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“A Prayer for the Tired, Angry Ones”
by Laura Jean Truman
God,
We’re so tired.
We want to do justice, but the work feels endless,
And the results look too small in our exhausted hands.
We want to love mercy, but our enemies are relentless, and it feels like foolishness to prioritize gentleness in this unbelievably cruel world.
We want to walk humbly, but self-promotion is seductive, and we are afraid that if we don’t look after ourselves, no one else will.
We want to be kind, but our anger feels insatiable.
Jesus, in this never-ending wilderness, come to us and grant us grace.
Grant us the courage to keep showing up to impossible battles, trusting that it is our commitment to faithfulness, not our obsession with results that will bring in Your shalom.
Grant us the vulnerability to risk loving our difficult and complicated neighbor, rejecting the lie
that some people are made more in the image of God than others.
Grant us the humility of a decentered but Beloved self.
As we continue to take the single step that is in front of us, Jesus, keep us from becoming what
we are called to transform. Protect us from using the empire’s violence- in our words, in our
theology, in our activism, and in our politics - for your kingdom of peace.
Keep our anger from becoming meanness.
Keep our sorrow from collapsing into self-pity.
Keep our outrage turned toward justice, not cruelty.
Remind us that all of this, every bit of it, is for love.
Keep us fiercely kind.
Amen. -This prayer is taken from Truman’s book A Rhythm of Prayer
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Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 10:45 am
Rev. Jillian Hankamer preaching
Matthew 22:23-33
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Opening Hymn: Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer John Hughes, a railroad official by trade, composed this tune for the 1907 anniversary of Capel Rhondda, Pontypridd, Wales. Cwm Rhondda refers to the "low valley" area surrounding the urban district of Rhondda in southern Wales.
The Middle Hymn: We Love Your Realm, O God This poem by Lavon Bayler, a United Church of Christ minister, was inspired by and modeled after the oldest commonly used American hymn, "I Love Thy Kingdom" by Timothy Dwight.
The Anthem: For the Beauty of the Earth by John Rutter.
The Communion Anthem: In Remembrance of Me by Beryl Red.
The Closing Hymn: Go, My Children, with My Blessing American hymnwriter and translator Jaroslav Vajda crafted this benediction text as though God were "dismissing the congregation after worship, while drawing together a review of the events that transpired during the service."
| | Our Concerns and Celebrations | | |
Mary Delancy
Megan Malta
Dibble Pate
Rodney Thomas
Pattie Bewick, sister of Carol Ann Tubbs
Iglesia Bautista Enmanuel, our partner church in Ciego de Avila, Cuba.
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Bobby Stapleton, family of Hannah Clark
Debra Blackman, sister of Gail Blackman
Martha Wainwright, aunt of Jeff Sebastian
Marie Easterling, friend of Mara Loeb
Sarah Maloney, friend of Carol Ann Tubbs
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SUNDAY YOUTH MEALS
(OR FUNDS) NEEDED!
The Northminster Youth Group meets each Sunday at 5pm and averages approximately 10 youth. Youth leaders try to stretch the budget to provide Sunday evening meals for them. There is a sign-up sheet in the hall for those willing to help provide actual meals such as sandwiches, pizza, tacos, burgers/hotdogs, chips, drinks, etc. Speak with JK Kimble or Beth Mayfield about what would be needed should you wish to provide an actual meal one Sunday evening.
Another great way to help with this, if you're not the "cooking kind", you may give financially. If giving cash, place in an envelope and mark it "Youth Meals" and if writing a check make payable to Northminster Church and memo line "Youth Meals". You may also use our Paypal account, Northminster Baptist Church and comment "Youth Meals".
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AFTER CHURCH FELLOWSHIPS
Our after church fellowships have been well attended and have enabled us to get to know one another better. If you don't know, the refreshments are brought each week by volunteers via a sign-up sheet in the hall off the Narthex.
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LOST ITEM
Pastor Jillian is missing her "table runner" that she keeps on her coffee table in her office. If you have seen this runner (which she made), can you please bring it to her office? She would really like to have it back! Thanks!
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PUB THEOLOGY
Northminster's Pub Theology TAKES PLACE 7pm at the Fat Pelican on the 3rd Thursday of each Month
"Different Brews, Different Views. All are welcome!"
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| |  | The Piatigorsky Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to make live classical music part of the fabric of everyday life for communities throughout the United States. Piatigorsky Foundation concert tours bring top-quality musicians to audiences who would otherwise not have the opportunity to hear such performances. The concerts take place in relaxed, informal settings, where everyone can share the joy of great live music making. The Foundation will present over 220 concerts in 18 states this season in retirement communities, schools, churches, synagogues, libraries, museums, prisons, community centers, workplaces…wherever people gather. The hour-long programs consist of great performances along with the artists' insights into each work. The Foundation was established in 1990 by cellist Evan Drachman, grandson of the great Russian cellist Gregor Piatigorsky (1903-1976), who performed not only in the world’s great concert halls but also in cities, towns, and villages all over the United States. The Foundation carries on his legacy in the belief that, as Piatigorsky said, “Music makes life better. Music is neither a luxury nor a frill—it is a necessity! It is rich. It is imaginative. And it is for everyone.”
| | Astonishing for her musical versatility, violinist QING LI brings technical brilliance, poise and insight to her music making. Hailed for her “highest level musicality,” she serves as Principal Violinist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and is a Professor of Violin at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. A sought-after soloist, Ms. Li frequently appears with the BSO and other orchestras across the U.S. and Asia. A member of the Emmy Award-winning All-Star Orchestra on PBS, Ms. Li is also a distinguished recitalist, chamber musician, and guest concertmaster, having led performances with the Detroit, Iceland, Singapore, Macau and numerous symphony orchestras in China. Her performances and recordings have been featured on radio and television worldwide, including a biographical feature on Voice of America. In 2024, she curated and headlined the Richmond Symphony’s StradFest Gala alongside Maestro Itzhak Perlman, showcasing nine rare Stradivari instruments and rising soloists from across North America. Since 2017, Ms. Li has served as artist faculty and curator for the National Youth Orchestra – China, debuting at Carnegie Hall. She regularly gives masterclasses and participates in major international festivals, including the Beijing International Music Festival Academy and the National Orchestral Institute+Festival in Maryland. Born in Beijing, Ms. Li began violin at age four and was accepted into the Central Conservatory at 12. Discovered by Berl Senofsky after her award-winning Sibelius Concerto performance, she continued her studies at the renewed Peabody InstituteShe performs on a rare Neapolitan 1736 Nicolo Gagliano violin. | | | Korean pianist MIN YOUNG PARK has earned broad recognition for her artistry. Min Young was awarded First Prize at the Chopin National Competition in Korea at the age of thirteen, and two years later, she won First Prize at the Asia Chopin International Competition in Japan. She was selected as the winner of the concerto competition at Seoul National University. She also won First Prize at the Harrison L. Winter Piano Concerto Competition at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, which led to her debut in Baltimore, USA, with the Peabody Symphony Orchestra in 2015 under the direction of Leon Fleisher. Over the last decade, she has appeared with Prime orchestras, Seoul Arts High school orchestra and with Seoul National University Symphony Orchestra as a representative of university at Seoul Arts Center in Korea. Min Young graduated Summa cum laude from Seoul National University under the instruction of Ick Choo Moon. She completed her master degree of music at The Juilliard School where she worked with Choong Mo Kang. She recently graduated from The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University with her Doctoral Music of Arts under the tutelage of Yong Hi Moon. As a devoted educator, she taught music minor students in the Peabody at Homewood program from 2019 to 2022 and currently serves as a piano faculty member and lecturer for the Musicianship Class for Pianists at Peabody Preparatory. | | | |
This Sunday
9:00 am - Choir Rehearsal
10:00 am - Sunday School
10:45 am - Preludes
11:00 am - Worship Service
Noon - After Church Fellowship
5:00 pm - Youth
Wednesdays
6:30 pm: Choir Practice
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Upcoming Events
Sunday, May 11: Mother’s Day
Saturday, May 17 at 9am: Youth Cabbage Ball Tourney and Dunking Booth
Sunday, May 18: Graduation Sunday
Sunday, May 18 following worship: Worship Leader Training
Sunday, May 18 at 6pm: Potluck followed at 7pm by Business Meeting.
Friday, May 23 at 7pm: Piatigorsky Concert
Saturday, May 31 from 10am – noon: Stagg Lecture
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Northminster's Jo Ann Alley has volunteered to help facilitate the Racial Justice group if there is any interest. This group would be led by the interests of the participants, by a combination of book study, discussion groups, and videos that can either be watch together or separately and meet to discuss. We can learn much from each other about what racial justice is, and what it means to be antiracist.
This work cannot be done alone. If you are interested in either helping facilitate or participating in the group there id a signup sheet outside of Pastor Jillian’s office.
| | Arrangement by Marilyn Decker | | | | If you have found a space of community, or healing, or hope at Northminster and believe in the work we are doing, please consider supporting us financially so that we will be able to continue creating spaces like this in all the days to come. Just click here, or scan the QR code with the camera on your phone. | | | |
Northminster Church is located at:
2701 Lamy Lane
Monroe, LA 71201
318-388-3717
office@northmin.org
Church Office Hours:
Monday -Thursday 9 am to 4 pm
Closed Friday
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