The Art of Pilgrimage
 
     This year I want to give back to an outfit that gave a lot to me.  In 2002, barely a year after 9/11, I went on the maiden voyage of World Pilgrims.  Ken Brant, also, was a fellow traveler.  We went to Turkey for 10 days with 44 Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
     This pilgrimage changed my life; and I brought that change back to the church.  The largest ah ha was discovering on a deeper level that spirituality is relationships.  Whatever else spirituality is...it is that.  Also, I've noticed that Atlanta, here in the heart of the Deep South, is ahead of most large cities regarding inter-faith dialogue.  Why?  I credit World Pilgrims.  When Atlantans of different faith groups sit at table to talk texts and world views, we begin with the affirmation of a friendship begun on that pilgrimage.
     That journey of seven years ago birthed in me a greater appreciation of the deep well of my own Christian faith, as well as the underground river that also has fed the Jewish and Muslim faiths.
     For seven years, Jan Swanson, the director of World Pilgrims and the friend of several Northside Drivers, has been after me to go again and lead the Christians piece of the Pilgrimage.  Finally, I decided it is time to say "Yes."  My friend, Imam Pleman El-Amim, will lead the Muslim piece.  April 18-27, 2010, the group will once again go to Turkey.
     I am inviting you to go with us.  The cost for this 10 day trip?  It is $3,300 per person, door-to-door with everything included.  I hear that this is great price.  Emory University charges twice that much.  Because I am investing some sweat-equity as the Christian leader, they let me go for $1,500; and I will pay that out-of-pocket.
     In addition, two of our Baptist families, the Alliance of Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, will be inviting their constituencies to come along.  Thus, I and we will be investing beyond ourselves.
     Jan Swanson knows more of the lodging/travel/itinerary details than I do.  She said feel free to call her: 404-622-3399 or 404-906-7109.  Also, I will post more specifics on the NDBC website.
     All too soon, the holy season of Lent will be upon us.  The theme will be The Art of Pilgrimage.  The Lenten journey will echo the rhythms of the spiritual life: longing, departure, travail, discovery, and return.
     Richard R. Niebuhr said, "Pilgrims are poets who create by taking journeys."  We, too, create.  All Northside Drivers are poets, finding cadence, accent, and resonance through the creative living of life.  Some may even journey to Istanbul where East meets West, and where people of faith may make new friends.

 

Our Minister of Music, Emeritus, Greg Colson, will be honored at the 3PM concert in the chapel. Greg donated the beautiful harpsichord that will be played. (In fact, Greg might do a little playing himself!) This afternoon will feature a German Baroque Chamber Music Recital with harpsichord, baroque violins, oboe, and baroque Violoncello.

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS

 

WEDNESDAY EVENING LENTEN SERVICES

 

February 17 - March 24, 2010

 

6PM - Dinner in the Fellowship Hall
6:45PM - Contemplative Worship in the Chapel
 
Lent is a time of penitence and self-examination as we move towards Easter.  It helps us to investigate our motivations and intentions while better understanding the presence of Jesus and the nature of God.  It is important for prepare our hearts during the Lenten season so that the power of the cross and the miracle of the resurrection can be experienced with clarity and simplicity.
 
One of the ways the Lenten season will be observed is through communal fellowship and worship.  Each Wednesday of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 17, we will have dinner at 6PM in the Fellowship Hall and then a contemplative worship service in the Chapel at 6:45PM.  Each service will include the ambience of candles and incense, the hymnody of longing and hope, and silence for confession and prayer.
 
The theme for the Wednesday services will be the "Art of Pilgrimage" containing the topics of Departure, Longing, Pitfalls, Disciplines, Discovery, and Return. Our guest homilists will include Tiffany Gibson Cox, Eric Cain, James Lamkin, Mike Gregg, and Zach Bay.
 
We hope that this Lenten season will be one of sacrifice and longing that culminates in great joy.

 

Chair

As a rule of thumb, we will not cancel worship services on Sunday morning except under the most extreme weather conditions.  Members are urged to use their own good judgment as to whether they should attempt to make the trip.  Should inclement winter weather cause the cancellation of a service, here is the plan:
 
1) The pastor and the moderator will make the decision.
2) The moderator will notify the Chair of the Diaconate.
3) The deacons will use the "phone tree" to notify the congregation.
4) One of the ministers will send an email to all those on the church's email list (electricity permitting) and place a notification on the church's voice mail.
5) One of the ministers will notify the media.