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Pastoral Reflections
"Groundhog Day... Again"
By James Lamkin
I love the 1993 movie:
Groundhog Day. It stars Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. Murray's character, a weatherman, goes to cover the shadow-sighting, or not, of the groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The problem is, every morning Murray wakes-up...and it is the same day. Day after day, it is always Groundhog Day.
The characters of the town do the same thing each day...their meals, their deliveries, their conversations, their accidents, their lives. All the while, Bill Murray is hung in this time loop. Daily he runs the gamut of behaviors and feelings. He steals. He cheats. He's rude. He's crude. He manipulates. He tries to kill himself. Yet, no matter what he does, when he wakes up, it's always February 2.
Who knows how many days or years this happens? Until one day...a day when he chooses to focus on, not what he can take from life, but what he can give to it.
Knowing the townspeople's patterns, he goes about doing good: changing a flat tire for neighbors, catching a boy falling from a tree, saving a dying old man, donating generously to a good cause. In other words, he finally decides to change himself, rather than trying to change everybody else.
As with all our stories, what we really want and need is love: and the only way to get love, is to give love. That's when the miracle happens. When his heart is changed...so is time. The day moves on to the next; and a larger life for everyone unfolds. Like the Serenity Prayer puts it, we "change the things we can," right?
One day, national politics might change. One day, the world may do as the prophet Micah declared: "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God." One day, we're "gonna study war no more." One day, "justice will roll down like waters, and righteousness like an unending stream." One day.
But until that day, let each of us work on her or his own life...with God, with others, and with God's world. Perhaps in doing so, we will see our own shadow; and that will be part of our healing. Regardless of what anyone else does, you and I will march and dance to the tunes of justice, love, and humility.
Choose well today...and what a Holy Day it will be! Happy Groundhog Day.
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A Super "Souper Bowl"
Souper Bowl Sunday 2017 was a huge success thanks to many generous people!
We enjoyed 25 pots of a wide selection of soups and chilis, plus a table packed with delicious cookies and brownies. Many thanks to all of you who prepared for this fun event. We gathered for food, fellowship and the Hunger Fund and because of your generosity we raised at present count $1350. If you were unable to attend and would like to donate please send your checks to NDBC and designate Souper Bowl. On behalf of the Mission Committee thank you for helping us to fund the many local organizations who address hunger in the Atlanta area.
~ Mona Stines, Mission Ministry Team
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Sunday, February 12, 2017
Celestial and Cherub Choirs
Singing in Morning Worship
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Alliance of Baptists Sunday
February 12, 2017, 11:00 AM
NDBC is a founding church in the Alliance of Baptists. 30 years ago, Tom Conley, Jim Strickland, Buddy Shurden and others met in our sanctuary. Out of their discussion and passion, the Alliance of Baptists was born.
James Lamkin will be preaching on February 12; however, Jim Strickland will speak a good and grateful word on behalf of the Alliance. Betty Conley, also, has been invited to the service that day.
Jim Strickland and Rachel Lackey, a husband/wife team, have been the managers of Sabbath House in Bryson City, NC, since its inception, construction, and five years of operation. They are well aware of the demands of contemporary culture on everyone and the unique demands our culture makes of clergy, laity leadership, and caregivers. They possess a combined total of 60 years of parish ministry experience. Both are ordained Christian clergy and have been trained in pastoral care. Jim holds a Doctorate of Ministry Degree in pastoral care and counseling from Columbia Theological Seminary, and Rachel holds a Masters Degree in Religious Education and has worked in Clinical Pastoral Education.
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Young Adults
At the Table: February 5 & 19, 2017
In the Balcony of the Narthex after Worship
Don't want to get up before 9 AM? Join this class of young singles and couples in their 20s and 30s at the big table in the balcony of the Narthex after the worship service in an informal setting for snacks and coffee. We will gather around the table Sunday, February 5, to briefly examine the lectionary texts, deconstruct the sermon of the day, and fellowship together.
Teachers:
Jeffrey Dunkerley
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Youth Group Series
ENCORE, February 12, 2017
Don't want to get up before 9 AM? Join this class of young singles and couples in their 20s and 30s at the big table in the balcony of the Narthex after the worship service in an informal setting for snacks and coffee. We will gather around the table Sunday, February 5, to briefly examine the lectionary texts, deconstruct the sermon of the day, and fellowship together.
Teachers:
Jeffrey Dunkerley
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Triple E
You are cordially invited to the annual
Valentine Luncheon
Honoring NDBC retired members
Tuesday, February 14, 2017,
12 o'clock noon, in the Fellowship Hall
Special Performance by Kurt Thomas
We are so lucky to enjoy his music from time to time in Worship. Now we have the opportunity to get to know Kurt even
better as he shares with us some of his favorite music as well as stories of his life and songs.
RSVP by February 9
to Barbara Atchley
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Youth Group Youth Lock-In: February 24-25
On February 24
th, pray for the youth and adults that will be participating in our first lock in of 2017. We will make some food, probably dessert, and watch movies as we partake in the first lock in of the year. Over the course of 12 hours, we will play games, have fun, and get far too little sleep while doing so. More updates will come as the date gets closer. But, go ahead and mark your calendars! If you have any questions please contact Jeffrey at
jeffrey@northsidedrive.org
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February 26
Tired Parents Breakfast and Family Lunch
Join us for a Tired Parents Breakfast during the Church School hour on February 26th for fellowship and a time to relax, and then following worship we will have a family lunch at Zoe's. We invite all families and parents to join us!
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It's that time of year again! We need to start collecting pre-filled Easter Eggs for our annual Easter Egg hunt! Please bring a dozen or two of candy filled colorful eggs to church. There will be bins in the Narthex that you can drop them off in.
**NO PEANUT PRODUCTS PLEASE**
~ Anna Kate Wilson, Director of Children's Ministries
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Oglethorpe University Singers will be our Guest Choir
Sunday, February 26, 2017
The Oglethorpe University Singers under the direction of Dr. W. Irwin Ray will be our featured guest choir during worship on Sunday, February 26. The ensemble provides for the study and performance of significant choral literature with the liberal arts context of the University and is open to students of all disciplines. The auditioned concert choir, which is in frequent demand for performance in the community, rehearses three hours each week for one hour of academic credit. Repertoire includes scared and secular literature, both accompanied and unaccompanied, ranging from the fifteenth century to the present. Mark your calendar so that you do not miss the opportunity to share the worship experience with these talented musicians.
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NDBC
20.30
Young Adults - Growing Young Session 1 February 26, 2017
In the midst of stereotypes about young people and their church commitments,
Growing Young by the Fuller Youth Institute aims to break down those stereotypes and offer suggestions on how churches can reach young adults. Throughout the spring, there will be three sessions that offer information about the book, their suggestions, and evaluations of their suggestions. The first will be February 26th. If you have any questions please let me know. Join us as we explore ways Northside Drive can extend its ministry to young adults.
If you can, can you please use this picture for the growing young publication?
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Thursday Evening Lenten Services
"Rogues 'Round the Cross"
Beginning March 9 - April 6
6:45 PM in the Chapel
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Amanda Tyler
Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
Preaching: March 12, 2017, at NDBC
Amanda is brand new at the BJC, having recently followed Brent Walker as the Executive Director.
She leads the organization as it upholds the historic Baptist principle of religious liberty, defending the free exercise of religion and protecting against its establishment by government. A native of Austin, Texas, Tyler grew up hearing about the cherished Baptist principles of religious liberty and the separation of church and state as a member of Highland Park Baptist Church. Because she was committed to these principles, Tyler sought out the Baptist Joint Committee when she moved to Washington to attend Georgetown University, and she began volunteering in the office as a student. She will be lecturing at McAfee School of Theology the following week. We welcome her on this day.
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31st Annual Women's Retreat
April 21-23, 2017
Robbinsville, North Carolina
SPACE & TIME ARE LIMITED
Reservation deadline is Sunday, February 12, 2017
Make your reservation with a $100.00 deposit
(made out to Joyce Wilson)
& give it to Joyce Wilson or Virginia Gilbert
For more information:
Joyce Wilson (770) 773-3333
Virginia Gilbert (770) 333-8933
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Church Week
Sunday, February 5
9:30 AM - Church School
10:25 AM - Children's Choir Rehearsal
11:00 AM - Morning Worship
12:15 PM - At the Table
Tuesday, February 7
10:00 - Staff Meeting
Wednesday, February 8
10:30 AM - Weekday Preschool Ministry Team
10:30 AM - Pastor's Bible Study
Thursday, February 9
6:10 PM - Yoga in the Fellowship Hall
7:30 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
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LECTIONARY TEXT
February 5, 2017
Psalm 112:1-10
Isaiah 58:5-10
Matthew 5:13-16
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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 Fay Brewer
If you would like your name placed on our rotating TLP list, please give the church office a call.
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Birthdays
FEBRUARY
Janie Joyner-1
Lindsay Cadaret-4
Rhonda Harris- 4
Dalia Ferrer-5
Barrett Boekhaus-6
Virgil Herndon-6
Tanner Stines- 9
Mary Dean-10
Cindy Bell-11
Blythe Goodhead-13
Mike Almeida-13
Cate Denham-14
Letty Denham-14
Bo Thomas-24
Linda Dyer-14
Mary Ann Hickman-14
Jeanne Hicks-14
Van Thomas-18
Marshall Dewell-20
Harry Morgan-20
Taylor Janney-21
Susan Dew-21
Gloria Smathers-22
Dee Davis-23
Levon Thomas-24
Maggie Johnson-25
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Namaste Y'all! Yoga is Back!
Thursday's from
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
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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 1715 Howell Mill Rd.
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PASTOR'S
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.
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PRAYER SHAWL
MINISTRY
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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