Top Ten - February 15
1. Bottle Collection for Costa Rica Mission Team – This summer, Northgate's youth ministry is embarking on a short-term mission trip to Costa Rica from July 20-28th. As a fundraiser for this exciting venture, the group has organized a bottle and can drive. It's an easy and practical way to support the team. Simply bring your empty bottles and cans to North anytime the church is open, Monday-Thursday, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, or during any of our weekend services. You can conveniently place them in the dropbox located in the airlock.
Some individuals have inquired with Pastor DL about additional ways to financially support the team. This can be accomplished by either writing a check to Northgate with "Costa Rica" written in the memo line and placing it in the offering, or you can give online using the keyword "Costa Rica." The Costa Rica team sincerely thanks you in advance for your support and requests your prayers as they continue to prepare for their trip. If you would like more information on how you can pray or details about the trip in general, please reach out to Pastor DL via email at dl@northgatefmc.com.
2. New Caregivers Group – Warren and Nancy Savage will be leading a new session of the Caregivers group beginning on Tuesday, March 5 at North. The group will meet at 6:30pm. If you would like more information about it, please contact Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.
3. Collection for the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter – During the season of Lent we are collecting items for the Domestic Violence Shelter at the YWCA. Each week of Lent we are collecting a different item, and the list can be found below. Items can be dropped off at the table in the lobby at either North or Arbor House. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Chris at chris@northgatefmc.com.
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. Northgate 101 Class Coming Up – Are you interested in learning more about Northgate? Who are we? What we believe? How to get more involved? Sign up for our Northgate 101 class and get answers to these questions and many more! This free class is required for anyone who wants to become a member, but taking the class does not obligate you to join as a member. Our next session of Northgate 101 will be on Sunday, March 17 from 9:30-12:00 in Meeting Room 6. Please contact the office if you have questions, or to let us know that you plan to attend at (office@northgatefmc.com or 343-4011).
6. Monday Night Bible Study – Pastor Vern’s Bible study meets on Monday nights at North. We begin at 6:30 with a time of prayer and then we work through a book of the Bible chapter by chapter. We’ll be going through the gospel of Mark this spring. All are welcome, and if you can’t make it to the church we do stream the study via Zoom. Just let Pastor Vern know if you need the link… vern@northgatefmc.com.
7. Gather to Pray – Here are some opportunities to pray together at Northgate…
8. A Conversation About Faith and Sexuality – Grace/Truth is a ten-week group learning experience that introduces Christians to LGBT+ people, the language to use and avoid, a theologically faithful view of marriage and sexuality, and practical guidance on how to embody the love of Christ toward sexual and gender minorities. Grace/Truth starts Monday, February 19th in Room #1 at 6:30 PM, led by Ralph and Debbie Vick. If you have any questions, please contact angellique@northgatefmc.com.
9. “A Good Enough Lent” – Believe it or not, Lent is here. 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 was 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. Northgate Intergenerational Single Women’s Gathering – On March 3, single women ages 20+, are invited to attend a meeting to plan for this fun new adventure. During the meeting, we will discuss activities we can do together to share our faith, to fellowship and to have fun! We will meet at 12:15 in Room #2/3. There will be a light lunch provided! Come and join in! If you have any questions, please contact Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.
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You Can Count on This – Hebrews 5:7 – During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. (Read Hebrews 5:1-14)
Do you ever stop and think about this… that when Jesus walked the earth there was a time when He “offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears”? He certainly did, in the Garden of Gethsemane before He went to the cross. But the way the writer of Hebrews puts it here really makes me stop and think about that afresh.
The picture we have of Jesus in the gospels is most often that of someone in control, someone who heals lepers and exorcises demons and amazes people with His teaching. He stands up to religious authorities and doesn’t flinch before civil authorities who put Him on trial. He is confident and sure of Himself, but not in a proud or arrogant way. He is masterful in His ways.
And then, there is this. As He prepares to face His death He is portrayed as frightened, in need of His Father’s help, seeking another way to accomplish the mission He had been sent to achieve: our redemption from sin through His sacrifice on the cross. He prays, and petitions… pleads, fervently, strongly, passionately with the Father, with tears, asking to be saved from death. And He is heard.
Wait… what? What can it mean that “He was heard” if He did go to the cross, and did die for our sins? Well, remember that His prayer (Luke 22:42) was that the will of the Father be done. And the will of the Father was done. The Father’s will was that Jesus pay the penalty for our sins on the cross, and Jesus, in reverent submission, did that. But there’s more… Jesus’ prayer to be saved from death was also heard. Because three days after His death on the cross He was raised from the dead! Hallelujah and Amen! And now He is “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:9). Praise God!
So much we can take from these verses, including the assurance that Jesus understands when we pray fervently and with tears, because He was once there. And we are so grateful that Jesus submitted to the will of the Father despite the pain and suffering that caused Him, because through Him we have the promise of eternal life. And though God may not answer our prayers as we would want Him to in that moment, we can be confident that God has our good in mind, even if we can’t see it in the moment. These are a couple of things I take away from this passage in Hebrews.
What do you take away from these verses?
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.
Some individuals have inquired with Pastor DL about additional ways to financially support the team. This can be accomplished by either writing a check to Northgate with "Costa Rica" written in the memo line and placing it in the offering, or you can give online using the keyword "Costa Rica." The Costa Rica team sincerely thanks you in advance for your support and requests your prayers as they continue to prepare for their trip. If you would like more information on how you can pray or details about the trip in general, please reach out to Pastor DL via email at dl@northgatefmc.com.
2. New Caregivers Group – Warren and Nancy Savage will be leading a new session of the Caregivers group beginning on Tuesday, March 5 at North. The group will meet at 6:30pm. If you would like more information about it, please contact Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.
3. Collection for the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter – During the season of Lent we are collecting items for the Domestic Violence Shelter at the YWCA. Each week of Lent we are collecting a different item, and the list can be found below. Items can be dropped off at the table in the lobby at either North or Arbor House. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Chris at chris@northgatefmc.com.
- 2/17&18: Twin size comforters
- 2/24&25: Twin size blankets
- 3/2&3: Pillow cases
- 3/9&10: Bath towels
- 3/16&17: Deodorant (women or gender neutral scents)
- 3/23&24: Toothbrushes (Kids size only)
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. Northgate 101 Class Coming Up – Are you interested in learning more about Northgate? Who are we? What we believe? How to get more involved? Sign up for our Northgate 101 class and get answers to these questions and many more! This free class is required for anyone who wants to become a member, but taking the class does not obligate you to join as a member. Our next session of Northgate 101 will be on Sunday, March 17 from 9:30-12:00 in Meeting Room 6. Please contact the office if you have questions, or to let us know that you plan to attend at (office@northgatefmc.com or 343-4011).
6. Monday Night Bible Study – Pastor Vern’s Bible study meets on Monday nights at North. We begin at 6:30 with a time of prayer and then we work through a book of the Bible chapter by chapter. We’ll be going through the gospel of Mark this spring. All are welcome, and if you can’t make it to the church we do stream the study via Zoom. Just let Pastor Vern know if you need the link… vern@northgatefmc.com.
7. Gather to Pray – Here are some opportunities to pray together at Northgate…
- Prayer meeting Wednesday at 1pm at North in Room #1
- Centered: the first Wednesday of the month at North at 6pm (Sanctuary)
- Sunday mornings at 9:30 at North in Room #4
- Prayer rail: Before and after services on Saturday/Sunday and also while we are singing/praying during services
- Anytime the church is open people are welcome to come and pray in any available room or in the sanctuary. The church is generally open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 to 4pm, Saturday from 4 to 7:30pm and Sunday from 8am to 1pm. Arrangements can be made to be open at other times too, if needed.
8. A Conversation About Faith and Sexuality – Grace/Truth is a ten-week group learning experience that introduces Christians to LGBT+ people, the language to use and avoid, a theologically faithful view of marriage and sexuality, and practical guidance on how to embody the love of Christ toward sexual and gender minorities. Grace/Truth starts Monday, February 19th in Room #1 at 6:30 PM, led by Ralph and Debbie Vick. If you have any questions, please contact angellique@northgatefmc.com.
9. “A Good Enough Lent” – Believe it or not, Lent is here. 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 was 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. Northgate Intergenerational Single Women’s Gathering – On March 3, single women ages 20+, are invited to attend a meeting to plan for this fun new adventure. During the meeting, we will discuss activities we can do together to share our faith, to fellowship and to have fun! We will meet at 12:15 in Room #2/3. There will be a light lunch provided! Come and join in! If you have any questions, please contact Angelique at angelique@northgatefmc.com.
***********************************************************************************
You Can Count on This – Hebrews 5:7 – During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. (Read Hebrews 5:1-14)
Do you ever stop and think about this… that when Jesus walked the earth there was a time when He “offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears”? He certainly did, in the Garden of Gethsemane before He went to the cross. But the way the writer of Hebrews puts it here really makes me stop and think about that afresh.
The picture we have of Jesus in the gospels is most often that of someone in control, someone who heals lepers and exorcises demons and amazes people with His teaching. He stands up to religious authorities and doesn’t flinch before civil authorities who put Him on trial. He is confident and sure of Himself, but not in a proud or arrogant way. He is masterful in His ways.
And then, there is this. As He prepares to face His death He is portrayed as frightened, in need of His Father’s help, seeking another way to accomplish the mission He had been sent to achieve: our redemption from sin through His sacrifice on the cross. He prays, and petitions… pleads, fervently, strongly, passionately with the Father, with tears, asking to be saved from death. And He is heard.
Wait… what? What can it mean that “He was heard” if He did go to the cross, and did die for our sins? Well, remember that His prayer (Luke 22:42) was that the will of the Father be done. And the will of the Father was done. The Father’s will was that Jesus pay the penalty for our sins on the cross, and Jesus, in reverent submission, did that. But there’s more… Jesus’ prayer to be saved from death was also heard. Because three days after His death on the cross He was raised from the dead! Hallelujah and Amen! And now He is “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:9). Praise God!
So much we can take from these verses, including the assurance that Jesus understands when we pray fervently and with tears, because He was once there. And we are so grateful that Jesus submitted to the will of the Father despite the pain and suffering that caused Him, because through Him we have the promise of eternal life. And though God may not answer our prayers as we would want Him to in that moment, we can be confident that God has our good in mind, even if we can’t see it in the moment. These are a couple of things I take away from this passage in Hebrews.
What do you take away from these verses?
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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