NORTHSIDE NOTES: December 2, 2015
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 Pastoral Reflections
by James Lamkin
"26 Gratitudes" December may be the season for "candles in the window and carols at the spinet," but I am not near done with Thanksgiving. I am filing for an extension. Two weeks ago, I ran a marathon for a run down Memory Lane at the Chickamauga Battlefield just south of Chattanooga. Like every other marathon, the course was 26.2 miles; but I made it a run down memory lane. I had been told, "As the miles add up, the mind wears down." My mental toughness was a quart low to begin with. So, I took with me 26 Gratitudes and rationed them one per mile. I savored, laughed, cried, grieved, hoped...but most of all, gave thanks. Liz was on the list, twice: Mile 1 and Mile 5. HJ, my granddaughter, was there; plus, my grandsons; plus my mother and father and sister, and my son and daughter. They were miles 2, 12, 13, 15, and 14. The Pastor's Wednesday Morning Bible Study was Mile 20. (I smiled as I thought of Tom Hicks' questions and Raymond Jones' stories.) NDBC, as a whole, was Mile 24. I used the time to reflect on the spiritual/relational work you and I have done as pastor and congregation over the years. Remarkably, we have kept our footing, even on the uneven dance floor of nostalgia and hope. We have moved to the music of God. Each mile had a name and a memory and a gratitude. It was not a bad way to spend an early autumn Saturday. The experience of counting my blessings as I counted down the miles, graced my day more than I can say. In fact, I suggested it as Thanksgiving homework for the whole congregation. The challenge was...as you gathered at holiday tables...to bring 26 Gratitudes with you. Remember Momma. Recollect Daddy. Discover that the pain you endured a few years ago not only broke you down, but broke you open; and now your heart holds a lot more gratitude and grace. So, there. I just needed to say it: I'm not near done with Thanksgiving. 26 Gratitudes are just the beginning. Then again, given the abundance of Northside Drive Baptist Church's cornucopia of blessings, Christmas can't be that far behind. |
 Habitat Build 2015 From Foundation to Dedication in seven volunteer workdays! Thanks to the 30+ NDBC members who participated through child care, food, construction, and landscaping, the family will be able to enjoy Christmas in a new home. And thank you to all NDBC members who made the build possible through their gifts to the church budget.
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Advent Family Devotional  by Anna Kate Wilson Director of Children's Ministries The Northside Kids Children's Ministry is providing an illustrated Advent family devotional guide to all families. We encourage your family to put the guide on your kitchen table and work on it each week with your children. It is important to learn about and follow the events and traditions of Advent. Children often get caught up in the materialistic part of Christmas. We hope our children understand that while Santa Claus and presents are a fun part of the holiday season, the birth of Christ is most important. Each week holds a new story and a new activity with coloring pages, a calendar, and games to play with the whole family. We hope you use the illustrated Advent family devotional guide and as a family, journey through the season of Advent.
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Anticipating God...
2015 SEASONS OF Advent & Christmas
Northside Drive Baptist Church
2nd WEEK of ADVENT - Sunday, December 6
9:30 AM - Advent Combined Adult Church School
11:00 AM - Worship: "Anticipating God's Peace"
Tuesday, December 8
11:00 AM - Triple E Christmas Party
Friday, December 11
10:30 AM - Preschool Christmas Pageant
Saturday, December 12
9:30 AM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
6:00 PM - Sanctuary Choir Christmas Party
3rd WEEK of ADVENT - Sunday, December 13
Gaudete Sunday
9:30 AM - Advent Combined Adult Church School
11:00 AM - Worship: "Anticipating God's Joy" Sanctuary Choir,
Children's Choirs and the Northside Drive Ringers
6:00 PM - A Baptist Moravian Lovefeast
7:30 PM - Youth Christmas Dinner
Tuesday, December 15
11:30 AM - Staff Christmas Luncheon
7:00 PM - Choral Guild Concert
4th WEEK of ADVENT - Sunday, December 20
9:30 AM - Advent Combined Adult Church School
11:00 AM - Worship: "Anticipating God's Love"
Christmas Eve - Thursday, December 24
4:00 PM - Family Vespers
10:30 PM - Lessons, Carols, and Communion
1st Sunday of Christmas - Sunday, December 27
9:30 AM - Advent Combined Adult Church School
11:00 AM - Worship
EPIPHANY SUNDAY - Sunday, January 3
9:30 AM - Church School
11:00 AM - Worship
*Chrismons Pamphlets and Buckner Daily Advent Guides are available in the Narthex and also at www@northsidedrive.org.
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 Christmas Poinsettias (revised) Orders received November 29-December 13
It has long been our tradition at Northside Drive to give poinsettias each Christmas in honor/memory/thankfulness for our friends and family. This year our annual Poinsettia display will be in place on Sunday, December 20. After the 10:30 PM service on December 24, you will be able to take home a memorial Poinsettia to enjoy throughout the Christmas season. Each Poinsettia plant is only $20. Order envelopes are available in the Narthex for your use-simply fill it out & drop it in the offering plate. Or call Rose Hidlay at 404-237-8621 with the number of Poinsettias you wish to give, the memorial details, and mail your check to the church office. The deadline for orders is December 13.
*U.S. tax regulations do not allow us to offer contribution credit for Easter & Christmas plants because the plants are returned to the giver.
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Children's Cookie and Choir Party
December 5 at 10 AM in the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary
Our second annual Cookie and Choir Party for Children's Ministry is on December 5 at 10 AM. Last year we had over forty kids and parents attend this fun and meaningful event. The children's choirs will practice their songs for Christmas while taking breaks to bake and decorate cookies. Then the children and parents will take the cookies to homebound church members. This is a fun time for kids and a great ministry to our homebound members.
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Young Adult & Young Parent Christmas Party
December 4 at 7 PM at Jordan & Patti Clark's Home
Patti and Jordan Clark have generously offered to be the host the 20s and 30s young adult and parents Christmas party on Friday, December 4 at 7 PM. We'll have good food, Christmas fun, and we get to leave our kids at home. If you connect with young adults or young parents in the church, please let them know of this great time of fun and fellowship. You may contact Mallory Davis or Graham Mudd for more information and to RSVP.
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 Triple E "Music of the Season" with Hal Meeks December 8 @ 11 AM in the Fellowship Hall
Come enjoy songs and stories of Christmas with our own great entertainer and MC, Hal Meeks. We'll have great fun around the tables as we listen, reminisce, and sing along. Bring your favorite Christmas memories to share.
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Gaudete Sunday:
A Service of Expectant Joy
Sunday, December 13, at 11 AM, in the Sanctuary
Gaudete Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western Church, symbolized by the rose candle on the Advent wreath. The day takes its name from the Latin word Gaudete ("Rejoice"), the first word of the intro of this day's Mass: Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete.
On December 13, at 11 AM, the Northside Drive Baptist Church music ministry will feature the Sanctuary Choir, the Northside Drive Ringers, and the Children's Choirs.
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Reception for the Schleichers
Sunday, December 13, 2015 12:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall Kristofer and Karen and Louisa and Benjamin and Susanna are moving to Ft. Worth, Texas! We celebrate with them...but grieve in seeing them go.Kristofer was the Youth Minister at NDBC "back in the day." He has been a part of us since 1984. More than 30 years! Karen Perry has provided strong leadership to our Children's Ministry. And we have loved their kids.Following worship on the 13th, we will gather for a light reception in Fellowship Hall to bless them as they go. |
 A Baptist Moravian Lovefeast Sunday, December 13, 2015
6 PM in the Chapel
The Christmas Eve Lovefeast, with its lighted candles, is one of the most beautiful services in the Moravian Church. In recent years, it has made its way into the hearts of a few Baptists too! Come and join us as the Youth and others lead in a service of simple Christmas joy. We will light beeswax candles, share sweet buns and coffee, hear stories of Christmas traditions, and sing our Christmas carols.
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Missions Corner
Christmas Giving at Northside Drive
As in the past several years, NDBC will be providing gifts to both children and adults through three ministries...
Buckhead Christian Ministry's Joyous Toys program helps Atlanta's children, infants to teens. Parents are able to select toys and other items for their children and volunteers on site assist with the wrapping. Suggested gifts include: character toys (Dora, superheroes, Disney, etc.), African American and Hispanic doll sets, Transformers, Stereo headphones, sports equipment, Fisher Price sets, Baby Alive doll sets, Tonka trucks or $10-$25 gift cards to Walmart or Target. Please return the unwrapped gifts by December 6.
The Extension and Barbara J. Crafton Center are located in Marietta and assist men and women who are in counseling to overcome addiction. This ministry provides homes for both men and women who are homeless. Suggested items include toiletries (regular or hotel size), twin sheets, towels and washcloths, blankets, winter shirts, jackets, gloves, and scarves. Please return the unwrapped gifts by December 6.
Morningstar Children and Family Services provides both residential and foster care for some of Georgia's most vulnerable children. NDBC is sponsoring five children who live on the campus in Brunswick. Your gift from their wish lists will make their Christmas brighter. Take a tag from the Giving Tree and return the unwrapped gift by December 6.
Brochures are available in the Narthex. Questions? Please contact Susan Harlan 770-377-3869 or Barbara Atchley 770-436-0709. |
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Dr. Steve Sheeley Daily Advent Devotions
Northside Drive member Steve Sheeley will be writing electronic devotionals through the Advent season. If you would like to be on his email list and receive his musings, you may email him at ssheeley4@comcast.net. For other Advent devotionals visit our Bible Study and Fellowship page at www.northsidedrive.org.
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"Christmas with the Choral Guild"
December 15 @ 7:30 PM in the Sanctuary
Featuring Vivaldi's Gloria
The mission of Choral Guild of Atlanta is to program the outstanding choral works from all musical periods, including works that are not often performed. See George Taylor for ticket information. NDBC member ticket price is $10.
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| Church Council
There is no scheduled meeting of the Church Council during the month of December. The next meeting will occur on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, at 7 PM in the Art & Soul classroom. (This meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, January 19 because Monday, January 18 is the MLK holiday.)
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 Advent Adult Church School
Practicing the Virtues of Advent
Dr. Becky Shoaf
December 6, 13, 20 & 27
9:30 AM in Room #202
Amid the holiday rush, observing the season of Advent creates an inward calm. When we approach the four weeks before Christmas as opportunities for reflection on Christ's birth, and when we put ourselves in the shoes of the Israelites long ago as they longed for the Messiah to come, we keep ourselves focused on what really matters in our lives.
The church has traditionally assigned four virtues to each of the four Sundays in Advent: hope, peace, joy, and love. Our lessons during Advent will explore these virtues.
May God instill these virtues in each of us this Advent, not in spite of the busyness of the season, but in the very midst of the hustle and bustle as we love God and love our neighbors.
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 2016 Pledging Submit YOUR pledge for the 2016 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 (404-237-8621), ask for Rose, and tell her your pledge (or even leave her a voice mail). |
Church Week
SUNDAY, December 6, Advent II
9:30 AM - Church School
9:30 AM - Adult Advent Church School
10:25 AM - Children's Choirs Rehearsals
11:00 AM - Morning Worship
12:15 PM - Young Adult: At the Table
12:15 PM - Youth Encore!
TUESDAY, December 8
11:00 AM - Triple E
12:30 PM - Weekday Preschool Ministry Team Meeting
WEDNESDAY, December 9
10:30 AM - Pastor's Bible Study
THURSDAY, December 10
7:15 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
FRIDAY, December 11
10:30 AM - Preschool Christmas Pageant
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CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS
The Church and Preschool
Holiday Office Hours:
Dec 24 & 25 - closed
Dec 31 & Jan 1 - closed
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CHURCH COUNCIL
There is no scheduled meeting of the Church Council during the month of December. The next meeting will occur on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, at 7 PM in the Art & Soul classroom. (This meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, because Monday, January 18 is the MLK holiday.)
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THIS SUNDAY'S
LECTIONARY TEXT
December 6, 2015
Malachi 3:1-4
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6
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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.
Dene Maltbie
Helen White
Miriam Wright
Nelle Holbrook
If you would like your name placed on our rotating TLP list, please give the church office a call.
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DECEMBER
BIRTHDAYS
Paxton Cooper - 1
Steven Sheeley - 2
Stacie Holloway - 2
Mary Lester - 5
Susan Richards - 5
Hans-Luca Davis - 6
Syd Janney - 7
Victoria Tunon - 7
Laura Butts - 7
Caleb Younger - 7
Lisa Barksdale - 8
Andrew Hardin - 9
Jack Guynn - 10
Ava Grace Cook - 10
Elaine Eassa - 13
Clay Manley - 17
Charlotte Dalke - 20
Brian Hendrix - 21
Carol Younger - 22
Jenn Knight - 23
Joan McIntyre - 24
Emma Chandler - 27
Joseph Cassata - 27
Bill Jones - 28
Mary Chance - 28
Amanda Gregg - 28
Ruth Trager - 28
Muriel Hardy - 29
Jeanne Goodwill - 30
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| ROMEOS
(Retired Older Men
Eating Out)
Every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 12 PM-1 PM (bring your lunch money)!
Piccadilly Cafeteria
1715 Howell Mill Rd
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PASTOR'S WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
We meet weekly at 10:30 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. |
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
Led by Susan Harlan
Every 1st & 3rd
Thursday
@ 7 PM in the Parlor
For more information call Susan Harlan at 770-377-3869.
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CHILDREN'S CHOIRS REHEARSALS
The Cherub ChoirChildren ages 2 through Kindergarten Directed by Ms. Amanda Sunday mornings from 10:25-10:50 AM in the Room 103 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Celestial ChoirChildren in grades 1-5 Directed by Ms. Mary Lou Sunday mornings from 10:25-10:50 AM in Room 116 |
AT THE TABLE
Off Campus After Worship
(Meeting at restaurants,
at the church and
in participants' homes.)
Don't want to get up before 9 AM? Join this class of young singles and couples in their 20s and 30s to nosh on the Word in an informal setting at a local restaurant. They will gather around the table during lunch after the worship service every Sunday. This class will examine the lectionary texts, deconstruct the sermon of the day, and fellowship together with food and drink. Teachers: Andrew Hardin and Brian Knight |
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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.
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THE PAPERLESS PINNACLE
The Pinnacle is emailed as a link 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 call404-237-8621 or email us
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CHURCH MAINTENANCE SUGGESTION BOX
Rose Hidlay,
Business Manager There is now a way for church members to deal with church maintenance issues as they arise. There is a clipboard located at the Business Office entrance door. If you see something that needs to be repaired or replaced, jot it down on the clipboard. I will look into it and get it taken care of. Willie Hicks, one of our custodians, and I appreciate your input, and will work on the problems as they arise. |
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