Pastor Vern's Top Ten

1. PrimeTimers is Returning! We are so glad to report that the Prime Timers group is coming back! Their first gathering will be on Thursday October 14 at noon at North in the Café. This group is for anyone 55 years or older and is geared toward good fellowship and guest speakers. Please note that things will be slightly different for now: no potluck lunch. Instead, everyone is asked to please bring a sack lunch. Dessert and coffee will be provided.

2. Legacy Journey Class Rick and Sara Kent will be leading a Legacy Journey class focusing on financial health. The class will meet on Sundays at 9:30am and it’s suggested that participants have attended Financial Peace University at some point. This is a video/discussion group and Rick and Sara will be covering the following topics:
•October 17 "Snares and Dares"
•October 24 "The Pinnacle Point"
•November 7 "The Law of Great Gain"
•November 14 "Safeguarding your Legacy"
•November 21 "Generational Legacy
•December 5 "Called to Generosity"
For more information contact Pastor Marsha at marsha@northgatefmc.com.

3.  It’s Time for Another Kto4 Movie Night Parents are invited to bring their children in grades Kto4 to the North Campus on Saturday October 16 for the next Kids Movie Night. This is your chance to worship or go to dinner or just hang out together while the kids are cared for by our Children’s Ministry Team.  The doors open at 5:30pm and for more information you can contact Leah at leah@northgatefmc.com.

4. Polar Plunge On December 4 @ 2:00PM your most beloved Pastor Daniel will be leading the "Free to Freeze” Northgate plunge squadron at Woodlawn Beach in Buffalo. “I would love it if we could get a large team to plunge and party! Even if you don’t want to plunge (enduring profound and extensive ridicule) it would be fun to be together, because you can still raise money for a great cause: the Special Olympics. This year I would like to extend the invitation to significant others of staff, along with congregants.” If you’d like more information on this contact Pastor Daniel at daniel@northgatefmc.com or check out his very own Polar Plunge page: http://events.nyso.org/site/TR/Plunge/POLARPLUNGE?px=1495330&pg=personal&fr_id=2390

5. “Out of the Whirlwind” This is a new study being offered in 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.

6. Hymn Sing  On October 19 at 6pm our Caregivers Team is hosting a hymn sing at our South Campus. Hymnals will be provided, and people will be invited to request a favorite hymn to be sung. For many of us this will be like visiting an old friend as we sing songs that have played a part in our Christian life, and for others it may be an opportunity to hear and learn some “new to you” music!  Everyone is invited to attend and join together for some good fellowship.

7. Gahanda Sanctuary Update A few weeks ago we talked about the sanctuary project that is underway in our Connected Community of Gahanda, Rwanda. Due in part to our sponsorship of children there, the Gahanda Free Methodist Church is growing, and they are designing a new sanctuary to accommodate that growth. The cost of the new sanctuary is about $25,000 and due to the generosity of many we currently have raised $18,000 of that! Thank you so much for partnering together to serve the people of Gahanda and spread the good news of Jesus!

8. Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS) MOPS is meeting this Fall in person! The group held a kickoff service this past Wednesday and there is a wonderful year planned.  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.

9. Summer 2022 Mission Trip Being Planned Pastor Daniel is in the beginning stages of organizing a summer 2022 mission trip to Gyor, Hungary. He will be looking to take 5 or 6 people with him, including youth, and this team will be providing a Vacation Bible School for a group of kids at an orphanage in Gyor. Some of us did a similar trip a few years ago and I can tell you that it was a wonderful time of ministry. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Dan: daniel@northgatefmc.com.

10.  Game Nights Are Coming Soon – Pastor Daniel is getting ready to host some game nights at South, beginning on Monday, October 18 from 6-8pm and occurring each week at the same time. A variety of board games will be provided, and people of all ages are invited to come and bring a friend. This is a great time to get to know some new people and form more connections in the Northgate family.

To learn more about these opportunities, or to suggest an idea for a group or a gathering, or to inquire about reserving space at the church or the pavilion you can always email the office (office@northgatefmc.com) or call 343-4011. You can check out our website too (northgatefmc.com).

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You Can Count on This – Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation for everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Read Romans 1:1-17)

This week we begin a journey through the book of Romans. Such a great book! But really all the books of the Bible are great in their own way. (And I’m not just saying that because I’m a pastor!) Anyway, we’re going to be making our way through Romans over the next little while, and we’re going to hit on so many wonderful teachings and inspiring, encouraging passages.

I could have picked several verses from this first section of chapter 1, but I am drawn specially to verse 17. I love what Paul says here. He is not ashamed to tell people about Jesus, and neither should we be! Paul’s life had been dramatically changed by Jesus, saved by Jesus, transformed by Jesus and he was happy to let anyone, and everyone know that! It’s a lot like when you fall in love with someone. Chances are you want to tell people about that person. You talk about how much they mean to you and how wonderful they are. That’s what we’re called to do with Jesus. Talk about him with others; talk about what He means to us and talk about what He’s doing in us and how wonderful He is. We do that because we love Him and we want others to know Him and love Him too!

Do you find that hard to do? You’re not alone. Remember what Paul says here: we have nothing to be ashamed about regarding the gospel, the good news of Jesus. This good news has power to bring salvation, to everyone who believes!

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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