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01
Aug '19
NEPC Student Ministries News & Info – August 2019
01
Aug '19
Things for the youth ministry at Northminster slowed down over the summer, but we’re cranking things back up as we get ready for the fall!
Welcome Rising 6th Graders!
We’re excited to have you join us! You are welcome to join us for Sunday school on Sunday mornings any time! John Lange and Sharon Bryant are our teachers, and they’d love to see you at 9:45 on Sundays.
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, August 7, ~6:30 @ Venue Cinemas — We’ll meet at Venue Cinemas around 6:30 to catch a fun summer movie! Which one? No idea – the schedule isn’t out yet. We’ll email once it is with specifics. Interested? Be sure to let Pastor Dave know!
Sunday, August 18, 5:30-7:30 — It’s time to bid adieu to summer. Join us at the Garrisons for a fun-filled game night, dinner included. This will be a great way to de-stress after the first few days of school and as you prepare for your first full week. This is also a particularly good event for folks who haven’t been to youth group before to come and meet the other students and get a sense for what we’re all about!
Sunday, September 8, 6:00-7:15pm — We officially kick off our fall semester and weekly youth group meetings on the 8th. We’ll start the fall with a series called, “Rescued from an Ordinary Life.”
Keep up to date on all the Student Ministries doings by clicking here!
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25
Feb '19
What 21st-Century Christians Can Learn From The Early Church – A Lent 2019 Table Talk Series
25
Feb '19
Those who study and observe the ebb and flow of culture say that we are no longer a “post-Christian” culture but have actually returned to a “pre-Christian” state. If that is true, we would do well to take a closer look at the Early Church and see what we can learn in order to more faithfully live and effectively share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Table Talk meets each Wednesday from 5:30-6:45pm.
Here’s what each week of this series will focus on:
March 13: “How the Early Church Was Made”
Acts gives us the “formula” for how the early church was made: the ministry of prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. This first session will look at God’s blueprint for the church as laid out in scripture and illustrated in the first century. In matters as diverse as apostolic authority, church organization and discipline, and the confession of doctrine through creeds and hymns, we’ll explore how the “apostolic” and “sub apostolic” church was established. Whether it’s making a church, growing a church, or running a church, the divine formula is still the same today—prayer and the Holy Spirit.
March 20: “Going, Loving, Dying: The Missionary Church in Action”
The early church was a missionary church. It was a church that went to the ends of the earth, just as Jesus had commanded. The early church was also known for its love. In a groundbreaking study in 1996, American sociologist Rodney Stark argued that the early church grew in direct proportion to its love for others. Finally, the church evangelized by dying—that is, through the ultimate witness of martyrdom. Just as Jesus had commanded, the first believers “took up their cross” and followed Him. Christians today have been called to the same missionary task of going, loving, and dying to self.
March 27: “Lessons from the Catacombs”
Were you taught that the catacombs were places of refuge in times of persecution? Did you learn that the fish symbol was a secret message? Well, think again! There are many persistent myths about the catacombs. These burial places did, in fact, serve an important purpose in the early church—but it’s not entirely what you think. This session will explore the surprisingly rich world of catacomb art that will model for us a dynamic way of reading and applying scripture as we live for Christ in an ungodly world. The message of the catacombs is the message of Easter: Christ has triumphed over death!
April 3: “Contending for the Faith: Heresy and Orthodoxy”
The battle over “sound doctrine” was the defining challenge of the early church. To this day, we recite creeds that were formulated in direct response to false teachings. Docetism, gnosticism, Arianism—these heresies struck at the very heart of the gospel by redefining the person and work of Jesus Christ. In this session, we’ll not only explore these heresies in their historical setting; we’ll also see that these ancient heresies continue to rear their ugly head in the contemporary church in America. Christians today, no less than the earliest believers, have been called to contend earnestly for the faith.
April 10: “Constantine: The Church’s Worst Nightmare?”
On the evening of October 27, 312, Constantine was standing near the Milvian Bridge in Rome. As armies positioned themselves for a decisive battle, the emperor saw a vision that forever changed his life, the Christian Church, and the western world. But did he really see a vision? To this day, historians debate the facts and the significance of what happened—but the results were unmistakable. Constantine dramatically “converted” to Christianity and the status of the western church would never be the same. This session will explore what happens when the church makes common cause with politics.
April 17: “The Death Throes of Paganism”
By the end of the Roman period, Christianity had triumphed over paganism in Europe. Temples and idols were destroyed. Pagan institutions were shut down. Profane literature was censored and burned. But paganism proved to be remarkably resilient. The goddess Venus was repackaged as the Virgin Mary. Devotion to the pantheon of gods was replaced by prayers to the saints. This session will explore how Christians of every age must be vigilant in defending the purity of the church. This is particularly true for 21st-century Christians, who find themselves living in an increasingly neo-pagan society.
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16
Jan '19
New Sunday School Opportunity – Beginning Sunday, January 27
16
Jan '19
Let me be up front: If you aren’t already attending a Sunday School class at Northminster, we’re inviting you (and your kids) to come to Sunday school. I suppose it’s kind of obvious that a pastor would make that request, but there’s more to it than that.. Let me explain.
I think most of us would agree that our faith is important to us, but when push comes to shove, we (yep, even me) tend to let the hustle-and-bustle of life crowd out the rhythms and practices of our faith. Before we know it, while still important, our faith has been moved to the back seat.
Jesus says in John 10:10 that he came so we might “have more and better life than we’ve ever dreamed of.” Being in the back seat of our life likely isn’t what he had in mind. And I think most of us would agree that while our lives might not be terrible, they probably aren’t exactly “more and better than we’ve ever dreamed” either.
Here are some things I know, mostly from what I’ve experienced in my own life:
- The closer I walk with Jesus, the closer I come to that “more and better life.”
- The more time I spend in God’s Word, the more grounded I am.
- The more I connect with other believers, the more hope I have.
I also know that, as parents, we want to pass on a faith to our children that is meaningful and valuable to them. Along those lines, I also know (again, from my own experience, but also from 20+ years of youth ministry) that there are three key components to passing the faith to our children effectively. They are:
- Teaching the full gospel of Jesus Christ (more than just “sin management” or whatnot),
- Parents being the primary ministers to their own children (don’t let this scare you), and
- Building as many intergenerational connections into kids lives as possible.
All of the above is why I’m inviting you to come to Sunday school. Beginning January 6, from 9:45-10:30, I’ll be teaching a new class that will meet in the Tatman Room. But actually, I would think of this as more of a “small group” type thing than “Sunday school.” There will be more discussion than lecture, more questions than dissertation. It’s an opportunity for us to dig into God’s Word together, to understand what it meant back then so we can better understand what it means right now, and to apply it to the nitty-gritty of our lives right now. The better we know God’s Word, the more we will know and live the Gospel, the easier it’ll be to share our faith with our kids through our lives. We’ll be starting out studying Paul’s letter to the Romans.
And that intergenerational part? Well, we happen to have a whole lot of folks in this church who would love the opportunity to love your kids in Jesus’ name. While we’re growing as disciples together, your kids will be being taught the Gospel as well and building those intergenerational relationships I mentioned a moment ago.
I know for many of you, Sunday morning is one of the few, precious opportunities you have to sleep in. I also know that getting the kids out the door to be at church by 9:45 can be a hassle. My intent is to make this class, as well as your children’s classes, worth the effort to be here.
I hope you’ll join us Sundays at 9:45 in the Tatman Room.
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19
Nov '18
December Table Talk Series: Aspects of Advent
19
Nov '18
Our December Table Talk series will be “Aspects of Advent.” There is a lot of nuance and “hidden” depths to the Advent and Christmas stories that we miss because the biblical authors assumed certain cultural, historical and prophetic knowledge that has been lost in the 2,000 years since the stories were recorded. Michael Babcock and Pastor David will explore several of these different facets in an effort to enrich and deepen our understanding and celebration of the incarnation of our Savior. Upcoming topics include:
November 28: Fulfilling Prophecy – Dr. Michael Babcock
December 5: Politics of the Times – Rev. David Garrison
December 12: No Room in the Inn – Rev. David Garrison
December 19: Questioning Christmas – Dr. Michael Babcock
December 26 & January 2: No Table Talk
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03
Oct '18
School Supply Collection
03
Oct '18
We’re close to two months into the school year, but there are many children that still don’t have basic and essential school supplies. Over the next few weeks we are collecting supplies for our local elementary schools to give to their students who otherwise would go without. Here are a few items students need daily:
- Backpacks (currently 50% off at Target)
- Pens
- Pencils
- Crayons
- Paper
- Folders
- Markers
The next time you head to Walmart or Target, pick up some of these supplies. You may leave your donations in the church foyer where you will see the Mission/Outreach/Evangelism display. Thank you in advance!
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02
Oct '18
Andrew Brunson Prayer Update
02
Oct '18
Andrew Brunson’s trial resumes next Friday, October 12. In preparation for that, we have gathered the following resources for you.
The first is a blog by Rev. Bill Campbell who was in the courtroom with Andrew at his trial last July. This provides not only first-hand insight into what it’s like in the courtroom, but also how things are for Christians throughout Turkey.
This is the first 13 days of a 31 day prayer initiative. The second half will be published once the outcome of his trial on October 12 is made known. These are short, daily prayers you can easily add to your daily quiet time routine or at any point throughout your day. Paper copies were made available last Sunday and are still available to pick up at church.
Call to Prayer and Fasting (October 2018)
In an effort to stand with and pray for the entire Brunson family, the EPC is issuing a Call to Prayer and Fasting for the week of October 8. We will make these available as a bulletin insert on Sunday, October 7.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support for Andrew. May his faithfulness in spite of the adversity he’s faced encourage you in your walk with the Lord as well!
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28
Aug '18
Table Talk Resumes Wednesday, September 19
28
Aug '18
This fall, we’ll launch our Wednesday evening Table Talk by concluding our series of studies Christian Faith and Other Faiths: Understanding and Outreach. We’ll begin with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), more popularly known as the Mormons. We’ll look first at the founding and the growth of the LDS. Then, following the pattern of our previous studies, we’ll look at points of contact and points of conflict between the LDS and historic Christianity. We’ll follow a similar outline in exploring the history, theology, and practices of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
If you’ve ever wondered about either of these faiths – what they believe, why they are so persistent about coming to your door, or how to engage them in conversation – bring your questions and join us Wednesday evenings, beginning at 5:30 PM.
Click here to learn more about Table Talk.
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28
Aug '18
Church Picnic – Sunday, September 23 @ 5PM
28
Aug '18
Annual Church Picnic
Sunday, Sept. 23, beginning at 5PM
We’ll eat at tables under the big tent in the backyard of the church by the shade trees. There will be games for kids of all ages, great food and live bluegrass music provided by the talented Moore family, featuring Axn Jxn! The church will provide hamburgers and hot dogs cooked on the grill, beverages, buns and condiments. All who attend are asked to bring their favorite picnic dish to share. This is a great opportunity to invite extended family, former members, or someone looking for a church family, and let them experience what a
fun group your NEPC family is! In case of inclement weather, picnic will be moved inside to the fellowship hall. Please contact the church office or see the sign up sheet outside the sanctuary to reserve your seat(s).
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28
Aug '18
Youth Group Kicks Off Sunday, September 9!
28
Aug '18
Every Sunday, beginning September 9
6:00-7:15pm
Youth Group returns on Sunday, September 9 at 6 PM! We hope you’ll plan to join us each week for fun games and opportunities to understand who Jesus is and who He is inviting you to become. All students in 6th-12th grade are welcome.
Our fall series is Inked.
Like a tattoo, our lives show we’ve been marked.
People get tattoos for a lot of different reasons, but in almost every case, it’s because they want to make a statement. To physically and permanently show others something about themselves, or what they believe, or what’s important to them. And the thing about tattoos? They’re pretty much forever. You can’t easily get rid of that statement, that mark.
The Christian life is a lot like a tattoo. When we place our trust in Christ, our lives are changed, transformed, marked. Permanently. And how we live our lives, the decisions and choices we make every day, speak as loudly as a tattoo. What does your life tell others?
Each Sunday @ Youth Group we’ll be exploring just what a life marked for Christ looks like. What are the characteristics and attributes that show a life that lives and shows “trust in Christ, expressed in love” (Gal. 5:6)? How do we live this out in our daily lives?
Join us each week as we explore those questions and more!
Want to learn more about the Youth Ministry at Northminster? Click here!
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07
Aug '18
Youth Ministry End-Of-Summer Back-To-School Cookout! Sunday, August 19
07
Aug '18
Sunday, August 19
6:00-7:30pm
@ The Garrisons
Students and their friends in 6th-12th Grade are invited to the Garrisons for a cookout as we celebrate the unofficial end of summer and beginning of school. We’ll grill some food, play some games, eat the food we grilled, and more! We look forward to seeing you there. See Pastor David or Karey if you have any questions.
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