Northminster Presbyterian Church

ZOOM Activities

Sunday 10am Church
Monday 7:30am Prayer Team Tuesday 6pm Unity Group Thursday 7:30am Prayer Team

From Pastor Jay

Open at last! Coffee & donuts; greeters and ushers; Sunday School classes are back! Who would have guessed 18 months ago that our lives would be altered so radically?
I have deeply missed seeing everyone in person and hope to connect with each of you one way or another over the next of couple months. It was great seeing people without a mask, but the truth is that our attendance is not what it was pre-COVID. So, it is my hope & prayer that those who feel comfortable attending in person will also feel comfortable inviting friends & neighbors to come with them each week. Statistically we are not alone in experiencing a slow return to Sunday mornings. But be assured, we will strive to be welcoming, loving & accepting to anyone you bring.

The good news is that we will continue to use Zoom each week to include folks that cannot make it to church. I am so grateful for our Sunday volunteers that arrive early each week to set up the cameras, sound, and computer so we can offer this alternative.
I am also excited to be preaching thru the Book of Acts over the next several months as we explore the amazing things that happened during the early years of the church. History has shown us that God does it differently with each successive generation. What remains the same is Christ’s command to “Go and make disciples” and that this happens when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I encourage each of you to consider who God might have put into your life to be that witness. If no one comes to mind, then pray about it, and pray that God will show you how to begin a conversation and an invitation to join us in worship.

From our PRESCHOOL Director Sharon Halle

Northminster Preschool has started its Summer Fun program and we are happy to say most of our students will remain enrolled until July 30th. Normally we take a one-week break and then have given the parents an option of having a weekly program. This year we decided that the families needed continuous care, so we just extended our school year through July 30th.

The children are enjoying freezer pop days and water days twice a week. Lots of fun art projects are lining the Congdon Hall windows and decorating the classrooms.

Our Fall registration is going well, and we hope to fill our five available classrooms. Hours will once again expand allowing for the parents to have a longer workday. Although California has dropped its mask mandate and is largely open, the mandate is still in effect for childcare, and we continue to have limited-size classes. Once the children have been vaccinated, we hope this will change.

Thankfully, we opened and stayed open throughout this pandemic. The teachers deserve all the credit for making this happen and making ours a safe place for children to thrive.

Looking forward to having a happy Summer and our Fall 21/22 program.

From our Communications Chair Carol Weckman

This has been a busy year for our committee. Karen Scott is doing an amazing job managing our website and social media. She would welcome a helper so contact her if you are interested. Vance Belliston has been instrumental in getting a database system installed and is helping to provide training. We have worked diligently in updating the roster and ensuring all information is current and correct. Please keep the church office informed of any changes to your personal information.

Work has started in exploring ideas for a new church logo, something that will be more representative of Northminster. The Communications Committee published their first newsletter in June and hopes to continue that process through the year. Loretta Crow has graciously offered to proofread the newsletter and offer her professional comments. We look forward to all elders, deacons and members submitting articles so we can all stay abreast of what is happening at NPC. Articles are due to the editor by the 24th of each month.

From our Worship Leader, Joel Marple:

It has been just over a year since I was hired to lead in worship here at NPC. And you have all made Shelly and me feel encouraged, welcome and accepted into this loving church family. Thank you!

I want to share with you some of my thoughts on worship leading and to give you an update on the upgrades to our sanctuary.

We begin each rehearsal with a prayer asking for the presence and inspiration of Jesus. Then we consider the songs. Our first goal in making a song choice is simply to glorify God. After that, we try to choose songs that complement the theme of Pastor Jay’s sermon. We also look for songs, or hymns, that will reach our multi-generational congregation, some that will be familiar, and some that will be new. We remember Ephesians 5:19 where it says, “bring a psalm, a hymn, and a spiritual song” and Psalms 96:1 where it says, “Sing to the Lord a new song”. Each Sunday we try to incorporate these biblical instructions.

My experience in leading worship has taught me that I cannot bring people into God’s presence without having been in His presence myself. Rehearsal is about more than just learning the music. Rehearsal is about drawing close to the Lord, and lifting him up, and being in his presence so that we may lead his people to the place where we have already been, to worship God in his presence.

Over the past year, we have begun significant upgrades to the equipment used for all our services in the sanctuary. We have installed a new digital soundboard that stores all the settings for each instrument and vocalist. We have also installed individual monitors for each musician so they can hear the specific mix of sound that enables them to blend in seamlessly. Vance has been extremely helpful in the installation of this sound system and in investing many hours researching the best system for our needs.

Currently, we are working with a local Christian AV company to install new digital screens and remote cameras for Zoom, along with new speakers for the digital soundboard.

All these AV improvements have been carefully thought out so that the integrity of the church architecture and design is kept and respected. Future updates will be coming as the church leadership moves forward to approve the pending upgrades.

We are extremely excited to see what God brings as we enter a new season of worship at NPC!

Blessings, Joel and Shelly

From our Outreach Chair Peggy Brown

Back to School Backpack Program at CCSA

CCSA (Community Christian Service Agency) anticipates providing 400 or more backpacks for students in grades K-9 this fall. After a year of focusing on food-only for clients in San Diego County, CCSA will gradually return to its routine of distributing food, clothing, and counseling to those in need, as it has for nearly 50 years.

Northminster Presbyterian Church has been faithfully participating in this ministry by donating basic items of clothing and food, money, volunteers/time, and leadership to this agency (which is supported by 30+ congregations and community organizations) for most of that half-century. For instance, in 2019 Northminster donated 37 filled backpacks and various school supplies to the CCSA backpack program.

This year’s distribution of backpacks to children of CCSA clients will begin in early August. Those wishing to participate may do so by donating -

-- an empty backpack (or several) - a filled backpack (or several)

(Below: see lists of appropriate items per age group) -- some school items (see list below)
-- money to purchase items for this program

(Make checks payable to NPC, noting CCSA backpack program)

Barrels labeled “CCSA BACKPACK PROGRAM” to receive gifts for this backpack program have been placed near the grand piano in the Lindig Library at the main entrance of Northminster. Backpacks that have been received will be taken to CCSA on August 3.