Northminster News

May14, 2020 | The Sixth Week of Easter

Settling In and Sharing Stories

Northminster Family,

The initial wave of shock and confusion about the arrangement of our lives right now is beginning to fade, and now we are each, in our own time, beginning to turn to questions of what it means to live and work in the midst of this pandemic. While we began with an ache to “get back to normal” in the coming months, we are beginning to face the reality that, while measures may not consistently be this strict, returning to “normal” will take a very long time.

We’ve been reminded of the story of Judah in exile, carried off by Babylon into a new world and asking God and one another, What now? How long will we be here? What are we supposed to do? To that, the Prophet Jeremiah answered: “Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and give your children in marriage. Seek the welfare of the city where God has sent you, for in its welfare, you will find your own.”

In other words: There’s no avoiding this. You’re going to be here for a while. Settle in. Learn what it means to seek God and be God’s children in this new place and time, because this is who you are now.

As we let that in, we are inevitably going to react to this reality with various levels of denial or despair, but some of the greatest pastoral and therapeutic practitioners have taught us that our greatest asset in the face of a sense of helplessness is agency . We must be intentional, and we must make choices that are our own. We must craft a future story for ourselves that liberates us in the present to be well and to love well.

Before we began responding to the pandemic, Claire and I were already in conversations about what it would look like to take Northminster through a process of discovering, clarifying, and working through our communal story. Who are we? Why are we here? What is our purpose in this unique cultural moment? We had planned for this to be our primary topic of conversation and discernment at the Coordinating Council's (canceled) retreat in March. While many things have changed, though, those questions have become even more timely and important.

When this all started, the question on our minds was:

“How do we hold things together until we get back to normal?”

The question now must be:

“Who are we now?

In this very strange season, how do we most faithfully embody Love for one another and our community?”

Or, in other words: Settle in. Learn what it means to seek God and be God’s children in this new place and time, because this is who we are now.

We’re off the edges of the map, and beyond just “holding things together,” we have an opportunity to discover ourselves in a new and beautiful way that could impact our collective identity for years to come.

This Sunday night is the first step in settling in – in facing the future and planting our garden. It’s the first step in paying attention to who we have been, so that we can more clearly see who we are becoming and who we can be now. At 5:30, each of you are invited to log on to a church-wide Zoom call, where we will split into groups and connect over stories about the times we’ve felt most alive at Northminster, times we’ve been the proudest, and times we’ve been sorry. Coming back together, we’ll all take a look at what kinds of stories, themes, and values come up to the surface.

Then, next weekend, the Coordinating Council is going to get together over Zoom to talk about what we heard. How do those stories and themes inform how we see ourselves? How can we make that explicit? What do they say about why we exist? Because a community with a why to live for can bear almost any how .

Then, over the following two weeks, we’re asking every commission to meet and have a similar conversation. In the why of Northminster right now, what is your how? What are the implications for education, for missions, for community? For how we use our property? For how we approach arts and hospitality, worship and stewardship?

All the while, I’ll be conducting a series of interviews with congregants about their experiences of God and of Northminster, releasing those week by week, and it is our hope that all of it together opens our eyes to who we are right now, to what is ours to do, and where we’re going from here.

It’s our hope that in all of this, through awareness, grace and flexibility, we’ll learn to live a story co-written with the Spirit of Love.

We look forward to doing this work alongside you.

Peace,

Zach and Claire

Click here to join the Zoom call on Sunday evening, or contact us for a number to call in.

The Prayers of the People

An opportunity to celebrate and pray alongside siblings in our community.

We pray alongside...

Hannah Clark, who lost her brother, David Crews last week. David's funeral was held last Wednesday.

Carol Ann Tubbs , and her sister, Patti Bewick . Patti is a survivor of oral cancer, and is still awaiting clarity on the results from tests run last week to see if there is a recurrence.

Vickie Krutzer and her mother, Dale Hughes , who dealt with a series of TIAs last week.

Brian Evans, who was hospitalized for a few days earlier this week with cellulitis that developed after a cut on his arm got infected. Josh Evans also had the next step in his back treatment while Brian was in the hospital.

HT Garner, who spent a night in the hospital last week after returning home from time staying with his daughter out of state.

We offer thanks...

This week we express gratitude alongside Anna Ham , who writes: " I celebrate the daily gifts of a new day, birds and squirrels to watch through the window, a short walk, phone calls with family and friends, life! I celebrate simplicity."

If you have concerns or celebrations you would like us to add to the newsletter, please call the church office or email [email protected].

The Work of the People

How we are responding to the Spirit of Love

New Northminster "Podcast," Northminster Stories

Looking for a new way to spend time with community members in the midst of social distancing?

For the next several weeks, I (Zach) will be doing a series of interviews talking to church members about moments they felt most alive, proud, or sorry at Northminster. I'm hoping to collect information that can help us see our communal story more clearly, but also wants to take the opportunity to help us get to know our fellow church-members better while we're all feeling somewhat isolated.

This week, I sat down with Craig Henry.

The links are "unlisted," so they won't be going out to our normal podcasting audience. Only folks with links can access them.

Click here for video (to watch on the couch)

Click here for audio (to listen on the treadmill)

Not Too Late to Join "The Cure for Sorrow" Online Retreat

Seasons of uncertainty of any kind are cause for grief and anxiety. This season of prolonged uncertainty is grieving our hearts all the more, whether we recognize and name those feelings of grief or not. Add to that the many losses we have each witnessed: from the loss of loved ones and members of our community, to the loss of normalcy, to the losses of income or long-anticipated milestones or a much-needed rest…and we are a people beset by grief.

As the church, we are uniquely graced with the ability and the responsibility to hold one another in that grief through our gathering in community.

In that spirit, we invite you to join us for a 3-part online retreat led by Claire Helton with Jan Richardson’s The Cure for Sorrow: A Book of Blessings for Times of Grief.

The three sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings, May 12, 19, and 26 from 7-8:30pm over Zoom and will be part discussion and part workshop, making space for us to craft the blessings we each most need to hear for ourselves in this season.

For details and registration info find out more here:

https://www.northmin.org/cureforsorrow

Update on Assisting Asylum Seekers Released due to COVID19

Below are the current needs from our missions group working to meet needs of asylum seekers being released on short notice due to COVID-19:

4-5 pairs of men's pants or shorts in size 36-40
Men's t-shirts in size Small
New pack of men's underwear, sizes S, M, L, XL
Snack items that include protein

Other ways to help:

Monetary donations can also be applied to the needs above, as well as to transportation and housing costs
Letter-writing is as important as ever, if not more so, for those who are still being held in detention, so please keep up that good work! If you haven't started writing Mara Loeb can help you get connected.

For more information or to share how you can help, contact Mara Loeb or the church office and we can put you in touch.

Our Father, Who Art in Heaven...

One of the best ways we can remind ourselves we're not alone right now is by seeing one another's faces as we ground ourselves in our sacred stories and prayers.

Please send in a video of yourself reciting the Lord's Prayer (you can use cue cards, we won't know!). We need as many as we can get! You can email your video to Zach.

And we're always looking for more scripture readers for our worship services. If you're willing to record just your voice reading scripture please email Renee to let her know!

"How can we keep from singing?"

The choir continues to meet at their usual time over Zoom for a brief check-in and a chance to make music together from home. If you haven't been able to connect so far please contact DH Clark and he can help you get connected!

Online Sunday School

If you are interested in meeting with your Sunday School over Zoom at 10am on Sunday morning, contact your Sunday School teacher. They should be able to give you a link to follow to gather on Sunday morning.

If you're not already a part of one of these classes, feel free to drop in anyway! Contact Craig Henry or Zach & Claire.

Do you need help getting groceries, or financially?

Do you need help getting groceries this week? Don't be a hero! If you're in the more vulnerable population, please stay where you are and let us help. There are church members who have offered to meet this exact need.

If you've lost your source of income because of COVID-19 and find yourself in need of food, assistance, or money, please contact your care group leader or [email protected].

You can also check out our website, at https://www.northmin.org/resources-in-monroe-1.

We can help you navigate your options and connect you to folks to ensure your needs are met.

No one is alone in this.

Holy Ideas

How might we respond to the Spirit of Love?

In this new season of social distancing, we need holy ideas to help stretch our imaginations for what is possible within this community more than ever.

Since we can't make use of the physical "Holy Ideas" board in the hallway, we'll maintain it virtually and keep it updated here in the newsletter. If you have an idea for a way the church can be church in this season, or if you see an idea you'd like to support to help it become reality, email the office and Renee will virtually post or sign your name to it.

If you have questions about an existing idea, email the person listed as its sponsor.

Our usual system is as follows: If the idea gets the support it needs (3 signatures) within 3 weeks, the supporters will meet with the appropriate commission to clarify and refine the idea into a specific, time-limited plan. If adjustments to this system are needed given the novelty of this new situation we find ourselves in, we will reevaluate as needed.

Giving to Northminster

Practicing Stewardship in an Uncertain Time

We are sensitive to the reality that financial uncertainty is one of the side effects of the spread of the coronavirus. However, if you find yourself in a position to continue or increase your contributions to the church, know that your donation will be greatly appreciated. We have made the decision to honor our commitments to all those on our payroll (ministers, staff, choral scholars, childcare) who are relying on this income in an anxious time, and we cannot do that without your continued support.

To support Northminster financially, you can click here , or scan the QR code below with the camera on your phone.