News & Announcements for March 17, 2024

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

For the next two weeks in Sunday School, Pastor David will be answering your questions. What questions do you have about the Bible, our faith, Christian living, what the Bible has to say about (fill in the blank), etc? You can email us with your questions, which will give him time to prepare, or you can spring them on him in class and who knows what kind of answer you’ll get! Sunday School meets on Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM.
 
Looking ahead for Sunday School, there will be no Sunday School on Easter Sunday, March 31. Bob Mills will be teaching on Sunday, April 7. Beginning on Sunday, April 14 we will be studying the book of Revelation. We hope you’ll join us!
 

COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICE – WEDNESDAY, MAR. 20, NOON

The Community Lenten Services conclude this week, on Wednesday, March 20 at Madison Heights Baptist Church. Pastor David is preaching this week, and lunch will follow.  We look forward to observing Lent with you and our fellow brothers and sisters in the area.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 10AM

The Book Club will meet on Thursday, March 21 at 10:00 a.m. at Mary Wilhelm’s home. The book we are reading for March is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.  Whether you are able to read the book in time or not, plan to join us!

MISSION FOCUS FOR MARCH: GLEANING FOR THE WORLD

Our mission focus for the month of March is Gleaning for the World which provides relief supplies to those in need. Please join us on Wednesday, March 20, at 8:30 a.m. in the church parking lot to go and help in person. You may also make a donation by specifying GFTW on your check memo line.
 
HOLY WEEK
You’re invited to join us in our Holy Week observation and celebrations. 
        • Palm Sunday (March 24) – 10:30 am
        • Good Friday (March 29) – 7:30 pm
        • Easter Sunday (March 31)
          • Sunrise Service – 7:30 am
          • Easter Celebration – 10:30am

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News & Announcements for March 10, 2024

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:00-10:00.  We look forward to seeing you!

COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICE – WEDNESDAY, MAR. 13, NOON

The Community Lenten Services continue this week, on Wednesday, March 13 at Madison Heights Christian Church. Each ~30 minute service is at noon at a different church in Madison Heights, with a different pastor preaching each week.  We look forward to observing Lent with you and our fellow brothers and sisters in the area.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 10AM

The Book Club will meet on Thursday, March 21 at 10:00 a.m. at Mary Wilhelm’s home. The book we are reading for March is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.  Whether you are able to read the book in time or not, plan to join us!

MISSION FOCUS FOR MARCH: GLEANING FOR THE WORLD

Our mission focus for the month of March is Gleaning for the World which provides relief supplies to those in need. Please join us on Wednesday, March 20, at 8:30 a.m. in the church parking lot to go and help in person. You may also make a donation by specifying GFTW on your check memo line.

40 DAY CHALLENGE – CONTINUES THROUGHOUT LENT

For Lent this year, we invite you to remove one item from your closet or cabinets that you no longer need or wear and put it in a bag.  After the 40 days, donate these items to a place that can share them with someone who can really use them.  To help you get started, we are providing bags that can be picked up in the Narthex after worship.  See the February newsletter for more information.


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News & Announcements for March 3, 2024

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:00-10:00.  We look forward to seeing you!

COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICE – WEDNESDAY, MAR. 6, NOON

The Community Lenten Services continue this week, on Wednesday, March 6 at Rose Chapel Baptist Church. Each ~30 minute service is at noon at a different church in Madison Heights, with a different pastor preaching each week.  We look forward to observing Lent with you and our fellow brothers and sisters in the area.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – MONDAY, MARCH 4, 7PM

The Women’s Bible Study will meet on Monday, March 4th at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Judy Reyburn will be our facilitator and hostess this month. We are using the book, The Love Stories of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. This month, we will be studying Esther and Xerxes – Marriage to a Monarch.  Ladies, read your book and complete your workbook! Bring a friend. As always, if you don’t get your homework done, come anyway!!

MISSION FOCUS FOR MARCH: GLEANING FOR THE WORLD

Our mission focus for the month of March is Gleaning for the World which provides relief supplies to those in need. Please join us on Wednesday, March 20, at 8:30 a.m. in the church parking lot to go and help in person. You may also make a donation by specifying GFTW on your check memo line.

40 DAY CHALLENGE – CONTINUES THROUGHOUT LENT

For Lent this year, we invite you to remove one item from your closet or cabinets that you no longer need or wear and put it in a bag.  After the 40 days, donate these items to a place that can share them with someone who can really use them.  To help you get started, we are providing bags that can be picked up in the Narthex after worship.  See the February newsletter for more information.


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March 2024 Pastor’s Corner — This Changes Everything

 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. — 1 Corinthians 15:16-17

There are a lot of doctrines that are crucial to our Christian faith.  In the EPC, we have a list of them known as “The Essentials of Our Faith.”  Those essentials include what we believe about the Trinity — God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), God the Holy Spirit; the problem of our sin and our salvation in Christ; the church; the return of Christ; and the purpose and mission of every Christian.  All of those are important doctrines and in many respects define the boundaries of orthodox Christianity. It’s not so much that believing these things make you a Presbyterian, but that Christians throughout the centuries have held these doctrines as essential.  But in the paragraph about Jesus Christ is a statement that is, in many respects, more important than any other:

“[Jesus Christ] died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator.”

That’s it.  That’s the entire house of cards.  Everything we believe as Christians rises and falls on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  As Paul wrote in the passage quoted above, if Christ was not raised from the dead, everything else we believe is meaningless.  Conversely, in order to understand why and how Christ was raised from the dead, it’s necessary to believe most everything included in the Essentials of Our Faith.  As Thomas Oden writes,

No aspect of Jesus’ ministry was more minutely recorded than his resurrection. Due to the pivotal importance of his resurrection, the evidence for it appears to have been assiduously collected, transmitted, and embedded in the essential proclamation of salvation attested by the earliest Christian communities. The Gospel narratives seem to be saying to us that if we cannot credit the last validating episode of his life, we are not likely to grasp anything else said about him. (The Word of Life, pg 495)

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything.  It is the confirmation that everything the Old Testament said about Jesus is true; that everything Jesus said about himself is true.  It is the means of our sanctification, the way our sins are atoned for, the reason we are freed from the shackles of our sins.  It is the promise of our redeemed and restored souls, the hope of our eternal salvation, the guarantee of our future life with Christ.  It is the way God chose to restore all of broken creation to what He intended from the very beginning.  And it is completely unprecedented in human history, so much so that it is “a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Cor. 1:23).

We’ve heard the “old, old story” so many times that we can forget how radical, revolutionary and profound it really is.  That’s why we have the season of Lent in the church calendar.  The early church fathers recognized how important it is for believers to spend a significant period of time reflecting on what Jesus accomplished on Easter Sunday. During this season, I invite you to make a habit of reading 1 Corinthians 15 as part of your daily Scripture reading and prayer time.  Spend time meditating on and contemplating the wonder of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.   Allow the depths of the love of God made manifest through His Son Jesus Christ settle deeply in your heart, and share that message of hope and life with those around you.  That’s what we have to offer: because He lives, so we live.  That changes everything.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  — 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Blessings,

Rev. David Garrison


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News & Announcements for February 25, 2024

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:00-10:00.  We look forward to seeing you!

COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICE – WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28, NOON

The Community Lenten Services continue this week, on Wednesday, February 28 at Northminster. Each ~30 minute service is at noon at a different church in Madison Heights, with a different pastor preaching each week.  We look forward to observing Lent with you and our fellow brothers and sisters in the area.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – MONDAY, March 4, 7PM

The Women’s Bible Study will meet on Monday, March 4th at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Judy Reyburn will be our facilitator and hostess this month. We are using the book, The Love Stories of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. This month, we will be studying Esther and Xerxes – Marriage to a Monarch.  Ladies, read your book and complete your workbook! Bring a friend. As always, if you don’t get your homework done, come anyway!!

MISSION FOCUS FOR THE MONTH: BURUNDI HOPE PROJECT

Our mission ministry for the month of February is the Burundi Hope Project established by Mark and Susan May. The work of Burundi Hope includes schools for deaf and blind students, a fish farm, sewing center, chicken business, church support, and training for pastors and teachers. You may make a donation to this important ministry by specifying Burundi on your check memo line.

40 DAY CHALLENGE – CONTINUES THROUGHOUT LENT

For Lent this year, we invite you to remove one item from your closet or cabinets that you no longer need or wear and put it in a bag.  After the 40 days, donate these items to a place that can share them with someone who can really use them.  To help you get started, we are providing bags that can be picked up in the Narthex after worship.  See the February newsletter for more information.


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News & Announcements for February 18, 2024

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:00-10:00.  We look forward to seeing you!

GLEANING FOR THE WORLD – WEDNESDAY, FEB. 21, 8:30AM

Please join us in the parking lot of the church for carpooling. We will return to the church around 11:30 am. 

COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICE – WEDNESDAY, FEB. 21, Noon

The Community Lenten Services continue this week, on Wednesday, February 21 at Randolph Memorial Baptist Church. Each ~30 minute service is at noon at a different church in Madison Heights, with a different pastor preaching each week.  We look forward to observing Lent with you and our fellow brothers and sisters in the area.

2024 NEPC ANNUAL MEETING – SUNDAY, FEB 25, NOON

The 2024 Northminster Annual Meeting will be Sunday, February 25 following the worship service.  In addition to hearing from the Session regarding what God has done over the past year and what we anticipate in the year to come, we will also be voting on the pastor’s Terms of Call and electing the 2024 trustees.  We have a lot of things to share with you, so please plan to attend.  This will be a potluck lunch.  Please sign up with what you’re bringing on the sheet found on the table outside the sanctuary.

MISSION FOCUS FOR THE MONTH: BURUNDI HOPE PROJECT

Our mission ministry for the month of February is the Burundi Hope Project established by Mark and Susan May. The work of Burundi Hope includes schools for deaf and blind students, a fish farm, sewing center, chicken business, church support, and training for pastors and teachers. You may make a donation to this important ministry by specifying Burundi on your check memo line.

40 DAY CHALLENGE – CONTINUES THROUGHOUT LENT

For Lent this year, we invite you to remove one item from your closet or cabinets that you no longer need or wear and put it in a bag.  After the 40 days, donate these items to a place that can share them with someone who can really use them.  To help you get started, we are providing bags that can be picked up in the Narthex after worship.  See the February newsletter for more information.


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News & Announcements for February 11, 2024

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:00-10:00. We look forward to seeing you!

YOUTH GROUP SUPER BOWL PARTY – TONIGHT, 6:30pm

This Sunday evening is our annual Super Bowl Party at the Garrisons’ house from 6:30pm until halftime. It’ll be a great night of food, football, and fun (not in that order). See you there, and bring a friend!

COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICES BEGIN WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14

The Community Lenten Services begin this week, on Ash Wednesday, February 14. Each ~30 minute service is at noon at a different church in Madison Heights, with a different pastor preaching each week. This week’s service will be at Amelon UMC, with Rev. Derik Hamby (from Randolph Memorial) preaching. We look forward to celebrating Lent with you and our fellow brothers and sisters in the area.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 10 AM

The Book Club will meet on Thursday, February 15 at 10:00 a.m. at Liz Boothe’s house. The book we are reading for February is Wish You Well by David Baldacci. Come join us as we discuss our book of the month! Bring a friend, too!

MISSION FOCUS FOR THE MONTH: BURUNDI HOPE PROJECT

Our mission ministry for the month of February is the Burundi Hope Project established by Mark and Susan May. The work of Burundi Hope includes schools for deaf and blind students, a fish farm, sewing center, chicken business, church support, and training for pastors and teachers. You may make a donation to this important ministry by specifying Burundi on your check memo line.

40 DAY CHALLENGE – BEGINS WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14

For Lent this year, we invite you to remove one item from your closet or cabinets that you no longer need or wear and put it in a bag. After the 40 days, donate these items to a place that can share them with someone who can really use them. To help you get started, we are providing bags that can be picked up in the Narthex after worship. See the February newsletter for more information.
 

2024 Northminster Annual Meeting & Potluck

Sunday, February 25, Noon

The 2024 Northminster Annual Meeting will be Sunday, February 25 following the worship service. In addition to hearing from the Session regarding what God has done over the past year and what we anticipate in the year to come, we will also be voting on the pastor’s Terms of Call and electing the 2024 trustees. We have a lot of things to share with you, so please plan to attend. This will be a potluck lunch. More info about that coming soon.


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News & Announcements for February 4, 2024

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:00-10:00.  We look forward to seeing you!

MIDWEEK PRAYER – WEDNESDAYS @ Noon

Please join us on Wednesdays at noon for a time of prayer in the sanctuary as we bring our needs before our loving God.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 7PM

The Women’s Bible Study will meet on Monday, February 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Cindy Copp will be our facilitator and hostess this month. We are using the book, The Love Stories of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. This month, we will be studying Adam and Eve – The Original Love Story.  Ladies, read your book and complete your workbook! Bring a friend. As always, if you don’t get your homework done, come anyway!!

YOUTH GROUP TONIGHT! – FEBRUARY 4, 6:30PM

All students in grades 6-12 are welcome to join us Sunday evenings here at Northminster from 6:30-7:45pm.  Next Sunday (February 11) is our annual Super Bowl Party at the Garrisons’ house from 6:30pm until halftime.  See you there!

COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICES BEGIN WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14

The Community Lenten Services begin on Ash Wednesday, February 14. Each ~30 minute service is at noon at a different church in Madison Heights, with a different pastor preaching each week.  The first service will be at Amelon UMC, with Rev. Derik Hamby (from Randolph Memorial) preaching.  We look forward to celebrating Lent with you and our fellow brothers and sisters in the area.

MISSION FOCUS FOR THE MONTH: BURUNDI HOPE PROJECT

Our mission ministry for the month of February is the Burundi Hope Project established by Mark and Susan May. The work of Burundi Hope includes schools for deaf and blind students, a fish farm, sewing center, chicken business, church support, and training for pastors and teachers. You may make a donation to this important ministry by specifying Burundi on your check memo line.


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February 2024 Pastor’s Corner — A Slow But Steady Process

 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” — Isaiah 1:18

Being the snow lover that I am, I delighted in our most recent winter storm.  While far from the largest snow, it was the most we’ve received in a couple of years and more than enough to blanket everything in a beautiful coating of white.  It was a slow process that took most of the day, so slow you almost couldn’t see it happening.  But surely enough, as the hours ticked by, the world was transformed into a beautiful winter wonderland.

As I watched the snow falling and the slow transformation of everything, I thought of the passage from Isaiah quoted above.  No matter how deep our sins, God’s grace will cover them like snow.  Isaiah uses the color red for sin because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Heb 9:22).  The more crimson the color, the worse the sin.  And yet, no matter how crimson our sins might be, they’ve all been paid for, atoned for, by the shed blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Our souls are made as pure white as a fresh snowfall.

But we aren’t finished with our sin, are we? Even though our forgiveness and salvation are assured, as long as we’re on this side of Glory, we continue to wrestle with our sinful nature.  As Martin Luther famously said, “We are at once justified and sinful.”  Our journey with Jesus is a journey of becoming ever more sanctified (which means holy, or more like Jesus) and ever less sinful.  Sometimes we make great strides toward holiness, sometimes we slide back into our sins.  It’s a process, a journey, and it takes time.  Kind of like how it takes time for the world to turn white while the snow falls.

When the snow first started, the ground was still fairly warm.  Most of the snow melted immediately.  In fact, a lot of the snow melted before the ground cooled enough for the snow to begin to stick.  The tree branches were the first to collect the snow, but roads took a lot longer, and even when the snow began to stick, the roads first turned to a mushy grey.  Puddles in the yard where the already melted snow collected held out for as long as they could, but even they eventually froze and were covered over with snow.  Yet the snow was persistent and relentless, persevering until all was remade under a beautiful white blanket.

It is the Holy Spirit that is restoring our souls, one day at a time, moment by moment.  Just like the snowfall, the Holy Spirit is persistent and relentless with you.  Often, you might not notice that anything is changing at all.  But over time, as we continue to walk with the Lord in faithfulness and pursue Him in all things, we’ll begin to notice that we aren’t who we used to be, that our soul is gradually becoming more and more pure and white.  Set your mind and your heart on the things of God, and freely confess your sins — old, new, even the repeats —so He can “purge you with hyssop” so you can “hear joy and gladness” in your soul. 

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. — Psalm 51:7-8

Blessings,

Rev. David Garrison


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News & Announcements for January 28, 2024

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:00-10:00.  We look forward to seeing you!

MIDWEEK PRAYER – WEDNESDAYS @ Noon

Please join us on Wednesdays at noon for a time of prayer in the sanctuary as we bring our needs before our loving God.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING – TODAY AFTER WORSHIP

The Session has called a congregational meeting for this morning following the worship service in order to receive the report from the Nominating Committee.  The elder-nominees are: Anne Wilkins (class of 2024), Mike Henderson (2025) and Ron Reyburn (2026).

YOUTH GROUP TONIGHT! – JANUARY 28, 6:30PM

All students in grades 6-12 are welcome to join us Sunday evenings here at Northminster from 6:30-7:45pm.  We’re continuing a three week series looking at true-life stories from people in the Old Testament: “Old Timers: Priceless Advice from Old Friends.”  See you there!

COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICES BEGIN WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14

The Community Lenten Services begin on Ash Wednesday, February 14. Each ~30 minute service is at noon at a different church in Madison Heights, with a different pastor preaching each week.  The first service will be at Amelon UMC, with Rev. Derik Hamby (from Randolph Memorial) preaching.  We look forward to celebrating Lent with you and our fellow brothers and sisters in the area.

2024 OFFERING ENVELOPES NOW AVAILABLE

2024 Offering Envelopes are now available to be picked up.  You can find them in the church narthex.

FEBRUARY 2024 NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE

The February edition of “Highlights from the Heights” is now available in the newsletter rack outside the sanctuary.  Mailed copies will be sent this week.


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