This Sunday: "Divine Dialogue"

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Join us On Campus or Online | Sunday, May 5, 2024

Well, last week we looked at the call of Moses, and this week we are doing a flashback to the call of Abraham and Sarah. (They were Abram & Sarai before their call - New life direction, new name.) They had already left the home of their childhood to follow Sarah’s parents up the Euphrates River from Ur to Haran. Having settled there (happily?) Abram is tending his father-in-law’s herds (same as Moses would later do…) There is no indication in either event that Abram (and Sarai) nor Moses (and Tzipora) were content in their situations. Perhaps they were actually well aware that things were not great, and yet they felt trapped, unclear on how to move forward differently. Their stories recount that they are of advanced age – all over 80. And yet clearly still they had much to contribute and were well able to move, lead, and make an impact. There is plenty of uncertainty in the actual texts, plus so much that remains unstated and open to our imaginations. What we do know is that God left it a mystery, simply saying, “Go. I will be with you. I will show the way.” How often in life do we fail to step out, fail to take a risk on an unknown future, preferring instead the comfort and safety of a present that we know is less than the best that life has for us, less than the best we can offer the world? Let’s talk about it Sunday. May 5 at 10:00 am when we gather in F-101 for the “What’s Next” Experience. We will move from there to worship, and then back for a meal and more sharing and discovery. See you Sunday.

As many of you already know, in the Fall of 2020 I went back to school, virtually! I have a Bachelor's degree in Music Education and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting. Following college, I found myself working in churches and loved it so much that I just continued. The more I served in churches as a Director of Music, the more I became involved in the worship service itself.

Similar to others, the pandemic and lockdown gave me some time to think about life, and I thought about my desire to learn more about my role in the life of the church. I communicated with the professor for sacred music at Perkins and asked to simply take a few classes. I believe they were history of congregational song and church music genres. With the support of Pastor Law, I applied and was accepted under the title of non-degree graduate theological studies. After the first year, my professor encouraged and then convinced me to enter the Master of Sacred Music program as a degree. Let’s just say that my professor could also have a career as an inspirational speaker because shortly after I agreed, I thought to myself, “what have I just done?” My public service announcement to all is I wouldn’t recommend taking this on when you work full-time and have teenage children!

I am proud to say that I will be graduating from Perkins School of Theology with my second master’s degree in sacred music this month. I won’t say that this is the most I have ever been stretched because anyone who has a child with down syndrome would agree that is some stretching – in a good way, but I have been stretched to learn more and more new things these past four years. In fact, so many new things that each time my initial reaction to learning something new was that I couldn’t fit one more new thing in my brain! Simply having to write my first paper was an event full of anxiety! I will not admit how many years it had been since I had to write a paper of five pages or more.

As Northway is looking at having to stretch in new ways, I am here to testify that we can make it through, especially together!

Leanne Seabright

Director of Music and Worship Ministries

What’s Next ? A conversation About Northway’s Future!

This will be an enjoyable and important event for Northway as we journey together to find our Way Forward. The event will start at 10:00 am with Worship at the regular time (10:30 am) followed by lunch and activities aimed at understanding what you value most about Northway; your aspirations for Northway in the future, and assess our willingness to change. The Northway Task Force is planning a number of innovative and creative ways to identify our congregation’s preferences, so please plan on attending this important All Church Event.

What’s Next at Northway will have facilitated conversations specifically tailored for children and youth. Kids will have the opportunity to engage in age appropriate ways and parents will not be responsible for leading the kids in the discussions.

9:00 am - Sunday School

10:00 am - What's Next?

10:30 am - Worship Service

11:45 am - What's Next? (cont.)

You may join us in the Sanctuary or online for Sunday morning worship service at 10:30 am. The service is also available on Facebook and YouTube. Below are some tips for worshiping with us online.

Announcements begin at 10:15 am, with the prelude to follow. Join us early! Prepare your own bread, cup and candle for communion. Turn on and adjust the sound to your computer.

Children's Music

Children will meet in F-202 at 9:00 am for music time. Following music, they will be escorted to their Sunday School classes.

Worship Rocks

Following the children's moment during the worship service, children (ages 3-5th grade) will be escorted to F-103 for their own kid-friendly worship experience.

What's Next? A Conversation

about Northway's Future

10:00 am (F-101)

10:30 am (worship in sanctuary)

11:45 am - 2:00 pm (F-101)

Lunch will be provided.

Stuff-the-Truck Diaper Drive

continues throughout

the month of May.

Donations may be left in

the crib in the Narthex.

Solomon's Porch (Men's Group)

2nd and 4th Saturdays

7:45 am in the Music Suite.

Diaper Distribution

4th Saturdays

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Front lot of the church.

Tai Chi

Mondays at 10:30 am

In F-101

Contact Donna for info

972-271-3949

Mobile Food Pantry

1st, 2nd, 3rd Tuesdays

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Front lot of the church.

Writing as a Spiritual Practice Tuesdays at 5:00 pm

Only on Zoom

Midweek Bible Study

Wednesdays at 12:00 pm

Parlor and Zoom

Choir Rehearsal

Wednesdays at 7:00 pm

in the Music Suite .

NTA Men's Quarterly Breakfast

Saturday, May 4 at 8:00 am

First Christian Church, Garland

North Texas Area Assembly

Sunday, May 5 at 3:00 pm

Creekwood Christian Church

Flower Mound, Texas

Senior Adult Ministry Lunch

Monday, May 13

11:30 am in F-101

RSVP here

Tri-Area Men's Retreat

May 17-19

at Disciples Crossing

Register here

Northway partners with a wide range of community nonprofit organizations that serve our neighbors near and far. Many of these are familiar to us, some others may not be. As Pastor Ken prepares to transition off the staff one of our goals is to identify an individual who will serve as liaison for each of our ministry partners. If you would like to be the representative for our relationship with one or more of these organizations, please let Paul Schmidt or Pastor Ken know. Here’s a list of our primary partner relationships: Juliette Fowler Communities, Family Gateway, North Dallas Shared Ministries, Meals on Wheels, Hope Supply Co, Carter BloodCare Blood Drive, North Texas Food Bank, Jarvis Christian College, TCU, Housing Forward, Seeds of Hope Garden, Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries, Disciples Beans and Rice, International Rescue Committee, Disciples Crossing, Boone Elementary, HPISD, Hotchkiss Elementary, Be The Neighbor, Week of Compassion, Christian Church in the Southwest, North Texas Area DoC, HON Scholarships. 

The World’s Largest Diaper Drive is a national effort in May to honor moms and support homeless, at-risk and low-income children and their families. Northway is collecting diapers on behalf of Hope Supply Co., the non-profit agency that provides the diapers for Northway’s monthly diaper distribution. 

Hope Supply provides diapers and other essentials to some 50 social service organizations around North Texas, including homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and transitional housing organizations (many of which you would recognize, including Family Gateway). Hope Supply receives many diapers directly from manufacturers and retail outlets, but a significant percentage comes from individuals.  We know HSC to be a top-notch organization that stewards resources well and provides great impact for those in need.

Northway’s goal is to raise $1,000 in monetary donations AND $1,000 worth of diapers (with 1 diaper equalling $0.35) between May 1 - 31.  Help us meet that goal by making a donation. Donated diapers must be in unopened packages. Diapers in the larger sizes (like 3, 4, and 5) are most needed, but all sizes will be distributed quickly and in the Dallas area.

Please help us meet our goal! Questions about the drive? Contact us here.

Happy birthday to Gail Henry and Shirlene Lucy

Hey Parents! If you'd like to keep up with Northway's activities for children and youth, you'll want to click here to check out our "Parent Connection" newsletter. If you're not receiving this weekly email, but would like to, send us a note.

Week of April 25 - May 1, 2024

Weekly Receipts: $6,010.

Year to Date Receipts: $152,918.

2024 Budget: $464,840.

Financial Update Note: Contributions will be reported at the time they are received, even if they are prepayments of annual pledges. If you have questions, please contact Laura Giffin or call the church office at 214-361-6641.