Thursday, February 15, 2024

Celebrating 35 Years of Ministry: 1989 - 2024

Originally this was going to be something of a farewell address before I take maternity leave. My “see you soon” for the eight weeks I will be away. A reminder to take care of each other and my joy that you don’t need me for Northminster to keep running successfully. My chance to praise our church leadership and to remark on the love I feel from all of you for each other and this special place. All of that is still true, but there’s something else I need to say before I go. 

We have a gun epidemic in our country and we’re not taking it seriously enough. We have a gun epidemic in our country that people in positions of power, influence, and wealth - particularly in our governmental leadership - seemingly feel no need to address beyond sending their “thoughts and prayers.” We have a gun epidemic in our country that should embolden us as people of faith to demand change and yet we’re often stymied and at a loss for words. Or we’re afraid to say what we think lest we start a screaming match. We have a gun epidemic in our country that I’m convinced angers God all while her mama’s heart breaks.

I hope by now you know me well enough to understand that I’m not making a partisan political statement. My politics are my own and while I’m happy to share them with you I strive to be professionally non-partisan. But if politics are defined as the activities that are required for groups to make decisions, we are all political people to a certain extent even in our efforts not to be overtly political. More importantly, Jesus was political. He critiqued those in power, both Jewish leaders and the Romans, he preached a message of a different way of life, and he lived with a community of people who had to figure out life together. Jesus was political, but he wasn’t partisan.

I strive to be like Jesus. So I say again that we have a gun epidemic in our country and we should be ashamed that we haven’t found a solution. Yesterday’s shooting at the Kansas City Superbowl parade left one person dead and more than 20 others injured, including 8 children. It also fell on the sixth anniversary of the Parkland High School shooting in which 17 people were killed and 17 more were injured. 

On a day that’s supposed to be a celebration of love, how do we find the words for such loss? How do we process these events happening on the same day, six years apart? Do we chalk it up to tragic irony? Or do we finally admit that nothing has changed because those in power don’t want change? Do we take a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that we haven’t done enough to insist that our schools, marathon courses, churches, grocery stores, malls, hospitals, and parade routes are safe from gun violence? 

I for one am out of soothing words and prayers. Perhaps it’s because I’m poised to bring life into this world and just the thought of someone threatening Baby E brings my mama bear to the surface in a hurry. Perhaps it’s my guilt and frustration at not having been more proactive in doing what I can to end the gun epidemic. Perhaps it’s the fear I live with daily knowing Erich is a teacher and subconsciously waiting for the phone call telling me that Neville has become the next Parkland. Perhaps it’s the bit of God that lives inside me screaming out in frustration and heartbreak that I can no longer ignore. 

And maybe it’s a combination of all those things and more. Either way, I hope to use my time away in part to decide how I’m going to respond to the gun epidemic. What steps will I take to make a difference for my husband, our daughter, Northminster Church, and our community? Lord knows what the answer will be, but it’s time I take the question seriously. I can’t stand by quietly anymore hoping that elected officials will create change. I must act. If you’d like to join me I welcome your company. 

Take care of yourselves while I’m away, dear ones. Look out for each other. Hold hands when you cross the street. Come to church (I promise it’s good for you) and SING the hymns!

All my love,

Jillian 

2024 CUBA REPORT – PART II

You know the old saying that pigs will fly when such and such happens, meaning it will never happen. Who would have thought that pigs would fly in Cuba? Well metaphorically at least, but they are beginning to. Since the Cuban revolution in 1959 Cuba has experienced extreme socialism where the government has owned and operated everything, and everyone has worked for the government. Because that has not been working well in Cuba, fortunately things are slowly changing in numerous areas. As one example, several years ago, we visited our friend Frazier who had sold everything and invested the money in raising pigs. On that visit he had nearly completed the infrastructure of his pig farm on a barren spot of land a few miles outside of Ciego de Avila. But he still didn’t have any pigs. After that visit he later teamed up with two partners, and we visited what has been accomplished thanks to their hard work and determination. Not only do they have pigs (and lots of them), they are expanding the pig production infrastructure so they can produce more. And they are also currently building a state-of-the-art processing facility. All of this is with the encouragement and some financial assistance of the Cuban government. Frazier and his partners own and manage the entire operation without government interference except of course to comply with sanitary regulations. And like us they pay their taxes to the government and fuss about it. So, one example of private enterprise working in Cuba. Yes, pigs are flying!

That was a short trip. On the next day we drove about two hours west to the little community of La Picadora in Sancti Spiritus Province, adjacent to Ciego de Avila Province. There the entire community has joined together for various enterprises to improve and sustain the community. Among other joint projects they have developed a small agritourism business, and several hundred people so far from outside Cuba have come to experience life like country Cuban people. They also are making bricks, engaging in eco-agriculture and participating in other joint ventures. The community Cuban band played in our honor with D. H. sometimes helping on keyboard and some of our ladies dancing. They also roasted a pig for us and welcomed us to a wonderful lunch of roast pig and other typical Cuban food. What an experience!

And speaking of Cuban hospitality, on the way to La Picadora some of us needed a restroom break. This is the Cuban countryside, and there are no service stations or government run rest areas. But there are hospitable Cubans. We stopped by a house where a lady was standing on the front porch of her modest home. Several of us went in to use her very basic restroom facility. As we were leaving, we thanked her, and when we got back in the van, I asked Eduardo who she was. He said he didn’t know, but knowing she was Cuban he knew she would welcome us into her home. How about that for hospitality!

On our way back to Ciego de Avila from La Picadora we stopped in the town of Chambas for a visit with the good folks at Iglesia Bautista Bethani (Bethany Baptist Church). Bethany was a mission congregation of Enmanuel before it was constituted as a church, the first non-Catholic congregation in the city. As a matter of fact, Noel (Rev. Noel Fernandez, Enmanuel’s founding pastor and now pastor emeritus), is proud of the fact that under his leadership seven mission congregations have been established by Enmanuel in Ciego de Avila Province, and all of them have become churches. Our roots with the Bethany congregation go way back almost 30 years when they were meeting in the home of Naisy and her husband. D. H. likes to say that Naisy made the best fruit salad he has ever tasted, and his mother’s was really great. For many years now they have had their own very modest building with our friend Wilson as their pastor. The plan was not for us to worship with them on this occasion as we typically did, but just to visit. It was a good visit with lots of sharing, some singing and of course enjoying more Cuban hospitality with dessert at the end. When we left Chambas it was almost dark, so it was really dark when we arrived in Ciego de Avila about an hour and a half later. A busy but good day.

And then there was Sunday, the big day when we celebrated the 30^th anniversary of our partnership with the congregation of Enmanuel. As we all greeted the congregation, in the Cuban tradition there was much hugging and “air kissing”. During the Sunday School hour, we had a good time of sharing memories from the years and how our partnership had helped to “build bridges of understanding” between our two countries. And then a powerful and joyous (two hour!) worship service with much singing, including our delegation singing Amazing Grace in English of course and insightful and prophetic preaching by Osmani Dennis, the associate pastor. Osmani, by the way, is doing a wonderful job and for most of his adult life has been a Franciscan! Speaking of ecumenical! Also, during the service Beth Mayfield presented to the congregation two sets of beautiful pottery communion cups and plates made and decorated by her own hands. The plates were both inscribed with our Northminster motto from Micah 6:8: “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God” (but in Spanish of course!).

Following worship, we all walked about two blocks to an event space. There, our Northminster delegation hosted a celebratory meal of roast pork, congri (black beans and rice), and yucca, the typical Cuban meal. This was the fourth time in the last few years we have done this so that we can in this way return the hospitality that has been shown to us. Because everything is in short supply in Cuba, we were told that most of those attending had not tasted roast pork, the Cuban staple, for a while. (And this despite the efforts of Frazier and his partners and “flying pigs”!) It was a joyous time together. One hundred twenty people had registered for the meal, and it appeared they were all there. Following the meal, we passed out chocolate candy to everyone for dessert. We did this to honor the memory of our dear deceased friend Jose Aurelio “Tury” Paz who dearly loved chocolate candy, chocolate ice cream, chocolate milk, you name it. A great time together that was the end of our official visit, another very memorable one.

Since this report has gone on a little too long at this point, I will save my concluding remarks for a later newsletter. At that time, I plan to reflect further on the beautiful 30-year partnership between Northminster and Enmanuel and on Cuba then and now and in between. So, stay tuned!

For now, Cuba si!

Craig Henry

February is Black History Month = The Voluntary and some of the preludes are composed by African American composers.

Opening Hymn: O Jesus Christ, May Grateful Hymns This text, written for a Convocation of Urban Life in America was chosen by The Hymn Society for publication in Five New Hymns on the City. Bradford Webster, a Methodist minister, served churches in his native New York state for forty years.



Middle Hymn: Take My Gifts HOLY MANNA

Anthem: Unto Christ Who Loved Us by D.H. Clark. Text adapted from Revelation 2:10 and 1:6

The Communion Anthem: Oh Glory written by African American Hall Johnson and sung by our choral scholar, James Wright, bass.



Closing Hymn: O Jesus, I Have Promised John Bode wrote these words when his daughter and two sons were confirmed. Although the Oxford scholar and rector wrote books of hymns, this is the only one to achieve lasting fame.

We Celebrate with...

Marsha McGee (19th)

Conrad Rispoli (19th)

Steve Davidson (22nd)

as they celebrate their birthdays

TRACY SANDOW CELEBRATION OF LIFE

The Celebration of the Life of Tracy Sandow will be held Saturday, February 17 at 10am at Northminster. To stream the service on our YouTube channel, CLICK HERE. To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE. To view Tracy's obituary, CLICK HERE

Updating the Baby/Toddler Nursery

We are in the process of updating the church's baby/toddler nursery area. Beth Mayfield, Jennifer Kimble Keen and Ann Aro have compiled a "Wish List" on Amazon to help transform this space into a usable nursery. Please click the link below to see the needed items. Also, if you would like to contribute to this renovation, make checks payable to Northminster Church and memo line the check "nursery". CLICK HERE FOR AMAZON LIST

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 by clicking 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

Co-Ed Sunday School Class

This class will begin Howard Thurman's Jesus and the Disinheirited beginning February 25. Books can be purchased in hard copy or for Kindle through Amazon. Here is the link:

Click Here

THERE IS A RIVER: Black History, Black Freedom, and a Vision for the Future For Black History Month, the Alliance of Baptists will celebrate by offering a teach-in on the "Long Black Freedom Struggle" and what it means for the times in which we live. Led by our very own co-director, Reverend Elijah R. Zehyoue, Ph.D. we will look at Vincent Harding’s text, There Is A River, as we examine the significance of Black history today, especially as more states restrict and suppress this important history. We ask you to join us as we engage with some aspects of this powerful history and discover how we can all embrace it. REGISTER HERE

PUB THEOLOGY TONIGHT

Thursday, March 21 at 7pm at The Fat Pelican!

SECURITY TEAM MEMBERS NEEDED

If you are interested in serving in this ministry, please contact Lola Wheeler (318-816-1341) or the church office for details.

FEBRUARY MISSION EMPHASIS:

EXIT 318

EXIT-318, signifying the 318 area code geography, and the abbreviation for Ex-Offenders In Transition, is a program funded by the Department of Corrections, and presents a re-entry accountability plan in the form of a contract with ex-offenders. This is a program supported by many companies and local businesses, with a home base in Goodwill Industries. This has been a very successful program in our region for 5+ years, and Northminster is in our 3rd year of collecting for this 2nd Chance program. 

There are 3 phases to the Exit-318 Program. The first begins well in advance of release from the incarcerating institution, involving education, getting ready, and understanding what is required to qualify and stay in the program. The second is going home, and ideally the third phase is staying home within the community. Both these phases have many support services involved, but part of any second chance involves re-homing, and the stuff needed to keep up with yourself.



So what can help get someone started off in a new spot?  Basic necessities: deodorant, razors/shaving cream, shampoo, soap, toothpaste-toothbrush. Towels, washcloths. New undergarments, socks. Basic cleaning supplies: broom/dustpan, mop, dishwashing liquid, laundry soap, 409, windex, etc. Bedding: pillows, sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters. Coats and other clothing. Grocery gift cards and non-perishable food.

The flowers last Sunday were from the wedding of former Northminster Choral Scholar,

Morgan Meyer and Chase Huth.

Arranged by Peggy Burns and 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

Open Mic Night, Friday, February 23

CA Studios presents Open Mic Night at Lea's on Louisville at 7pm Friday, February 23. Come out and east some pie and support Lea's and CA Studio. $5 cover.

8th Annual Food Bank Empty Bowls 2024

The Food Bank's Empty Bowls event will be held Saturday, April 6 at the Monroe Civic Center arena. With an all-inclusive event ticket, guests can choose a beautiful bowl to take home as a reminder of all of the empty bowls in our community. Enjoy a tasting from over a dozen local restaurants, live music, a silent auction and more. All proceeds benefit the Food Bank’s hunger relief efforts in Northeast Louisiana.