Top Ten - January 25
1. “This Changes Everything” Baptism Weekend – We have a group of people planning to be baptized the weekend of 2/10-11. Baptism is one of the ways we demonstrate our commitment to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. If you would like to join these individuals in expressing your love for Christ that weekend through baptism, please let Pastor John know at john@northgatefmc.com.
2. Costa Rica Missions Trip Meeting – There’s a meeting coming up for all of the people planning to go to Costa Rica on the mission trip this summer. This meeting will be on February 4 after the second service at North in the K-4 Room. For more information contact Pastor DL at dl@northgatefmc.com.
3. Valentine’s Date Night – Enjoy an evening together with Northgate's help! We’ll provide the childcare. Pick up a date night kit at either the North or South Campus and enjoy a few hours together. The kit will include fun ways to connect to your spouse as well as discounts to local restaurants in the Batavia area, so make your reservations if you can! Childcare and dinner will be provided for infant - high school. Register at: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2095330
4. Childcare Coordinator For MomCo. (Formerly MOPS) – Northgate’s MOMCo. Group (formerly MOPS) is looking for a key volunteer to help with their kids programming! This position would coordinate with the Leadership Team to provide childcare and assemble a team of volunteers during their meetings which run September - May. This volunteer would utilize the MomCo. Curriculum to provide biblical lessons and activities for the kids. They will also coordinate to make sure all volunteers are We Care trained. If you feel called to help in such a way, please contact angelique@northgatefmc.com
5. “Genesis” Study – Pastor Chris will be teaching a class on the book of Genesis this winter. The class will be held at North on Feb 17th, Mar 16th, and Apr 20th from 10am-4pm. The class is being held for those in the ordination process in our conference but is open to any from Northgate who would like to attend. Northgaters are welcome to attend a part of each session if they would like and they would not be expected to do all of the reading and writing that conference students are required to do. If you are interested in this class or have any questions, contact Pastor Chris at chris@northgatefmc.com.
6. Gatherings for Moms…
7. Sight and Sound Trip to See “Daniel” – Angelique has been putting the final touches on a trip to see “Daniel” at Sight and Sound in Lancaster, PA later this year. The dates for this trip are July 9-11. If you’d like to get your name on the list for more information on the trip to see “Daniel” you can email Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.
8. College Student Bible Study – This Sunday morning group resumes on February 11 at 11am in Room #4 at North. The group will be studying the book of Matthew. For more information contact our Small Groups Director, Angelique, at angelique@northgatefmc.com.
9. “A Good Enough Lent” – Believe it or not, Lent is just around the corner. Lent is the period of time in the church calendar that we use to prepare to recognize the death of Jesus on the cross on Good Friday and celebrate His resurrection on Easter. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent marks the start of the 40-day Lenten time, and Ash Wednesday this year is February 14. We’d like to invite our church to participate in a Lenten devotional by Kate Bowler called “A Good Enough Lent.” It’s a free resource that you can download at https://katebowler.com/lent/. This devotional is based on Kate’s book, Good Enough: 40 Devotionals For a Life of Imperfection. You can use the free resource with/without the book. If you’d like a copy of the book but resources might be an issue, we’ll have copies of it available here at the church.
10. Interested in Learning to Speak Spanish? – Rosalina Vanegas is holding a Spanish class on Wednesdays at noon at North in the Guest Lounge. This is quite informal and is appropriate for those who already know a bit of Spanish, as well as those who know none but want to learn. There is no cost for this class and everyone is welcome!
********************************************************************************
You Can Count on This – Hebrews 2:1 – We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. (Read Hebrews 2:1-18)
This is a verse for our time. It’s really a verse for any and every time, but I can’t help but feel it is an incredibly significant verse for the times we are living in. It’s simply too easy to find ourselves drifting away from our faith and our relationship with Christ if we are not careful to “pay attention.” The fast pace of life, the numerous distractions, the attacks on Christian beliefs and faith all combine to exert pressure on people of faith to drift.
There is certainly a difference between drifting away from faith and abandoning faith. There are many who have simply abandoned their faith, turned aside from it and/or renounced it. That’s not what this warning is about. This warning is to not drift away. It’s for those who still believe in Christ but who find themselves slowly, and even without awareness, getting farther and farther away from the shore of faith where they were once anchored and secure.
During the COVID pandemic many people drifted away from regular church attendance and worship, and then after the pandemic did not find their way back. Even without a pandemic’s influence we may find ourselves taking a weekend off from worship, which becomes two weekends away, and then three and so on. Or skipping Bible reading on a morning, which becomes two, three, etc. Or neglecting relationships with other Christians and drifting away from fellowship. There are a lot of ways to drift.
But there’s a way to guard against drifting. It’s to be aware of it, for starters. To “pay careful attention” and to keep a daily focus on our relationship with Jesus. It’s not for nothing that Jesus said we need to “take up our cross daily and follow” Him. One day at a time we get up and commit ourselves to Christ, making sure that our anchor is firmly affixed to Him, so that we do not drift away.
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. Costa Rica Missions Trip Meeting – There’s a meeting coming up for all of the people planning to go to Costa Rica on the mission trip this summer. This meeting will be on February 4 after the second service at North in the K-4 Room. For more information contact Pastor DL at dl@northgatefmc.com.
3. Valentine’s Date Night – Enjoy an evening together with Northgate's help! We’ll provide the childcare. Pick up a date night kit at either the North or South Campus and enjoy a few hours together. The kit will include fun ways to connect to your spouse as well as discounts to local restaurants in the Batavia area, so make your reservations if you can! Childcare and dinner will be provided for infant - high school. Register at: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2095330
4. Childcare Coordinator For MomCo. (Formerly MOPS) – Northgate’s MOMCo. Group (formerly MOPS) is looking for a key volunteer to help with their kids programming! This position would coordinate with the Leadership Team to provide childcare and assemble a team of volunteers during their meetings which run September - May. This volunteer would utilize the MomCo. Curriculum to provide biblical lessons and activities for the kids. They will also coordinate to make sure all volunteers are We Care trained. If you feel called to help in such a way, please contact angelique@northgatefmc.com
5. “Genesis” Study – Pastor Chris will be teaching a class on the book of Genesis this winter. The class will be held at North on Feb 17th, Mar 16th, and Apr 20th from 10am-4pm. The class is being held for those in the ordination process in our conference but is open to any from Northgate who would like to attend. Northgaters are welcome to attend a part of each session if they would like and they would not be expected to do all of the reading and writing that conference students are required to do. If you are interested in this class or have any questions, contact Pastor Chris at chris@northgatefmc.com.
6. Gatherings for Moms…
- MOPS meets on the 2nd/4th Tuesdays at 6pm at North
- The Mommy and Me play group is now meeting every Friday at 9:30am at North
7. Sight and Sound Trip to See “Daniel” – Angelique has been putting the final touches on a trip to see “Daniel” at Sight and Sound in Lancaster, PA later this year. The dates for this trip are July 9-11. If you’d like to get your name on the list for more information on the trip to see “Daniel” you can email Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.
8. College Student Bible Study – This Sunday morning group resumes on February 11 at 11am in Room #4 at North. The group will be studying the book of Matthew. For more information contact our Small Groups Director, Angelique, at angelique@northgatefmc.com.
9. “A Good Enough Lent” – Believe it or not, Lent is just around the corner. Lent is the period of time in the church calendar that we use to prepare to recognize the death of Jesus on the cross on Good Friday and celebrate His resurrection on Easter. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent marks the start of the 40-day Lenten time, and Ash Wednesday this year is February 14. We’d like to invite our church to participate in a Lenten devotional by Kate Bowler called “A Good Enough Lent.” It’s a free resource that you can download at https://katebowler.com/lent/. This devotional is based on Kate’s book, Good Enough: 40 Devotionals For a Life of Imperfection. You can use the free resource with/without the book. If you’d like a copy of the book but resources might be an issue, we’ll have copies of it available here at the church.
10. Interested in Learning to Speak Spanish? – Rosalina Vanegas is holding a Spanish class on Wednesdays at noon at North in the Guest Lounge. This is quite informal and is appropriate for those who already know a bit of Spanish, as well as those who know none but want to learn. There is no cost for this class and everyone is welcome!
********************************************************************************
You Can Count on This – Hebrews 2:1 – We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. (Read Hebrews 2:1-18)
This is a verse for our time. It’s really a verse for any and every time, but I can’t help but feel it is an incredibly significant verse for the times we are living in. It’s simply too easy to find ourselves drifting away from our faith and our relationship with Christ if we are not careful to “pay attention.” The fast pace of life, the numerous distractions, the attacks on Christian beliefs and faith all combine to exert pressure on people of faith to drift.
There is certainly a difference between drifting away from faith and abandoning faith. There are many who have simply abandoned their faith, turned aside from it and/or renounced it. That’s not what this warning is about. This warning is to not drift away. It’s for those who still believe in Christ but who find themselves slowly, and even without awareness, getting farther and farther away from the shore of faith where they were once anchored and secure.
During the COVID pandemic many people drifted away from regular church attendance and worship, and then after the pandemic did not find their way back. Even without a pandemic’s influence we may find ourselves taking a weekend off from worship, which becomes two weekends away, and then three and so on. Or skipping Bible reading on a morning, which becomes two, three, etc. Or neglecting relationships with other Christians and drifting away from fellowship. There are a lot of ways to drift.
But there’s a way to guard against drifting. It’s to be aware of it, for starters. To “pay careful attention” and to keep a daily focus on our relationship with Jesus. It’s not for nothing that Jesus said we need to “take up our cross daily and follow” Him. One day at a time we get up and commit ourselves to Christ, making sure that our anchor is firmly affixed to Him, so that we do not drift away.
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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