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MARCH 2026 MILLS’ MUSINGS — MARCHING ON
According to the weather-wise, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Or, to rephrase that well worn saying, admittedly with less poetry but with much more alliteration, March musters much meteorological mayhem.
At least in the parts of the country where I have lived, March usually starts out cold and blustery. As the month unfolds, it is not surprising to encounter snowstorms, thunderstorms, or even both in the same week. But, roughly coinciding with the arrival of April, the weather patterns generally become less contentious as we again make our way out of Winter into Spring.
This year, the month of March contains a couple regularly scheduled changes. On March 8, we solemnly set our clocks ahead one hour to enter into the mysteries of Daylight Savings Time. In 2026, each of March’s five Sundays falls within Lent, the liturgical season that leads Christians to the festive celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday morning. And if we turn the civil calendar ahead a few more pages, we will see that this July 4 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States of America declaring that it is not a collection of colonies ruled from abroad, but an independent nation.
Such temporal transitions bring to mind another cliché: Time marches on. Winter is followed by Spring. The seasons continue their cycle. Current calendars will run out of months and be replaced by new calendars with the same months and most of the same events. And as time marches on, everything changes. Well, almost everything.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17, ESV).
The italicized phrase translates a technical term used in ancient Greek astronomy. It describes the shifting shadows caused by the movement of the sun, moon, and clouds across the earth each day. As James reminds us, God is “the Father of lights,” that is, God is the creator of the planets, moons, and stars, all of which have long been used to help us keep track of time. Time – the minutes and hours, days and seasons, years, millennia, and ages – is also part of God’s good creation. And all that God creates is under God’s control.
So God is not surprised when things on earth change. Changes in the weather or in a people’s form of government do not catch God off guard. Neither do changes in our churches or our families. At some idyllic moments in our lives, you and I might wish time would stand still. But we know it won’t. We know it can’t. Only God never changes. God’s nature and will do not shift like the shadows. The God who himself is light remains our one constant in this life, and in the life to come.
All of us know that some things will change for us this year. We may even know the date of the upcoming change: a graduation or perhaps a wedding. But there also will be changes we will not see coming. Some may be welcome, others troubling.
As we move into March and on through the rest of this year, let’s encourage one another to keep our focus on our God, “the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
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News & Announcements for Sunday, February 22, 2026
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 9:30-10:30. We look forward to seeing you!
COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICES CONTINUE WED. FEB 25
The Community Lenten Services continue Wednesday, February 25. 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 Madison Heights Christian Church, with Rev. James Braxton (from Rose Chapel Baptist Church) preaching. We look forward to celebrating Lent with you and our fellow brothers and sisters in the area.
WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 10:00 AM
Northminster’s Book Club will meet on Thursday, February 26th at 10:00 a.m. at the church. We are reading “Twice” by Mitch Albom. Please join us on February 26th to discuss the book! Also, bring a snack to share with the group. Come, even if you have not read or finished the book. And, as always, bring a friend.
Coming Soon…
INQUIRERS CLASS
Would you like to know more about our church? Are you interested in the possibility of becoming a member? This class will give you the opportunity to hear about our church, the denomination we belong to, and where we see God leading us. If interested, tell Pastor David or sign up in the Church Center app.
MISSION FOCUS FOR NEXT MONTH: BURUNDI HOPE PROJECT
Our mission ministry for the month of March will be 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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News & Announcements for Sunday, February 15, 2026
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 9:30-10:30. We look forward to seeing you!
ANNUAL MEETING & POTLUCK – SUNDAY, FEB. 15, NOON
The Community Lenten Services begin on Ash Wednesday, February 18. 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. David Garrison (from Northminster EPC) preaching. We look forward to celebrating Lent with you and our fellow brothers and sisters in the area.
WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 10:00 AM
Northminster’s Book Club will meet on Thursday, February 26th at 10:00 a.m. at the church. We are reading ” Twice” by Mitch Albom. Please join us on February 26th to discuss the book! Also, bring a snack to share with the group. Come, even if you have not read or finished the book. And, as always, bring a friend.
NORTHMINSTER PHONE TREE ANNOUNCEMENT SYSTEM
Northminster uses the One Call Now phone tree system for church announcements and the prayer chain. If you would like to be added to the phone tree, please click here to fill out the form.
Coming Soon…
INQUIRERS CLASS
Would you like to know more about our church? Are you interested in the possibility of becoming a member? This class will give you the opportunity to hear about our church, the denomination we belong to, and where we see God leading us. If interested, tell Pastor David or sign up by clicking here..
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News & Announcements for Sunday, February 8, 2026
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 9:30-10:30. 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.
ANNUAL MEETING & POTLUCK – SUNDAY, FEB. 15, NOON
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 3:30 PM
Women’s Bible Study will be meeting on Tuesday, January 6th at 3:30 in the afternoon. We are using the book, “Sermon on the Mount” by Jen Wilkin. Homework is to read and answer questions for week 4, “You Have Heard That It Was Said” – pgs. 62 – 73. Grab your book, your Bible, a snack you can share with the group and come on over for some amazing Bible study! If you don’t get your homework done, come anyway!! And, as always, we would love for you to bring a friend!! Any questions, talk to Karey or Sharon!
NORTHMINSTER PHONE TREE ANNOUNCEMENT SYSTEM
Northminster uses the One Call Now phone tree system for church announcements and the prayer chain. If you would like to be added to the phone tree, please click here to fill out the form.
Coming Soon…
COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICES BEGIN WEDNESDAY, FEB 18
The Community Lenten Services begin on Ash Wednesday, February 18. 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. David Garrison (from Northminster EPC) preaching. We look forward to celebrating Lent with you and our fellow brothers and sisters in the area.
INQUIRERS CLASS
Would you like to know more about our church? Are you interested in the possibility of becoming a member? This class will give you the opportunity to hear about our church, the denomination we belong to, and where we see God leading us. If interested, tell Pastor David or sign up by clicking here..
Read more...
AT-HOME WORSHIP GUIDE FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2026
AT HOME WORSHIP GUIDE
February 1, 2026
The Fourth Sunday
of Epiphany
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
Even when we worship from home, we begin by preparing our hearts. In today’s scripture, we will see how Jesus has lifted the veils that shield our heart and soul from the gracious gaze of God.. As you listen, let this song shape your heart for what God will teach us through His Word.
CALL TO WORSHIP — Isaiah 60:1-3
Even as we worship from home, God gathers His people through His Word. In the Call to Worship, we listen as God speaks, and then respond together in song, offering praise to the God who calls us as His own.
Leader: Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
People: See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
Leader: but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
People: Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
*OPENING HYMN Arise, My Soul, Arise
*OPENING PRAYER
O God who quickens the faith that brought Magi from the east, who kindles the hope that brought captives from exile, and who inspires the love that brings strangers together, let the light that shone in the darkness shine upon us. Let it shine within us, that it might refine our divided hearts. Let it shine around us, that it might illumine the way that leads to our neighbors. And let it shine above us, that it might reveal the Christ who manifests your presence. Amen.
*PRAISE SONG Christ is Mine Forevermore
PRAYER OF CONFESSION — Unison, based on Matt. 2:1-16; 6:33
Confession is our honest response to God’s grace. Because God is merciful, we do not hide our sin or pretend we have it all together. We come truthfully before Him, trusting that forgiveness is found in Jesus Christ.
God of grace, you have given us Jesus, the light of the world, but we choose darkness and cling to things that hide the brightness of your love. Immersed in ourselves, we have not risen to new life. Baptize us with your Spirit, that, forgiven and renewed, we may preach your Word to the nations and tell of your glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our light forever. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON — 1 John 1:5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Song of Response Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
After hearing God’s promise of forgiveness, we respond with praise. Whether singing along or listening prayerfully, this song invites us to rejoice in the goodness of Jesus and the grace we have received.
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — Westminster Confession of Faith 7.6
Each week we affirm our faith together, often with a passage from the Westminster Confession or Catechisms, sometimes with the Apostles or Nicene Creed. In doing so, we both profess to others and remind ourselves of the truths of our faith, truths that are not new but ones that believers have professed for hundreds of years (or more).
We believe that under the gospel Christ himself, the substance of God’s grace, was revealed. The ordinances of this New Testament are the preaching of the word and the administration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper. Although these are fewer in number and are administered with more simplicity and less outward glory, yet they are available to all nations, Jews and Gentiles, and in them the spiritual power of the covenant of grace is more fully developed. There are not then two essentially different covenants of grace, but one and the same covenant under different dispensations. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S PRAYER
Even as we worship from home, we join the prayers of God’s people everywhere. In this time, we bring before the Lord the needs of others, the concerns of our community, and the burdens of our hearts. Take some time for free prayer, and when you are finished, conclude by saying the Lord’s prayer together in unison.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
We encourage you to open to the Word of God in a Bible that you have at home with you. If you do not have a bible, if you are on a laptop or tablet, you can find the scripture reading to the right of the order of worship; if you are on a phone it will be found below the order of worship.
1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Pastor: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
SERMON: Rev. David Garrison
UNVEILED
Series: Blessed to be a Blessing
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. – 2 Corinthians 4:6
*CLOSING HYMN Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed
*BENEDICTION
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you,
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace,
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