Top Ten - March 9

Time to turn our clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night. If you don’t you might be an hour late for church on Sunday!

If you’d like to help out in some area in the church contact Pastor John at john@northgatefmc.com. If you’re interested in a small group, contact Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.

1. Easter Schedule – Easter is coming quickly – just a few weeks away.  Here’s the schedule for the services we’ll be holding during Holy Week…
  • Maundy Thursday Service, April 6 at Arbor House – A self-guided stations of the cross event. Come anytime between 6 and 8pm
  • Good Friday Service, April 7 at Arbor House at 7pm
  • Saturday night service at North – 6:00pm
  • Easter Sunday sunrise at the North Campus pavilion – 6:30am
  • Easter Sunday Celebration at North – 9:30/11am
  • Easter Sunday Celebration at Arbor House – 10am

2. Lenten Collection for the YWCA – During the season of Lent we will be collecting items that the YWCA Domestic Violence program needs to serve people that reach out to them. Each week we’ll be asking people to bring different things to North or South and we will deliver them to the YWCA. Here’s the schedule for what’s being collected:

  • 3/11 & 12 – Hand soap/laundry soap
  • 3/18 & 19 – Paper towels & washcloths
  • 3/25 &26 – Shampoo & Conditioner
  • 4/1 & 2 – Body wash/soap

3. Save the Dates There are some events coming up for which you may want to save the date.

  • A new couple’s group will begin at North on this Sunday March 12 (Please note I had the wrong date in the previous Top Ten.)
  • The “IF” Gathering will be held here (by video) on Friday April 21 and Saturday April 22; Registration is available on the Northgate website
  • Kid’s Summer Camp at Northgate will take place from July 17 to July 21  

4. Northgate Prayer & Care Team Welcomes an Additional New Member Thank you to the individual who joined the Care Team this past week, in addition to the two new members from last week!. We really appreciate this! Expanding the size of this important team helps us to be better at reaching out to people with the love of Jesus. If you’d like to know more about the Care Team and get involved, contact Karen VanWyngaarden at careteam@northgatefmc.com.

5. Parenting Adult Children Debbie Vick is leading this class at 9:30 on Sunday mornings. The first 6 weeks will be video sessions with Chip Ingram and Jim Burns called “Navigating Life with Adult Children.” Then 9 weeks of reviewing each chapter of Jim Burn’s book Doing Life with Your Adult Children (subtitled: Keep your Mouth Shut & the Welcome Mat Out.)  If you have any questions, please contact Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.

6. Women’s Base Group A new women’s meeting has just begun at South. This will run during the Teen’s Base time on Wednesday nights at 6pm so it’s perfect for any moms dropping off their children for Base. Even if you don’t have a child attending Base, if you are looking to be part of a new women’s group, consider checking this one out. For more information contact Allison at allison@northgatefmc.com.

7. Young Ladies’ Small Group A new group for young women has begun and meets on the 2nd/4th Tuesdays at 5:30. For more information contact Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.

8. Membership/Baptism If you are interested in joining Northgate as a member, or being baptized, or having a child baptized or dedicated, please let Pastor John know at john@northgatefmc.com.

9. Listening to the Language of the Bible Rick and Sara Kent are leading a study of some Hebrew words that Jesus would have used, which, by understanding their meaning better will enrich our understanding of the Bible. This will be a fun and informative study and it begins this Sunday at 9:30. For more information contact Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.

10a. Would You Like to Work on Your Spanish Skills? Rosalina has begun helping interested people to increase their Spanish language skills. Whether you have some knowledge in Spanish, or have none but would like to learn, you are welcome. This group meets at noon on Wednesdays at North.

  • Learning another language can help us feel more confident in interacting with people of another culture.
    • At Easter time and Thanksgiving, we deliver special bags of food to migrant families in our area. And in the summer, we make water deliveries to people working in the fields. Everyone is welcome to be part of this.
    • Pre-Covid we held an English as a Second Language class for Spanish-speakers in our area. We’d love to see that restarted. If you are interested in being part of that contact Pastor Vern at vern@northgatefmc.com
    • And please note that Rosalina is preparing to offer translation again for our worship services. If you know of someone who could benefit from that contact Pastor Vern for details on when that will begin.

10b. Help Wanted If you have the gift of hospitality and interest in serving others in a Cafe setting, we are looking for people to be in on the rotation for the Saturday Evening
Cafe.  For more information contact Patti Chadwick at patti.chadwick@juno.com or 585-297-3009.

10c. Help Wanted (Part 2) If you are looking for a way to serve others in the community, here are a couple of very good opportunities.

  • Crossroads House Crossroads provides comfort care to people who have been given a life-limiting diagnosis. There is a need for more volunteers to provide this loving care to individuals and their families. To learn more about Crossroads House you can go to their website: https://www.crossroadshouse.com

  • CASA – CASA stands for “Court Appointed Special Advocates.” Volunteers with CASA advocate for children that have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. Training is provided for all volunteers and no specific background or experience is required. To learn more about CASA visit their website at http://www.geneseecountycasa.org

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You Can Count on This – Ephesians 3:7-8 – I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ. (Read Ephesians 3:1-21)


I completely resonate with these verses. Sometimes I truly marvel that God has allowed me to be a servant of the gospel and to preach the boundless riches of Christ. It is a privilege and an honor and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. It’s not something that I made a “career path” either. I just tried to be faithful to each step God laid in front of me and to be obedient, whether as a layperson or a pastor. God ordered the steps and I often think about what a wonderful gift God has given me, to be able to pastor a church and a congregation as wonderful as this one. It is absolutely only by God’s grace that I am here, and His power that has enabled me to do whatever good I have for His kingdom. I often feel like the “least of all the Lord’s people” – no false humility here – as I consider my past, including my sins, and then consider how God saved me and what He has allowed me to do. I pray that by the grace of God I will remain a faithful servant, following through on His plans for me, taking each step as He places it in front of me.

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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