We Wishes you a Merry Christmas! 


      We had a wonderful Gaudete Sunday! The children sang so beautifully and while we didn't get to recognize the new babies born this year in person, we got to recognize them by name. Many of them have been under the weather and with so many of us having colds, we thought it would be best to let their little immune systems build a little more strength before fully introducing them to their church family. This past Sunday we had a family lunch in the undercroft and had a blast playing and fellowshipping together. We look forward to the Christmas Eve service this Saturday with all the children playing a part in the journey to Bethlehem.

 - - Anna Kate Wilson, Director of Children's Ministries

December 25, 2016
Christmas Day
Worship at 11:00 am
(No Church School


NORTHSIDE NOTES:  
December 21, 2016 

Pastoral Reflections 
Pastoral Reflections
"What's Today, My Fine Fellow?"
By James Lamkin

     That's what Scrooge asked the boy walking beneath his window on a snowy morn. "What's today, my fine fellow?"
     "Today?" questions the puzzled lad below; but then he bellows out: "Why, it is Christmas Day!" And with that, a new adventure begins. This is the day Ebenezer is born again. He leaves behind the chains of greed, even as he stumbles headlong into the unfamiliar waiting arms of grace.
     So do we. The Advent adventure will soon be done. Then comes Sunday...yes, this Sunday...Christmas Day, all day!
     So, FYI: we are open for business! Every few years Christmas Day falls on Sunday. There will be newspaper articles on churches that choose, or don't choose, to have worship. You can argue it either way. However, Northside Drivers have never been bashful in making worship attendance choices. We practice weekly.    
     Some Christmas Day Sundays, we have visitors from Big Box churches (as some reference them) that are closed for the day. These attendees come as refugees seeking short-term sanctuary. All are welcome.
     Keith, Anna Kate, Jeffrey, Jeff, and I will be here. Jesus, too, has promised to join us. Plus, you, y'all, all y'all, and "all of y'all" are invited. Christmas always happens with or without us...but what an honor it is to be close enough to hear God's whispered sigh...like that of a new father or mother.  
     I will preach from the Nave floor. We will gather like a family around a fireplace. We will sing carols and read scriptures. I will tell stories and retell THE story. We will poke our noses over Bethlehem's feed trough, and not find feed. Rather, the manger will be brimming with, "the hopes and fears of all the years." Then, we will leave, ready to go tell it on the mountain.
     Buckhead is no Dickens Village. The high-rises and high costs disqualify it. But, Buckhead is home to our church house. Here, we will do on Sunday what we do well. We will stand tall at the corner of Northside Drive and Parkway and bellow out the kid's line from long ago. It still is good news. IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY! Amen.
Christmas Eve Family Vespers
Saturday, December 24, 2016, at 4 PM, in the Sanctuary
      Do you need a Christmas Eve Service designed especially for your kids? If so, make plans to attend Northside Drive's Family Vespers Service at 4 PM on Christmas Eve. We sing kid friendly carols, have a costumed Christmas pageant, partake in family communion, and see the Pastor juggling while telling a Christmas story. Northside Drive Baptist Church has designed this unique service with the whole family in mind.

Christmas Eve
Lessons, Carols, and Communion  
Saturday, December 24, 2016, at 10:30 PM, in the Sanctuary
      As midnight approaches on Christmas Eve, the world is dark. One by one, candles begin to light up the darkness as Silent Night, Holy Night resounds in the air. The Christ child is coming and the people will soon break forth with the jubilant hymn, Joy to the World! Join Northside Drive Baptist Church in a beautiful Christmas Eve service of Lessons, Carols, Communion and Candlelight. The Christmas story will be read from Scripture and the familiar carols will wrap us in the hopeful warmth of a Savior to be born.
Triple E 
Triple E
Tuesday, January 10, 2016
Civility Rules!
Stephen M. Paskoff, Founder and CEO of ELI, Inc.
    
Steve is a nationally recognized authority on workplace legal issues and has appeared on or been interviewed by many news outlets including ABC's 20/20 CNBC, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Fox News, HR Executive Magazine, and Inc. Magazine.  Come hear this delightful, engaging speaker discuss how a more civil and respectful workplace increases productivity, profits, and personal satisfaction for owners and employees alike.
Northside Drive Book Club book club
Wednesday, January 18, 2016

Most Blessed of the Patriarchs
  Author:  Annette Gordon-Reed + P.S. Onuf
  Facilitator:  Pam Wamberg
  Hostess: Robbye Taylor
Our Annual "Souper Bowl Sunday 
Souper Bowl
 Sunday, January 29, 2017
     Volunteers are needed to either prepare a pot of soup or chili, or to bake cookies or brownies! If you are not fond of cooking we can always use help with set-up or clean-up. Whatever your talents are, join us that day for fellowship and fun. The donations we collect that day help support the Hunger Fund. To volunteer contact Mona Stines at mona.stines@att.net or 404-936-8812.
Thank You From The Missions Team
     Thank you for your generous support for the 2016 Christmas giving projects. New clothing, linens, and toiletries were delivered to the women and men at The Extension and the Barbra J. Crafton centers in Marietta. Your gifts of clothing, books, games, and electronics made Christmas special for children living on the campus of Morningstar Children and Family Services in Brunswick. And Christmas for families served through Buckhead Christian Ministry's Joyous Toys was brighter because of your donations of new toys and games. Thank you to all who participated in sharing love this Christmas season.
Home for the Holidays!
     That is the gift that Northside Drivers gave to this mother and son who will be moving into their new Atlanta Habitat for Humanity home in the coming weeks. Northside Drive, along with 9 other congregations from all different faiths came together this fall to help Taghie build a beautiful new home for her and her son Jayden. Huge thanks to everyone who came out to volunteer, to Dave Wooten for coordinating all of the congregations that come together for this build every year and to all the members of Northside Drive who support this wonderful mission through our gifts.
   - - Geneva Hall-Shelton
       Senior Sponsorship Manager
       Atlanta Habitat for Humanity
Church Week  
SUNDAY, December 25
11:00 AM - Morning Worship
MONDAY, December 26
          Church Office Closed 
WEDNESDAY, December 28
10:30 AM - Pastor's Bible Study
FRIDAY - December 30
                 Church Office Closed 

Volume 8 - Issue 51
LECTIONARY TEXT 

CHRISTMAS EVE
 
Family Vesper Service 
Luke 2:1-7 
Luke 2:8-14 
Luke 2;15-20

Lessons, Carols & Communion 
John 1:1-18
Isaiah 9:2-7
Luke 1:26-38
Luke 2:1-7
Luke 2:8-20
Matthew 2;1-12
Galatians 4:4-7
Revelation: 21-1-6a

CHRISTMAS DAY 
Luke 2:1-7 
Luke 2:8-14 
Luke 2;15-20  
HIGHLIGHTS
Pastoral Relfections
Family Vespers
Lessons, Carols & Communion
Triple E
Book Club
Souper Bowl Sunday
Christmas Giving
Habitat
Church Week
Yoga
ROMEOS
This Week's
TENDER LOVING
PRAYER
 (TLP List) 
  The TLP is a Diaconate ministry. Each week's list contains the rotating names of three or four NDBC senior adults.

Jon & Janet Bell
Reidar Bjornard
Fey Brewer

If you would like
your name placed
on our rotating TLP list, please give the
church office a call.
December
Birthdays
 
Steven Sheeley      2
Mary Lester           5
Susan Richards     5
Hans-Luca Davis    6
Syd Janney           7
Victoria Tunon       7
Laura Butts           7
Caleb Younger       7
Lisa Barksdale       8
Andrew Hardin       9
Jack Guynn          10
Ava Grace Cook    10
Elaine Eassa        13
Clay Manley          17
Charlotte Dalke      20
Jenn Knight            23
Joan McIntyre         24
Emma Chandler      27
Joseph Cassata      27
Amanda Gregg       28
Ruth Trager            28
Bill Jones               28
Muriel Hardy           29
Jeanne Goodwill      30
Namaste Y'all! Yoga is Back!

2017 Classes
begin on
January 5
 
Thursday's from
6:10 - 7:10 pm
in the Fellowship Hall. The instructor is Shelia Cooper.  Her children are in our weekday preschool.  Free childcare will be provided in the nursery area of the building. 
$10.00 per person
ROMEOS
Retired Older Men Eating Out
Every 3rd Tuesday of the month our "Retired Older Men" eat lunch together at Piccadilly Cafeteria from 12 PM-1 PM. It's a time to visit with friends, tell stories and eat good food (bring your lunch money)! Piccadilly Cafeteria is located at 1715 Howell Mill Rd.
PASTORS WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
Wednesday @ 10:30 AM
Conference Room
We meet weekly from 10:30-11:30 AM, in the church's Conference Room. We study the texts selected in the Revised Common Lectionary for the next Sunday. Large print editions are available each week and for the upcoming Sunday. Discussion is deep and wide and lively. All are invited.
PRAYER SHAWL
MINISTRY
shawl
  led by Susan Harlan
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday at 7:00 PM
      Come join us on the first and third Thursday of each month, at 7:00 PM, in Room 207, the Parlor, to knit or crochet a prayer shawl. If you are not sure how, no problem, there will be plenty of people to help you get started. This group is open to anyone who would like to join! For more information call Susan Harlan at 770-377-3869.
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Northside Drive Baptist Church is affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists,
the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Interfaith Power & Light.
CBF logo 2      CBF logo   
Northside Drive Baptist Church | 3100 Northside Dr NW | Atlanta GA | 30305
404-237-8621 | northsidedrive.org