the ear pieces are not so dark. This is basically the shape of the glasses and of course the ones lost have a bi-focal lenses as well. Please take a look around! It would be greatly appreciated to get these back!
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Upcoming Events
This Sunday
9:00 am - Choir Practice
10:00 am - Sunday School for Children (K-5),
Youth, and Adults
10:45 am - Preludes
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Liturgy
Sunday, July 31 - 5th Sunday Lunch
YOUTH: Check our Instagram page for any upcoming summer activities!
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Wednesdays
6:30 pm - Choir practice. Choir will not meet during the month of July but will still meet Sunday mornings at 9am
Pulpit Supply Schedule
July
24 - Dr. Welton Gaddy
31 - Rev. Jillian Hankamer
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Of Interest in the Community |
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Mamma Mia at South Arkansas
Arts Center
The Summer Musical for South Arkansas Arts Center in Eldorado, Arkansas. Performances are at 7:30 PM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and 2:30 PM on Sundays. Dates are July 21, 22, 23, and 24. Tickets may be obtained by ordering online at www.SAAC-arts.org or by calling the box office at 870-862-5474.
D. H. Clark is Musical Director. Cherrie Sciro, who has attended our church, is the Director. D.H. reports that the production is going well. There is a strong cast with excellent singing, dancing, and acting. Cherrie has been assistant producer to Cameron Mcintosh, who produced many Broadway and West End hits such as Les Miserable, Phantom of the Opera, and Miss Saigon. She is professor of theater at Louisiana Tech. D. H. and Cherrie directed the production at Strauss in 2019.
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This past Sunday's floral offering was given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Sand Lawn.
Arrangement by Marilyn Decker.
Due to budgetary constraints, altar flowers will only be provided if giving in memory or in honor of someone.
Cost is approximately $100.
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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.
To support Northminster financially, you can click here, or scan the QR code with the camera on your phone.
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Northminster Church is located at:
2701 Lamy Lane
Monroe, LA 71201
318-388-3717
office@northmin.org
Temporary Church Office Hours:
Tues -Thurs 9am to 4 pm
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