Thursday, January 23, 2025

Being a person of faith isn’t supposed to be convenient.

It isn’t supposed to be easy.

It’s not something you can “do” in a few hours. As one of the ladies at the retreat said last week, we don’t wake up and think, “I’m going to do Christian things today.” I’m fairly sure that being a Christ-follower isn’t even supposed to be fun, though I am convinced there’s abundant joy to be found in the way of Jesus. The fruits of the spirit include patience and self-control for a reason. It’s because choosing to follow Christ is WORK. It’s effort, it’s a decision to live life differently. Sometimes that’s a decision we must make hour by hour, day by day. 

Thankfully our decision to follow or not follow Christ changes nothing about how much God loves us. As I’ve started to say to people who apologize to me for not believing in God, “God believes in you even if you don’t believe in Her.” But as with any relationship worth having, being in relationship with the Eternal isn’t something that can be engaged in casually or on our timetable. 

In fact, if your faith isn’t inconvenient, sometimes burdensome, or fails to push you out of your comfort zone you aren’t doing it right. 

If you don’t ache for the most vulnerable, aren’t worried about those in need of mercy, don’t have any hesitations about how people are being treated in our community, state, and country, or have no concerns about our planet you aren’t following Christ. 

And as your pastor if I’m not making you uncomfortable, asking you to challenge your beliefs, or at the bare minimum making you think, I am not doing my job. Please tell me so I can be better. 

Christ have mercy. 

Opening Hymn: Praise to the Living God Curtis Beach, born into a family of several generations of ministers, was educated at Harvard University, the Boston University School of Theology, and the University of Southern California. A minister in the United Church of Christ, Beach authored The Gospel of Mark: Its Making and Meaning.

Middle Hymn: In Solitude Ruth Duck has commented that "these words were inspired by a pentatonic melody which came to me as I taught myself to play the mandolin." They are an expression of her "deep-rooted southern spirituality."

The Anthem: The Falconer  by Alfred V. Fedak. Text by Richard Leach.

The Communion Anthem: Call to Remembrance by Richard Farrant.

Closing Hymn: Thank Our God for Sisters, Brothers This hymn was written for a Union Thanksgiving service in 1948 by the Rev. Roger Powell of Camillus, NY. It served as a rallying song for the first meeting of the National Council of Churches in 1952.

We Celebrate Birthdays with...

ANN FILES (24TH)

SETH DODD (25TH)

GAIL BLACKMAN (26TH)

KNOX CORLEY (Kane Family) ( 26th)

TONY ARPINO (28TH)

MARK WINDHAM (31ST)

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Thanks so much to all of you who so generously gave the requested items and money for our sisters and brothers at our partner church in Cuba. Our luggage was loaded with the items, and the monetary gift was exceedingly generous. Our friends there appreciate your support of them during this difficult time and send their love to you. During the days and weeks to come we will provide a more detailed account of our visit.

Cuba si! And peace!

Craig and DH

YOUTH

Please contact Jennifer Kimble-Keen (318-307-6716, jkimble8366@gmail.com) if you are willing to provide a light meal for the Youth. They meet every Sunday evening at 5pm to approximately 7:30pm. Thank you!

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION AND INQUIRERS CLASS

We will hold a New Member Orientation and Inquirers Class on Sunday, February 2 following worship at 12:30pm. Lunch will be provided. Those of you who are "new" members, your presence is requested in order that you may learn more about what makes us Northminster Church. This class is also mandatory should you wish to serve on a commission or the coordinating council at some point in the future.

If you attend regularly, are thinking of becoming a member, or are just interested in Northminster, this class is open to everyone. There is a sign-up sheet on the hall table. We will need a count in order to have the lunch catered. 

MEMBERS SINCE LAST ORIENTATION THAT NEED THIS CLASS:

Prince Addo

Kwabena Addy

Noemi Amadeo

Angela Boateng

Wes Bolton

Robyn Cienki

Kelly Lewis

Andrew Parks

Amanda Proffer

Megan Proffer

Tiffany Smith

Missy Spicer

Older Kimble-Keen Children

We encourage those of you who are not members, but attend here regularly, to attend and get to know us better!

PUB THEOLOGY

Pub Theology is the third Thursday of each month at The Fat Pelican at 7pm. Next meeting is February 20

COMMISSIONS: The mission of Northminster Church is carried out through the leadership of 6 commissions - Worship, Education and the Arts, Family Ministries, Missions, Hospitality, and Properties. If you want to help with the ministry of one of these commissions, please call the church office for more information.

GREETERS COMMITTEE: Greeters perform a crucial ministry to the church as they are the "first face and impression" of Northminster Church that visitors meet. If you enjoy meeting new people and helping them learn about our church this could be your ministry. This ministry also involves handing out orders of worship, taking attendance, and collecting attendance sheets for the church secretary. Please call the church office for more information.

AUDIO/VIDEO MINISTRY:  Currently we video every Sunday morning worship service and other special services and make them available on our YOUTUBE channel. Recently another one of our member videographers moved away leaving only 2 members working in this ministry. We try to have at least 4 people on a month's schedule, one for each Sunday, so that they don't have to miss in-person worship services frequently. If you are just a little tech savvy with smart phones and computers you can easily learn to work in this ministry.  If interested, please call the church office for more information, we really need more help!

This Sunday

9:00 am - Choir Rehearsal

10:00 am - Sunday School

10:45 am - Preludes

11:00 am - Worship Service

Noon - After Church Fellowship

Wednesdays

6:30 pm: Choir Practice

Upcoming Events

Sunday, February 2 at 12:30pm: New Member Orientation and Inquirers Class. Lunch is provided

Thursday, February 20 at 7pm: Pub Theology at the Fat Pelican

Northminster, January is almost over and our Mission Trunk for the animals is lacking terribly. If you can find a way to donate to the trunk even as late as next Sunday, February 2 it would be most appreciated! Items will be removed to be taken to the shelter on Monday, February 3. Thanks!