We invite you to worship with us through livestreaming at both our 9:00am 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!
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Annual Congregational Meeting
to be Rescheduled
The Session has postponed the January 31st Annual Meeting of the Congregation, (which was set to take place automatically on the last Sunday in January by our Church By-Laws). The Annual Meeting will be rescheduled in February utilizing a computer online platform for video conferencing. The new date and information on how to attend and vote online will be provided for members of Northwood well in advance of the rescheduled meeting. The business of the meeting will be limited to electing new officers, (elders and deacons), and to vote on the Terms of Call for our pastors as required by The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church USA.
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Letter from the Pastor
A Series on Plans for Returning to
In-Person Worship at Northwood
Dear Members and Friends of Northwood,
As I have shared before the Session has adopted guidelines for us to use when we are able to return to in-person worship. While that time is not now, you can view the guidelines, by clicking on the "Guidelines" tab at the end of this letter. Let me assure you that one of the top priorities of our returning to in-person worship is that the sanctuary and all surfaces will be cleaned thoroughly for every worship service. Another obvious priority will be the required wearing of face masks and social distancing which we all have grown accustomed to doing everywhere we go. The Commission for in-Person Worship, (established by the Session), is working hard to implement these guidelines in their weekly meetings.
Volunteers are especially important for when we are able to return to in-person worship. You can view a “Request for Volunteers” notice also by clicking on a tab at the end of this letter.
If you have not notified the office about a new email and/or telephone number for you, please do so as soon as possible, so that our records are accurate and you that you receive our weekly mailings. We routinely find that we do not have the best contact information, especially email addresses, for a number of people.
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, perhaps from the survey we will ask you to complete as soon as possible.
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, in the spirit of constant prayer. Again, I want to 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
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Brown Bag Bible Study
Livestream and Facebook Live
Thursday, January 28th at noon, Pastor Paul will continue the study of the New Testament letter written by the Apostle Paul to the Galatians. Join us as we study God's word seeking by God's grace to grow in faith, hope and love.
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NPC Women’s Retreat
February 19-21
Come join the women of Northwood for an amazing weekend of fellowship at our annual retreat at Cedarkirk. We're happy to announce that Debra Musgrave Cox will be our speaker! Debra will lead us in examining the idea of “Something Beautiful” by enjoyment of creatin, relationships and restoration of our spirits. Registration is now open and forms are available in the church office or by email. Payment may be made online or by dropping off a check at the office (please earmark NPC WR). Cancellations due to COVID will be fully refundable.
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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.
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Each Sunday we will be worshiping online at both 9:00 & 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 9:00am 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.
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Wednesday Bible Study, led by Cindy Huffman
A study of the Book of Matthew meets every Wednesday at 7:00pm through Zoom. The study guide being used is The Immersion Bible Study: Matthew by J. Ellsworth Kalas. If you’d like to join the Wednesday Bible Study or need a study book, 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.
Fresh Brewed
Fresh Brewed will meet on the first Friday of every month at 10:30am via Zoom. Our next meeting will be February 5th. The study book is titled “Deeply Rooted; Knowing Self, Growing in God” by Christopher Marcie.
Please contact Louise Mylin for a Zoom code and if you have any questions (727) 787-9868.
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Presbyterian Women are using a Bible study called “Into the Light: Finding Hope through Prayers of Lament” by P. Lynn Miller. This is a 9-month study on reclaiming the practice of lament through Biblical study. Study books are available for purchase. The study will be available through livestreaming only on the first Thursday of each month at 11:00 AM and will be led by Pastor Curvin. The next study will take place on Thursday, February 4. Everyone is welcome to join us through livestreaming of the study! You may also check out the study through our website archive if you are unable to watch livestream. If you’d like more information or have any questions, please contact Patty Martin at bill.martin2@verizon.net.
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Giving
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, dropping 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
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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.
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Special $300 Tax Deduction
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, includes a temporary special $300 deduction designed for people who choose to take the standard deduction. This deduction lowers both adjusted gross income and taxable income for those making donations to organizations like Northwood and translates into tax savings for the donor. Be sure to consult your tax preparer to see how this new deduction might benefit you.
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Pledge Cards for 2021
Thank you for your faithful response to God’s call to give freely and wholeheartedly to support the ministry and mission of Northwood Presbyterian Church in 2020. If you have already submitted a pledge card for 2021, thank you! If you have yet to do so, please do so as soon as possible as pledge cards are available in the sanctuary pews, in the Church Office and in the Narthex. Thank you again for all God has done in and through your giving back to Him at Northwood Presbyterian in 2020. We look forward to the work God is preparing for us in 2021.
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You may be aware that some of our members, and even our church staff, have received scam emails, that appear to be from Pastor Chris and others by email. The emails scams of financial help often come in the request for you to purchase gift cards. Our pastors do NOT send these emails. This email scam is also happening to pastors in other churches across the nation at this point. Please know that your pastors and the church staff will never solicit any funds in this manner. Simply forward the message of such a request to the church office so that we can collect them 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. Be aware of scams by email and phone calls! |
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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.
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