Thursday, December 29, 2022 | |
COORDINATING COUNCIL RECOMMENDS
AWAB MEMBERSHIP
At its regular meeting in December the Coordinating Council voted to recommend to the congregation that Northminster apply for membership in the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (“AWAB”). This recommendation follows upon our church’s adoption of the Welcoming and Affirming Statement earlier in the year. The Coordinating Council has had the recommendation under consideration for several months.
AWAB’s mission is to create and support a community of churches, organizations and individuals committed to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the full life and mission of Baptist churches. The Association was founded by a dozen churches of the American Baptist Churches USA in 1993. Currently there are 141 member churches including many partner churches of the Alliance of Baptists like Northminster. These include Baptist Church of the Covenant in Birmingham, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC, Glendale Baptist Church in Nashville, First Baptist Church, Greenville, SC, and Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco, among others.
So why should we join AWAB? AWAB offers a support system for our ministry so that we have alliances and connections with the greater Baptist community and are not left feeling isolated in our welcome and affirmation of LGBTQ+ persons. AWAB’s intention is to provide value that addresses our needs as a member church. Membership allows us to keep informed of how other W&A congregations are engaging in meaningful ministry and provides access to resources to enhance our local W&A ministry. AWAB also helps LGBTQ+ persons in Northeast Louisiana to find us. And in this day when there is so much anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric (and hatred) in our society, it allows us to stand in solidarity with other like-minded congregations across the United States and Canada in showing love and acceptance for all people.
If accepted into membership in AWAB, the Coordinating Council also recommends that we include the nominal sum of $300 in our financial ministry plan for next year to help support the work of AWAB. AWAB has no giving requirement by member churches, so this would be our voluntary gift.
This recommendation will be presented for discussion and acceptance at Northminster’s regular January business meeting to be held on Sunday evening, January 22. Please note that this will be a week later than usual because the previous Sunday several of us will be with our partner congregation in Cuba. Following worship on Sunday, January 8 there will be a time for you to ask questions and present any comments you have about this recommendation.
In the meantime, we ask for your prayerful consideration of this recommendation. If you would like more information about AWAB, please visit its website at awab.org.
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CUBAN MISSION TRIP: NEEDS FOR OUR PARTNER CHURCH
Needed by Sunday, January 8: Women panties of all sizes, men's disposable razors. Also they are in need of size AA and AAA batteries that are hard to find in Cuba. Renee has a box in front of her desk for these items so the truck is available for the January Mission Emphasis. Please be generous!
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Join Us for Worship
Sunday, January 1 at 10:45am
Rev. Dr. Darrell Cluck Preaching:
Now for Something Really New
There will be NO Sunday School or Youth Group January 1
Choir will rehearse Sunday at 10am
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Click the photo below to stream Sunday's Service | |
Opening Hymn: This is a Day of New Beginnings
Brian Wren wrote this hymn in 1978 for a New Year's Day service in Oxford, England. The music is by the editor of two hymnals of the United Methodist Church and was composed for the original Wren text.
Middle Hymn: In the Bulb There is a Flower
Natalie Sleeth composed her "Hymn of Promise" first as a choral anthem and then adapted it to this version for congregational singing. It was dedicated to her husband, Ronald, who died shortly after she completed it.
The Anthem: The New World Forms, A Dance for the New Year
D H arranged this familiar tune, SUSSEX CAROL, from the Christmas Carol “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing.” The text is based on a poem by Elder James Olsen composed for the new year 1948-49 called Pavane for the New Year. (A pavane is a type of dance.)
Closing Hymn: Earth and All Stars
Herbert F. Brokering (1926-2009) was a Lutheran pastor with German roots, an author of more than forty books, and a poet and hymn writer known especially for two hymn texts, “Earth and All Stars” and “Alleluia! Christ Is Risen,” both set to the same tune. He was born in Nebraska, the son of a German Lutheran pastor.
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Our Concerns and Celebrations | |
We pray for...
The family of Buddy Pearson
Duane Crews
nephew of Hannah Clark
Jay Aro, Judy Eddington,
Tracy & Mary Sandow
Our friends and sister church,
Iglesia Bautista Enmanuel,
in Ciego de Avila, Cuba
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We celebrate with...
Turner Wilson (28th)
Charlene Medders (30th)
H.T. Garner (2nd)
as we observe their birthdays.
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Northminster Book Club
Our next book is Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. We will discuss the book over potluck on January 17 in the home of Carol Ann Tubbs.
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Do You Have a Hymnal at Home?
The church is missing quite a number of hymn books and would be grateful to have them back in the church. Should you have one at home and are not using it, please return it to the church.
However, if you would like to keep the hymnal, you might consider replacing it by ordering one from Amazon and giving it back to the church. Thanks so much for checking your music library!
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December Mission Emphasis:
The Alliance of Baptist Offering
Please make checks payable to Northminster Church with the memo line "Alliance offering".
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January Mission Emphasis
Local Animal Shelters
Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter (OPAS), a high kill shelter with dogs and CATS
The Humane Society (dogs only, no-kill shelter)
Needs: Laundry Detergent!!! BLEACH, BIRKON, scrub brushes, Disposable gloves all sizes, Paper Towels, Tall Kitchen Bags, 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.
Cat and 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.
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Computer Assistance for Detainees
Thank you Ray Roberson for stepping in to assist with this mission!!
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This Sunday
10:00 am - Choir Rehearsal
NO Sunday School for Children (K-5), Youth, and Adults
10:45 am - Preludes
11:00 am - Worship Service
NO Youth this Sunday
(Keep up with us on Instagram for any upcoming events or schedule changes!)
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Wednesdays
6:30 pm - Choir practice resumes January 4.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, Dec. 31: Renewal Center Breakfast provided by Northminster.
Wednesday, Jan. 11: Cuban Mission Trip
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Last Sunday's Floral Offerings
Given to the Glory of God
Arrangement by
Peggy Caskey
Robert Crawford
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PLEASE NOTE: When flowers are given in honor or in memory of someone, the flowers that day have been paid for by someone and not from the flower fund.
Please allow the family to have first pick of an arrangement to take home before choosing some for yourself. Thank you!
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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
Church Office Hours:
Monday -Thursday 9am to 4 pm
Closed Friday
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