Omega and Alpha

     On a rainy summer morning in 2012, I walked into Santiago, Spain. I had been on the Camino for nearly 40 days and 40 nights. Started in France. Crossed the Pyrenees. Then, kept heading west. After only 500 miles, I reached my destination in Santiago. The cathedral towered above the city with its saintly statues, Gothic arches, elegant iconography, and heavy could of incense in the apse. Yet, amid all this perfection, there was the miswritten Chrismon.

     However, a little lingering, a lot of pondering, along with some conversation with fellow pilgrims...and a new meaning began to emerge.

     Though Santiago is the destination for thousands of tourists each year...every true pilgrim knows that pilgrimages do not have destinations; they only have passageways into new beginnings. The reversed symbol, Omega then Alpha, captures that. Every conclusion is an introduction in disguise.

     Remember what T.S. Eliot said? "We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we are started and know the place for the first time." (From the "Four Quartets.")

     So it is with New Year's Eve. On this threshold of 2015, we start with Omega. We inventory what has been. Then, we change it to Alpha, as we anticipate what might lie ahead as the New Year dawns.

     2014 had plenty of challenges and changes...from buildings to staffing to medical problems to financial troubles. However, I have been proud of the church's lay-leadership. In spite of rough seas, they've kept a calm hand on the rudder; and the rest of us have managed and mended the sails.

     I am optimistic about 2015. God is good. People are generous. Grace is resilient.

     Turns-out, the cathedral's Chrismon wasn't misspelled at all. It was meant to provoke our ongoing pilgrimage.

     Good-bye Omega. Hello Alpha. God willing, we will see you both next year.

Sundays @ 9:30 AM

in the Art & Soul classroom #202  

January 4-February 8, 2015

     Do you want to know how we got our Bible? Dr. Larry McSwain and Dr. Steven Sheeley will co-lead a six-week Church School session January 4-February 8. Join us in the Art & Soul classroom #202, at 9:30 AM, on Sundays for this special class.

The course topics include: 

• How We Got the Hebrew Bible: Formation of the Masoretic Text and Septuagint 
• with Dr. Steven Sheeley
• How We Got the Greek New Testament: Formation of the Canon
• with Dr. Larry McSwain
• How We Got the Latin Bible: Formation of the Vulgate
• with Dr. Steven Sheeley
• How We Got the Early English Bibles
• with Dr. Larry McSwain
• Modern English Bibles
• with Dr. Larry McSwain
• How to Select a Modern Translation/Transliteration/ Paraphrase
• with Dr. Steven Sheeley

    2014 Season of Advent & Christmas

EPIPHANY SUNDAY - Sunday, January 4

  9:30 AM - Church School

11:00 AM - Worship: "The Wonder of Epiphany"

*Chrismon Pamphlets and Buckner Daily Advent Guides are available in the Narthex and also at www.northsidedrive.org.

     The next Church Council meeting will be Monday, January 12, at 7 PM, in the Art & Soul Classroom, #202.

     *The Church Council consists of the Moderator, Senior Pastor, Treasurer, and Church Clerk, the chairs of the Diaconate, the Finance, Personnel, and Nominating Committees, the Adult Education, Children's, Communications/Technology, Facilities Management, Grounds, Landscaping, Hospitality, Marketing, Membership Development, Memorial Gifts, Missions, Preschool Liaison, Worship & Music, and Youth Ministry Teams, and the Auxiliary Triple E.

The Mysteries of Federal Monetary Policy and Its Impact on Our Lives

Jack Guynn, Federal Reserve (Retired)

January 13, @ 11 AM, Fellowship Hall

       Jack, an NDBC member, was part of the Fed's policy making group for many years under both Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke before he retired. He will share an insider's story about how policy really gets made and how it impacts the economy and our individual lives. 

     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.

January 21, from 1-2:30 PM

In the Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

@ 6:45 PM in the Fellowship Hall

     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!

SAVE THE DATE...January 25

Our Annual "Souper Bowl Sunday"

     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.

Submit YOUR pledge FOR

THE 2015 CHURCH BUDGET

through any of these ways:

   1- You can return your pledge card by "snail mail".

   2- 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.

   3- 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).

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

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

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

     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.

April 24-25, 2015

Blue Boar Retreat

Robbinsville, North Carolina

SPACE & TIME ARE LIMITED

  Reservation deadline is Sunday, February 15. Make your reservation with a $100 deposit (made out to Joyce Wilson) & give it to Joyce Wilson or Virginia Gilbert.

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

Virginia Gilbert (770) 333-8933

SUNDAY, January 4, 2015 

  9:30 AM - Church School

  9:30 AM - How We Got Our Bible Special Church School Class

11:00 AM - Morning Worship

  5:00 PM - Northside Drive Ringers

TUESDAY, January 6, 2015 

10:00 AM - Staff Meeting

WEDNESDAY, January 7, 2015

10:30 AM - Pastor's Bible Study

  5:30 PM - Northside Yoga

  7:00 PM - Prayer Shawl Ministry

  7:15 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal