Newsletter
Volume 39 Number 19 December 19,2008
From the Pastor
In just a few days Advent begins. Advent is the beginning of the year, and at Northside it is a very festive and beautiful season. The sanctuary will be decked out in all the banners of previous Advents. The color purple will be prominent, and we will begin singing Advent hymns.
It is important to remember that Advent is not just a warm-up act for Christmas. It is a serious Christian season that stands alone. Advent leads to Christmas, but a big chunk of the readings contain no reference to the birth of Jesus at all. Instead, the readings are about the second coming of Christ, the end of the age, approaching judgment and change. We always hear from John the Baptist out in the wilderness calling for repentance.
Observing Advent will make you an odd fit when the rest of the world begins to observe its extended Christmas sale.
That is not to say that Advent is dark while Christmas is festive. Advent starts kind of dark, but it is the dark that makes it possible to see the brilliance of the coming light. It's not that deep midnight of sin that we get late in Lent.
As you prepare for Advent, be on the lookout for our theme of "Last Things First." We will begin our year by attending to things which come at the last: the final judgment, death, heaven, eternal life, and mystery. All these things will finally lead us to Christmas Eve when we celebrate "birth."
We owe a special thanks to our choir and to Jamie, Dottie and Jo Ann for the hard work they are doing to prepare for this season. They will be singing from J. A. C. Redford's "Welcome All Wonders," and this has been good, hard work. The texts are magnificent, and the music is deeply challenging. They will be leading us in worshiping a lively, surprising God, so let us be attentive and grateful for their skill.
You should also be on the lookout for the artwork of Robin Whitfield which will grace our Advent book and banner. Be sure to spend some time with the original pieces, which will be on display in the Narthex. Robin has used a variety of materials in five original settings of wildlife, and running through each is a biblical text. If you want to come during each week to mediate on her chosen texts and experience the art prayerfully, let us know.
I imagine that the days leading up to Christmas will be anxious times for many. A great deal of our economy is built around this season. All the more reason for us to pay close attention to Advent. The world is going to need people of hope, faith, love, and joy in the coming days.
Grace and Peace,
Stan
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Thanks to Northside
I want to thank everyone for volunteering their time off to help me and my family. I am so happy about my new home, and it would not be standing if it wasn't for all of you. I also want to thank everyone for the wonderful gifts. Also, thank you for providing lunch for the volunteers.
Happy Holidays to each and every one of you. Please be safe and happy. May God bless all of you.
Thanks again,
Tamektricia Lawson
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Deacon Ordination
On Sunday, January 18, we will ordain our new deacons, Graham Carner, Margaret Drummond, Jo Hollman and John Meadors. They will be replacing David Cobb, Sam Drummond, Greg Nolan and Sheila Wagner.
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From the Wellness Ministry
Question: "My doctor wanted me to have both a flu vaccine and a pneumonia vaccine. Why?"
Basically, flu vaccine protects against flu virus and the "pneumonvax" protects against pneumococcal bacteria. Pneumococcal bacteria can cause a serious "strep" infection of the lungs, blood, or outer lining of the brain which can be life-threatening to adults with certain other vulnerable health conditions. The CDC recommends that all adults age 65 or older, all people with chronic diseases (such as diabetes, heart, lung, or kidney disease), and people with compromised immune systems receive the pneumococcal vaccine. Some categories of adults will also be recommended to have a booster vaccine after 5 years.
Also note that it is not too late to get those vaccines. The flu usally hits hard around the end of December, so you have a little time to build up immunity by getting the flu vaccine now. Good hand washing will also help get unsuspected flu virus off your hands. Hands should be washed with soap and water using lots of friction (and not forgetting the tips of the fingers) for 15 full seconds before rinsing. Hospital personnel know that 15 seconds is just long enough to sing Happy Birthday to yourself. Antiseptic hand cleansing gel is an alternative if you are away from soap and water.
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Health and Wellness Ministry Team
There are times when members of our church family need transportation to a medical clinic, hospital, or doctor's office. If you would like to be on a committee that serves our community in this way, call Jo Ann Pope at 601-924-6356.
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Women's Retreat
Theme: LIVING WATER
"Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water"
Water. We need it desperately to live and scripture speaks of those in relationship with God as being "watered" and becoming "water" for others. During the retreat we will consider our need for water, our calling to be water for others, and God's promises to renew us with living water.
Date: January 23-25, 2009
Place: St. Moses the Black Priory, Raymond, Mississippi www.stmosestheblackpriory.org
Cost: $70 (two nights lodging, Saturday lunch and dinner, Sunday lunch)
Please call or email the church office to sign up.
There is limited space so a $35 deposit is needed to hold a spot.
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New Committee Forming
In order to continue the good work begun on our website, we are forming a Website Management Committee. We are hoping that this group can find more ways to use this tool, helping us with our own internal communication and helping us reach out to others. We now have a powerful gift, but we need a few interested people to fine tune it. Do you use the web daily? Do you want to help us develop this exciting link? Please call Jim Jenkins if you would be willing to serve in this way.
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Treasurer's Note
All contributions must be in the office by December 31by noon to be credited for tax purposes in 2008.