Top Ten - November 23
Snow... Tis the season... Well, here we are in snow season again! And the question comes up - “Will there be church today?”. Whenever there’s a question about that Pastor Vern and Director of Operations Mark Logan will consult and decide well ahead of service times, and then if there is a closure that will be published in all social media, news and radio outlets as well as on our website and through Facebook. You can help us if we do have to close by touching base with your circles so we can get the word out to as many people as possible. Thank you, and here’s hoping we don’t have to put this into play!
1. Great Day of Giving – This weekend we’ll again be receiving the “Great Day of Giving” offering (for those who were unable to make it last weekend due to the snow storm). This is a special offering that we take each year at this time, and then we share the offering in these ways: 1/3 goes to our Free Methodist world missions partners; another 1/3 goes to a capital project here at Northgate; and the remaining 1/3 is divided between organizations in our community that serve people. It’s always a great joy to bless those organizations and missionaries. Please pray about how God may want you to participate. Thank you.
2. Family Advent Cards – Our Children’s Ministry Team has prepared a Family Advent Packet that can be used to help us prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. This weekend, families can pick up their advent card packets from a table outside of the Kto4 room. You will only need one per family.
3. Women’s Craft Night – All women are invited to a craft night to be held on December 7 at 6pm in the South Campus Community Room. These are always fun nights with good fellowship and it’s a perfect opportunity to bring a friend and introduce them to some of our wonderful Northgate women.
4. Vintage Christmas – Vintage Christmas is coming up on two Fridays in December - December 2 and 9. The festivities run from 6-8pm at the North Campus pavilion. Come enjoy the nativity story which will take place on the prayer walk, as well as a Christmas movie, tree lighting, chili, hot cocoa and more! And this is another great time to bring a friend!
5. Service of Remembrance – Every year at this time Turner & Co. Funeral Homes sponsors a “service of remembrance” – a time to gather and remember those we love who have passed on. This year the service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Batavia on Wednesday,12/7 at 7pm. Please rsvp at bataviafuneralhomes.com by 12/2.
6. Kids Movie Night – Save the date! A Kids movie night is being planned for Saturday, December 17. More details to come!
7. Creation Museum/Ark & Sight and Sound Trips – It’s time to make plans! Angelique has been working on putting together the first of our excursions planned for next year. We are planning a trip to Sight and Sound to see “Moses”! This trip will take place on May 1-3, with travel days on the 1st and 3rd and a 3pm show on the 2nd. We plan to travel by bus (though individuals are of course free to drive separately) and we’ll be staying at “Bird-in-Hand Family Inn.” The cost is coming in at under $500 per person for the bus, hotel, show and two breakfasts. At this point we need to get a firm handle on the number of people who would like to go. If that’s you, please email Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com and let her know. Thanks!
8. Prayer Shawl Ministry – The Prayer Shawl ministry meets the first Saturday of every month at 10am at Northgate North. This group makes prayer shawls which are given out to people going through difficult times in their lives. All are welcome to come and join in; if you don’t know how to knit a shawl this is a great place to learn!
To learn about all of the groups being offered by Northgate please check out this link: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/groups/unique. You can also view the list on the Northgate app.
9. Can We Pray For You? – Please let us know how. Email us at prayer@northgatefmc.com. And if you’d like to join one of our several prayer teams (Sunday mornings, Wednesday afternoons, the Care Team) please let us know that too.
On Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 a prayer team meets in meeting room 4. During this time people pray for the services, needs of our congregation and other topics as God leads. We would love to have you join this prayer team.
10. Right Now Media – As a church we subscribe to Right Now Media, a web-based video service which offers thousands of videos on all kinds of topics of interest to the Christian community. Included are many Bible studies of various kinds which make leading a family or small group discussion really easy. It’s free for you to use as a Northgate attender, but you do need a password. To get that contact Sherrie in the office at sherrie@northgatefmc.com.
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 – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (Read 2 Corinthians 9:1-15)
These are among the most important verses in the Bible on the topic of giving. The principle laid down is so clear, and the promise is stated so simply. First the principle when it comes to giving. Give generously; give as you’ve decided in your heart to give (not according to what anyone else says you should do or because you feel pressured); and give cheerfully.
And the promise. If you give generously, you will reap generosity. If you give cheerfully, God loves you for that. Not that God loves you because you give; but God loves that you want to give to what He is doing, or to give to bless others with His love.
We shouldn’t read these verses and think, “If I give more I’ll get more, so I’ll give more.” That’s the wrong motive. Our motivation to give ought to be as a witness of God’s love for us, our love for Him and our desire to share God’s love as much as we can. If we do this, we will receive blessings. That may or may not include monetary blessings. But those aren’t necessarily the most important kind. The blessings of a heart that is filled with joy; the blessing of being transformed by being filled with God’s love; the blessing of knowing that God is using us to bring blessing to others… these are way more important than monetary blessings.
So in this season where we focus a lot on God’s blessings and gift-giving and so on, let’s pray about how we can be generous, cheerful, blessed givers of the love of Jesus!
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. Great Day of Giving – This weekend we’ll again be receiving the “Great Day of Giving” offering (for those who were unable to make it last weekend due to the snow storm). This is a special offering that we take each year at this time, and then we share the offering in these ways: 1/3 goes to our Free Methodist world missions partners; another 1/3 goes to a capital project here at Northgate; and the remaining 1/3 is divided between organizations in our community that serve people. It’s always a great joy to bless those organizations and missionaries. Please pray about how God may want you to participate. Thank you.
2. Family Advent Cards – Our Children’s Ministry Team has prepared a Family Advent Packet that can be used to help us prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. This weekend, families can pick up their advent card packets from a table outside of the Kto4 room. You will only need one per family.
3. Women’s Craft Night – All women are invited to a craft night to be held on December 7 at 6pm in the South Campus Community Room. These are always fun nights with good fellowship and it’s a perfect opportunity to bring a friend and introduce them to some of our wonderful Northgate women.
4. Vintage Christmas – Vintage Christmas is coming up on two Fridays in December - December 2 and 9. The festivities run from 6-8pm at the North Campus pavilion. Come enjoy the nativity story which will take place on the prayer walk, as well as a Christmas movie, tree lighting, chili, hot cocoa and more! And this is another great time to bring a friend!
5. Service of Remembrance – Every year at this time Turner & Co. Funeral Homes sponsors a “service of remembrance” – a time to gather and remember those we love who have passed on. This year the service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Batavia on Wednesday,12/7 at 7pm. Please rsvp at bataviafuneralhomes.com by 12/2.
6. Kids Movie Night – Save the date! A Kids movie night is being planned for Saturday, December 17. More details to come!
7. Creation Museum/Ark & Sight and Sound Trips – It’s time to make plans! Angelique has been working on putting together the first of our excursions planned for next year. We are planning a trip to Sight and Sound to see “Moses”! This trip will take place on May 1-3, with travel days on the 1st and 3rd and a 3pm show on the 2nd. We plan to travel by bus (though individuals are of course free to drive separately) and we’ll be staying at “Bird-in-Hand Family Inn.” The cost is coming in at under $500 per person for the bus, hotel, show and two breakfasts. At this point we need to get a firm handle on the number of people who would like to go. If that’s you, please email Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com and let her know. Thanks!
8. Prayer Shawl Ministry – The Prayer Shawl ministry meets the first Saturday of every month at 10am at Northgate North. This group makes prayer shawls which are given out to people going through difficult times in their lives. All are welcome to come and join in; if you don’t know how to knit a shawl this is a great place to learn!
To learn about all of the groups being offered by Northgate please check out this link: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/groups/unique. You can also view the list on the Northgate app.
9. Can We Pray For You? – Please let us know how. Email us at prayer@northgatefmc.com. And if you’d like to join one of our several prayer teams (Sunday mornings, Wednesday afternoons, the Care Team) please let us know that too.
On Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 a prayer team meets in meeting room 4. During this time people pray for the services, needs of our congregation and other topics as God leads. We would love to have you join this prayer team.
10. Right Now Media – As a church we subscribe to Right Now Media, a web-based video service which offers thousands of videos on all kinds of topics of interest to the Christian community. Included are many Bible studies of various kinds which make leading a family or small group discussion really easy. It’s free for you to use as a Northgate attender, but you do need a password. To get that contact Sherrie in the office at sherrie@northgatefmc.com.
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 – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (Read 2 Corinthians 9:1-15)
These are among the most important verses in the Bible on the topic of giving. The principle laid down is so clear, and the promise is stated so simply. First the principle when it comes to giving. Give generously; give as you’ve decided in your heart to give (not according to what anyone else says you should do or because you feel pressured); and give cheerfully.
And the promise. If you give generously, you will reap generosity. If you give cheerfully, God loves you for that. Not that God loves you because you give; but God loves that you want to give to what He is doing, or to give to bless others with His love.
We shouldn’t read these verses and think, “If I give more I’ll get more, so I’ll give more.” That’s the wrong motive. Our motivation to give ought to be as a witness of God’s love for us, our love for Him and our desire to share God’s love as much as we can. If we do this, we will receive blessings. That may or may not include monetary blessings. But those aren’t necessarily the most important kind. The blessings of a heart that is filled with joy; the blessing of being transformed by being filled with God’s love; the blessing of knowing that God is using us to bring blessing to others… these are way more important than monetary blessings.
So in this season where we focus a lot on God’s blessings and gift-giving and so on, let’s pray about how we can be generous, cheerful, blessed givers of the love of Jesus!
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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