NEWSLETTER
Thursday, February 24, 2022
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WELCOME REV. ELIJAH ZEHYOUE,
OUR PULPIT GUEST SUNDAY
We welcome Rev. Elijah Zehyoue as our pulpit guest and worship leader on Sunday. Elijah is the recently named co-director of Northminster’s denominational partner the Alliance of Baptists, assuming the position of Rev. Paula Clayton Dempsey, who retired. A graduate of Morehouse College (BA) and the University of Chicago (MDiv), he served as associate pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D. C. from 2014 until 2021.
Elijah is currently writing a PhD dissertation in African history at Howard University. His focus is on the transatlantic slave trade and the origins of the Liberian civil war. He is an immigrant to the United States from Liberia, West Africa, traveling with his family to escape that civil war. Elijah grew up in Baton Rouge and in University Baptist Church there.
“I am of the belief that to be in the liberating tradition of Jesus means to struggle against oppression whenever and wherever it is present,” he said in explaining his philosophy. “This work puts me in solidarity with marginal people all over the world — whether students in Palestine, migrants in Central America, exploited workers in Southern Africa, or LGBTQIA+ people globally.”
“My position as an oppressed Black immigrant is my lens for understanding the suffering of so many other people around the world. I believe the call of the church is to work to end suffering in the world and that much of how we do that is to stand in solidarity with those people struggling for justice wherever they are.” Elijah’s philosophy aligns with the Alliance’s own commitment to antiracism.
Alliance President Michael-Ray Mathews described Elijah as bringing together “the care of a pastor, the rigor of a scholar and the passions of a prophet” in his new role as co-director.
Please plan to be in worship on Sunday to welcome Elijah to Northminster.
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Join us for Worship
Sunday February 20, 2022
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Rev. Elijah Zehyoue preaches
"In Living Color"
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Click the photo to view our Sunday service |
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February 27, 2022
Opening Hymn: We Covenant Together
This hymn text is adapted from the Alliance of Baptists Covenant and Mission, adopted April 10, 2021. Set to the tune, AURELIA, written in 1864 by Samuel S. Wesley.
Gospel Acclamation: Through These Ancient Words
DH Clark wrote this announcement of the Gospel reminding us that “through these words, the Spirit still speaks to us today”.….and that is Good News!
Anthem: The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Us
Our anthem, written by DH, reminds us that God has commanded us to be a joy to others…”to bring good tidings to the meek and lowly of heart.”
In these troubled days, supporting and loving one another has never been so important and needed.
Communion Anthem: Come Thou Fount
This beautiful and familiar text was written in 1758 by Robert Robinson.The arrangement our choir will sing during communion, is a setting by Craig Courtney and conducted by one of our choral scholars, Naomi Kilpatrick, who is a Choral Music Education Major at ULM.
Closing Hymn: Lift Every Voice and Sing
Poet James Weldon Johnson was the first African-American to pass the Bar examination in the state of Florida, and served as U.S. consul in Venezuela And Nicaragua. He collaborated with his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, to write Broadway operettas and edit song collections. John appeared in vaudeville,
directed London musicals and headed the Music School Settlement in New York. Preston Anderson, our tenor choral scholar, will begin this hymn. It will be a very spirit-filled time for us all.
I look forward to sharing worship with you this Sunday, Debi
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February Mission Emphasis:
Children's Coalition - Early Head Start
Early Head Start provides early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, and their families, and pregnant women and their families. The Children’s Coalition Early Head Start (childrenscoalition.org) serves 132 infants and toddlers in Ouachita Parish. We care for children year-round, providing everything they need during their time at the center—including diapers and wipes.
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Needs: Diapers sizes 3,4,5,6; Wipes, Training underwear 2T, 3T, Socks, infant, small and toddler, Board books. |
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March Mission Emphasis:
The Renewal Center (formerly The Desiard Street Shelter)
Now located at 722 Adams St., Monroe the Renewal Center is a safe place for especially vulnerable people to find haven, help, hope, and ultimately, home. They work with al of the homeless service providers, making our area much more effective in ending homelessness for thousands of families each year.
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Needs: Styrofoam trays (like go plates with three sections), salt-pepper-knife-spoon-fork packages, all of which can be found at Sam’s Club, Dixie cups, toilet tissue, paper towels, Dawn dishwashing liquid, washing detergent.
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The Prayers of the People |
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We pray alongside.....
The oppression and suffering of the innocents in war torn countries.
Our Pastor Search Committee as they continue our search for our next pastor
Those with unspoken prayer requests
Lola Wheeler recovering from an ankle replacement surgery.
Gail Blackman's sister, Debbie, receiving new treatment for a critical illness.
Rodney Thomas, serious eye issue.
DH Clark's cousin's wife - acute illness.
Sybil Lefebvre, in hospital with critical illness.
Our Brothers and Sisters in Cuba experiencing severe economic hardships, food shortages, and lack of medical equipment to administer Covid-19 vaccines.
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The Celebrations of the People |
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We celebrate alongside.....
Noel Fernandez (28th) as he celebrates his birthday.
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NORTHMINSTER’S HISTORY WITH
THE ALLIANCE OF BAPTISTS
by Craig Henry
One of the first official acts of newly formed Northminster Church in 1989 was to become a partner congregation of the Alliance of Baptists. The Alliance is Northminster’s only denominational affiliation, and we have included it in our annual financial ministry plan since our beginning. Founded only two years before Northminster, it began as a prophetic voice in Baptist life. Before he became our pastor, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy was one of the Alliance’s founders. For the now almost thirty-three years of our existence, the Alliance has connected us to other like-spirited followers of Jesus throughout the United States and around the globe.
Theological Home. Pursuit of God’s Justice. Partnership in Mission. These three core values guide the Alliance of Baptists. Today, the Alliance has grown to be a justice movement and community of faith. The Alliance is made up of male and female laity and clergy, people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, theological beliefs, and ministry practices. There are about 4,500 individual members and roughly 140 congregations knit together by love for one another and God, combining progressive inquiry, contemplative prayer and prophetic action to bring about justice and healing in a changing world.
Besides being one of its founders, Dr. Gaddy also served as president of the Alliance from 1998-2000 while he was also our pastor. Northminster member Craig Henry served as president from 2002-2004. Besides serving as presidents Dr. Gaddy and Craig also served on the board of directors as have Northminster members Priscilla Asbury and D. H. Clark. Northminster member Jo Ann Alley is currently serving her second term on the Alliance board.
On March 4, 1995, at the Alliance’s annual gathering in Vienna, Virginia, a motion was adopted overwhelmingly to “receive with gratitude” the report of the task force on human sexuality. That task force, appointed in 1992, was chaired by Priscilla Asbury, and D. H. Clark was one of its members. Thus began the Alliance’s then courageous position welcoming and affirming LGBTQ+ persons into full inclusion in the church and in society. At the Alliance’s 2004 annual gathering when Craig Henry was president a statement affirming same-gender marriage was adopted.
In the early days of the Alliance when Don Nixon was Minister of the Arts at Northminster, our choir on several occasions led worship at the Alliance’s annual gathering. In 1995 after leading worship at the gathering in Vienna, Virginia, as a part of the closing service of the gathering, our choir, under Don’s leadership, led the first Christian worship service held at the U. S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D. C. Dr. Gaddy and Rabbi David Kline of Temple B’Nai Israel in Monroe were the preachers for the occasion. It was also at that gathering that the Alliance’s statement on Christian-Jewish relations was adopted. The choir under D. H.’s leadership when he was our Director of Music, also led worship at the annual gathering in Austin, Texas in 2000 when Dr. Gaddy was the Alliance’s president.
At the Alliance’s annual gathering held in Greenville, South Carolina in 1994, some Northminster members learned that the Alliance had formed a partnership with the Fraternity of Cuban Baptist Churches, a small group of progressive churches in Cuba. Also, several Alliance churches had formed partnerships with churches affiliated with the Fraternity in Cuba. In June of that year Dr. Gaddy, Delores Lindsey, D. H. Clark and Craig Henry from Northminster joined then Alliance executive director Stan Hastey in a trip to Cuba to seek out a partner church for Northminster. The group met the founding members of Iglesia Bautista Enmanuel in Ciego de Avila, fell in love, and our now 27-year partnership with that congregation began. There are presently about 30 such partnerships between Alliance and Fraternity churches.
In 2008 Northminster co-hosted the Alliance’s annual gathering with St. Charles Ave. Baptist Church in New Orleans. Northminster’s choir under Dr. Deborah Chandler’s leadership again led in worship at that gathering. Dr. Stan Hastey, for many years the executive director of the Alliance, preached at Northminster on several occasions and in 1999 gave the Dr. Thomas E. Stricklin Lectures in Church History at Northminster. Jeanette Holt, for many years the associate executive director at the Alliance, also preached at Northminster. More recently Rev. Paula Clayton Dempsey and Rev. Jason Smith, both then on staff at the Alliance have preached at Northminster and otherwise helped to lead us in worship.
Through Northminster’s connections in the Alliance we have been fortunate to receive significant assistance in our pastor and associate pastor searches over the years, including with our present search. And finally, and significantly, for many years our youth have participated in Baptist Youth Camp (BYC), held each summer in the mountains of North Carolina. Although not sponsored by the Alliance, the camp is made up of only churches partnered with the Alliance. BYC has always been a significant, positive influence in the lives of our young people who attend.
Whew! Wow! What a significant history. The Alliance has always been a beacon, helping Northminster to live out our mission of “doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with our God.” We have more history to make and look forward to making it connected to the Alliance of Baptists.
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We're 35 and It's Our Time to Thrive!
Make plans to join us on February 25 at noon ET as we celebrate 35 years of the Alliance of Baptists!
For 35 years, the Alliance has been at the forefront of what it means to be a progressive voice of faith in our world. And at 35, we are ready for the next chapter of our shared life together.
Join us for a time to reflect on who we've been (as we continue to excavate our roots), celebrate who we are, and envision who we are becoming as a people, a body, and a movement!
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We will be joined by:
- co-directors Elijah Zehyoue
- co-director Carole Collins
- board president Michael-Ray Mathews
- board vice president Lisa Dunson
- founder Nancy Hastings Sehested
- founder Jim Strickland
- founder Mahan Siler
We look forward to seeing you there as we engage our theme together: We're 35 and It's Our Time to Thrive!
Registration is now open and more information will be available soon!
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If you have joys or concerns you would like us to add to the newsletter, please call the church office or email office@northmin.org.
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Wednesday Brown Bag Lunch Is a Go!
Each Wednesday at noon join with other Northminster members and friends for lunch and fellowship at the church. Bring your "brown bag" lunch and lets get caught up again!
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Care Group Directories Have Been Mailed
Directories have been mailed to those who had not previously picked up a copy. If you do not receive a copy and want one, please let Renee in the office know, and she will get one to you.
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Northminster COVID Guidelines
The CDC and Louisiana Covid Guidelines continue to recommend MASK WEARING when in public venues and in large crowds. The Coordinating continues to recommend that we follow our state and national guidelines and WEAR MASKS AT NORTHMINSTER CHURCH DURING OUR SERVICES. PLEASE stay home if you are sick and PLEASE, consider getting vaccinated and boosted if you have not done so.
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The 2022 Alliance Annual Gathering
A Virtual Experience
April 22-24, 2022
On Jan. 31, the Alliance announced that the 2022 Annual Gathering will be held 100% virtually. To read more about this decision, click here.
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About the Gathering Theme
For a thousand years, western Christianity has seen the cross through the lens of substitutionary atonement—that Jesus died in our place and reconciled sinful humanity to God. The Annual Gathering seeks to re-examine this theology and explore new atonement ideas through panels, workshops, and worship. The gathering is also an opportunity to enjoy a weekend of rejuvenating fellowship with like-minded followers of the way of Christ.
The planning team is still finalizing changes to the schedule which will be made public soon. Continue to check the website for the most up-to-date information.
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February is Black History Month
Everyday the Arts Council celebrates the artists who help make Region 8 a culturally vibrant place to call home. Everyday this month via our social media platforms, we will be intentionally applifying the voices and messages of Black Artists who enrich our arts community... not just regionally, but globally. You can find us on social media by clicking the buttons below.
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Northeast LA Quilters' Guild:
2022 Quilt Show - THIS WEEKEND!
2022 Quilt Show will be held in the West Monroe Convention Center at 901 Ridge Ave on Friday, February 25 from 9-5 and Saturday February 26 from 9-4. You may contact them on Facebook under North Louisiana Quilters Guild and on their website at nlqg.us
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Given to the Glory of God
The floral offering on Sunday was given to the Glory of God and arranged by Peggy Caskey.
If you would like to give flowers in memory or in honor of someone, please contact the church office. Approximate cost is $100.
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Upcoming Events
This Sunday
9:00 am - Choir Practice
10:00 am - Sunday School
10:45 am - Preludes
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Liturgy
5:00 pm - Youth
Wednesdays
12:00 pm - Brown Bag Lunch resumes
6:30 pm - Choir practice
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Pulpit Supply Schedule
February
27 - Rev. Elijah Zehyoue
March
6 - Dr. DH Clark
13 - Rev. Mark Windham
20- Dr. Darrell Cluck
27- Dr. Darrell Cluck
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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:
Mon -Thurs 9-12 noon & 1-4 pm
Friday 9-12 noon
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