Thursday, November 16, 2023

With Thanksgiving a week away, I wonder where the year has gone. Even as I turn on Christmas music (don’t judge, I waited as long as I could) and plan for Advent with Debi and D.H. it doesn’t feel quite real that we’re to the holiday season once again. And yet like it or not, ready or not, here we are and food for Sunday’s Agape Meal is stacking up in the kitchen and plans are being made to have the food for Sunday evening delivered. 

So I suppose being “ready” for the holidays really doesn’t matter because they’re upon us. And perhaps that’s for the best. Perhaps it’s better that we don’t get to choose when Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas happen. That we don’t get to decide if we’ll feel thankful next week or celebratory and ready to wait in anticipation as Advent begins. Because if we’re paying attention to the world around us, to the news or politics, it’s easy to get discouraged. It’s easy to be afraid, to wonder what international leaders are thinking, or to be heartbroken at the violence humans perpetrate against other humans. 

So maybe this year it’s okay that the calendar is ready for the holidays before we are. If left to our own devices would we find the time and space to process our thankfulness? Would we have the energy to wait in anticipation for the Christ child? Would we pause long enough to breath let alone intentionally spend time with our families, celebrating, eating, laughing, and being hopeful? Thanks be to God, we don’t have to find out.

I hope you’ll be here Sunday evening for our Agape Meal to begin the holiday season with fellowship, food, and a chance to reflect on what you’re thankful for. 

Jillian

NO NORTHMINSTER NEWS NEXT WEEK

Due to the holiday on Thursday and Friday, there will be no Newsletter next week. Our next edition will publish on Thursday, November 30.

Opening Hymn:  Come, O Thankful People, Come This hymn represents the joining of two Thanksgiving hymns by nineteenth-century poet Henry Alford and eighteenth-century poet Anna Laetitia Barbauld. The creator of this combined form, which appeared early in the twentieth century, is not known.



Middle Hymn: For the Fruit of All Creation This text was written in response to a request for a new harvest hymn for an existing tune. After its publication in England in 1970, it became popular in many countries and can be found set to various tunes.

Anthem: A Harvest Anthem by Malcolm Archer.

Communion Anthem: Thanks be to God by F. F. Handel and arranged by D.H. Clark.

Closing Hymn: We Praise You, O God Julia Bulkley Cady Cory wrote this hymn for Thanksgiving in 1901 at the invitation of the organist of New York's Brick Presbyterian Church who felt that the familiar words to Kremser contained too much militaristic imagery.

We Celebrate with...

Carol Ann Tubbs (17th)

Ken McKenzie (17th)

Charli Archer (17 th)

Scout Archer (17th)

Amy Higginbotham (19th)

Marianne Wilcox (19th)

Damon Mayfield (22nd)

Hal Mayfield (25th)

Ella Mayfield (26th)

Patren Spicer (27th)

Kirk Fisher (29th)



as they celebrate their birthdays

Children and Youth Christmas Program

Sunday, December 17

Matt and Lucy's Version Births

Little did Matt & Lucy know when they agreed to help out with this year’s Christmas pageant that the director would give them each a different script and leave them to work out their differences… “Confounded Christmas Fun!”

Children will begin practicing the music during Sunday School, Youth will practice Sundays at 5:00.

If you need more information or have questions about participating contact Beth (318-348-2529) or Jennifer (318-307-6716)

Youth Group Meals

Our youth meet every Sunday at 5:00. We would like to offer them a light meal. If you would like to help provide a meal click the link to sign up. They love easy meals. Some suggestions are tacos, spaghetti, chili, sandwiches and pizza! 

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Dates will be added as planning continues. Thank you! We typically have between 10-15 youth and adults. Please call or text Laura (318-387-4446) with any questions!

YOUTH MEALS SIGNUP

STRICKLIN LECTURE ON YOUTUBE

If you missed the Stricklin Lecture last Saturday, you may view it on our YouTube channed by clicking the button below.

NEW COORDINATING COUNCIL MEMBERS

Congratulations to Mary DeLancy, Beth Ingram, and Carol Ann Tubbs who were elected to the Coordinating Council at the business meeting this past Sunday evening. They will begin serving their three year terms in January but will meet with the current Council in December to choose officers for next year. They will be replacing Charles Creech, Craig Henry and Al Peterson who are rotating off the Council. We also express our appreciation to Pat Hayes, Mara Loeb and Barbara Thompson for their willingness to be nominated and to serve on the Council. Mary, Beth and Carol Ann will join Jo Ann Alley, Gail Blackman, Susan Curry, Kyle Gregory, Beth Mayfield and Mark Windham who are currently serving.

You may leave your check in the offering plate on Sunday or place on Renee's desk. If you are using CASH you MUST place it in an envelope (offering envelope is fine) and write the amount and your family name on the envelope so that you can be marked paid on the sigh-up sheet! Memo checks "Agape Meal".

NORTHMINSTER KITCHEN

The kitchen is long past needing a good cleaning out. With the Agape Meal and Chili Supper coming up we know now is not really the time to overhaul; however, there are currently several items out on the table that obviously belong to folks. Please make a pass through the kitchen and get what is yours. After the first of the year, all the items in all cabinets will be pulled out and displayed for pickup. Items that are not picked up will either be kept for church use, donated, or thrown away. With our congregation growing, we must make room for things to have a proper place. We can no longer allow the countertops to be cluttered up. Below are a few pics of items that need to be removed. If any of these items belong to you, please pick them up Sunday morning as they will be removed to make room for the Agape Meal Sunday night. DONATIONS ARE NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME!!!

November Mission Emphasis

Center for Children: Christmas Project

NOTE: THERE IS ONE CHILD'S SHEET THAT IS MISSING THAT WE DO NOT KNOW WHO SIGNED THEM OUT. CHILD NUNMBER 2, LEGEND. PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE AND LET RENEE KNOW IF YOU HAVE THIS CHILD.

ALL CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SPONSORED!

A few things to remember: 

• Gifts are due back to the Center for Children and Families office (622 Riverside Drive, Monroe, LA 71201) by Wednesday, November 29^th, between 8:30am-4:30pm. 
• Please provide at least one new coat, new shoes, new clothing outfit (shirt/pants), and one toy/item from the child’s wish list. (PLEASE, NO GIFT CARDS). 
• Place new/unwrapped items in a black garbage bag with the child’s wish list inside the bag. 

The floral offering was given to the Glory of God

And in loving memory of

Thomas and Marjorie Stricklin

By The McCandlish and Stricklin Families



Arrangement by Marilyn Decker

If you would like to give flowers one Sunday in honor or in memory of someone special, please contact the church office. Approximate cost is $125-$150