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.

Feb 17 - Departure (Ash Wed) - James Lamkin/Karen Massey
Feb 24 - Longing - Tiffany Gibson Cox
Mar 3 - Pitfalls/Travails - Mike Gregg
Mar 10 - Disciplines - Zach Bay
Mar 17 - Return - Eric Cain
Mar 24 - Seder Meal - Dr. Nancy DeClasse Walford

_______________________________________________

 

 
*Preceding the Lenten program there will be supper with Chick-fil-A or Jason's Deli served at 6PM.  The boxed meals are $5.00 per person, with a $25.00 family cap.  To make a reservation for the boxed meal, you may use the Welcome card in the pew rack, call the church office, register on line at www.northsidedrive.org (click on the notice in the "What's Happening" section of the homepage) or email your reservation to info@northsidedrive.org no later than the Tuesday before the event. 
 

 

presents

 

Mendelssohn"s Piano Trio in D minor

Beethoven's Cello Sonata No. 1 in F Major

Manuel de Falla's Suite Populaire Espagnole

Arvo Part's Spiegel im Spiegel

 

Helen Kim, violin; Charae Drueger, cello; and Robert Henry, piano

 

Admission is free, although donations are requested.

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.