Thursday, May 9, 2024

Celebrating 35 Years of Ministry: 1989 - 2024

What does it mean to live into our mission of doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God? 


I’ve been pondering this question this week as the preparations for this year’s NELA Pride Festival ramp up. Being part of The Festival is an obvious way of doing justice as so many people in the LGBTQ+ community have never been told God loves them as they are. It’s also our opportunity to humbly hold space with and for those who will never trust a church again. 


But once Pride is over where is our mission calling us? Yes, we have the Missions Trunk which is a good thing and I’m glad to see it full every month. Our Missions Commission members are faithful stewards of that effort and that’s something to be thankful for. But could we - and more importantly - should we be doing more?


Please understand me clearly, I’m not critiquing our Missions Commission. They have faithfully done the job given to them by us, the church, to do. I do feel a push, however, for us to step out of our comfort zone and put “our hands on the plow” to use an old Spiritual. To volunteer at things like MedCamps which directly affect people in our congregation. To walk dogs and clean out kennels at the Human Society. To work a shift at the Food Bank. Or perhaps to discover new ways and organizations our community needs to be involved with. After all, if we consider for just a moment how much being involved with NELA Pride has benefited our church it’s obvious the potential for us to effect change - and be effected by change - is remarkable. 


To conclude, the Spiritual I mentioned is “Gospel Plow,” also called “Hold On” and “Keep Your Hand on the Plow.” The title is based on Luke 9: 62 in which Jesus says, “Listen, if your hand is on the plow but your eyes are looking backward, then you’re not fit for the kingdom of God.” (The Voice Translation). The song was first documented in print in 1917 with its earliest recording happening in 1930 by the Hall Johnson Negro Choir. Perhaps the best-known version of the Spiritual was recorded by Bob Dylan in 1962. 


There’s no one official version of the lyrics to the song which makes sense as the version I know includes a verse about Paul and Silas being locked in jail - my sermon text for Sunday. I first heard this Spiritual from the Music Minister at my home church, Mikki Lynn Thompson, as she has an abiding love for Spirituals and often shared them in our worship services. Clearly, the song stuck with me because I haven’t actively thought about “Gospel Plow” in years, and yet the lyrics have been running through my head all week.


I encourage you to enjoy the lyrics below and then look up “Gospel Plow” for yourself online. YouTube has several good versions. Let yourself be inspired both personally and for our Northminster Community about what work we’re being called to put our hands to plowing. 


Mahalia Jackson’s version:


Hold on 

Hold on

Keep your hand on the plow, hold on

Hold on

Hold on

Keep your hand on the plow, hold on

Heard the voice of Jesus say

Come unto me, I am the way.

Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

When my way gets dark as night,

I know the Lord will be my light,

Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

Hold on

Hold on

Keep your hand on the plow, hold on

You can talk about me much as you please

The more you talk, gonna stay on my knees.

Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

When I get to heaven, gonna sing and shout

Be nobody there to put me out.

Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

I know my robe's gonna fit me well,

I tried it on at the gates of Hell.

Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

Hold on

Hold on

Keep your hand on the plow, hold on


Bob Dylan’s version:


Mary wore three links of chain

Every link was Jesus name

Keep your hand on that plow, hold on

Oh Lord, Oh Lord, keep your hand on that plow, hold on.

Mary, Mark, Luke and John

All these prophets so good and gone

Keep your hand on that plow, hold on

Oh Lord, Oh Lord, keep your hand on that plow, hold on.

Well, I never been to heaven

But I've been told streets up there

Are lined with gold

Keep your hand on that plow, hold on

Oh Lord, Oh Lord, keep your hand on that plow, hold on.

Oh Lord, Oh Lord, keep your hand on that plow, hold on.

Oh Lord, Oh Lord, keep your hand on that plow, hold on.


The version I heard growing up: 


Paul and Silas bound in jail

Had no money for to make their bail

Keep your hand on the plow and hold on

Hold on

Hold on

Keep your hand on the plow and hold on

Paul and Silas began to shout

Jail door opened and they walked out

Keep your hand on the plow and hold on

Hold on

Hold on

Keep your hand on the plow and hold on


Jillian

Join Us for Worship

Sunday, May 12 at 10:45 am

Rev. Jillian Hankamer Preaching

Sing, Sing a Song

John 11:17-27

Stream Sunday's Service

View Order of Worship

View Previous Service

Our Worship in Song

Opening Hymn: Alleluia! Gracious Jesus! William Dix, manager of a marine insurance company, was also a gifted writer who made a significant contribution to hymnody. This hymn was written to fill a need for communion hymns in Church of England hymnals.


Middle Hymn: O God, We Bear the Imprint of Your Face Composer Bruce Neswick provided this setting at the request of The New Century Hymnal. Neswick, Organist-Choirmaster of Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral, Lexington, KY is a graduate of the Institute of Sacred Music of Yale University Divinity School.


Anthem: Psalm 103: Bless the Lord, My Soul by James Mulholland and arranged by D.H. Clark.


The Communion Anthem: The Prayer by Hugo Wolf. Sung by choral scholar, James Wright, Bass.


Closing Hymn: Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing Influenced by George Whitefield's preaching, John Fawcett joined the Baptist church, and served as minister in Wainsgate, England, for fifty-four years. Yielding to the persuasion of his parishioners, he declined invitations to move elsewhere. He wrote more than 160 hymns.

Our Concerns and Celebrations

Marilyn Decker



John Carr



Elvis Stelly


Mary Sandow


Iglesia Bautista Enmanuel, in Ciego de Avila, Cuba.

Beau Burns, great-grandson of Peggy Burns


V. P. Dalrymple, friend of Anita Breen


Pattie Bewick, sister of Carol Ann Tubbs


Sarah Maloney, friend of Carol Ann Tubbs



Nora Kay Meredith great granddaughter of Kay Southern



Doug O'Neal brother of Debbie O'Neal

We Celebrate with...

Jillian Hankamer (15th)

as they celebrates their birthdays

Children & Youth

Youth Cabbage Ball Tourney and Pie Face Fundraisers Saturday, May 18!

Pie Face Fundraiser! Who would you like to see pied in the face? You have 8 church members from which to choose!

1.) Pastor Jillian Hankamer

2.) Erich Hankamer

3.) Debbie Chandler

4.) Mark Windham

5.) Beth Mayfield

6.) Jennifer Kimble

7.) Tiffany Smith

8.) Chels King 

There is a clear donation box located on the table outside of Pastor Jillian’s office and envelopes for you to vote for your choice. Take an envelope, write “Pie (the person’s name)” on the outside of the envelope, and place your donation in the envelope and SEAL IT!  Then drop it in the box. The person receiving the highest amount of money will be pied in the face by the winning team at the cabbage ball tournament on May 18th! So you have one MONTH to get the most money in the donation box toward your unlucky pick of the above 8 people! *Note* We will video the event and post it to social media for anyone that cannot attend the game on May 18th.

Cabbage Ball Tournament. Cabbage ball is very similar to slow pitch softball; however, gloves are not worn. You can catch the ball with your bare hands instead. We will have the tournament on May 18th with the first game beginning at 9:00 am. The tournament will take place on the church grounds with a concession stand available for spectators and players to enjoy! Many of you have already been asked by a youth member to play for their cabbage ball teams in the tournament but if you haven’t and would like to play, please contact Jennifer (318)307-6716 or Tiffany (318)355-1368 and we will get you on a team. The cost to play is only $10 and this money will go directly to the youth member’s summer camp fees. If you have any friends or family that would also enjoy a day of playing, sign them up too and bring them along. If you don’t want to play but would enjoy hanging out with us, bring a chair and watch some games.  

Youth Group Meals
Our youth meet every Sunday at 5:00. We would like to offer them a light meal. If you would like to help provide a meal click the link to sign up. They love easy meals. Some suggestions are tacos, spaghetti, chili, sandwiches and pizza! Please review the available slots by clicking on the button to sign up. Dates will be added as planning continues. Thank you! We typically have between 10-15 youth and adults. Please call or text Jennifer Kimble-Keen (318-307-6716) with any questions! 
 YOUTH MEALS SIGNUP

Church Life

FAMILY MINISTRIES SURVEY

The Family Ministries Commission has compiled a survey to determine what activities and volunteer opportunities the church family would be interested in. The survey link can be found here:


FAMILY MINISTRIES SURVEY


PUB THEOLOGY

Thursday, May 20 at 7pm at The Fat Pelican!

BOOK CLUB

Our next book is Dispatches from Pluto by Richard Grant. We will meet for potluck and discussion on Thursday, June 13 at 6pm in the home of Marilyn Decker


Mission Opportunities

MAY MISSION EMPHASIS:

MEDCAMPS OF LOUISIANA

Our May Mission is MedCamps of Louisiana.  MedCamps’ Mission is to improve the health and wellness of people living with chronic illnesses and disabilities through unique recreational and educational camping experiences.  They believe that all people, regardless of medical or special needs, deserve to experience life to the fullest and that camping is an American tradition which epitomizes normalcy and provides participants with a sense of well-being, belonging, accomplishment and self-worth.  MedCamps has never charged a fee to attend camp.  

 

NEEDS: Gift Cards (Wal-Mart, Target, Lowes, Academy), Sharpie Markers, Batteries (A, AA, AAA), Lysol, Lysol cleaning wipes, Baby Wipes, Air Fresheners. Cleaning supplies: Simple Green Cleaner, Duct tape, Paper towels, Toilet paper, , First aid kits, Light bulbs, Mosquito spray, Wasp and hornet spray, Latex Free Gloves, All laundry detergent: sensitive free.

 

Other: Acrylic Paint, Paint Brushes, Foam Brushes, Board Games/Card Games, Paintballs, Friendship Bracelet Kits, Costumes (for skits ETC)

 

In addition, they have an Amazon Wishlist located at https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/FX22QLB21E96

Coming Up

This Sunday


9:00 am - Choir Rehearsal


10:00 am - Sunday School


10:45 am - Preludes


11:00 am - Worship Service


Noon: Northminster Fellowship


5:00 pm - Youth Group


Wednesdays

6:30 pm - Choir Rehearsal

Upcoming Events



Sunday, May 12: Mother's Day


Saturday, May 18 at 9am: Youth Cabbage Ball and Pie Face Fundraisers


Sunday, May 19: Coordinating Council meeting at 4:30pm followed by Potluck at 6pm and Business Meeting at 7pm.

Sunday Floral Offering

Arranged by Marilyn Decker

Of Interest in the Community

Giving to Northminster

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.

Find Us

Northminster Church is located at:


2701 Lamy Lane

Monroe, LA 71201

318-388-3717

office@northmin.org


Church Office Hours:

Monday -Thursday 9am to 4 pm

Closed Friday

Visit our Website
Click here to view a video of our Church bilding and grounds

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State of Belief 


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Vocal Vibes

by Dr. Deborah Chandler,

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