NORTHSIDE NOTES - January 22, 2014

Pastoral Reflection

By James Lamkin

For the Love of Scripture...

Before the Bible's words were written down...

...grandfathers and grandmothers told the Bible's stories around the wilderness campfires;

...pilgrims sung lyrics aloud as they marched upward to Jerusalem;

...priests chanted Hebrew poetry while stoking the temple's sacrificial fires;

...exiles relished and revised the life-giving history of hope-filled words, while marooned in faraway Babylon;

...Christians whispered their prayerful memories among the quiet catacombs;

...Jesus shouted the Psalms from a bloody cross.

Before these texts became texts, they emerged from a context. That context was the intersection of human experience and the Holy God. That intersection sometimes feels like a duet of hope ("The Lord does not forget the cries of the afflicted," Psalm 9:12). Other times it is a train wreck of contradictory agendas ("'Your ways are not my ways,' says the Lord," Isaiah 55:8).

In worship, we read these scriptures. Between the lines and within the words we taste the tears of psalmists, see the blood of martyred prophets, smell the sweat of slaves, and hear the confident shout that raises long-dead Lazarus.

The first question of every Bible study should be: What is this text trying to do? The wide-ranging sensory palate was meant to move its readers/hearers.

One of our NDBC staff singers and soloists, Wimberley Thomas, will be helping us with this in February. With the approval of the Music and Worship Committee, plus my blessing, she has pulled together some Northside Drive members to orally and musically interpret one lectionary scripture per Sunday in February.

We've done this before.

Remember when Cyndi Vander Ven carried the water pot and quoted John 4, the Woman at the Well? Remember Fulgencio and Dalia and Priscilla Ferrer reading together the Acts 2 text on Pentecost Sunday each year? Remember when Karen Massey and Mike Gregg and I have read scripture as a trio at the lectern?

Wimberley has offered to help us with this. She is a BPK (a Baptist Preacher's Kid). In spite of that, she still loves God, is a member of The Cathedral of St. Phillip, and sings in our choir.

In fact, she loves church so much, she is working on a post-graduate degree in liturgics. As part of her schooling she has put together four interpretive lectionary scripture readings. She, and a few Northside Drive folk, will gift us with one per Sunday next month.

While Epiphany's love light lingers, and as our rocky paths do their best to twist our weak ankles, may the words from The Good Book accompany us as "a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path."

Souper Bowl Sunday*

SAVE THE DATE

January 26, 2014, @ Noon

In the Fellowship Hall

Volunteers are needed to either prepare a pot of soup or chili, or to bake cookies or brownies!

If you are not fond of cooking we can always use help with set-up or clean-up. Whatever your talents are, join us that day for fellowship and fun. The donations we collect that day help support the Hunger Fund. To volunteer contact Mona Stines at mona.stines@att.net or 404-936-8812.

*There will be cheese or pepperoni pizza and carrots available for children.

Pastor's Wednesday Morning Bible Study

Wednesdays in 2014

@ 10:30 AM, in the Conference Room

We meet weekly from 10:30-11:30 AM, in the church's Conference Room. We study the texts selected in the Revised Common Lectionary for the next Sunday. Large print editions are available each week and for the upcoming Sunday. Discussion is deep and wide and lively. All are invited.

LifeSpan Resources

The winter quarter of LifeSpan Resources at Peachtree Road UMC begins January 23, and will run through March 7. Come join your friends and may interesting classes. 404-237-7307

Church-in-conference

Wednesday, January 29, at 6:45 PM

This is your opportunity to be updated on the works of the Ministry Teams and Committees of the church. Come see and hear what's going on with NDBC church ministry programs!

Seven More Weeks!

A Book on the Boundary:

A Study of Deuteronomy

Led by Rev. Mike Gregg

January 15-February 26, @ 6:30 PM

In Room 202

We will take seven more weeks to complete our study of the book of Deuteronomy before the beginning of Ash Wednesday and Lent. You have not missed much, so come and join the discussion. If you are new, Mike will provide you with information and materials from the previously studied chapters.

A Summary: The Israelites are on the verge of entering the Promised Land. Moses delivers a pep talk to guide the people as they look ahead to their new lives as followers of the One God. Deuteronomy is a book on the boundaries. The reader is taken to the boundary of the land, the edge of the future of the Hebrew people, and the threshold of a new understanding of God. This study will explore the limits of the text while increasing our knowledge of God's law.

Chapters 1-4

The Spies and Remembering the Wilderness Journey

Chapters 4-6

The Ten Commandments

Chapters 7-11

Taking the Land, the Golden Calf, and the New Tablets

Chapters 12-26

The Deuteronomic Code: Worship, Diet, Leadership, & Identity

Chapters 27-28

Blessings and Curses

Chapters 29-30

Renewal of the Covenant and Exhortation to Obedience

Chapters 31-34

Joshua Becomes Leader, The Song of Moses, and Moses Dies

Baptist Women in Ministry Sunday

Baptist Women in Ministry Celebrates

the Gifts of Preaching Women

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Beginning in 2007, Baptist Women in Ministry invited Baptist churches to participate in Martha Stearns Marshall Month of Preaching by having a woman preach during the month of February. This annual event has been a deeply significant source of joy and discovery for many churches as they have celebrated the giftedness of women. This annual preaching month is named for Martha Stearns Marshall, an eighteenth-century Separate Baptist woman.

Our guest BWIM preacher this year is Pam Durso.

Pam is the executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry, an independent Baptist organization that supports and advocates for Baptist women ministers. She loves walking alongside and encouraging women called by God to ministry.

Pam also enjoys researching, writing, and teaching in the area of Baptist history. She teaches Baptist history as an adjunct professor at McAfee School of Theology, and previously served as associate executive director of the Baptist History and Heritage Society and as professor of church history and Baptist heritage at Campbell University Divinity School in North Carolina.

Pam earned a B.A. in religion and a Ph.D. in church history from Baylor University. She and her husband, Keith, live in Lawrenceville with their teenage son and daughter, Michael and Alex.

Family Lunches after Church

Join with other NDBC families for after-church lunches. Everyone is invited for a time of fun and fellowship together! We hope to see you there. Northside kids

February 23 - Moe's
March 16 - Shane's

For more information contact Amanda Gregg at amanda_agd@yahoo.com.

28th Annual Women's Retreat

April 25-27, 2014

Blue Boar Inn

Robbinsville, North Carolina

SPACE IS LIMITED

For more information: Joyce Wilson (770)773-3333

joyceowilson@starband.net

Sanctuary Flowers

Would you like to participate in beautifying our Sanctuary with flowers for 2014? Now is the time to sign up. The price is $100, or you can share the cost with someone. If you are interested please call Nancy F. Davis at 404-252-9154.

Submit Your Pledge

for the 2014 Church Budget

through any of these Ways...

> You can return your pledge card by "snail mail."

> You can pick up a pledge card at the door of the church office, fill it out on the spot, and leave it in the envelope on the Business Manager's (Rose Hidlay) door.

> You can pick up a pledge card in the Narthex, fill it out and drop it in the offering plate (or hand it to an Usher).

> You can call the church office and ask for Rose (404-237-8621). Tell her your pledge (or even leave her a voice mail).

> You can e-mail your pledge to Rose at rose@northsidedrive.org .

> You can pledge via our website (www.northsidedrive.org) by clicking on the "Giving" link on our home page.

A Word About Bad Weather and the Church

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 ministers and the moderator will make the decision.

2) The ministers and the moderator will notify the deacons.

3) The ministers will email all those on the church's email list, and place a notification on the church's voice mail (if electricity and phone service are available).

4) The deacons will call members who need to be notified, but do not have email.

Church Week

SUNDAY, January 26

9:30 AM - Church School

10:25 AM - Children's Choir Practice

11:00 AM - Morning Worship

12:00 PM - Souper Bowl Luncheon

5:00 PM - Northside Drive Ringers

TUESDAY, January 28

10:00 AM - Staff Meeting

WEDNESDAY, January 29

10:30 AM - Pastor's Bible Study

5:30 PM - Northside Yoga

6:45 PM - Church-in-conference

7:30 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

CHILDREN'S CHOIRS

The Cherub Choir - Children ages 2 through Kindergarten

Directed by Ms. Amanda (cherubchoir@northsidedrive.org)

Sunday morning from 10:25-10:50 AM

in the 2s & 3s Church School classroom (#102).

The Celestial Choir - Children in grades 1-5

Directed by Ms. Nicole (celestialchoir@northsidedrive.org)

Sunday morning from 10:25-10:50 AM in the Chapel.

NORTHSIDE YOGA
Yoga logo

YOGA meets on Wednesdays @ 5:30 PM, in the Fellowship Hall with Amanda Gregg. The cost is $60 for a 6 week session or $13 per class for drop-in. Bring a mat, water, small towel, and wear comfortable clothing. To make a reservation for a class session, email Amanda at mandayoga@gmail.com or visitwww.northsidedrive.org.

Volume 6 - Issue 4

THIS SUNDAY'S
LECTIONARY TEXT

January 26, 2014

Isaiah 9:1-4

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Matthew 4:12-23

HIGHLIGHTS

Souper Bowl Sunday

Church-in-conference

Baptist Women in Ministry

Women's Retreat

This Week's

TENDER LOVING

PRAYER

(TLP List)

The TLP is a Diaconate ministry. Each week's list contains the rotating names of three or four NDBC senior adults.

Betty Almeida

Reidar Bjornard

Jeff & Faye Brewer

Mary Chance

----------------

In addition, this week we pray for...

Gordon & Billie Davis Jack & Joey Guynn

If you would like your name placed on our rotating TLP list, please give the church office a call.

JANUARY

BIRTHDAYS

Chelsea Clarke - 1

Len Shelton - 2

Barbara Schroeder - 2

Dene Maltbie - 3

Gary Clark - 3

Jon Bell - 4

Katherine Bryson - 6

John Davis - 6

Bev Hall - 7

Witt Dietrich - 7

William High - 7

Joyce Wilson - 7

Ruth Kramedjian - 7

Don Janney - 9

Cynthia Tunon - 9

Pam Wamberg - 9

Charlton Roberts - 14

Libby Martin - 15

Sebastian Almeida - 15

Jeanne Hill - 16

Jane Jerden - 16

Anne Ledbetter - 16

Fabio Molina - 16

Lindsay Dietrich - 16

Donna McLarty - 17

Vanita Morgan - 17

Annie Tucker - 19

Gene Bridges - 19

Gail Hermance - 22

Harry Mathis - 22

Luke Fletcher - 22

Nancy Hall - 23

Clara Harbin - 24

Will Egan - 25

Jackson Singleton - 25

Stephanie Jones - 25

Michael Hermance - 26

Lanier Meeks - 28

Betty Almeida - 29

Karen Perry - 29

Riley Isakson - 31

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
shawl

Come join us on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 PM, in Room #207, the Parlor, to knit or crochet a prayer shawl. If you are not sure how, no problem, there will be plenty of people to help you get started. This group is open to anyone who would like to join! For more information call Susan Harlan at 770-377-3869.

ROMEOS
(Retired Older Men
Eating Out)

Every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 12 PM-1 PM.

A time to visit with friends,

tell stories and eat good food (bring your lunch money)!

Piccadilly Cafeteria

1715 Howell Mill Rd

NDBC 2030

NDBC 20.30 is a group for singles and couples in their 20's and 30's to come together for special events, social gatherings, Bible studies, and mission work. We are an informal and casual group. Even if you are not a member of Northside Drive Baptist, you are invited and accepted. We are a group that explores life together in hopes of learning more about ourselves, our place in the world, and our connection with God. NDBC 20.30 is place to be honest and a place to belong.

UNPLUGGED

Young Adult Dinners at Home Every First Friday Night at 7 PM

Sharing food and friendship that feed our souls. Join us as we unplug from our busy schedules and gather for casual dinners at the homes of members of Northside Drive Baptist Church. Bring a side item or dessert and the main course will be provided. For more information, contact Mike Gregg at mike@northsidedrive.org. Check the Young Adults event calendar on the website, Facebook page, or in print for a full list of dates.