We invite you to worship with us through livestreaming at both our 9:30am contemporary service and our 11:00am traditional service at northwoodpc.org.
If you are new to Northwood, WELCOME! If you are interested in learning more about Northwood or wish to become a member, please visit our website or click on the "I'm New" link below to learn more about us and fill out the form and one of the pastors or staff members will get in touch with you.
If you are unable to participate in worship through livestreamimg, remember the services can be found and enjoyed anytime in the "
archives
" under "watch livestream" on the church website. We say this especially because with the large number of churches now exclusively livestreamimg services, providers are struggling to handle the volume on Sunday's.
If you have technical difficulties viewing the online services please view in the church livestreaming archives the next day as that is working well.You can call the church office and ask for help you if you are having trouble viewing. We encourage you to ask for help!
|
|
Letter from the Pastor
2nd Letter in a Series on Plans for Returning to
In-Person
Worship at Northwood
Dear Members and Friends of Northwood,
Last week I shared that the Session had adopted guidelines for us to use when we are able to return to in-person worship. While that time is not now, I wanted to share the guidelines with you in this letter as a way for us to begin to learn how things will be different when we first return to public worship.
(To view the guidelines, click on the "guidelines" tab below)
The Commission for In-Person Worship, (established by the Session), will be working on how to implement these guidelines in their weekly meetings. You will see next week a letter requesting volunteers which will be needed to help return to worship.
As we know from our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is learning how to adapt. Even with our guidelines, which will likely change over time, we will make some mistakes along the way and there will surely be awkward moments as we adjust to new practices.
Finally, when our congregation is able to resume
in-person worship
, please know that we will do so through a careful process of discussion and discernment, with an abundance of caution and concern for those who are most vulnerable, upon consideration of the best scientific knowledge at our disposal, in the spirit of constant prayer.
Finally, thank you to all who continue to make your financial gifts as we seek to be faithful to God and to one another and work through the challenges of this time in the life of our congregation and world.
Your Pastor and Friend,
Chris
|
|
Virtual Brown Bag Bible Study
RESUMES!
We will resume on Thursday, August 6th at noon. Pastor Paul will begin a new ten week study looking at the Old Testament Book of Job. This Old Testament book wrestles with the ongoing, unchanging human realities of deep suffering and sorrow and overwhelming pain and loss. “It is the story of one man who held on to his life in God with a faith that survived the torments of utter loss and expanded into new realms of wonder and delight." Join us as we seek, by God’s grace, to grow in faith, hope and love in the midst of life’s unpredictable and varied circumstances.
|
|
Important Calendar Information
Many meetings have gone to an online platform. However, if your team/committee wishes to meet in person (with physical distance and masks), please check the church calendar online at www.northwoodpc.org to be sure your event/meeting is still listed. Many meeting spaces have been expanded to meet physical distance requirements and a room previously reserved might have been reassigned to a group that has made a new request for in person meeting space.
|
|
Each Sunday we will be worshiping online at both 9:30 & 11:00am. The Ignite contemporary service has a time of “prayers of joy and concerns” where people individually offer prayer requests. While worshiping via livestream we wanted to make that possible. If you have a "prayers, joys or concerns" request you would like lifted up at the 9:30am service, click the button below. Just remember that these prayer requests may be shared via livestream. If anything is private, do not submit it for sharing this way. We will share as many as the time permits.
|
|
Save the Date! Cedarkirk All Church Retreat
Please save the date for the Cedarkirk All Church Retreat October 23-25. Registration will be delayed until further notice.
Questions, contact Jeanne Stephen at
Jeanneestephen@gmail.com
.
|
|
Cedarkirk “Summer Camp at Home” Program
“Cedarkirk at Home” blends a box of exciting stuff mailed from camp with exciting new ways to connect with counselors and your very own small group from home! We are re-imagining what a week of camp looks like when it’s not safe for us to physically be together. The foundational elements of camp – relationship-building, deepening connections to God and learning about faith from one another, and hilarious camp games and songs – can be reproduced in the virtual space! Every camper who signs up will receive a box chock full of camp goodies, curriculum, activity guides, supplies, and instructions for connecting with their own small group led by a Cedarkirk counselor. Open to youth ages 3rd grade –12th grade. Get more information and register online at
www.cedarkirk.org/cedarkirk-at-home
.
Please contact Cedarkirk with any questions.
camps@cedarkirk.org or 813-685-4224 x2
|
|
Wednesday Bible Study
,
led by Cindy Huffman
The Sunday Bible study has moved to Wednesdays and is meeting on Zoom. The group is studying the book of Ecclesiastes. If you’d like to join the Wednesday Bible Study that meets on Wednesdays at 7:00pm, please email Cindy Huffman at
lucindy1@aol.com
and she will forward you the Zoom link. All are welcome!
Experiencing God Class
,
led by Vicki Krueger
If you’d like to join the Experiencing God class virtually via Zoom at 10:30am on Sunday mornings, please contact Vicki Krueger via email at
vickilee33@aol.com
and she will send you the meeting details each week.
|
|
Children’s Ministry is sending out personal notes to the children of Northwood so watch for your note in the mail. If you want to receive a note for your child or grandchild contact Justine Davis at
childrensministry@northwoodpc.org
.
|
|
Please be sure to check out and “like” the Children’s Ministry Facebook group. Each week we will have a children’s Bible lesson posted along with other activities.
|
|
Kid’s Corner Preschool Registration
Registration is currently open for the 2020-2021 school year! We have openings in our 2’s, 3’s, and VPK. Please share the news! If you are interested in a tour of the school, please contact Justine Davis at 727-723-7679 or email at
schooldirector@northwoodpc.org
.
|
|
Even when we can’t be together, your giving matters. We want to continue being the church in our community and to each and every one of you in the days ahead. Your continued faithfulness to the mission and ministry of Northwood through your giving is critical as the church’s expenses do not stop. Please commit to maintain your regular schedule of giving throughout this time by mailing your gift, d
ropping it off at the church office during business hours
or using one of the online platforms below for giving electronically:
*Text NPCHURCH to 73256 and follow the prompts
*Click “Give” under the
ChurchLife app
menu options
|
|
Per-Capita Apportionment
Every church shares in the administrative costs of the Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) through the annual per capita assessment. Northwood's per-capita assessment is $32.20 per every active member and confirmed youth (communicant member). Please consider paying this administrative cost above and beyond your annual pledge/offering. You can contribute to the per-capita apportionment at any time during the year. To do so just write "per-capita" on the memo line of your check or mark an envelope accordingly. Thank you for your gift.
|
|
Hurricane Ministry - 2020 Season
|
|
The Hurricane Ministry of our church’s Board of Deacons assists members in need of temporary housing during hurricanes or severe tropical storms. If you are in need of emergency housing during or after a storm – or if you are able to share your home with members-in-need – please contact Eleanor Cicerchi at
ecicerchi@gmail.com
or 607-382-1781. You may also contact the Rev. Paul Means at 727-796-8090 or
paul@northwoodpc.org
.
|
|
You may be aware that some of our members have received scam emails in the past month, and once over a year ago, that appear to be from Pastor Chris. The emails request financial support in the form of gift cards. Our pastor does NOT send these emails although the email address is very similar to his. This email scam is also happening to pastors in other churches in our area. Please know that your pastors and the church staff will never solicit any funds in this manner. Simply forward the message to the church office so they can be collected for the police. It saddens us when anyone seeks to do harm but especially when they prey on the kindness and Christ-like hearts of our members.
|
|
Revised Church Office Hours
The church office remains open with modifications to our hours and staffing model for the health and safety of all. For the time being, we will be open Monday-Thursday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. and closed on Friday. Our staff will be alternating their days in the office and working from home on the others. The afternoon and Friday hours will be reserved for staff members who need/want to further limit their contact with others during this time. All staff members continue to be available via email or phone regardless of the office schedule.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
