NORTHSIDE NOTES - August 3, 2011 |
Pastoral Reflections  By James Lamkin "Ant Farm" A wave of grief washed over me when I heard the news: Milton Levine dead at 97 years old. Though I never met Mr. Levine, and frankly, had never heard of Mr. Levine, he influenced my life for the better. He was an inventor; but really, he only is remembered for having invented one thing. Every elementary school classroom in the late 1950's and 60's had one. Milton Levine invented Uncle Milton's Ant Farm! "It all started with a Fourth of July picnic at Studio City in southern California," he said. A line of ants came crawling by. He then remembered his own ant collection which he kept in jars every time he visited his uncle's farm when he was a boy. "I watched them cavort," he told the L.A. Times in a 2002 interview. At that July 4, 1956, picnic, Milton said to his business partner and brother-in-law, EJ Crossman, "We should make an antarium!" By the end of that year, their mail-order business was born. For $1.98 you got the "farm," the sand, and a container of 25 ants. They paid "ant rustlers" a-penny-a-piece for red harvester ants from the Mojave Desert. In a 2010 interview Levine said that the Ant Farm "stoked the curiosity" of budding scientists. "People can learn a lot from ants," he said. "They work day and night; they look out for the common good and they never procrastinate." He then added, "But their most amazing feat was that they put my three kids through college." Levine fought in World War II. You can almost guess his job. He led a bridge-building platoon in France and Germany. It figures. By the time Milton Levine died in an assisted-living facility at 97 years old, more than 20 million Ant Farms had been sold; and the company was valued at more than 30 million dollars. No telling how many hours I stood by the shelf near the window of my third grade classroom. For it was there that we kept our Ant Farm. With fascination, I watched the ants solve problems, discover alternatives, share resources, bury their dead, and do together what they could not do separately. All of their lives were linked. "Humanity can learn a lot from ants," said Uncle Milty. Ants have even made it into the Bible. "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways, and be wise. Without having any chief or officer or ruler, it prepares its food in summer, and gathers its sustenance in harvest." Proverbs 6:6-9 As summer 2011 begins to wind down, I sit here thinking and praying for the folk of Northside Drive. These months have been taxing. Resources, for some, seem few. Others have grown weary in well-doing. And others have had their Ant Farm kicked-over; and they must start over again. However, I know that each of us will make it; for each of us will make it together; and we will make it by the grace of God. "Humanity can learn a lot from the ant," Uncle Milton said. Amen. |
A Pastoral Prayer for Northside Drive Vacationers and Travelers
O God of voyages and voyagers,
Thrill us with not yet discovered possibility.
Protect us with the 23rd Psalm's certainty.
Strengthen us when the destination still is distant.
Empty us of stress's poison.
Open us...vacate us...through sabbath's vacation.
Rest us beside still waters and restore our souls.
Teach us through the strangely familiar.
Comfort us through the familiarly strange.
Befriend us through a stranger's kindness.
Connect us with the Holy Spirit's presence.
Keep us as we say daily The Lord's Prayer.
Heal us when tender feet weary.
Bless us when it is time to return...
For only by leaving, can we ever come home.
Amen
~ James E. Lamkin |
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Praying the Psalms*
By Rev. James Lamkin
*(The congregation is invited to read A-Psalm-A-Day during 2011.)
A-Psalm-A-Day Upcoming Schedule:
August 3-Psalm 65
August 4-Psalm 66
August 5-Psalm 67
August 6-Psalm 68
August 7-Psalm 69
August 8-Psalm 70
August 9-Psalm 71
August 10-Psalm 72 |
Organ Restoration Project
A very important part of our church is sick. She plays a major role in every Sunday worship service, wedding and funeral. Like many of us she takes the summer off, but is a vital part of life at Northside Drive. Our Shantz pipe organ in the sanctuary is ill. Not from neglect, not from abuse. As my doctor says about my aches and pains, her illness is caused by birthdays. By the way the disease is life threatening but completely curable.
The Worship and Music Committee came to the Trustees and the Finance Committee advising of the issues and seeking guidance. Looking at $200,000 in repairs of our organ which is valued at well over $1 million, a plan was devised to have a special fund-raising campaign to finance the restoration. The Church Council and the Church in Conference approved the plan; and a committee was formed, comprised of: Jeff Harbin, Letty Konenkamp, Karen Massey, Sheila Nicol, Dick Underwood and myself.
We need to raise a total of $200,000. Here is the breakdown of funds that have already been earmarked for this project and their sources:
Trustees $37,000 from Humphries Endowment Fund
Memorial Gifts 13,000
Lead Gift 25,000
Funds on hand $75,000
Remaining balance to be raised from the congregation: $125,000.
A letter is going out this week explaining this process in more detail. Included will be an explanation of the issues with the organ by Jeff Harbin and a pledge card. We are looking to receive pledges between now and September 18. Pledges are to be paid by December 31, 2012. As soon as we receive pledges sufficient to finance the project, the restoration will begin. The organ will be functional the entire duration of the repair. If you want the details of the problems with the organ, please ask...either Jeff or Sheila.
We've got a valued member of our church family that is ill, but I know that each of us will step forward to help pay for the cure.
Hartwell Dew
NDBC Trustee |
Service for Dan Dalke
There will be a celebration of Dan Dalke's life on Saturday, August 13, at 11 AM at Northside United Methodist Church. Ray and Pat Dalke, Dan's parents, wanted to be sure that Northside Drive Baptist Church members know that they are invited to attend.
Dan Dalke, Lovett teacher, parent, and friend to all, passed away on Monday, June 27, after his six-year battle with multiple myeloma. Dan had taught at Lovett since 1993 and was the recipient of numerous awards during his tenure, including the Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award, Woodward Award, and Senior Class Faculty Award for Service. He was also credited with growing Lovett's marine biology program and developing Lovett's unique partnership with the Georgia Aquarium. Also, he was the proud and loving father to Charlotte and Calvin.
Dan's family and extended family thank the NDBC community for our prayers and many other expressions of love. |
| Showing at the Smyrna Public Library
July and August 2011
The Art of the Handmade Book
Northside Driver, Ruth Kramedjian has a selection of her handmade books on exhibit at the Smyrna Public Library during the months of July and August. The handmade books are exhibited in the glass cases on the second floor. Most of these books have been made in 2010 and 2011. Many of the books are blank books suitable for journals and a few have original art included. Many of the books are for sale-contact Ruth at 404-210-9790 or rrpk2@yahoo.com. |
Summer Adult Church School
Introduction to Major World Religions
June 5-August 28, 2011
Sundays, 9:30-10:45 AM
In the Fellowship Hall
Mike Gregg and Zach Bay will introduce the series with a session entitled Ways of Encountering the Divine and close the series with Religion and the Future of Humanity. Several adult leaders will facilitate the other 10 sessions, which will include Islam, Shi'tes/Sunni, the Koran, Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Church of Scientology, and Christian Fundamentalism.
For supplements to this series, please visit our website.
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Worship this Summer
in
The NDBC Chapel
11:00 AM
June 26-September 4, 2011
"There shall be seasons refreshing...." This is a line from There Shall Be Showers of Blessing, a Gospel song based on Ezekiel 34:26 and found in the chapel's Baptist Hymnal. Worship this summer will be as the hymn alludes: a season which is refreshing. And the season's refreshment will come through the intimacy of the chapel's sacred space, through the vitality of sacred music and congregational singing, and through stories of how God is at work renewing our lives.
The summer's sermon series will be: "The Neg-Lectionary." Like most mainline churches, we use the Revised Common Lectionary as the engine that drives weekly worship. For each Sunday and holy season there is a Gospel, Epistle, Psalms, and OldTestament text appropriately selected. However, even with all those Bible verses, there are still many scriptures which are neglected. Thus, "The Neg-Lectionary." The summer's scripture sampler includes: a sermon-sleeper who fell out of a window and died, a man who was lectured by his talking donkey, and a preacher who lost his voice (to the delight of many, I'm sure). 'Twill be an angular and refreshing approach to some overlooked scriptures. |
NDBC Co-Ed Softball 
The Northside Line-drivers are having a fun season. As always, we need a co-ed church softball team with 20-25 people. The team must be 50/50 female/male when on the playing field. Contact Coach Brian Knight (cell - 404-759-9063) if you are interested.
The Northside Line-drivers schedule:
Game 1 - Wed, 25-May @ 7:00 PM (L)
Game 2 - Wed, 1-Jun @ 7:40 PM (W)
Game 3 - Wed, 8-Jun @ 8:50 PM (L)
Game 4 - Wed, 22-Jun @ 8:50 PM (R)
Game 5 - Thu, 30-Jun @ 6:30 PM (L)
Game 6 - Thu, 7-Jul @ 7:40 PM (L)
Game 7 - Wed, 13-Jul @ 6:30 PM (L)
Game 8 - Wed, 20-Jul @ 8:50 PM (L)
Game 9 - Wed, 27-Jul @ 7:40 PM (L)
Game 10 - Wed, 3-Aug @ 7:40 PM
All of the games will be played at the NDBC ball field.
For more information about the NACL website, go to http://www.naclsports.info/pages/schedule.htm. |
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Church Week
SUNDAY, August 7, 2011
9:00 AM - Congregational Hymnal Review
9:30 AM - Summer Church School
11:00 AM - Morning Worship in the Chapel
12:15 PM - Diaconate Meeting
TUESDAY, August 9, 2011
10:00 AM - Staff Meeting
WEDNESDAY, August 10, 2011
6:00 PM - Northside Yoga
THURSDAY, August 11, 2011
7:00 PM - TNT
SATURDAY, August 13, 2011
11:00 AM - Dan Dalke Memorial Service @ Northside United Methodist Church |
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| CHURCH FAMILY CONCERNS
Mary Dutton
Don DaLee |
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AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
Lindy Welch - 1
Jack Isakson - 2
Jim Lester - 3
Virginia Schwatel - 4
Luke Williams - 4
Nancy F. Davis - 5
Andrew Schwartz - 6
Sofia Tunon - 7
Sue McSwain - 9
David Bell - 9
Pam Whiffen - 10
Joyce Raley - 10
Carolyn Mahaffey - 11
Ella McIntyre - 11
Fay Brewer - 12
Landis Smith - 13
Callie Bryson - 16
Michael Fletcher - 18
Gary McAllister - 18
Mark Bryson - 20
Isaiah Lewis - 23
Jo Hunter - 24
Ken Davis - 24
Susan Isakson - 24
Suzanne Barksdale - 25
Jack Fletcher - 26
Curtis Tucker - 27
Keith Minton - 27
Michael McIntyre - 30
Elizabeth Sheeley - 31 |
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PASTOR'S
CHURCH GROWTH
TIP OF THE WEEK
Throw a party this summer for four neighbors and invite the pastor. |
| ROMEOS
(Retired Older Men
Eating Out) Every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 11:30 AM-1 PM. A time to visit with friends, tell stories and eat good food (bring your lunch money)!
Piccadilly Cafeteria |
NORTHSIDE YOGA 
Wednesdays at 6 PM on the 2nd floor (Room #202) with registered Yoga Teacher, Amanda Gregg. Bring a mat, water, and the $10 fee. To make a reservation for a Wednesday's class, email Amanda at mandayoga@gmail.com or for more information, visit www.northsidedrive.org. |
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"TNT"
Thursday Nights Together
People of all ages from NDBC meet at 7 PM every Thursday night for dinner.
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YOUNG ADULT
UNPLUGGED EVENTS
Young adult Unplugged evenings. These are casual dinners at our homes where Mike will bring the main course and everyone else brings a side item. They are on Friday nights once a month at 7 PM.
If you are interested in attending an Unplugged event contact Zach Bay for more details.
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YOUTH
Encore! is a once a month youth event on either Sunday afternoon or Sunday evening. We focus this time on fellowship, discussion, and/or mission service.
Contact Zach Bay with questions. |
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YOUNG ADULTS: SMALL GROUP SUNDAYS
NOOMA is our young adult small group that meets to discuss theology and faith through a multimedia curriculum. We meet once a month at 7 PM in the Undercroft & recreation area of the church on Sunday nights.
to sign up.
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The youth café, UNDERGROUNDS, will be open for a light breakfast at 9:30AM each Sunday. Youth Church School will meet in the newly renovated youth space and will begin at 9:45AM. |
SYD'S SYNOPSIS
Do you receive the Sunday email update from Syd Janney? Want to receive a Sunday morning church email update on Sunday afternoons? Syd Janney's Synopsis is a beautiful description of the "special experience of Church School and Worship at NDBC." To receive it, notify the church office (404-237-8621). |
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THE PAPERLESS PINNACLE
The Pinnacle is emailed as an attachment to the congregation and is available on the church website at www.northsidedrive.org.
If you would prefer not to receive the Pinnacle by U.S. mail, please call 404-237-8621 or email us at info@northsidedrive.org to let us know. |
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NORTHSIDE NOTES
ARCHIVES
Did you miss an issue of our Northside Notes?
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THE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS BOOK
A copy of the book is in the Narthex for previewing and the cost is only $30. To get your copy, call us at 404-237-8621 or email the church. |
Wi-Fi is now available in the educational building as well as the Fellowship Hall and youth area.
The network is: ndbcwireless The password is: northsidedrive. |
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