November 20, 2025

COMING SOON!

READING THE BIBLE AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME

In the next week or two our Bible study class will begin the study of Marcus Borg’s book Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously but not Literally. This study comes on the heels of our engaging Borg’s Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time for the past several months. My book is well marked from when I read it soon after it was published almost 25 years ago. As with Meeting Jesus Again, Reading the Bible Again, is insightful and accessible.

This from the book’s publisher: “Many inside and outside organized religion are searching for an enlightened, contemporary way to be believers and to appreciate the profound richness of the Bible. In this groundbreaking work, leading biblical expert Marcus Borg offers a bold new understanding of scripture that respects both tradition and reality, blending the best of biblical scholarship with a profound concern for authentic faith and how it can be lived today.”

Karen Armstrong, author of A History of God, called the book “Profound, challenging, and engrossing.” Peter J. Gomes, author of The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind and former minister at Harvard’s Memorial Church, wrote: “Borg is one of the very few New Testament scholars of our age whose learning is so lucid that it takes the Bible back from the specialists and makes it in all its complexity and splendor available to the thoughtful reader: nothing short of a blessing, even a miracle!”

All are welcome to join us in this study. We have books available. Stay tuned for the exact date we will begin the study, probably within the next two weeks. I promise this book will transform your view of the Bible and remind you of the Bible’s richness and importance to our lives.

Craig Henry

November 23 at 10:45 am

Rev. Jillian Hankamer Preaching

Benedictus

Luke 1:68-79

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The Opening Hymn: All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name Edward Perronet, long a worker for English Methodism, later became a Congregational minister near Canterbury. John Rippon, an English Baptist minister, wrote more than 1,000 hymns. The tune is by Oliver Holden, an early American carpenter, legisator, musician, and hymnal editor.

The Prayer Response: O God, My God by John Bell.

The Anthem: A Harvest Anthem by Malcolm Archer

The Communion Anthem: O Wisdom, Breathed from God, arranged by D.H. Clark from "O Antiphons," Latin, 6th-7th c.



The Closing Hymn: We Praise You, O God Julia Bulkley Cady Cory wrote this hymn for Thanksgiving in 1902 at the invitation of the organist of New Youk's Brick Presbyterian Church who felt that the familiar words to Kremser contained too much militaristic imagery.

The faithful who gather to await the Lord's coming are urged by the Apostle Paul to sing psalms, hymns, and inspired songs (see Colossians 3:16). Song is the sign of the heart's joy (see Acts 2:46), and Saint Augustine said: "To sing belongs to lovers." Even in antiquity it was proverbial to say, "He prays twice who sings well."

-General Instruction of the Roman Missal

Damon Mayfield (22nd)

Hal Mayfield (25th)

Ella Mayfield (25th)

Joye Young (26th)

Patren Spicer(27th)

Kirk Fisher (29th)

Congratulations to newly elected Coordinating Council members: Pearson Cross (3 yr. term) Craig Henry (3 yr. term), Chels King (3 yr. term), Baron Brandon (1 yr. term for Carol Ann Tubbs, and Barbara Thompson (1 yr. term for Mary Delancy.

We also congratulate newly elected Commission members:



Family Ministries: Whitney King, Cathy Web

Missions: Mara Loeb, Danielle Leger, Baron Brandon

Properties: Shelby Sheppard, Tiffany Smith

Social/Hospitality: Patren Spicer, Joye Young, Brandy Keen, Amanda Burchart

Worship: Cheri Leger, Gail Blackman

We are grateful for all of these new leaders in our church and look forward to next year and exciting times for Northminster Church!

BUILDING PROJECT UPDATE

Exciting news! The concrete slab for our new educational space was poured last Thursday. We now look forward to sseeing the framing and wals rise around it6 and hope the weather will be kind to us during the building process!

NEW REIMBURSEMENT FORM



We now have a new reimbursement form to be used by anyone who incurs personal expenditures for church activities. You must fill out the form with details of what, when, who, how much, and attach a receipt for documentation of the purchase. The forms are located in the church office on the bottom shelf of the bookcase on the left by the door. The form is necessary for our treasurer if you require reimbursement of monies spent, a record of in-kind gifts or want a record of any gifts posted to your individual giving logs. Our treasurer sends out giving summaries to each member at the end of the year for tax purposes. Thank you for your cooperation in using these forms.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30

Starting the first Sunday of Advent - November 30 - you will have a special opportunity to get to know our youth and kids better during the Sunday School hour. 

We will be offering an Intergenerational Sunday School class for the four weeks of Advent that will be available to all adults and kids/youth.

This intergenerational class will be taking place in the large classroom, and our kids’ teachers will be helping with its leadership. Join us to celebrate Advent and learn together.  

The Benevolence Fund:

Extending Care in Times of Need

Our church’s Benevolence Fund is one of the quiet ways we live out our calling to love our neighbors. This fund allows the pastor to respond directly when church members/friends, or community members contact the church office seeking assistance with essentials such as rent, utility bills, groceries, or other urgent needs.

We don’t normally highlight this Fund or even ask you to give to it specifically as it’s part of our Annual Budget, but with SNAP benefits set to end on November 1, I’m anticipating more requests for assistance than we usually have. So, if you’d like to support this ministry, mark your gift “Benevolence Fund” and it will go directly toward helping neighbors in need. 

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

5:30 pm: Craft and Chat

6:30 pm: Choir rehearsal

Coming Up

Tonight at 7pm: Pub Theology at the Fat Pelican

Sunday, November 23 at 6pm: Agape Meal

Sunday, November 30: 1st Sunday of Advent; Hanging of the Greens

Monday, December 15 at 7pm: Messiah

Wednesday, December 17: Choir and Children go Caroling

Sunday, December 21 at 6pm: Chili Supper at the church

Wednesday, December 24 at 6pm: Christmas Eve Service

NOVEMBER MISSION EMPHASIS



TURN IN DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 3

• Provide at least one full clothing outfit, shoes, a coat and at least one toy from their wish list. ($100-$150)
• Do not include gift cards.
• Do not wrap gifts. All items are to be placed in a bag with the child's wish list included in the bag.
• DO NOT BRING ITEMS TO THE CHURCH
• Items are due at the Center for Children and Families by Wednesday, December 3. Located at 622 Riverside Dr. in Monroe.

The Floral Offering

Given to the glory of God

and in loving memory of

Tom and Marjorie Stricklin

by the McCandlish Family

Arrangement by Marilyn Decker

Join us on Friday, December 5th from 5:00 - 7:00 in the home of Barbara Thompson as she invites you to a festive Christmas Party and show of handmade items by local artists:

Mara Loeb - Jewelry

Dianne Rizzo - Paintings

Cally Hyams - Calyco Creations

Billie Barringer - Paintings

804 Eason Place, Monroe