NORTHSIDE NOTES: June 1, 2016
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 Pastoral Reflections by James Lamkin"The Craft of Faith" The doing of any craft requires both knowledge and skill. For instance, when I pray for folk in the hospital, I often pray something like, "God, may the doctors and nurses have both the wisdom to know what to do, AND the skill to be able to do it...." Knowledge AND skill. Often, it takes tools, too. You may be a skilled and knowledgeable mechanic, but without wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers, you may not get far. (Although, a hacksaw or crowbar can do wonders.) Skill + knowledge + tools = a craft. I think of our common life together as a faith community. We teach and learn the craft of faith. That statement assumes that faith is neither an abstract notion, nor a set of beliefs. Faith is a way of living one's life in the presence of God. Like any craftsperson, we love the art of crafting. We endure the challenge of creating. We relish the gratification of production. And we get all this from God who put in six days of work in the Artist Studio of Genesis. Then Holy One took off the apron, put down the paintbrush, stood back and said, "Hey now! That's good." This summer is a good example of NDBC curriculum schooling us in the Craft of Faith. During the Church School hour there will be presentations regarding what's in the Bible regarding family, gender, and sexuality...all front page topics these days. Then, during worship, the sermons will explore the brave foretelling (or is it forth-telling?) of the Hebrew prophets when the covenant people of God forgot to, "love your neighbor as you love yourself." In the doing of church, we gain in knowledge of the Bible and theology; we use the tools of prayer and study and discernment and friendship and hands-on service; plus, we mature (in spite of ourselves) in loving and leading and challenging and healing and living and dying. Faith is not a given. It is a giving. As we give ourselves to God and to the world, we keep at the craft...the craft of faith. |
 Mike's Memo
by Michael Gregg"A Simple Life and Church" Think of something that has sparked joy for you recently. Hold that image in your mind. That image might be cuddling a new grandchild; it might be the look of your son or daughter on their wedding day; it might be holding your spouse's hand; it might be a song you heard; or it might be a moment of quiet prayer. I'm really learning to simplify my life these days. One way I have simplified my life is by culling a thousand books from my office over the past several months. I took some books home, I moved some to the church library, I gave some away, and yes, I threw away some well-worn books too. I wanted just enough books to fit in my bookcase, and nothing more. After I did this my workspace felt lighter... and so did my life. In my minimizing journey I have latched on to the teachings of simplicity guru Joshua Becker. He and his wife define clutter as (a) too much stuff in too small a space, (b) anything that they no longer used or loved, and (c) anything that led to a feeling of disorganization. Other minimalists like Joshua Fields Millburn define clutter as anything that "does not add value" to your life. Marie Kondo describes clutter as those things in her home that "do not spark joy." Peter Walsh goes even further, saying that clutter is anything that "interferes with the life you could be living." And William Morris says it this way: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." I want to challenge us to simplify our lives and our church. If we think about our lives, do we have too much stuff in too small a space? Are our schedules packed too tightly so that we don't have enough hours in the day to focus on others, our families, and our church? Do we hold firmly to traditions, ideas, and loyalties of which we need to loosen our grip? I wonder what our lives, our families, our church would look like and feel like if we had more space---more space to breathe, to pray, to ponder, to enjoy. What if we had more space in our hearts, heads, and hands to do what sparks joy in us and in the heart of God? So as we do the work of following Christ, let's remember the mission of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke and travel lightly, so we can do the good work of serving, healing, loving, and yes, living into God's good future. It sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? |
Upcoming Northside Kids' Events...
Summer Church School Kick-Off Party June 5 - in the Undercroft at 9:30 AM We hope you and your family will join us for our Summer Church School Kick-Off Party on June 5. We are excited to continue our "Music and Missions" theme from last summer. We have new curriculum this summer and fun new music for our choirs. We will play games, do mission's activities, and sing silly songs! Join us in the Undercroft at 9:30 AM for breakfast and for fun! Family Lunch & Activity June 26 - at Souper Jenny's after worship Do your kids love the Atlanta History Center? Do you love Souper Jenny? We have the perfect activity for you and your family. On June 26 following worship we will meet at Souper Jenny near the Atlanta History Center and follow with some fun at the History Center. If your family has a pass, this is the perfect time to come! We hope you will join us!! Family Lunch & Pool Play July 9 - at the Clark's at4 PM On July 9 at 4 PM we will have a Pool Play Day at the home of Jordan and Patti Clark. This is a time to have fun, relax, and play! With all the traveling and busying that goes on during the summer months, we want to offer a time to just relax and spend time with fellow families who are also exhausted from all the busyness of summer! Family Lunch & Water Play August 13 - at the Gilbert's from 11 AM-2 PM What better way to escape the summer heat than with a Water Play Day! The Gilbert's have opened their home to us again to have a fun day playing in sprinklers, having water balloon fights, sliding down the slip n' slide, and so much more! We hope you and your family will join us on August 13 from 11 AM to 2 PM. Lunch will be provided and fun is promised. |
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Summer Missions Project
Snacks for Summer Camps
The Andrew P. Stewart Center and Park Avenue Baptist Church provide summer camps for children living in the Pittsburgh and Grant Park communities. The Missions Team is collecting snacks for both camps.
Requested items are individual serving size juice boxes, granola bars, goldfish, fruit cups, applesauce cups, and chips (regular or baked). Collection baskets are available at the entrances to the Chapel.
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Summer Sermon Series
Not-for-Profits Prophets
Sundays, May 29-September 4 @ 11 AM in the Chapel
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May 29 - 1 Kings 18
Elijah: My God Can Whip Your God, by God
June 5 - I Kings 17
Elijah: There is Enough
June 12 - I Kings 21
Elijah: Payday Someday
June 19 - I Kings 19
Elijah: Still Small Voice
June 26 - II Kings 2
Elisha: Make It a Double
July 3 - II Kings 5
Elisha: Addiction to the Extraordinary
July 10 - Amos 7
Amos: Plumb Awful
July 17 - Jonah 3
Jonah: The Rest of the Story
July 24 - Micah 6
Micah: Let Justice Roll Down
July 31 - Zephaniah 1
Zephaniah: The Man with the Lamp
August 7 - Isaiah 6
Isaiah: Finally Comes the Poet
August 14 - Habakkuk 1
Habakkuk: Daring to Ask Why?
August 21 - Ezekiel 37
Ezekiel: Between Times
August 28 - Joel 2
Joel: A Theology of Entomology
September 4 - Jeremiah 18
Jeremiah: The Potter's house
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 Summer Lecture Series
Family, Gender, and Sexuality in the Bible
Sundays, June 5-August 28 @ 9:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall
~~~~~~~~~~ June 5 - Dr. David Bell
Dirt, Darwin, and Creation
June 12 - Dr. David Bell
Lilith and Gender Justice:
The Construction of the Fall and Feminine Gender
June 19 - Dr. Karen MasseyWas Dan Brown Right?
The Relationship Between Jesus and Mary Magdalene
June 26 - Dr. Lewis Bozard
To Value or To Vanquish:
Christianity's Mixed Messages About the Body
July 3 - Holiday Weekend
July 10 - Dr. Nancy L. deClaisse-Walford
Feminine Images of God in the Psalter
July 17 - Dr. Nancy L. deClaisse-Walford
A Feminist Reading of Psalms 90-92
July 24 - Rabbi Judith R. Beiner
Dreamgirls of the Bible: Women Who "Worked It"
A Look at Tamar and Ruth
July 31 - Rabbi Judith R. Beiner
Dreamgirls of the Bible: Women Who "Worked It"
A Look at Miriam and Esther
August 7 - Dr. Tina Pippin
Heavenly Women
August 14 - Dr. Steven M. Sheeley
Watching What We Say and Sing:
Committing to Inclusive Language
August 21 - Dr. Tina Pippin
Family Values in the Bible
August 28 - Dr. Steven M. Sheeley
Are We Really Reading Scripture? |
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 NDBC Book Club June 15, from 1-2:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall A book review of The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown will be Wednesday, June 15, at 1 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Susan Harlan will be the facilitator and Nancy Davis the hostess. Bring your lunch; dessert and beverages will be furnished. |
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THIS SUNDAY'S
LECTIONARY TEXT
June 5, 2016
1 Kings 17:8-16, (17-24)
Psalm 146
Galatians 1:11-24
Luke 7:11-17
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SUMMER WORSHIP
IN THE CHAPEL
NOW thru September 4.
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GAS TURNED OFF FOR THE SUMMER
Turned off - April 30
Back On - TBD
As a cost savings to the church, the gas is turned off in the Spring and turned back on in the Fall. This is part of the summer savings program with Infinite Energy. We will have an electric water heater for use during those months.
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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.
Mary Chance
Linda Clark
Aline Cofield
If you would like
your name placed
on our rotating TLP list, please give the
church office a call.
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JUNE
BIRTHDAYS
Steve Konenkamp - 1
Jolene Thomas - 1
Caitlyn Cook Furr - 2
Barney Moore - 3
Nancy Elaine Davis - 4
Jackie Poole - 5
James Gilbert - 6
Myrtie Cope - 8
Maria Schroeder - 8
Graham Mudd - 10
Larry Prince, Jr. - 10
Jacob Eassa - 11
Sandy Dunn Smith - 13
Rose Hidlay - 15
Gene Hill - 18
Deborah Oakley - 18
Len Willingham - 18
Joleen Neel - 18
David Fletcher - 21
Barbi Avery - 22
Dorsett Davis - 24
Melissa Boekhaus - 25
Joann Warmack - 26
Steven McAllister - 26
Lisa Bridges - 26
Jim Nicol - 27
Paige Whiffen - 27
Henry Hurst - 27
Lois Pickering - 30
Matthew Dew - 30
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TOUCHING TALIAFERRO WITH LOVE
June 20-23, 2016
Time to think about Touching Taliaferro with Love June 20-23! The landscape has changed
a bit and the time commitment is shorter,
but we still hope to provide times of stories, games, crafts, recreation and fun with the delightful children in Taliaferro County. If you can devote four days, one day, or even a half day,
join the team. For more information, contact
Susan Harlan.
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YOUTH ENCORE!
The Youth meet once a month after church---either in the afternoon or the evening. Encore! serves as a time into which we place various events, including but not limited to after-church lunches, afternoon outdoor activities, evening movies, service projects, and trips to nearby spiritual sites (i.e. Monastery of the Holy Spirit, etc.). Any given month's Encore! event will be publicized via email, Facebook, and the youth newsletter. For more information contact Jeffrey Dunkerley at
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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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PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Led by Susan Harlan
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday
@ 7 PM in the ParlorJune 2-Sept 1 the Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet in members homes. For more information call Susan Harlan at 770-377-3869.
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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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NORTHSIDE NOTES ARCHIVES
Did you miss an issue of our Northside Notes? Visit our website to read more. |
| CHURCH WEEK
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SUNDAY, June 5
9:30 AM -
Children's Church School Summer Kickoff
9:30 AM -
Adult Summer Lecture Series
11:00 AM -
Morning Worship in the Chapel
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TUESDAY, June 7
10:00 AM -
Staff Meeting
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