Top Ten - March 17

1. News From Gahanda…  We received this message this week from Ephaste, our International Child Care coordinator in Rwanda: “Our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord at Northgate FMC… Greetings from Gahanda Village. It is green everywhere here. People are planting maize and happy for plenty of fruits and green vegetables. We have had strong winds before yesterday that took away tens of classroom roofs in Rwanda. The Lord is Faithful to us that none of Gahanda’s classrooms were damaged and everyone remains safe…. We appreciate so much your funds that we received on March 1st to work on Gahanda Sanctuary. We expect everything to be done by May 31st, 2022, God blessing. How can I express our sincere hearty gratitude! May Jesus bless your generous donating hands for His children." - Ephaste

2. Support the YWCA Domestic Violence Program Pastor Chris has arranged for us to help support the YWCA DV program. Throughout Lent, we will be collecting new linens for them to use at their safe house. They are in need of sheets, pillowcases, towels and washcloths. They are also accepting donations of detergent. Items will be collected at both North and South. Thank you for helping with this local mission project. This week we’re collecting sheets.

3. Women’s Night of Worship The women of Northgate are planning a Women’s Night of Worship for April 1. More details will be coming soon, but we wanted to give you a chance to get this on your calendar.

4. Easter Bag Ministry  We will be delivering 30 Easter bags to migrant families in our area. We’ve been doing this for a number of years now and it’s something these local families really appreciate. The bags contain everything needed to make an Easter dinner, along with devotional literature. If you’d like to support this act of love, you can make an offering and put “Easter Bags” on the check or the envelope. Thank you!

5. Grief Share  A new Grief Share group has begun, but it’s not too late to join. The group meets on Tuesdays and runs from 6-7:30pm at 34 Williams Street in Batavia. Contact John Chadwick at 585-297-3009 or Patti Chadwick at patti.chadwick@juno.com for more information.

6. Divorce Care  Also, a new Divorce Care group is forming. It will be held on Saturdays from 6-7:30pm. The group meets in Room #1 at our North Campus. If you are interested and need more information you can contact John Chadwick at 585-297-3009 or Patti Chadwick at patti.chadwick@juno.com.

7.“Women’s Night Out” Opportunity Coming Up – Please note: Jennie Allen canceled her appearance in Rochester for March 25. However there is still an opportunity for a night out with Carol McLeod on that night. For more information, please contact the church office or Pastor Marsha at marsha@northgatefmc.com.

8. Blood Drive Coming Up  There will be a blood drive at our South Campus building on March 31 from 1-6pm. If you donate blood that day, you’ll also receive a $10 e-gift card and you can enter a chance to win a trip to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Los Angeles this year.

9. A Way to Help the People of Ukraine – Please continue to be in prayer for the people of Ukraine and for a quick end to this war and for peace. If you’d like to do more, our Free Methodist Church has a “Bishops’ Crisis Relief Fund” that you can give to and designate the money for helping people in Ukraine. You can find the link to that site here: https://mailchi.mp/fmcusa.org/fmcusa-haiti-needs-our-help-august-2616829?e=3618d2f190.

10. Care Team Would you like to be part of a group that ministers to people through prayer and meeting practical needs? This really terrific group of people make sure that every prayer request that comes in is prayed over, cards are sent out to people who can’t get out or who need encouragement, and practical needs are addressed whenever possible. If you’d like to be a part of this vital ministry please contact Pastor Marsha at marsha@northgatefmc.com.

To learn more about these opportunities, or to suggest an idea for a group or a gathering, or to inquire about reserving space at the church or the pavilion you can always email the office (office@northgatefmc.com) or call 343-4011. You can check out our website too (northgatefmc.com).
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You Can Count on This – Romans 11:33 – Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!  (Read Romans 11:1-36)

Paul has been speaking about the relationship between God and his Jewish brothers and sisters, wanting desperately to see them receive Jesus as their Savior and Messiah. In chapter 11 he talks about how in showing His mercy to the Gentiles God may bring the Jews to envy and “save some of them.” He warns the Gentiles not to become arrogant about their salvation, because they are only saved by faith, not by any good or noble things they had done. And he implores them to “consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.” (Romans 11:22-23)

Paul is reminding us that salvation is a gift from God that we should never take for granted, and that our desire should be to see all people receive this gift. God uses a variety of ways to draw people to Himself, because He wants all to be saved. When we think about our own salvation, we should marvel that God chose to reveal Himself to us, and to enable us to know Him. When we think about those who are not in relationship with Him through Jesus, we should desire that God make Himself known to them in powerful and irresistible ways. Our hearts, like Paul’s, should desire that no one be lost but that more and more come to know Jesus.

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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