Top Ten - June 22
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. Recognizing Graduates – This weekend we will be recognizing graduates in our services. But let me take a moment now to say “Congratulations!” to all those who are graduation from high school, college, military academies and more. May God use all of your hard work to prepare you for the good things He has in mind for you!
2. Rwanda Report – Allison, Mark and Lukas are preparing to share with us what they saw God doing in Rwanda on their recent short-term mission trip there. We’ll hear from them this weekend. If participating in a short-term mission trip to Rwanda, or one of the other places where we support missionaries (Hungary, Japan, Ecuador, or Spain) is of interest to you, please let me know. I’d love to talk with you about it. (vern@northgatefmc.com)
3. Playground Construction – Logs are rolling in (pun intended) and work on the Adventure Playground at North will be getting underway. The plan is to work on Fridays and Saturdays from 9-12 and anyone interested in helping is welcome. To check on workdays or for more information contact Mark at mark@northgatefmc.com.
4. Family Life Network Youth Theater Camp – FLN is holding its Youth Theater Camp here at Northgate next week. There will be 35+ kids preparing all week for a program which will be held on Friday. We’re looking to hosting this event and pray that everyone involved has a wonderful time!
5. Kid’s Summer Camp – This will take place at Northgate from July 17 to July 21. This is for kids from the age of 3 on up to those entering 4th grade in September. There is a registration cost, but scholarships are available – just let us know if that would be of interest to you. Please contact Becca for more information at becca@northgatefmc.com.
6. Apple Tree Tags – I know – we haven’t even finished this school year and we’re asking you to think ahead to the next one! The Apple Tree is a ministry that is led by the Salvation Army and with which we assist when we take tags from the tree, purchase the necessary school supplies and return them here for delivery to the Salvation Army, which will then distribute them before the next school year begins to children who are in need of some extra assistance. The tree should be up this weekend, so if you are able to help out, thank you!
7. Habitat for Humanity Workdays – We are happy to support the work of Habitat for Humanity in our area - several of our Northgate people regularly work on houses or contribute things that are needed. On July 12 the staff will be taking some time to volunteer labor and on Saturday July 15 we invite members of our congregation to do the same. For more information contact Pastor Chris at chris@northgatefmc.com. And you can sign up at https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1795881.
8. New Bible Study on Monday Nights – The “Digging Deeper” Bible study that meets at North on Monday nights at 6:30 has just begun a new study in the book of Ecclesiastes. This is an Old Testament book that has a lot to say about life in modern times. Everyone is welcome! For more information contact Pastor Vern at vern@northgatefmc.com.
9. Northgate 101 Classes This Summer – Some people have been asking us about membership at Northgate, so we are scheduling some NG101 classes in July and August. This 3-session class is required for those who want to become members, and is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the Free Methodist church, even if not interested in membership. These classes will meet on Sunday morning at 9:30. Please contact the office to let us know if you plan to attend (office@northgatefmc.com, or call 343-4011. Thanks!
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.
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You Can Count on This – 1 Thessalonians 1:6 – You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. (Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)
Paul spent about 6-8 weeks in Thessalonica sharing the gospel, before he and those with him were forced to leave due to threats on their lives. (You can read about this in Acts 17:1-10). The message Paul shared was that the Messiah had come. His name was Jesus and suffered and rose from the dead. Some people believed in what he preached and committed their lives to Christ.
Now, probably from Corinth, Paul is writing to the newly formed and small church in Thessalonica to encourage them to remain faithful. Not an easy thing for them to do because they lived in a culture that was hostile to the Christian message and it would cost them to keep their faith and not give in to the pressure to turn away from Him.
In this verse Paul is commending the Thessalonian believers for having become “imitators of us” and more significantly, imitators of Jesus. As they suffer for their faith, they are experiencing in some way what Jesus experienced as He walked around Israel telling people the good news that He was here to save them from their sins and to usher in the kingdom of God. Some believed Jesus; many turned away; and some saw to it that He died on a cross. The suffering Jesus went through to save us from ourselves surpasses whatever we may go through to remain faithful to Him.
But suffering is hard to endure. Even harder to endure “with joy.” How is it possible to have joy in the midst of suffering? Only through the Holy Spirit. Only with the help of God are we expected to stay faithful to Jesus, and to endure suffering with joy. I pray that you are not suffering today for your faith. But if you are, then I pray that you find joy even in the suffering, by the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing that you are imitating the Lord you love. Blessings to you.
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.
If you’re interested in a small group, contact Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.
1. Recognizing Graduates – This weekend we will be recognizing graduates in our services. But let me take a moment now to say “Congratulations!” to all those who are graduation from high school, college, military academies and more. May God use all of your hard work to prepare you for the good things He has in mind for you!
2. Rwanda Report – Allison, Mark and Lukas are preparing to share with us what they saw God doing in Rwanda on their recent short-term mission trip there. We’ll hear from them this weekend. If participating in a short-term mission trip to Rwanda, or one of the other places where we support missionaries (Hungary, Japan, Ecuador, or Spain) is of interest to you, please let me know. I’d love to talk with you about it. (vern@northgatefmc.com)
3. Playground Construction – Logs are rolling in (pun intended) and work on the Adventure Playground at North will be getting underway. The plan is to work on Fridays and Saturdays from 9-12 and anyone interested in helping is welcome. To check on workdays or for more information contact Mark at mark@northgatefmc.com.
4. Family Life Network Youth Theater Camp – FLN is holding its Youth Theater Camp here at Northgate next week. There will be 35+ kids preparing all week for a program which will be held on Friday. We’re looking to hosting this event and pray that everyone involved has a wonderful time!
5. Kid’s Summer Camp – This will take place at Northgate from July 17 to July 21. This is for kids from the age of 3 on up to those entering 4th grade in September. There is a registration cost, but scholarships are available – just let us know if that would be of interest to you. Please contact Becca for more information at becca@northgatefmc.com.
6. Apple Tree Tags – I know – we haven’t even finished this school year and we’re asking you to think ahead to the next one! The Apple Tree is a ministry that is led by the Salvation Army and with which we assist when we take tags from the tree, purchase the necessary school supplies and return them here for delivery to the Salvation Army, which will then distribute them before the next school year begins to children who are in need of some extra assistance. The tree should be up this weekend, so if you are able to help out, thank you!
7. Habitat for Humanity Workdays – We are happy to support the work of Habitat for Humanity in our area - several of our Northgate people regularly work on houses or contribute things that are needed. On July 12 the staff will be taking some time to volunteer labor and on Saturday July 15 we invite members of our congregation to do the same. For more information contact Pastor Chris at chris@northgatefmc.com. And you can sign up at https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1795881.
8. New Bible Study on Monday Nights – The “Digging Deeper” Bible study that meets at North on Monday nights at 6:30 has just begun a new study in the book of Ecclesiastes. This is an Old Testament book that has a lot to say about life in modern times. Everyone is welcome! For more information contact Pastor Vern at vern@northgatefmc.com.
9. Northgate 101 Classes This Summer – Some people have been asking us about membership at Northgate, so we are scheduling some NG101 classes in July and August. This 3-session class is required for those who want to become members, and is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the Free Methodist church, even if not interested in membership. These classes will meet on Sunday morning at 9:30. Please contact the office to let us know if you plan to attend (office@northgatefmc.com, or call 343-4011. Thanks!
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.
***********************************************************************************
You Can Count on This – 1 Thessalonians 1:6 – You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. (Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)
Paul spent about 6-8 weeks in Thessalonica sharing the gospel, before he and those with him were forced to leave due to threats on their lives. (You can read about this in Acts 17:1-10). The message Paul shared was that the Messiah had come. His name was Jesus and suffered and rose from the dead. Some people believed in what he preached and committed their lives to Christ.
Now, probably from Corinth, Paul is writing to the newly formed and small church in Thessalonica to encourage them to remain faithful. Not an easy thing for them to do because they lived in a culture that was hostile to the Christian message and it would cost them to keep their faith and not give in to the pressure to turn away from Him.
In this verse Paul is commending the Thessalonian believers for having become “imitators of us” and more significantly, imitators of Jesus. As they suffer for their faith, they are experiencing in some way what Jesus experienced as He walked around Israel telling people the good news that He was here to save them from their sins and to usher in the kingdom of God. Some believed Jesus; many turned away; and some saw to it that He died on a cross. The suffering Jesus went through to save us from ourselves surpasses whatever we may go through to remain faithful to Him.
But suffering is hard to endure. Even harder to endure “with joy.” How is it possible to have joy in the midst of suffering? Only through the Holy Spirit. Only with the help of God are we expected to stay faithful to Jesus, and to endure suffering with joy. I pray that you are not suffering today for your faith. But if you are, then I pray that you find joy even in the suffering, by the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing that you are imitating the Lord you love. Blessings to you.
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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