Pastoral Reflections

by James Lamkin

"Christmas, New Year's, and the New Normal"

I've never imagined myself as a "radio preacher," but now I "are" one! On Sunday morning, December 26^th, I'll be on the radio show, Day One.

Our own Walter Grant is a Day One board member. Walter suggested that I give all Northside Drivers permission to stay home on Sunday the 26^th---the day after Christmas Day---and listen to me on the radio.

I told Walter, "I've never noticed Northside Drivers needing my permission to stay home from church for any reason!" So...do as the Lord leads you.

The lectionary text for that day is the "flight to Egypt." It is the story of King Herod's jealous rage at the betrayal of the Wise Men. The result was the "slaughter of the holy innocents." (Yes, I know. What a great text to keep one full of that jolly Christmas cheer!)

My sermon angle was: as Herod discovered, this baby brought with him a New Normal. Nothing would be the same again---not for Mary or Joseph or Herod or God, for that matter. All babies bring change...and this One brought about a big one. This Baby brought God wonderfully and awfully close.

Journalists think the first time New Normal was used was after the Oklahoma City bombing. It described the difference in the survivors of the Muir Federal Building blast.  If life returned to normal, it would be a New Normal.

Reporters have called upon the phrase again to express the awkward search for normalcy we're all going through as we try to stabilize our economy and our lives. It is new but it doesn't feel normal yet.

However, one of the most consistent punch lines of the Bible is this: God meets God's people in every New Normal. Turns out that the Jesus-goes-to-Egypt-and-returns story, echoes the Moses-goes-to-Egypt-and-returned story. And the Gospel storyteller, Matthew, seems intent on getting a point across: "This Jesus is full of the light and love and life of God. Why, he is Moses Plus!"

Time and time again the Bible's characters find them themselves dislocated: in Egypt, in the wilderness, in Babylon, in times where normalcy is absent. Yet, with all the uncertainties that plagued them, God always was present with them. Always.

Here's another way to say it: the New Normal is not new to God. God has been here and there before.

As we wrap-up Christmas 2010, then welcome the New Year 2011, we know not what the future will bring. But this we know, God already is there waiting. The New Normal is not new to God. This is true for you and me and all of us...especially those out there in "radio land."

Advent Combined Adult Church School

Led by Dr. Karen Massey

Sundays -- December 5, 12 & 19

Room 202 at 9:30 AM

"The Characters of Advent:  The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"

This Advent series will study some of the lesser characters of the Christmas drama, such as Herod, Zechariah, and Joseph. The class will take a closer look at their roles in the story of Christ's coming, and what their behaviors and attitudes might say to us as the world anticipates Christ's coming again this Christmas.

Early last month, I wrote to report the current findings of the hymnal sub-committee which was appointed by the Worship and Music Committee to study the matter of a new hymnal.  If you have not read that article, it may be found on the church's website [www.northsidedrive.org] by searching "Resources - Publications" for November 7, 2010.

As indicated there, we have visited with our church leadership and church school classes to pass along our findings to you.  We have completed this task. One consistent concern that surfaced during these visits is "how will we pay for a new hymnal should we agreed such is needed".  We recently learned that a very thoughtful and generous donor has surfaced and offered to purchase new hymnals for the church; at this point, they wish to remain anonymous.  This alleviates a financial concern shared by many of us.  We also want to say again that we wish to retain most all the hymns we currently use and love while enlarging our hymnic offerings.

Our sub-committee (consisting of Mary Lister, Paul Fletcher, Jeff Harbin, Zach Bay, Claire Blackwell, and Irwin Ray) desire to give everyone one more opportunity to hear our interim report and talk with us. We will hold a "Continuing to Ponder the Possibilities" informational and listening session on Wednesday, December 8 from 6-7 PM in the Church Parlor (Room 207). We hope anyone who would like to hear our thoughts, who has concerns to voice or ideas to offer, will join us for this informal gathering. 

W. Irwin Ray

Chair, Hymnal Sub-Committee 

A Celebration of Lovefeast

Sunday, December 5, 2010
at 7 PM in the NDBC Sanctuary

Come celebrate our 3rd Annual Lovefeast with us as we show our love for Christ, community, peace, and the Season of Advent. We will sing traditional seasonal hymns, celebrate in prayer, light candles, and share in the breaking of bread (Moravian Lovefeast buns from Old Salem in NC) and the sharing of the cup (sweetened coffee from Land of 1000 Hills) in this centuries-old tradition. Our youth and volunteers will be helping lead this worship experience. Hope to see you there!

Check this link out for more information on the Moravian Lovefeast:http://www.moravian.org/faq/lovefeast.phtml

You will have several opportunities to enjoy wonderful music of the Advent/Christmas season during the month of December at Northside Drive.

* Advent II, December 5 - The Flute Choir of Atlanta will present a free concert of holiday music at 4 PM in the Sanctuary. This ensemble of about twenty flautists from the greater Atlanta area will provide a special treat that you will not want to miss!

* Advent III, December 12 - Our Sanctuary Choir and the Northside Drive Ringers will present a special program of Advent readings and music during the 11 AM morning worship service. Later that afternoon, church members George and Amy Taylor will sing with the Choral Guild of Atlanta as the choir presents a Christmas concert at 4 PM in the Sanctuary.

* Advent IV, December 19 - We will enjoy the ethereal sounds of the harp, as Ms. Nella Rigell returns once again as our special guest in morning worship. We invite you to participate in all of these events as we "celebrate the season" through music!

The Allen-Davis Church School Class

The Senior Men's Church School Class has renamed their class to honor Glen Allen and Bedford Davis, charter members of Northside Drive Baptist Church.

A note from Louise Davis:

Bedford and I had helped to organize Wildwood Chapel and were meeting in the Morris Brandon School when a very interesting couple joined our group, Ruby and Glen Allen. Ruby had been a soloist at their former church and Glen was the son of a minister. They had come from an east Atlanta Baptist church, but had recently moved into a home in our area.

Glen and Bedford were ordained as deacons on the same day Northside Drive was chartered. They have been faithful members ever since.  Glen lost Ruby a few years ago and has not been in attendance as much as before. During the early years, Bedford was so involved with his calling as a physician that he was not in attendance as regularly as Glen. However, both of these men have loved Northside Drive throughout the years and the Senior Men's Church School Class has truly honored them by naming their class for them.

Louise Davis

Charter Member 

Church Week 

NDBC Preschool