Top Ten - June 30
1. This Changes Everything! Baptisms This Weekend – This weekend we are planning for a baptism to be held in our Saturday night service and also in our early service on Sunday. If you have a “This Changes Everything” shirt, consider wearing it in support of those who are being baptized. And even if you don’t have the shirt, come ready to celebrate these important moments when people give witness to their faith in Jesus Christ and the new life that He brings!
2. Communion This Weekend Also – We are also celebrating communion this weekend in all of our services. If you’ll be taking in the service on-line, please have your communion elements ready. Thank you!
3. Centered Night for Prayer and Worship – The next evening of prayer and worship will take place on Wednesday July 6 at 6pm. Join us for an hour of centering ourselves on God’s presence and seeking His mercy and grace. We meet in the sanctuary at North.
4. Northgate 101 – At a recent medical appointment my doctor asked me about the difference between Free Methodist and United Methodist. I was very happy to share that information with her! Do you know the difference? On three Sundays in July the pastors will be taking turns meeting with people interested in learning more about the Free Methodist denomination and Northgate Church. We’ll talk about where our denomination came from (we had very local origins even though we are now spread around the world) and what makes us distinct (like the “5 Freedoms”). We’ll also cover what is needed if someone is interested in becoming a member of the church (though this gathering is for everyone – whether interested in membership or not.) Northgate 101 will take place at 9:30 on July 10, 17 and 24 at the North Campus in Room #1. We look forward to seeing you there!
5. Kids Camp is Coming Up – Camp will be held July 11-15 at our North Campus for children ages 3-9. For more information or to register check out this link: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1300091. And if you are interested in helping as a volunteer you can find information on that here: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1282908
6. The Communication Cards Are Back – We’ve restocked our sanctuary chairs with communication cards. This is an easy way to let us know if you are new to Northgate, recently decided to follow Jesus, want to be baptized or know more about membership, want to speak to a pastor, share a prayer concern, or anything else that is on your mind. Just fill out the card and drop it into one of the new “collection” boxes which are located in each doorway of the sanctuary. We really love to hear from you, and this is just one way to do that. You can also always email, call, or talk to us when you see us!
7. Stay Informed – Click on this link to see what’s happening this summer at Northgate. http://northgatefmc.com/summerschedule. And if you can’t “click” you can pick up the summers special events card at the Information Desk.
8. Meeting for All Interested in Being Part of the “Set Free” Movement – Inspired by recent presentations at our church by Free Methodist missionaries Gerry McNamara and Kevin Austin, a Set Free Team has formed at Northgate. This group is considering how to be part of helping people to “live in the direction of freedom" together. If you want to help end human trafficking in our time and in our region, please attend one of the monthly meetings, held on the last Sunday of the month at 12:30p.m. in Meeting Room 2/3, North Campus. For more information, visit setfreemovement.com and/or email Pastor Marsha at marsha@northgatefmc.com.
9. Worship Outdoors – Mark your calendars for Friday, August 19. That night we are planning to hold an outdoor worship service at our North Campus. This might be a great opportunity to invite a friend to come and see what Northgate is all about.
10. Prayer Groups – You are invited to join with others to pray for our church and community on Wednesdays at 1 and Sundays at 9:30. The Wednesday Prayer Group prays for one hour in Meeting Room 1 at North Campus and on Sunday people gather in Room 4 for an hour and pray for our services and congregational needs. Everyone is welcome to either or both of these prayer meetings.
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 – 1 Corinthians 6:12 – “I have the right to do anything,” you say – but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” – but I will not be mastered by anything. (Read 1 Corinthians 6:1-20)
I don’t think we can read these words and not be struck by how modern they sound. “I have the right to do anything.” If that isn’t a popular slogan of our present culture, I don’t know what is! We do love our individual rights. And that’s not all bad or wrong. We enjoy and value our right to worship together; our right to vote; our right to free speech and so on.
Paul doesn’t say here that it’s wrong to assert our rights. He’ll do that himself when he is arrested for preaching the gospel – he’ll assert his right as a Roman citizen to be tried in Rome. What Paul is saying in this passage of scripture is that while we may have the right to do something, that doesn’t mean doing it is a good thing. We should think about restraining ourselves from things that are harmful. We should also think about restraining ourselves from things that have the power to control us or take mastery over us. When we give in to those things, they become like “gods” to us, and we should surrender our lives only to the one, true, living God, and nothing else.
Paul brings this up to speak about sexual immorality. He’s been concerned about this at least as far back as chapter 5 where he expresses his shock about the sexual immorality being tolerated by the church in Corinth. Here in chapter six, he continues to call the church to a higher sexual ethic. A few verses further on he writes “flee from sexual immorality” using a Greek word porneia for “sexual immorality” which would include all sexual intimacy outside of marriage between a man and a woman. Paul seems to be saying, then, “Sure, according to the culture, you may have the “right” to do what you want with your body. But not everything you can do is something that is good for you to do. In fact, some things you may give yourself to may end up ruling over you.
To many people today the Christian ethic around sexuality (limiting intimate relationships to a man and woman in marriage) seems archaic or unnecessary. But it’s worth thinking about how many problems in our modern world might be averted if this teaching was followed. And if we are among those who call ourselves Christians, then we have been “bought at a price” – the death of Jesus – and we have another reason to avoid sexual immorality. We want to do all we can to “honor God with (our) bodies” – that’s a higher calling than doing what I want because “I have the right.”
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. Communion This Weekend Also – We are also celebrating communion this weekend in all of our services. If you’ll be taking in the service on-line, please have your communion elements ready. Thank you!
3. Centered Night for Prayer and Worship – The next evening of prayer and worship will take place on Wednesday July 6 at 6pm. Join us for an hour of centering ourselves on God’s presence and seeking His mercy and grace. We meet in the sanctuary at North.
4. Northgate 101 – At a recent medical appointment my doctor asked me about the difference between Free Methodist and United Methodist. I was very happy to share that information with her! Do you know the difference? On three Sundays in July the pastors will be taking turns meeting with people interested in learning more about the Free Methodist denomination and Northgate Church. We’ll talk about where our denomination came from (we had very local origins even though we are now spread around the world) and what makes us distinct (like the “5 Freedoms”). We’ll also cover what is needed if someone is interested in becoming a member of the church (though this gathering is for everyone – whether interested in membership or not.) Northgate 101 will take place at 9:30 on July 10, 17 and 24 at the North Campus in Room #1. We look forward to seeing you there!
5. Kids Camp is Coming Up – Camp will be held July 11-15 at our North Campus for children ages 3-9. For more information or to register check out this link: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1300091. And if you are interested in helping as a volunteer you can find information on that here: https://northgatefmc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1282908
6. The Communication Cards Are Back – We’ve restocked our sanctuary chairs with communication cards. This is an easy way to let us know if you are new to Northgate, recently decided to follow Jesus, want to be baptized or know more about membership, want to speak to a pastor, share a prayer concern, or anything else that is on your mind. Just fill out the card and drop it into one of the new “collection” boxes which are located in each doorway of the sanctuary. We really love to hear from you, and this is just one way to do that. You can also always email, call, or talk to us when you see us!
7. Stay Informed – Click on this link to see what’s happening this summer at Northgate. http://northgatefmc.com/summerschedule. And if you can’t “click” you can pick up the summers special events card at the Information Desk.
8. Meeting for All Interested in Being Part of the “Set Free” Movement – Inspired by recent presentations at our church by Free Methodist missionaries Gerry McNamara and Kevin Austin, a Set Free Team has formed at Northgate. This group is considering how to be part of helping people to “live in the direction of freedom" together. If you want to help end human trafficking in our time and in our region, please attend one of the monthly meetings, held on the last Sunday of the month at 12:30p.m. in Meeting Room 2/3, North Campus. For more information, visit setfreemovement.com and/or email Pastor Marsha at marsha@northgatefmc.com.
9. Worship Outdoors – Mark your calendars for Friday, August 19. That night we are planning to hold an outdoor worship service at our North Campus. This might be a great opportunity to invite a friend to come and see what Northgate is all about.
10. Prayer Groups – You are invited to join with others to pray for our church and community on Wednesdays at 1 and Sundays at 9:30. The Wednesday Prayer Group prays for one hour in Meeting Room 1 at North Campus and on Sunday people gather in Room 4 for an hour and pray for our services and congregational needs. Everyone is welcome to either or both of these prayer meetings.
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).
***************************************************************************************************
You Can Count on This – 1 Corinthians 6:12 – “I have the right to do anything,” you say – but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” – but I will not be mastered by anything. (Read 1 Corinthians 6:1-20)
I don’t think we can read these words and not be struck by how modern they sound. “I have the right to do anything.” If that isn’t a popular slogan of our present culture, I don’t know what is! We do love our individual rights. And that’s not all bad or wrong. We enjoy and value our right to worship together; our right to vote; our right to free speech and so on.
Paul doesn’t say here that it’s wrong to assert our rights. He’ll do that himself when he is arrested for preaching the gospel – he’ll assert his right as a Roman citizen to be tried in Rome. What Paul is saying in this passage of scripture is that while we may have the right to do something, that doesn’t mean doing it is a good thing. We should think about restraining ourselves from things that are harmful. We should also think about restraining ourselves from things that have the power to control us or take mastery over us. When we give in to those things, they become like “gods” to us, and we should surrender our lives only to the one, true, living God, and nothing else.
Paul brings this up to speak about sexual immorality. He’s been concerned about this at least as far back as chapter 5 where he expresses his shock about the sexual immorality being tolerated by the church in Corinth. Here in chapter six, he continues to call the church to a higher sexual ethic. A few verses further on he writes “flee from sexual immorality” using a Greek word porneia for “sexual immorality” which would include all sexual intimacy outside of marriage between a man and a woman. Paul seems to be saying, then, “Sure, according to the culture, you may have the “right” to do what you want with your body. But not everything you can do is something that is good for you to do. In fact, some things you may give yourself to may end up ruling over you.
To many people today the Christian ethic around sexuality (limiting intimate relationships to a man and woman in marriage) seems archaic or unnecessary. But it’s worth thinking about how many problems in our modern world might be averted if this teaching was followed. And if we are among those who call ourselves Christians, then we have been “bought at a price” – the death of Jesus – and we have another reason to avoid sexual immorality. We want to do all we can to “honor God with (our) bodies” – that’s a higher calling than doing what I want because “I have the right.”
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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