Top Ten - August 3

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. Communion This Weekend Please know that we are having communion this weekend in all of our services. If you will be joining us on-line, please have your communion elements ready at that time in the service. Also, let’s be sure to prepare our hearts to receive communion with the right spirit and attitude. Thanks!

2. Northgate 101 Classes This Summer The first three Sundays of August we are holding our membership classes. We’ll meet in Room 1 on Sunday morning at 9:30. Everyone is welcome to come and learn about the Free Methodist Church!

3. Playground Construction Work is continuing on the playground, and we are planning to have two “work-weeks” in August – the week of the 14th and the 28th. Work will be from about 9am to noon, Monday through Saturday those weeks, but things may change so if you want to be sure there is work on any particular day you can contact Mark at mark@northgatefmc.com, or Matt at mattjolliff@gmail.com.

4. First Responder Appreciation Picnic We respect and appreciate all of the men and women who serve others by responding to emergencies, including law enforcement situations, fires and medical emergencies. We want to show our appreciation for the good work that these individuals do, and so we are planning a picnic for them on Saturday, September 16 from 1-4pm at our North Campus pavilion. This will be a come as you can, leave as you need to event, and take out options will be available. Please pass the word to all first responders that you know, and if you’d like to help make this happen contact Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com. Thank you!

5. Apple Tree Tags Please remember that school supplies for the Angel Tree need to be returned by August 13. Thank you!

6. Trip Being Planned to See “Ruth” at FLN This November Almost 30 people have already signed up to attend a dinner theater at Family Life Network in Bath where they are putting on a Sight and Sound production of “Ruth.” The trip is November 10 and we will be carpooling to Bath. If you’d like to join the trip or need more information contact Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.
 
7. Volunteer Opportunities at Lydia’s Kitchen Looking for something to do this summer? Looking to serve others in need? Fun and fulfilling.  Calling all volunteers! High School Youth included! Lydia’s Soup Kitchen (Batavia) is in need of help over the summer. Give a little time in a 3-hour shift, different positions such as the kitchen, set up, prep food, cook, serve at the window or dishes. Contact for info Lydia- (585) 300-7995 or Robin Woodams- (585) 297-9676.

8. Men of Northgate, Save the Date Our second annual “Man Camp” will be September 1-2 (with some guys staying through the 3rd). Bring your camper, tent, or hammocks and enjoy the beauty of Northgate’s big backyard! Plan on joining us for a great time of fellowship, food, and relaxation. There is no age minimum or maximum. Cost is $20 per person with an immediate family max of $60 and covers all of your food. Registration will be available soon on our website or app. Questions - email john@northgatefmc.com.

9. New Study on Sundays at 12:15 Pastor Vern is leading a summer book study on Sundays at 12:15 in Room 1 at North. We’re going to be studying the book The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel. All are welcome to join in!

10. News From the Free Methodist General Conference Every four years our denominational leaders meet to do the business of our denomination. Lay delegates and clergy come together to elect bishops (the leaders who oversee the ministry of our denomination), consider proposals and resolutions regarding our doctrines and practices, celebrate the good things God is doing in the Free Methodist Church and pray to seek God’s will and vision for our future. I’ve had the pleasure of attending several of these General Conferences and each time I left feeling very encouraged about who we are as Free Methodists and where we are headed.

At General Conference this year delegates elected the three pastoral leaders who will oversee the work of our denomination for the next four years. Bishop Keith Cowart was reelected to serve. And Pastors Kenny Martin and Kaye Kolde were elected as first-term bishops. Pastor Martin is the first African American bishop elected to lead our denomination and comes from San Bernardino, California where he has been serving as the lead pastor of the Kingdom Cathedral church plant. Pastor Kolde comes to the position from Spring Arbor, Michigan where she has been serving as the lead pastor at The Arbor Church. Please pray for all of our Bishops as they seek to “develop and articulate the purpose, vision, values and expected outcomes” of the Free Methodist Church.

Also, keep in prayer current Bishops Linda Adams and Matt Whitehead who are completing their four-year terms. Bishop Linda and Bishop Whitehead have led us well and will be missed. Pray for them as they transition into new roles.

I came to the Free Methodist church about 24 years ago from another denomination, and I have never regretted the decision to align with this church body. We have a history that we can feel good about, leadership that seeks to remain faithful to God and His Word, and a future that will remain strong as long as we continue to love God and love others with the love of Christ.

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You Can Count on This – 1 Thessalonians 2:8 – “…so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” (Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20)

This verse from 1 Thessalonians is a nice, clear statement about what we need to be as a group of people who love Jesus. In the same way Paul cared about the Christians of Thessalonica, we need to care for one another. In the same way he shared the gospel with them we need to share it with each other. We often think of sharing the gospel (the good news about Jesus) with those who don’t know Him, and yes, we need to do that. But we also need to remind each other of that good news. There’s an old hymn that says, “I love to tell the story; for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.”
When we are discouraged, or struggling with something, it helps to remember the good news of Christ and the hope we have in Him.

In addition to caring and sharing the gospel, we need to share our lives. That is, we need to spend time with one another, get to know each other better, do life together as a church in our community says. They’re right! We are family and family needs family time to be healthy.

So who do we know that needs to know we care about them? Who do we know that needs to be reminded of the good news of Jesus? Who do we know that might appreciate us spending some time with them? What are we going to do?

Blessings everyone.

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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