Northminster News - October 2021
Calendar of Events
Sunday at 10am: Worship (in person or Zoom)
Monday at 7:30am: Prayer Team
Monday – Friday at 8am: Bible Study
Tuesday at 6pm: Unity Group
Thursday at 7:30am: Prayer Team
News from Peggy Brown Mission Outreach Chair
Peace at all times and all ways,” a quote from Thessalonians 3:16, is the theme for the Peace and Global Witness Offering to be received at Northminster Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 3. This offering is focused on peacemaking, reconciliation, and global witness through the efforts of the congregation (receives 25%), the Presbyterian Mission Agency (50%), and presbyteries and synods (25%).
The Mission Agency partners with ministries around the world---like NABAD, a program in Lebanon that aims to empower persons coping with trauma. Congregations and presbyteries sponsor travel seminars to understand and assist in real-world situations concerning immigration law in Mexico and Central America and with problems of millions who are uprooted and unsettled globally.
October 3 is World Communion Sunday, an opportunity for Christians around the world to recognize their one-ness as they celebrate (on the same day!) around the Lord's Table—certainly an appropriate time and place to offer our part in the peacemaking “for all times and all ways.”
As usual, special Peace and Global Witness offering envelopes and more information about peace and peacemaking will be available at Northminster in worship bulletins and on the table in the church narthex.
From the Pastor's Desk
We often hear in the Sunday service, "May the peace of Christ be with you." In which the desired response is always: "And also with you." But what does it mean to have 'peace'?
Carl Horton asked this question in Presbytery Today Magazine this past summer. He suggested that most Presbyterians answer with such things as tranquility, calm, well-being, wholeness, health, safety, security, and even diplomatic treaties. Of course, peace finds expression in many ways and takes various forms, but as people of faith, we believe peace is a gift from God in all its manifestations and conditions.
Peace is a dominant theme in the Bible, mentioned some 400 times in the King James translation. In Hebrew, it often appears as 'shalom,' which suggests a positive relationship with God and well-being among humanity and harmony with creation—urging believers to receive peace as a divine gift and pursue it as a way of life. In doing this, we become peacemakers and recognized as children of God.
Over the past century, Presbyterians have strived to become bearers of peace in response to the world's pain, brokenness, conflict, oppression, and injustice. We have nurtured and equipped Presbyterians of all ages to engage in the practices of peacemaking. A number of our annual special offerings address these specific issues. And yet, some of the peacemaking we seek is not easy. Sometimes it demands change, sacrifice, and disruption of the status quo. It can find itself at odds with the systems & structures of our culture.
The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that people often say, "Peace, peace" when there is no peace. Indeed peace is not peace if it is achieved for some and not all.
For Presbyterians, for Christians, peace is more than an idea or a declaration. It is the work we do as both compassion-bearers and justice-seekers. May we remember to encourage one another in the pursuit of peacemaking individually and as a church. May the Peace of the Lord be with you.
From Bret, Buildings and Grounds Committee Chair
I was raised (quite literally) in the church here at Northminster. My parents Doug & Shirlee had moved from West Covina to Clairemont in 1957 & became members here shortly after I was born in late 1958 and baptized in what was the relatively newly constructed main meeting area that we now call Congdon Hall. And yes, Dr Howard Congdon performed my baptism! I have early memories of spending time in the Church nursery, then in the school rooms where we spent Sunday mornings learning about our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a fondness that I have of this time, in part because I was part of a loving family, but also because I knew that the people in this Church also loved me and looked after me. While being loved and valued may not necessarily guarantee a well-adjusted life outlook, for me, it had a profoundly positive effect. I could not imagine being raised any other way. Sadly, I've discovered that this type of early life experience is not necessarily the norm in this world.
In my teens, I attended youth programs here that I still remember to this day. I looked forward to games, meals, Bible studies & going to the beach. My older sister Marilyn and older brother Bill were still alive during this time, and so these are memories that I cherish to this day.
As often happens with people as they approach their late teens, I attended church less regularly. But between what I had learned from my family and my church, I had a grounding. I knew right from wrong, even when I knew I was falling short of doing the right thing. During this time, I began playing guitar in a rock band that performed in night clubs around San Diego. It was during this time in 1979 that I met a tall, blonde girl named Linda. She was funny, cheerful, and from a loving family. She was extraordinarily patient with me, while waiting for me to "grow up". :) We married in 1987. Despite my ambivalence about God during those years, He never turned His back on me. He has blessed me with 2 beautiful sons, a loving extended family, and wonderful friends, many of whom are from this Church. He has allowed me to continue to play music, which is a gift I will be forever grateful for. He has given me a skill that has allowed me to provide for my family (taught to me by my dad, of course), making household furniture.
Being involved in running a small business can teach you several different skills, so when I was asked to chair the Building & Grounds Committee for Northminster, I agreed. My team is amazing; they are God's "hands and feet", and always willing to cheerfully help.
I'll close this way: one time I was talking to a friend, a lay pastor named Ernie, who preached at a small Church of Christ in Southeast San Diego. I was telling him about how much I'd been blessed in my life, and I didn't know exactly how to respond, especially in a world of such utter brokenness. It didn't seem fair to me. Ernie's response: "It's not for you to know why. Rather, accept God's gifts without regret, without guilt. In turn, remember those with less. But most importantly, be forever, constantly thankful". Amen to that!
Daily Bible Study Guide
Please join us as we spend a few minutes each morning learning more about the Bible. The church office will be glad to share the ZOOM information.
Thurs 09/23: Psalms 105:1-4
Fri. 09/24: Psalms 33:1-8
Mon 09/27: Isaiah 26:2-4
Tues 09/28: Isaiah 38:17
Wed 09/29: Isaiah 40:28-31
Thurs 09/30: John 8:1-6
Fri 10/01 John: 14:1-6
Mon 10/04 John: 14:27
Tues 10/05 John: 15:12-17
Wed 10/06 Romans: 8:11-17
Thurs10/07 Romans: 8:38-39
Fri 10/08 Philippians: 4:6-7
Mon 10/11 Philippians: 4:11
Tues 10/12 Philippians: 4:13
Wed 10/13 Acts: 2:42-47
Thurs 10/14 Ephesians: 6:14-18
Fri 10/15 1 Corinthians: 5:57-58
Mon 10/18 Revelation: 2:10
From Nancy Riggs, Deacon
Deacons are sponsoring a Halloween trick or treat time for the preschool which will be held Friday October 29 at noon. The children will decorate their own bags and the Deacons and volunteers will fill them with Halloween treats. Tables for the snacks will be set up along the walkway and decorated. Deacons and volunteers are encouraged to come in costume and bring decorations for their table. The children will be wearing costumes and parading along the sidewalk in front of Congdon Hall. Treats will be purchased by the Deacons. If you would like to help, please contact Nancy. The Deacons had fun last year with this activity; they are looking forward to doing it again!
From Leigh Moyers - Eagle Project at Northminster
Tyler Moyers is a Northminster Preschool Alumni and a Boy Scout at Troop 260 in Clairemont. Ever since he first joined Cub Scouts when he was in 1st grade, he aspired to becoming an Eagle Scout. He’s very close to achieving that goal with the completion of one last step - a community service project. He has chosen Northminster Church and the Preschool as the beneficiary of his Eagle project. He went to Preschool at Northminster for 3 years and attended the church’s Sunday school youth program. Now he would like to give back to both organizations. For the church, he is building a large wooden cabinet to replace the cluttered shelving in the Youth Room. For the Preschool, he plans to build a new bench for their 2-year-old students to sit on while they wait for their parents to pick them up at the end of the day.
Troop 260 Scouts helped Tyler with building the cabinet over the past two weekends. First, they sanded and stained the wood. They were fortunate that it was very hot that day, so the stain dried quickly, and they were able to start assembly. The second weekend they built the doors, attached the hardware and delivered the cabinet to the Youth room at the church. This coming weekend they plan to attach the doors, complete the cabinet assembly and installation and hopefully start building the bench for the Preschool.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to Tyler’s Fundraiser to purchase materials for this project. Your generosity is very much appreciated! We would also like to give a shout out to Church Elder, Bret Qua, who was able to get a discount on some of the wood Tyler needed for the cabinet and cut the large pieces down in his wood shop.
We’re so grateful to be part of the Northminster community and to have this opportunity to give back to the church and preschool in this way.
