Top Ten - June 9
1. Salvation Army Food Collection This Weekend – You are encouraged to pick up a box on the way out of service this weekend and use it to collect some items for the Salvation Army food pantry. The things the Salvation Army needs most will be listed on a piece of paper inside the box, but I’ll share it here too: boxes of cereal, boxes of oatmeal, bags (1 lbs) white rice or brown rice, chicken broth, beef broth, 16 oz boxes of pasta (assorted), canned soups, mac n cheese, canned beans (assorted), peanut butter, jelly, canned vegetables, canned fruits and shelf stable milk. Please consider being part of this local mission project by filling a box and returning it to the church in the next couple of weekends. Thank you so much!
2. Women’s Night – Bouquet Arrangements – A women’s night out is coming up on Friday June 17 at 6pm. Meet at the North Campus where someone from Sweet Acre Farms will walk through making flower arrangements. You’ll be able to take one home with you when the night is over. For more information see our website (northgatefmc.com) or contact the office (343-4011). You can register to attend here: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1306529
3. Father’s Day Ice Cream – Join us the weekend of Father’s Day (618-19) and get dad (and the family) a free ice cream! We’ll have ice cream in the café on Saturday night and Lugia’s ice cream truck on Sunday. We look forward to seeing you there!
4. A New Family Event: Aquaball – We have a new family event coming up on Saturday June 25 called “Aquaball.” Aquaball is like kickball with kiddie pools and is for the whole family. Our Children’s Ministry Team is organizing an aquaball tournament for the 25th starting at 11am. Registration will be available soon on the website, and you can get more information from Leah at leah@northgatefmc.com. You can register to be part of the fun by going here: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1300093
5. A-Team/Nominating Team Election Results – I want to thank everyone who was nominated for the ballot or had their name on the ballot or voted the past two weekends for our Administrative Team and Nominating Team. I also want to congratulate those who were elected. We look forward to serving with you and continuing our mission of bringing people to Jesus, building them up in that relationship and sending them out to share His love. The new members of our A-Team are Diane Deleo, Bob Wood (who will also serve as a delegate) and Mark Snyder. Nate Blowers has been elected as a reserve delegate. Brenda Miller and Daniel Calkins have been elected to the Nominating Team. Thank you all for your willingness to serve the church!
6. Kids Camp is Coming Up – Camp will be held July 11-15 at our North Campus for children ages 3-9. For more information or to register check out this link: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1300091. And if you are interested in helping as a volunteer you can find information on that here: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1282908
7. Stay Informed – Click on this link to see what’s happening this summer at Northgate. http://northgatefmc.com/summerschedule. And if you can’t “click” you can pick up the summers special events card at the Information Desk.
8. Meeting for All Interested in Being Part of the “Set Free” Movement – Inspired by recent presentations at our church by Free Methodist missionaries Gerry McNamara and Kevin Austin, a Set Free Team has formed at Northgate. This group is considering how to be part of helping people to “live in the direction of freedom" together. If you want to help end human trafficking in our time and in our region, please attend one of the monthly meetings, held on the last Sunday of the month at 12:30p.m. in Meeting Room 2/3, North Campus. For more information, visit setfreemovement.com and/or email Pastor Marsha marsha@northgatefmc.com.
9. “This Changes Everything” Baptism Weekend – If you are interested in baptism, please let one of the pastors know or go to the Information Desk and let them know there. We are planning to have baptisms on the weekend of June 11 and 12. We’d also be glad to discuss baby dedications and membership with anyone interested in those!
10. Prayer Groups – You are invited to join with others to pray for our church and community on Wednesdays at 1 and Sundays at 9:30. The Wednesday Prayer Group prays for one hour in Meeting Room 1 at North Campus and on Sunday people gather in Room 4 for an hour and pray for our services and congregational needs. Everyone is welcome to either or both of these prayer meetings.
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 – 1 Corinthians 4:21 – What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit? (Read 1 Corinthians 4:1-20)
Paul does a bit of scolding in chapter 4 of 1st Corinthians. His concern is that the people of the church of Corinth are dividing over who they consider to be the better church leader: Apollos, Paul, neither, etc. In chapter 4 Paul wants to make it clear that choosing sides like this is a mistake. It’s as if the people are seeking to feel proud of themselves based on who they esteem the most. So, in verse 6 he says they shouldn’t “be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.” This might be a little like getting “puffed up” because we follow one sports team as opposed to another, or because we align with one denomination over against another, etc. We aren’t supposed to get prideful in these ways.
As Paul continues from verse 4, he chastises the people of the church for getting so arrogant that the people who taught them about Jesus end up being like the lowliest criminals. They aren’t respected, they’re considered foolish and weak. This in spite of the fact that they have labored and sacrificed and endured hardship all to bring the gospel to them. If this continues, Paul warns, he’s going to visit them and he’s going to bring a whip and shape them up! But he’d much rather come in love, if only they will repent and humble themselves and begin to act like the servants of Christ they are called to be.
All of this reminds me of the fact that one day Jesus is going to return to the earth, and when He does many will experience His love, but others will receive His judgment. Those who are humble and just and righteous, who serve Him as best they can will know His love. But those who are arrogant and pride themselves over others and who think they should be treated as kings had better be prepared for the judgment of Christ. Which would you prefer?
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.
2. Women’s Night – Bouquet Arrangements – A women’s night out is coming up on Friday June 17 at 6pm. Meet at the North Campus where someone from Sweet Acre Farms will walk through making flower arrangements. You’ll be able to take one home with you when the night is over. For more information see our website (northgatefmc.com) or contact the office (343-4011). You can register to attend here: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1306529
3. Father’s Day Ice Cream – Join us the weekend of Father’s Day (618-19) and get dad (and the family) a free ice cream! We’ll have ice cream in the café on Saturday night and Lugia’s ice cream truck on Sunday. We look forward to seeing you there!
4. A New Family Event: Aquaball – We have a new family event coming up on Saturday June 25 called “Aquaball.” Aquaball is like kickball with kiddie pools and is for the whole family. Our Children’s Ministry Team is organizing an aquaball tournament for the 25th starting at 11am. Registration will be available soon on the website, and you can get more information from Leah at leah@northgatefmc.com. You can register to be part of the fun by going here: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1300093
5. A-Team/Nominating Team Election Results – I want to thank everyone who was nominated for the ballot or had their name on the ballot or voted the past two weekends for our Administrative Team and Nominating Team. I also want to congratulate those who were elected. We look forward to serving with you and continuing our mission of bringing people to Jesus, building them up in that relationship and sending them out to share His love. The new members of our A-Team are Diane Deleo, Bob Wood (who will also serve as a delegate) and Mark Snyder. Nate Blowers has been elected as a reserve delegate. Brenda Miller and Daniel Calkins have been elected to the Nominating Team. Thank you all for your willingness to serve the church!
6. Kids Camp is Coming Up – Camp will be held July 11-15 at our North Campus for children ages 3-9. For more information or to register check out this link: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1300091. And if you are interested in helping as a volunteer you can find information on that here: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1282908
7. Stay Informed – Click on this link to see what’s happening this summer at Northgate. http://northgatefmc.com/summerschedule. And if you can’t “click” you can pick up the summers special events card at the Information Desk.
8. Meeting for All Interested in Being Part of the “Set Free” Movement – Inspired by recent presentations at our church by Free Methodist missionaries Gerry McNamara and Kevin Austin, a Set Free Team has formed at Northgate. This group is considering how to be part of helping people to “live in the direction of freedom" together. If you want to help end human trafficking in our time and in our region, please attend one of the monthly meetings, held on the last Sunday of the month at 12:30p.m. in Meeting Room 2/3, North Campus. For more information, visit setfreemovement.com and/or email Pastor Marsha marsha@northgatefmc.com.
9. “This Changes Everything” Baptism Weekend – If you are interested in baptism, please let one of the pastors know or go to the Information Desk and let them know there. We are planning to have baptisms on the weekend of June 11 and 12. We’d also be glad to discuss baby dedications and membership with anyone interested in those!
10. Prayer Groups – You are invited to join with others to pray for our church and community on Wednesdays at 1 and Sundays at 9:30. The Wednesday Prayer Group prays for one hour in Meeting Room 1 at North Campus and on Sunday people gather in Room 4 for an hour and pray for our services and congregational needs. Everyone is welcome to either or both of these prayer meetings.
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).
******************************************************************************************************
You Can Count on This – 1 Corinthians 4:21 – What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit? (Read 1 Corinthians 4:1-20)
Paul does a bit of scolding in chapter 4 of 1st Corinthians. His concern is that the people of the church of Corinth are dividing over who they consider to be the better church leader: Apollos, Paul, neither, etc. In chapter 4 Paul wants to make it clear that choosing sides like this is a mistake. It’s as if the people are seeking to feel proud of themselves based on who they esteem the most. So, in verse 6 he says they shouldn’t “be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.” This might be a little like getting “puffed up” because we follow one sports team as opposed to another, or because we align with one denomination over against another, etc. We aren’t supposed to get prideful in these ways.
As Paul continues from verse 4, he chastises the people of the church for getting so arrogant that the people who taught them about Jesus end up being like the lowliest criminals. They aren’t respected, they’re considered foolish and weak. This in spite of the fact that they have labored and sacrificed and endured hardship all to bring the gospel to them. If this continues, Paul warns, he’s going to visit them and he’s going to bring a whip and shape them up! But he’d much rather come in love, if only they will repent and humble themselves and begin to act like the servants of Christ they are called to be.
All of this reminds me of the fact that one day Jesus is going to return to the earth, and when He does many will experience His love, but others will receive His judgment. Those who are humble and just and righteous, who serve Him as best they can will know His love. But those who are arrogant and pride themselves over others and who think they should be treated as kings had better be prepared for the judgment of Christ. Which would you prefer?
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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