"Weather or Not..."

     I remember a winter storm that visited the Washington, D.C., area when Liz and I lived there. The decision to cancel everything that Wednesday morning seemed iffy; but after the first foot of snow, we knew we had made the right decision.

     I'd only lived there about a year, but already I had learned the requirements of working in the fast-paced, high stakes, high-volume-traffic lifestyle. (Come to think of it, it was good preparation for Atlanta.) Then, the snow storm hit. Everything stopped. A city too busy, too intense, and too important to stop, did just that.

     It was in the days before the internet and before much telecommuting. We were just stuck.

     My church newsletter article that week was entitled something like, An Imposed Sabbath. I reflected on our sacred sequestration as geese flapped and flew over our house on their daily sojourn to the nearby pond, honking all the way. I thought about how we derive our worth by our quota, our accomplishments, and how much we can "squeeze in." "Busy, crazy busy," is a badge of honor.

     So, whether or not...or weather or not...life has a way of imposing upon us and reminding us that we're not as in control as we think we are. This is one of the lessons learned in the classroom of Lent. We began last Wednesday with Lesson One: the imposition of ashes. And we still have a lot to learn. Amen.

     The church's 2015 Pledge Campaign was extended a bit this year, in an effort to get sufficient pledges to fully fund all of the church's programs and missions. The final tally of 2015 pledges now shows 107 individuals or families pledging a total of $739,700. Included among those were gifts from long-time faithful givers to the church, and gifts from a number of new families in the church and others pledging for the first time. Once again, we have shown that we are a church family that shares its resources generously. The church has a history of managing its finances in a very conservative way, and so having pledges sufficient to cover the majority of its expected operating expenses is a necessity each year.

     A very big THANK YOU to everyone who has pledged for 2015. This enabled the Finance Committee and the Church Council to recommend to the Church-in-conference final approval of the 2015 operating budget, without any cuts in any individual program budgets. We can all feel good about all of the terrific things we can do and share as a result of the generous support from our congregation. We are certainly counting on other financial support this year from those who were not able to pledge, and we hope still more members will be able to pledge in future years or even for the current year. Again, thanks for your faithful support of Northside Drive Baptist Church.

Jack Guynn, for the Finance Committee

     The search for an organist at Northside Drive Baptist is now "officially" open. If you have a potential candidate you would like for us to consider, please let us know. The Notice of Vacancy for the position is available for viewing on our church's website, www.northsidedrive.org. There you may find three points of access for this information. Additionally you may view the full job description as set by our Committee on Staff. As the Notice indicates, all requested application materials should be sent electronically to: organistsearch@northsidedrive.org

The Organist Search Committee:

  Mr. Jim Hermance, Ms. Jackie Poole, Ms. Jo Meeks,  

  Mr. Paul Fletcher, & Dr. Irwin Ray, Chair 

     The NDBC Kids' Ministry is pleased to introduce two new childcare workers who have joined our childcare team recently. Our Sunday morning childcare team is now larger than ever. We have 7 people working during worship each week: 3 paid workers and 4 volunteers. On Wednesday evenings, 2 paid workers provide childcare from 5:30 PM through the conclusion of choir rehearsal.

     Christina Bayne has joined our childcare team on Sunday mornings. She is floating between the nursery and preschool classes during Church School and is in the preschool classroom during worship. Christina is CPR/first aid certified (adult, child and infant), holds a crisis intervention certification and earned a bachelor's degree in Social Work, specializing in child and family studies. She has lived in Metro Atlanta for almost 20 years and is the 4th oldest of 9 kids. Her work with children of all ages includes babysitting, nannying, coaching soccer, teaching ESL and nutrition to young Moms, and serving in a nursery setting for over 10 years. Christina also works full-time as an admissions counselor for Oglethorpe University.

     Karen LaRose has joined the Wednesday evening childcare team. With more than 30 years of experience with in-home and church day care settings, Karen earned her CDA certification and is recognized for expert child care abilities. She has training in early childhood and elementary education. She is also the mother of Stacie Holloway, one of our church members.

     Please introduce yourselves to Christina and Karen if you see them on a Sunday or Wednesday. We are thrilled to have them both!

     If you'd like to join our childcare team as a volunteer on Sunday mornings during worship, please let Mike Gregg or Karen Perry know. Volunteers are assigned to work during the worship hour about once every six weeks.

 by Mary Lou Swann

     I was proud of our NDBC children when they last sang in worship! How nice it was to see them lead "Praise Him All Ye Little Children" with joyful singing and with corresponding hand motions. Even more fun was watching the congregation sing this traditional song and move along with our singers in another inter-generational choir moment in God's house on the hill.

     Many of the very young Cherubs seemed more comfortable singing in our beautiful Sanctuary and in front of an encouraging congregation. Also, several of the Celestial Choir members sang more confidently and with more of an understanding of what it means to serve as young worship leaders.

     As our choir children learn hymns, Spirituals, psalms, and anthems to share in congregational worship, it is my hope that when they stand on the Chancel steps to sing that they will continue to feel the warm hospitality of their church family. Even more, my prayer is that these children will feel the love and presence of our heavenly Father wherever they sing these songs of praise. 

The NDBC Chapel

February 18-April 5

     The Stations of the Cross represents certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, of the special form of devotion connected with fifteen key events on the day of Christ's crucifixion. A majority of the images represent Jesus's walk through the streets of Jerusalem, carrying the cross.

     The Stations originated in medieval Europe when wars prevented Christian pilgrims from visiting the Holy Land. Thus, European artists created works depicting scenes of Christ's journey to Calvary to help pilgrims make a spiritual journey to Jerusalem even if they could not go physically. The faithful installed these sculptures, paintings, or images at intervals along a procession path, inside the parish church, or outdoors in order to have a devotional route in which to stop and pray at each "station."

     The object of the Stations is to help the faithful make in spirit a pilgrimage to the chief scenes of Christ's sufferings and death by passing from station to station, with certain prayers and devout meditations upon the various incidents of Christ's final days. The Stations of the Cross will be in the NDBC Chapel throughout the Lenten Season. Simply follow the instructions attached to the walls and walk the Way of the Cross.

     Dr. Steve Sheeley will be writing devotionals through the Lenten season. If you would like to be on his email list and receive his musings, you may email him at ssheeley4@comcast.net. May the longings of this Lenten season lead us to the resurrected Christ.

"On the Road to Easter"

February 18-March 25

6:45 PM in the Chapel

     The road to Emmaus (Luke 24) is our guide for the Lenten Wednesday night worship services in the Chapel. The road is a symbol of the "in between" time. The road is the journey between our homes and our destinations. During Lent, we are on the road to Easter, traveling the way of the cross to the resurrection. The walk to Emmaus by the two followers of Jesus will spur our theological conversations, our music, our holy silences, our prayers, and our worship. Join us on this journey to Easter every Wednesday night of Lent. The Lenten road will prepare our spirits, enliven our senses, and reveal to us new visions of Jesus.

On the Road to Easter --- Testifiers and Musicians:

February 25:  CANCELED due to inclement weather 

      March 4:  Kurt Thomas, testifier and musician

     March 11:  David Cook, testifier & Joel Stouffer, musician

     March 18:  Gene Ledbetter, testifier & Alyssa Aldape, musician

     March 25:  Liz Harris-Lamkin, testifier & Alan Johns, musician

February 28 & March 21

    As you may know, Northside Drive Baptist Church will host the Alliance of Baptists Annual Gathering in April. Any time we know "company is coming" we tend to look at our surroundings with different eyes. We have several small jobs that need some willing hands! Please mark your calendars for February 28 & March 21 from 9 AM-1 PM as two opportunities to spruce up the church. We will have the needed supplies ready, so simply bring yourself and join us in a day of preparation for this wonderful event! If you have any questions, please contact Susan Harlan. Childcare will be provided. 

     Next month the Youth will participate in March Mission Immersion at Park Avenue Baptist Church, Grant Park. This is a unique experience for youth to participate in a sustainable mission locally. We will stay at Park Avenue Baptist Church from March 27-29; the days leading up to Palm Sunday and Holy Week. It will be an exciting time to participate in the work of God and remember the call of Jesus to love others.

April 17-19, 2015

A Pastoral Invitation: Y'all Come!

by James Lamkin

    Northside Drive Baptist is one of the founding partner congregations of the Alliance of Baptists.

       As such, it is an honor to host this year's Annual Gathering. As pastor, I'm inviting you to come to the party.

        When Stan Hastey was hired years ago, he said that Northside Drive was the first Alliance church to invite him to preach; and he did so with joy!

    Already, my colleagues at Oakhurst Baptist, Melanie Vaughn-West and Lanny Peters, have been helping and consulting.

        Since the theme is, We've a Story to Hear from the Nations, I'll close with a quote from Nancy Mairs' book, Voice Lessons:

      "This is what we can all do to nourish and strengthen one another: Listen to one another very hard, ask hard questions, too, send one another away to work again, and laugh in all the right places."

        Sounds like an Alliance gathering, doesn't it? Y'all come.

Learn more and register today!

     There will be a 100th Birthday Celebration Luncheon for Gerry Humphries on Saturday, April 25, from 1-3 PM in the NDBC Fellowship Hall. Everyone is invited. More details to follow.

SUNDAY, March 1

  9:30 AM - Church School

11:00 AM - Morning Worship

  5:00 PM - Northside Drive Ringers

TUESDAY, March 3

 9:30 AM - Alliance of Baptist Planning Meeting 

WEDNESDAY, March 4

10:30 AM - Pastor's Bible Study

  5:30 PM - Northside Yoga

  6:45 PM - Lenten Worship Service

  7:00 PM - Prayer Shawl Ministry

  7:15 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

SATURDAY, March 7

  7:00 PM - Young Adult Unplugged