An Election "Day" Unlike Any Other |
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Northminster Family,
As we approach election day next week, many of us are becoming even more acutely aware of:
1. How important voting is in this country, and...
2. The extent to which powerful people will conspire to suppress votes they don’t like.
I stood in line early Monday morning for two hours among other (poorly distanced!) voters, because an empty narrative about mail-in ballot fraud has taken the safest and simplest solution off the table. In a nation founded on the democratic spirit, why do we have such a poor early voting system in place? Why are many polls open for a single day rather than a week? Why doesn’t everyone have the option to request a mail-in ballot? Why does every voter have to have a government ID, when voter fraud happens at a rate somewhere between 0.02% and 0.01%?
The answer is, of course, to keep the “wrong” people from voting.
As a church founded on love for the “wrong” people, this should be deeply disturbing to us. To paraphrase Rev. William Barber, to deny someone their right to vote is to deny the Image of God in them. It is to categorize them as less than, other than. It is not only an act of injustice, but an act of blasphemy towards the Holy Spirit burning at their core.
Next week, after election day, it would be naïve and foolish of us to believe this injustice and blasphemy will end. Many are predicting, because of the unusual circumstances around this year's election process, that the election results will take a week (if not multiple weeks) to compile. That means this won’t be like election nights. This year, on election night, it may look as though one candidate is ahead, but then as mail in ballots are counted, the numbers will likely start to move in a different direction. Some have called this the “blue drift.” It stands to reason, then, that there will likely be attempts to call the race before it’s over, or to stop counting before all of the ballots are accounted for... before the “wrong” people can speak.
Friends, this is not just a matter of political perfidy. When God’s Image is denied in the other to the point of a dehumanizing suppression of their voice, it becomes a matter of morality which falls squarely within the church’s purview.
As people of faith we have to be willing to forcefully name such acts for the immoral and illegal acts that they are.
- We have to be willing to show up in the street, putting hands and feet to the nonviolent ethics Jesus taught us – actions that illuminate injustice by creative non-compliance. Walk out. Strike. Refuse orders. Shut it down. Respect all. Harm no one.
- We have to be prepared to have brave conversations that aren’t centered around individuals or political leaders, but shared democratic values.
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We have to remember that this is not just about recognizing God’s Spirit in others, but in us as well. We have to be willing to listen to what God-in-us is calling us to do, and act with courage and freedom.
This is not about partisan politics. Either party may win fair and square. We have work cut out for us either way. This is, however, about integrity and morality. It's about embodying faith in the God of "the least of these." This is about embodying, as Dr. Gaddy said, "politics worthy of the gospel."
Take deep breaths. Seek out silence. Let the waves settle. Listen for God’s voice. Act with courage. All shall be well.
In Peace (that defies understanding),
Zach
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The Prayers of the People
An opportunity to celebrate and pray alongside siblings in our community.
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We pray alongside...
Everyone in our community who may be concerned for the maintenance of their hard won civil rights after this week's Supreme Court confirmation. Please reach out if you'd like to talk.
Tracy Sandow, who is having total knee surgery next Tuesday, November 3 in Shreveport.
Sara Younger, who was recently released from the hospital after a bout with pneumonia.
The Krutzer family. Bill's mother, Edna Silver, and Vickie's mother, Dale Hughes, are both recovering from falls over the last couple of weeks. Bill's mother was just released from the hospital.
Tim and Marissa Jaquess, as Tim's sister Carolyn is on hospice.
Angela Hallack, friend of Ellen Prather who has received a diagnosis of Stage 4 inoperable lung cancer.
All of our teachers, students, and first responders as they navigate doing their jobs in this season.
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If you have concerns or celebrations you would like us to add to the newsletter, please call the church office or email office@northmin.org.
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The Work of the People
How we are responding to the Spirit of Love
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Daylight Savings Time Ends on Sunday! |
Be sure to adjust your clocks! Daylight Savings Time ends at 2am this Sunday, November 1st. |
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Northminster Serves Breakfast This Saturday at the DeSiard St. Shelter |
The missions commission is taking point fulfilling our commitment this Saturday to bringing breakfast to the DeSiard St. Shelter. Thanks to the Prather/Mayfield/Duke family for heading that up.
If anyone is interested in cooking or serving in the future, please send us an email.
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All Saints' Day Service on November 1st at 6pm |
Sunday, November 1 is the day set aside by the church to honor all the saints. In the early church, All Saints’ Day, was the designated feast day for saints not honored by their own day on the church calendar. The Protestant Reformation helped the church to recognize that saints were not just martyrs or miracle workers, they are folks like you and me who go about their daily lives making the world a better place for their having been here.
This Sunday, we will honor saints of Northminster, both members as well as friends who have helped to shape our lives as a church. This service, sponsored by the Worship Commission, will premiere on YouTube at 6 PM. It will feature an amazing past performance by the Northminster Choir with orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Deborah Chandler, of John Rutter’s Requiem, with Kristen Anderson Oden, Soprano soloist. There will be time to remember by praying, singing, worshipping, reading the names, and seeing photos from the past.
Please join us in this celebration of their lives at 6 PM. Watch for the link in further communications.
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Outdoor Contemplative Service Next Week at Northminster |
The holidays are difficult for many, and we want to find ways to safely connect during this season.
That's why, on November 8th, at 4pm Sunday afternoon, we're going to have our first in-person gathering in about 7 months!
It will be a very simple service to give us an idea of how to better host outdoor, more holiday-specific services. There will be strict safety policies we'll enforce, so keep an eye out for a comprehensive list of those in the days to come.
Looking forward to (actually) seeing you.
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Wellbeing Class Continues |
What does it take to be happy? We often approach this question as though it were a mystery, but it’s not. Well-being is innate in every human being, and there are practices and pathways hard-wired into each of us to help us access that well-being, even in times of great difficulty or isolation.
This course is taking an evolutionary and spiritually-informed approach to helping us discover those practices and pathways.
WARNING: This week's video contains graphic images and references to stories of sexual abuse.
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Coordinating Council Elections |
Each year, three people rotate off our 9-member Coordinating Council and three new people are elected by the membership at the November business meeting to serve for 3-year terms. This year, our election will be conducted by mail-in ballots. All voting members should have received a letter with one ballot per voting member and a self-addressed envelope. Ballots may be returned by mail or dropped in the church's locked mailbox. Please see the letter for further details & instructions - or contact the office if you don't receive yours! Ballots must be returned to the church office by this coming Tuesday, November 3.
We express our gratitude to those who are rotating off: Ellen Prather, Marilyn Decker, and DH Clark!
This year's candidates: Anita Breen, Claire Carrington, Susan Curry, Kyle Gregory, Craig Henry, Al Peterson
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Advent is fast approaching, and what is already a difficult season for many promises to be even darker in the increased isolation of the pandemic. One direct way you can show up for those in your community is by contributing to this year’s collection of Advent reflections.
The theme of this year’s collection is “Waiting.” Advent has always been about waiting – about waiting for Christ to show up anew and anew, about learning to wait actively for the future to which we're called, about preparing a space as best we can when so much is out of our control.
If you’d like to be involved in this initiative to draw closer, to draw deeper, and to make meaning out of a chaotic season of waiting, then please let us know as soon as you can. Reply to this email by the end of the week to let us know if you’ll participate, and submit your pieces by November 15th. If you missed the churchwide email with detailed instructions and you would like to participate, click here for more info.
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Holy Ideas
How might we respond to the Spirit of Love?
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In this new season of social distancing, we need holy ideas to help stretch our imaginations for what is possible within this community more than ever.
Since we can't make use of the physical "Holy Ideas" board in the hallway, we'll maintain it virtually and keep it updated here in the newsletter. If you have an idea for a way the church can be church in this season, or if you see an idea you'd like to support to help it become reality, email the office.
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Around Town
Virtual and Otherwise
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ULM's VAPA presents "The Old Maid and the Thief" and "Gallantry" Live on YouTube Thursday, Friday |
At 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29 and Friday, Oct. 30, VAPA will present "The Old Maid and the Thief" and "Gallantry" which will be streamed live on the VAPA YouTube channel.
The production is directed my Northminster's
Mark Ross Clark, D.M.A., VAPA Professor of Music and Theatre. He had to adapt the staging for social distancing, and in rehearsals, everyone wore masks. He believes the YouTube audience will appreciate and enjoy the work of the VAPA team.
"Both are delightful comedies with interesting plot twists, quirky characters, and beautiful music," said Clark. "It has a brilliant script and inspiring music by Menotti. It has 14 short scenes moving quickly through a story that needs to be seen to be believed.
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CA Studio's Shakespeare for 2020... MacBeth |
CA Studio announces its second virtual theatre piece, a live zoom experience of Shakespeare's MacBeth, November 7 and 8 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are free by RSVP'ing on the castudiola.com to obtain a link for the show.
MacBeth features Charles Pridgen as MacBeth and Laura Ulrich as Lady MacBeth. The show also features Eddie Fountain, Kierstin Curtis, Peyton Churchwell, Morgan Meyer, Aidan Wright, Becca Brown, Brett Scott, Ian Simoneaux and DeCordie Dumas Riley.
MacBeth is directed by Cathy Airhart Webb.
"Fair and foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air."
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Giving to Northminster
Support Northminster's Work
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We are sensitive to the reality that financial uncertainty is one of the side effects of the spread of the coronavirus. However, if you find yourself in a position to continue or increase your contributions to the church, know that your donation will be greatly appreciated. We have made the decision to honor our commitments to all those on our payroll (ministers, staff, choral scholars, childcare) who are relying on this income in an anxious time, and we cannot do that without your continued support.
To support Northminster financially, you can click here, or scan the QR code below with the camera on your phone.
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Sunday 11/1
10am - Sunday School
10:45am - Preludes and Online Chat
11am - Sunday Morning Liturgy
After Worship - Narthex Chat
6pm - All Saints' Day Service
Wednesday 11/4
6:45pm - Digital Choir "Rehearsal"
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Worship This Week
The text this week is Joshua 3:7-17
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