Pastor Vern's Top Ten
One more edition of the “Ten + Ten”…
1. Fasting For Spiritual Growth – Last September we invited the church to join in on a time of fasting and prayer for the month of September and we’re doing that again this year. Fasting can take one of many forms, including skipping a meal one day a week or fasting from certain foods, or fasting from social media, etc. The point is to give up something and turn that time or energy into focusing on our relationship with God. Pastor Marsha and Pastor Vern also send out a daily devotional through the month to encourage us in this. If you’d like to get that email and join us in this fasting, or want more information, please contact Marsha or Vern (marsha@northgatefmc.com or vern@northgatefmc.com). It’s not too late to join!
2. New Leadership Academy Starting – The third cohort of the Northgate Leadership Academy is forming now. We meet once a month for 8 months (September through April) and we watch a leadership talk and then read a book by the speaker in the following month. Some of this year’s speakers and authors will be Andy Stanley, Sheryl Sandberg, Brene Brown, Bryan Stephenson, and Patrick Lencioni. The church covers the cost of the books – what we’re looking for most of all is people who will make the commitment to read the book and be there every month because it's the interactions and conversations together that truly make the experience rich. We meet at 6:00 and we are usually done between 7 and 7:30. For more information or for an application email john@northgatefmc.com.
3. Want to Have Great Relationships With Your Adult Children? – A new small group will be meeting on Sundays at North at 8:30am called “Navigating Life with Adult Children”. This is a Chip Ingram study, and it will be facilitated by Debbie Vick. Everyone is welcome! Please let Pastor Marsha (marsha@northgatefmc.com) know if you’d like to attend or want more information.
4. Divorce Care and Grief Share Groups Are Forming – A new Divorce Care group will be starting on September 18 at 6pm at the North Campus. This group is open to anyone who has been divorced, whether or not they attend Northgate. And a new Grief Share group starts on October 5. Anybody who has suffered a loss, whether part of Northgate or not, is welcome to come to this helpful and supportive group. For more information please check out our website or contact John Chadwick at patti.chadwick@juno.com.
5. “Early Birds” Small Group – This small group will be meeting again beginning in September. It’s called “Early Birds” because it meets at 8:30am at North and all are welcome to attend! This group of people enjoy meeting together and are responsible for the rummage sales we’ve held the last couple of years, which have generated significant funds that have been used to support our work in missions in other parts of the world. If you’d like more information on this group, contact Pastor Marsha at marsha@northgatefmc.com.
6. “Soul Pain Revealed” – Pastor Marsha and Pastor Vern will share the leadership of this small group which begins in September. The group will be using a book and study guide developed by local psychologist Dr. Julie Caton, which is about the intersection of spiritual and emotional healing. Solidly grounded in our Christian faith this group will be helpful to anyone looking to live with more joy! Contact Pastor Marsha or Pastor Vern to sign up or go to the Northgate website (northgatefmc.com). The group will meet on Sundays at North at 9:30am.
7. Join Us for “In the Beginning” – On Monday nights at 6:30pm beginning September 13 Pastor Vern will be teaching on the book of Genesis. We’ll be studying a chapter a week, taking the time to get to understand God’s word better. All are welcome, and we’ll be meeting in person as well as by zoom. If you were part of the last Spring’s Revelation study you’ll be getting an email about this one; if you were not part of that study and want to join in on this one, please let Pastor Vern know at vern@northgatefmc.com.
8. “Out of the Whirlwind” – This is a new study being offered this October on Tuesdays at 6:30 (North Campus). Pastor Chris and Pastor Marsha will be leading it and the focus will be on the book of Job. Please sign up on the website or contact Pastor Chris or Pastor Marsha if you’d like more information.
9. Volunteer Help Needed – As we approach our launch day in September, we are looking for some volunteer help! We want to be ready to welcome people well, returning attenders and new guests and visitors too. To that end we need people to…
10. Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS) – MOPS will be meeting this Fall, beginning with a kickoff service on Wednesday September 22 at 6:30pm. One change to note is that MOPS will be meeting at our North Campus this year (8160 Bank St. Rd. Batavia) and meetings will be held on the 2nd Wednesday in the morning and the 4th Wednesday in the evening. For more information contact Pastor Marsha.
10+1. Women’s Journey on Wednesday Evenings – This women’s group will be meeting at 7pm at our North Campus and beginning September 12 they will be talking about “Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation”, a study by Ruth Haley Barton. All women are invited to attend. You can get more information on this group by contacting… (guess who!) Pastor Marsha!
10+2. The Men’s Group Also Meets on Wednesday Evenings – And they also meet at 7pm. Mike Marsh facilitates this group, and it is open to all of the men of Northgate as well as their friends and family members. They are going to be starting a new study in the book of Acts, so now is a perfect time to join in.
10+3. Celebrate Recovery on Thursday Nights – CR meets year-round and is a place to get support and encouragement for dealing with the various hurts, habits, and hang-ups we all face. The meetings are Thursday at 7pm and Pastor Dave is the pastor to contact if you’d like more information on CR. You can reach him at dave@northgatefmc.com.
10+4. Get to Know Northgate – The first three Sundays of each month the Northgate pastors will rotate leading “Northgate 101” at 9:30. This group will provide an opportunity to learn more about Northgate, ask questions of the pastors and also serve as the “Membership Class” for anyone who is interested in membership. Sign-ups aren’t needed – and all are welcome, whether you are new to Northgate or have attended for many years!
10+5. Get to Know the Pastors and Staff – And if you’d just like to spend some time with the pastors and staff in a more informal setting, join us for some refreshments and conversation on the 3rd Sunday of the month after the second service at North. Again, all are welcome regardless of how long you’ve called Northgate home.
10+6. Middle School Group – Middle School youth will be meeting again at 11am on Sundays at North. Pastor Daniel oversees our youth and young adult ministries and has a great team of people helping him to provide a worthwhile experience for young people. If you have any questions or would like to help serve in this area, contact him at daniel@northgatefmc.com.
10+7. Senior High Group – And the group for Senior High students will meet at the same time on Sundays – 11am. Again, contact Pastor Daniel if you have any questions.
10+8. The Friendship Class – This group is for adults with special needs and has been led for many years by Jenise LaLonde and Skip Smith. If you’d like to know more about this group, please contact Pastor Marsha. They meet on Sundays at 11am.
10+9. The Prayer Team & the Missions Team – Finally, if you’re interested in praying with others during the 9:30 service on Sunday mornings you can join our Prayer Team in Room #4. And if you’re interested in Missions (local and global) you can join the Missions Team which meets on the last Sunday of the month after second service in Room #1. All are welcome to either or both groups.
10+10. Dave Ramsey’s Legacy Journey – Join Rick & Sara Kent for this 6-week class that is designed to be the follow up to Financial Peace University. If you are in the stage where you are working on building wealth and giving it away, this class will help you develop a solid, biblical plan. This group will meet on October 10,17, 24 and November 7, 14, and 21 at 9:30 in Meeting Room 2/3. There is no cost to participate in this class. If you have questions or need additional information email john@northgatefmc.com.
That’s a lot of information, but we want to be sure you are aware of the opportunities for fellowship and growth that are available here. There are other opportunities as well, and maybe you have an idea for a group or want more information on these. If that’s the case, the best contact person is Pastor Marsha (marsha@northgatefmc.com) and you can check out our website too (northgatefmc.com).
In addition, Pastor Marsha will be at the Information Desk this weekend so you can talk with her about any of these opportunities. Thanks!
**********************************************************************************
You Can Count on This – Acts 27:21-22 – After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.” (Read Acts 27:1-26)
Paul is a prisoner on board this ship when a storm arises that is putting the ship and all its passengers in danger of being destroyed. Everyone is terrified and have stopped eating. (I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have felt like eating while on a ship that’s being tossed around by wind and waves!) Everyone is terrified, that is, except Paul, who takes this moment to show his leadership and his trust in the Lord. After a brief “I told you so” comment (see Acts 27:9-10) Paul encourages everyone on board to be courageous and assures them that while the ship may be destroyed, they are all going to make it out of this alive. How does he know? Because God told him through an angel! And Paul believes what God says. Look at verse 25. “I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”
Now, I know that there are plenty of times we might say, “If God would speak to me just as clearly through an angel I’d believe Him too!” Maybe we don’t often hear God speak to us through angels (though He might sometimes) but He has spoken many words to us through the Bible. And we can have the same faith that Paul has: that God will make things happen just as He has said He would.
When you’re not sure what you can count on in the world around you, know this: You can count on God keeping his word. So read what God has to say in scripture! And count on it.
1. Fasting For Spiritual Growth – Last September we invited the church to join in on a time of fasting and prayer for the month of September and we’re doing that again this year. Fasting can take one of many forms, including skipping a meal one day a week or fasting from certain foods, or fasting from social media, etc. The point is to give up something and turn that time or energy into focusing on our relationship with God. Pastor Marsha and Pastor Vern also send out a daily devotional through the month to encourage us in this. If you’d like to get that email and join us in this fasting, or want more information, please contact Marsha or Vern (marsha@northgatefmc.com or vern@northgatefmc.com). It’s not too late to join!
2. New Leadership Academy Starting – The third cohort of the Northgate Leadership Academy is forming now. We meet once a month for 8 months (September through April) and we watch a leadership talk and then read a book by the speaker in the following month. Some of this year’s speakers and authors will be Andy Stanley, Sheryl Sandberg, Brene Brown, Bryan Stephenson, and Patrick Lencioni. The church covers the cost of the books – what we’re looking for most of all is people who will make the commitment to read the book and be there every month because it's the interactions and conversations together that truly make the experience rich. We meet at 6:00 and we are usually done between 7 and 7:30. For more information or for an application email john@northgatefmc.com.
3. Want to Have Great Relationships With Your Adult Children? – A new small group will be meeting on Sundays at North at 8:30am called “Navigating Life with Adult Children”. This is a Chip Ingram study, and it will be facilitated by Debbie Vick. Everyone is welcome! Please let Pastor Marsha (marsha@northgatefmc.com) know if you’d like to attend or want more information.
4. Divorce Care and Grief Share Groups Are Forming – A new Divorce Care group will be starting on September 18 at 6pm at the North Campus. This group is open to anyone who has been divorced, whether or not they attend Northgate. And a new Grief Share group starts on October 5. Anybody who has suffered a loss, whether part of Northgate or not, is welcome to come to this helpful and supportive group. For more information please check out our website or contact John Chadwick at patti.chadwick@juno.com.
5. “Early Birds” Small Group – This small group will be meeting again beginning in September. It’s called “Early Birds” because it meets at 8:30am at North and all are welcome to attend! This group of people enjoy meeting together and are responsible for the rummage sales we’ve held the last couple of years, which have generated significant funds that have been used to support our work in missions in other parts of the world. If you’d like more information on this group, contact Pastor Marsha at marsha@northgatefmc.com.
6. “Soul Pain Revealed” – Pastor Marsha and Pastor Vern will share the leadership of this small group which begins in September. The group will be using a book and study guide developed by local psychologist Dr. Julie Caton, which is about the intersection of spiritual and emotional healing. Solidly grounded in our Christian faith this group will be helpful to anyone looking to live with more joy! Contact Pastor Marsha or Pastor Vern to sign up or go to the Northgate website (northgatefmc.com). The group will meet on Sundays at North at 9:30am.
7. Join Us for “In the Beginning” – On Monday nights at 6:30pm beginning September 13 Pastor Vern will be teaching on the book of Genesis. We’ll be studying a chapter a week, taking the time to get to understand God’s word better. All are welcome, and we’ll be meeting in person as well as by zoom. If you were part of the last Spring’s Revelation study you’ll be getting an email about this one; if you were not part of that study and want to join in on this one, please let Pastor Vern know at vern@northgatefmc.com.
8. “Out of the Whirlwind” – This is a new study being offered this October on Tuesdays at 6:30 (North Campus). Pastor Chris and Pastor Marsha will be leading it and the focus will be on the book of Job. Please sign up on the website or contact Pastor Chris or Pastor Marsha if you’d like more information.
9. Volunteer Help Needed – As we approach our launch day in September, we are looking for some volunteer help! We want to be ready to welcome people well, returning attenders and new guests and visitors too. To that end we need people to…
•Help Rene and George direct traffic in our parking lot
•Greet at the front doors
•Staff the Information and Volunteer check-in desks
If you are interested in any of these positions, or in exploring other ways to serve (Children’s Ministry Team; Tech Team; Snow Removal Team, etc.), please let Pastor John know at john@northgatefmc.com, and please receive our heart-felt thanks!10. Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS) – MOPS will be meeting this Fall, beginning with a kickoff service on Wednesday September 22 at 6:30pm. One change to note is that MOPS will be meeting at our North Campus this year (8160 Bank St. Rd. Batavia) and meetings will be held on the 2nd Wednesday in the morning and the 4th Wednesday in the evening. For more information contact Pastor Marsha.
10+1. Women’s Journey on Wednesday Evenings – This women’s group will be meeting at 7pm at our North Campus and beginning September 12 they will be talking about “Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation”, a study by Ruth Haley Barton. All women are invited to attend. You can get more information on this group by contacting… (guess who!) Pastor Marsha!
10+2. The Men’s Group Also Meets on Wednesday Evenings – And they also meet at 7pm. Mike Marsh facilitates this group, and it is open to all of the men of Northgate as well as their friends and family members. They are going to be starting a new study in the book of Acts, so now is a perfect time to join in.
10+3. Celebrate Recovery on Thursday Nights – CR meets year-round and is a place to get support and encouragement for dealing with the various hurts, habits, and hang-ups we all face. The meetings are Thursday at 7pm and Pastor Dave is the pastor to contact if you’d like more information on CR. You can reach him at dave@northgatefmc.com.
10+4. Get to Know Northgate – The first three Sundays of each month the Northgate pastors will rotate leading “Northgate 101” at 9:30. This group will provide an opportunity to learn more about Northgate, ask questions of the pastors and also serve as the “Membership Class” for anyone who is interested in membership. Sign-ups aren’t needed – and all are welcome, whether you are new to Northgate or have attended for many years!
10+5. Get to Know the Pastors and Staff – And if you’d just like to spend some time with the pastors and staff in a more informal setting, join us for some refreshments and conversation on the 3rd Sunday of the month after the second service at North. Again, all are welcome regardless of how long you’ve called Northgate home.
10+6. Middle School Group – Middle School youth will be meeting again at 11am on Sundays at North. Pastor Daniel oversees our youth and young adult ministries and has a great team of people helping him to provide a worthwhile experience for young people. If you have any questions or would like to help serve in this area, contact him at daniel@northgatefmc.com.
10+7. Senior High Group – And the group for Senior High students will meet at the same time on Sundays – 11am. Again, contact Pastor Daniel if you have any questions.
10+8. The Friendship Class – This group is for adults with special needs and has been led for many years by Jenise LaLonde and Skip Smith. If you’d like to know more about this group, please contact Pastor Marsha. They meet on Sundays at 11am.
10+9. The Prayer Team & the Missions Team – Finally, if you’re interested in praying with others during the 9:30 service on Sunday mornings you can join our Prayer Team in Room #4. And if you’re interested in Missions (local and global) you can join the Missions Team which meets on the last Sunday of the month after second service in Room #1. All are welcome to either or both groups.
10+10. Dave Ramsey’s Legacy Journey – Join Rick & Sara Kent for this 6-week class that is designed to be the follow up to Financial Peace University. If you are in the stage where you are working on building wealth and giving it away, this class will help you develop a solid, biblical plan. This group will meet on October 10,17, 24 and November 7, 14, and 21 at 9:30 in Meeting Room 2/3. There is no cost to participate in this class. If you have questions or need additional information email john@northgatefmc.com.
That’s a lot of information, but we want to be sure you are aware of the opportunities for fellowship and growth that are available here. There are other opportunities as well, and maybe you have an idea for a group or want more information on these. If that’s the case, the best contact person is Pastor Marsha (marsha@northgatefmc.com) and you can check out our website too (northgatefmc.com).
In addition, Pastor Marsha will be at the Information Desk this weekend so you can talk with her about any of these opportunities. Thanks!
**********************************************************************************
You Can Count on This – Acts 27:21-22 – After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.” (Read Acts 27:1-26)
Paul is a prisoner on board this ship when a storm arises that is putting the ship and all its passengers in danger of being destroyed. Everyone is terrified and have stopped eating. (I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have felt like eating while on a ship that’s being tossed around by wind and waves!) Everyone is terrified, that is, except Paul, who takes this moment to show his leadership and his trust in the Lord. After a brief “I told you so” comment (see Acts 27:9-10) Paul encourages everyone on board to be courageous and assures them that while the ship may be destroyed, they are all going to make it out of this alive. How does he know? Because God told him through an angel! And Paul believes what God says. Look at verse 25. “I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”
Now, I know that there are plenty of times we might say, “If God would speak to me just as clearly through an angel I’d believe Him too!” Maybe we don’t often hear God speak to us through angels (though He might sometimes) but He has spoken many words to us through the Bible. And we can have the same faith that Paul has: that God will make things happen just as He has said He would.
When you’re not sure what you can count on in the world around you, know this: You can count on God keeping his word. So read what God has to say in scripture! And count on it.
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