Thursday, July 3, 2024

SCENT MEMORIES

This is going to sound odd, but I love the way churches smell. 

Flowers, candle wax, slightly burned coffee, lingering perfume from Sunday morning, and paper - this combination always makes me feel at home as it’s part of every church. But each church also has its own unique “scent profile” if you will. At my home church, we used silk flowers on the communion table so there was always a hint of a craft store smell along with the pine scent from the trees surrounding the church. The church I served in St. Louis has a daycare that added apple juice, crayon, and disinfectant to its scent. My church in Pennsylvania was built in the 1860s so the building had a not unpleasant mustiness. It smelled of furniture polish, stone, the river two blocks away, and age. Northminster has the usual church smells with the addition of the dank sweetness of the bayou, fresh-baked bread, grape juice, and a much stronger scent of flowers and greenery.

They say scent memory is incredibly strong and I think that must be true as I’ve been smelling “church” my whole life. It’s a scent that comforts me and gives me a sense of belonging. Stepping into “church” scented spaces brings back three decades of memories - my mom touching the stole of her choir robe rather than waving when I was a kid. My dad drawing Mikey and Minnie Mouse to keep me entertained during church. “Preaching” my first sermon when I was a teenager. Being ordained. Being married in the church that gave me my first professional ministry job. And too many Wednesday night dinners, VBSs, church camps, bible studies, work days, potlucks, Christmas Eve services, and special events to possibly count. 

I’m lucky that the majority of my church memories are positive. Smelling “church” makes me feel good, which isn’t the case for far too many people. And that leads me to wonder, what smells like home to you? What scents make you feel comfortable and safe? If it isn’t the church, where and what is it? And is there a way to make every part of Northminster welcoming to people - even it’s scent? 

Jillian



Opening Hymn: Great Is Your Faithfulness This hymn was one of a number sent by poet Thomas O. Chisholm to composer William Runyan for musical settings. It became a favorite of Will Houghton, president of Moody Bible Institute, whose enthusiasm helped establish its popularity.

Middle Hymn: God of the Women set to the tune SLANE.

The Anthem: My Faith is Strong and Sure by Lowell Mason, arranged by DH Clark.

Communion Anthem: Vocalise on "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, arranged DH Clark, Naomi Kilpatrick, mezzo soprano.

The Closing Hymn: Let Us with a Joyful Mind As a youth of fifteen, John Milton composed a lengthy, elaborate paraphrase of Psalm 136 from which these lines have been selected. Milton, an English Puritan and Congregationalist, is best known for Paradise Lost.

We Celebrate with...

Megan Proffer (4th)

Robert Crawford (9th)

Vickie Krutzer (9th)

Bishop Nolan (9th)

Mary Sandow (10th)

Tim Legan (10th)

D.H. Clark (10th)

as they celebrates their birthdays

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Our congratulations go out to Northminster's Annie Williams, nursery guru, and her eight year old granddaughter, Jayonna Williams of Florida. Jayonna (holding trophy) made history by becoming the first 8-year old to hit two home runs over the fence and out of the part. Jayonna and her team, Wewahitchka, now head to the state tournament in Marianna!

NO WEDNESDAY CHOIR REHEARSALS

 DURING JULY

The choir will be on rehearsal hiatus during the month of July. However 9am Sunday rehearsals will continue.

POTLUCK AND BUSINESS MEETING JULY 28

Business meeting, which is usually held on the 3rd Sunday will be moved to the last Sunday in July. We will gather for fellowship over potluck at 6pm and Business Meeting will begin at 7pm.

AFTER CHUCH FELLOWSHIP

In order to continue our after church fellowship, we need folks to volunteer to provide drinks and snacks. Please see the sign-up sheet in the hall outside the pastor's office!

Please, NO items with icing or "gooey" stuff. This is getting into our rugs and embedded into the concrete floors.

PUB THEOLOGY

Thursday, July 18 at 7pm at The Fat Pelican!

BOOK CLUB

Our Next book is Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See. We will meet for potluck and discussion on Thursday, August 1 at 6pm in the home of Kyle Gregory.

AUDIO / VIDEO TECHNICIAN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Are you interested in the wonderful world of Audio/Visual work? Well now is the time to hone your skills right here at Northminster. we currently have three trained individuals, but one is often unavailable and the other will leave in December so we are on the hunt for help! If you are interested in this ministry, contact Mara Loeb at 348-3026, maraloeb@hotmail.com or Hannah Clark at 366-7625, hannclark@aol.com. We need you and training will be provided!!

GREETERS / ATTENDANCE TAKERS NEEDED

We are in need of folks who would be willing to serve as "greeters" prior to services. This would involve wearing a name tag provided on the bookshelf in the office, handing out orders of worship and then later after services have begun, taking attendance. After the service you would collect all the sign-in sheets by tearing them out of the book, replacing the book in the appropriate hymn holder on the inside isle and putting the sheets in the church office on the desk. Please contact Jillian or Renee if you are interested in serving in this much needed capacity. Training will be provided!!

JULY MISSION EMPHASIS:

COA - FANS FOR SENIORS

Many senior citizens are moving their thermostats high and not cooling their home due to being worried about the increased cost of Entergy and some are choosing to buy their medications rather than pay their increased electric bill. Some have no AC at all. A plea was put out for donations of fans of any kind. Northminster will be collecting fans (box, tower, oscillating, all kinds) all through the month of July and the fans will be taken to the COA as they are brought to the church since the need is so great. If you would prefer to drop the fan(s) off yourself you may do so at their location at 2407 Ferrand St., Monroe. Tell them you are dropping off from Northminster Church. Their phone is 387-0535. 

Ollie's is a great place to get fans of all kinds and their prices are great! They are located at 2279 Louisville Ave. in the old Twin City Mall parking lot across from Piccadilly.

The altar floral offering on Sunday, June 30 was given to the Glory of God

And in loving memory of Charlotte Creech by Charles Creech

Arranged by Robert Crawford

The narthex floral offering on Sunday, June 30 was given to the Glory of God

And in honor of the Celebration of Pride Month by Amanda and Megan Proffer

Arranged by Peggy Caskey