NORTHSIDE NOTES - January 29, 2014

Pastoral Reflection

By James Lamkin

"Sanctuary"

9:00 AM, Wednesday, January 29, 2014. As this day dawns, it was preceded by a long night. Even as I write this, I'm guessing that there are NDBC folk still on the streets and highways...exiles from last night's snowfall and traffic shut down. Everybody's in shock.

God gave Renee Gamache, our Administrative Assistant, and me an honor last night. We had the honor of spending the night at the church house while hosting about thirty (so far) nearly frozen and very grateful Northside Drive Parkway refugees.

They started trickling in about eight p.m. Often two-by-two they entered our ark, and sometimes in clumps of five or six. They came wrapped in blankets, towels, or whatever they had. Their cars had abandoned them along the street.

They saw our lights...the backlights behind the organ pipes. The ones that make for a ladybug heaven. Stranded folk saw the lights from down at the point where an ambulance camped all night. They were told that they be allowed to stay at "the church on the hill."

Renee and I had a routine. She watched the door monitors. I ran the B & B orientation tour. The "B's" stand for Bathroom and Bathroom.

Most had been in their cars between six and ten hours. The fire truck brought some who had been out all night. All were exhausted.

Most tried to sleep some. I brought pew cushions from the sanctuary to the Art & Soul Classroom, the Roger Williams room, the children's room, and the chapel. One person slept in the "couth" room, as Kenneth Davis called it.

I haven't seen so many sleeping on those pew cushions since George Smith and John McIntyre were in worship.

All of the midnight callers were effusive in their gratitude.

Most are still here. Renee and I cannibalized all of the left-over stale Sunday School muffins, the Preschool's fruit juice, and snacks that she and I had squirreled away; plus I ate Rose's lunch-in-a-box-microwave-delight. Also, we've done a few gallons of coffee.

The local firemen, at Station #26 on Moores Mill, said they may be bringing more. We'll watch.

One last thing. What gets said in a quiet church house at 3:00 AM is both odd and oddly holy. As one young woman, "took up her pew cushion and walked," she commented on the haunting, holy glow that hung low in the dark night around the balcony.

"It's beautiful," she shivered and said. "Thanks for letting us stay here."

She then asked, "What do you call this room?"

"A sanctuary," I said.

The Gospel Lesson

The Gospel lesson for worship on Sunday, February 2, 2014, will be the Matthew 5: 1-12, the Beatitudes.

It will be shared through both song and speech. The Beatitudes describe the radical blessing and hope that accompanies the Commonwealth of God. Wimberly Thomas, Cyndi and Tom Vander Ven and Sharon Simons (choir staff singer), will lead us. Wimberly is one of our NDBC staff singers and is a doctoral candidate at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Orange Park, Florida. She is studying various worship styles as they proclaim God's story. This involves the reading and presentation of Scripture.

Church-in-conference

Wednesday, January 29, at 6:45 PM

      Dear Congregation,
     Due to weather conditions, NDBC Moderator, Dave Wooten, has decided to reschedule the Church-in-conference that was to be tonight, January 29. The final vote on the Finance Committee's and Church Council's approved 2014 Budget will be delayed a few days; and another email will be sent to inform you of the new time.
     Given the precarious situation with the weather, and the anxiety of attempting to drive in Atlanta's traffic, we wanted to notify you of this decision as soon as possible. All Wednesday evening church activities are canceled.
     Take care,
     James Lamkin, Pastor

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.

Valentine Luncheon

You are cordially invited

to the annual

Valentine Luncheon

Honoring NDBC retired members

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

12 o'clock noon, in the Fellowship Hall

RSVP by February 6

Barbara Atchley

770-436-0709 or atchley2005@gmail.com

Special music: The Phoenix Players, out of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, is a group of seniors who enjoy performing live drama for seniors throughout Atlanta. They have been together for about 13 years. They believe in the importance of participation in the arts and that involvement can improve people's overall health whether on stage, in the audience, or through writing/creating. Enjoy the performance and think about joining!

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

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.

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.

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.

Church Week

SUNDAY, February 2

9:30 AM - Church School

10:25 AM - Children's Choir Practice

11:00 AM - Morning Worship

5:00 PM - Northside Drive Ringers

TUESDAY, February 4

10:00 AM - Staff Meeting

WEDNESDAY, February 5

10:30 AM - Pastor's Bible Study

5:30 PM - Northside Yoga

6:30 PM - Deuteronomy Bible Study

7:00 PM - Prayer Shawl Ministry

7:30 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

THURSDAY, February 7

7:00 PM - Young Adult Sunday Studies

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 5

THIS SUNDAY'S
LECTIONARY TEXT

February 2, 2014

Micah 6:1-8

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Matthew 5:1-12

HIGHLIGHTS

Church-in-conference

Morning Bible Study

Valentine Luncheon

Deuteronomy

Baptist Women in Ministry

Northside Kids

Women's Retreat

Bad Weather

Submit Your Pledge

Church Calendar

Birthdays

Sanctuary Flowers

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.

Linda Clark

Aline Cofield

Bedford & Louise Davis

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

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.

FEBRUARY

BIRTHDAYS

Janie Joyner - 1

William Adams - 2

Martha Looney - 2

Rhonda Harris - 4

Lindsay Cadaret - 4

Dalia Abreu - 5

Helen McIntyre - 8

Tommy Clyatt - 9

Tanner Stines - 9

Mary Dean - 10

JoAnna Miller - 11

Cindy Bell - 11

Mike Almeida - 13

Blythe Goodhead - 13

Cate Denham - 14

Letty Denham - 14

Mary Ann Hickman - 14

Jeanne Hicks - 14

Bo Thomas - 14

Van Thomas - 18

Harry Morgan - 20

Marshall Dewell - 20

Susan Dew - 21

Taylor Janney - 21

Gloria Smathers - 22

Dee Davis - 23

Rebecca Tatum - 23

Brett Younger - 26

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.

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.