What’s the good news you are sharing with folks these days? Perhaps you're excited that your team made it to the Super Bowl as returning champions!? Maybe you’re excited about a new cool spot for food and drinks, or a great vacation find. Some have special dietary requirements so their good news is often the new product that meets their needs and has great taste. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, new babies, new jobs, new homes, etc. So many things that we can share as good news in our lives. How often do we share what God has done and is doing in, through, and around us? That certainly is Good News. Your story doesn’t have to be like mine. Hope is hope. Joy is joy. Peace is peace. Love is love. “When one rejoices, all rejoice.” (1 Corinthians 12:26) Let’s spend some time sharing the good news and the Good News with those around us. 

It’s not often that Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day are on the same day. While this holiday mashup happened in 2018 as well, before that, it had not occurred since 1945. Some friends are giving the option for ashes as a cross or heart. And yes, one is a sacred holy day, and the other is more secular, but what can we center on this year that is unique to the situation and circumstances we find ourselves in? We can, and will, center our hearts at Northway. We put a lot on the heart – metaphorically and literally. From the toll on our bodies to the toll on our spirits, our hearts are often heavy. This Lent, I invite us to center our hearts on the path of discipleship, so that our yoke is easy, and our burden is light. 

Lent begins this upcoming Wednesday, Valentine’s Day. 

On Sundays during worship, we will be focusing on a new series titled Wandering Heart – following the winding path of Peter. On Wednesdays, following a soup supper, we will turn our focus to Meditations of the Heart – following the works and legacy of Howard Thurman. 

Did you know that when our hearts are around one another our hearts change? Of course you know I will say that is spiritually true, but it is also scientifically true. Our heartbeats long to be in connection with one another, to beat with one another, and to find peace with one another. 

This past Sunday during our Intergenerational Service, my heartbeat was around the heartbeat of our youth as they joyfully practiced and prepared for leading in worship. They danced and laughed – and I felt, and continue to feel my heart change. They stirred something in me that I know the Lord will continue to reveal more of in these coming reflective weeks. 

When our hearts are with one another, we draw the circle wider. We know that God’s heart encircles all of creation, and we are called to live and love in gracious response. 

You'll likely be hearing the song “Draw the Circle Wide” often throughout the coming weeks as a centering for our hearts during Lent. This is what the invitation to Christian discipleship is about. From Sunday morning to each moment our heart beats. May we know these words are true for us at Northway 

Draw the circle, draw the circle wide....No one stands alone, we’ll stand side by side, Draw the circle, draw the circle wide.

Rev. Virzola Law

Senior Minister

Do you have questions for Pastor Law? You can reach her at [email protected].

Northway folks love to travel! And they often still want to stay connected and participate in their bible study group even while they’re away. Some are recovering from illness or injury, and others are currently living in a “home-centered” way so they’re not able to be here on Sunday morning. Whatever the reason, we’re excited to invite people back to this hybrid class model. Please be patient as we may have technical difficulties from time to time. If you have questions about one of these classes or need Zoom help, please contact the church office or Pastor Ken.

Village Class (Singles & Couples ages 20s-50s, with/without kids) RM E-201

Meeting ID: 858 179 2703  Passcode: 814880

One tap mobile:  +13462487799,, 8581792703#,,,,*814880#

Fidelis and Friends (50s+) RM E116

Meeting ID: 767 644 9003 Passcode: 731459

One tap mobile:  +13462487799,, 7676449003# 

Friendship Class (Wisdom Years) Parlor

Meeting ID: 671 438 8057 Passcode: 846407

One tap mobile:   +13462487799,, 6714388057#,,,,*846407# 

Northway is in ministry partnership with Thanksgiving Square. The link below will take you to their latest newsletter, which includes these upcoming events:

Two Peoples in One Land. Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, National Day of Prayer Luncheon featuring David Brooks. Thursday, May 2, 2024, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm. CLICK HERE to read the newsletter.

Journey through Lent this year accompanied by the timeless words of Howard Thurman. From February 21 to Holy Week, our Wednesday night soup and reflection will call us to spend days of mindful meandering toward the cross. This time together will be seasoned by excerpts from Thurman’s book Deep is the Hunger, a collection of weekly pastoral letters written to his congregation and published in 1978.

Our sessions will be facilitated by our Pastors and local Thurman Scholars. Howard Thurman's Meditations of the Heart is a beautiful collection of over 150 prayers, poems, meditations on prayer, community, and the joys and rituals of life by one of our greatest spiritual leaders. Thurman is a spiritualist and mystic, renowned for the quiet beauty of his reflections on humanity and our relationship with God. Within this collection are words that sustain, elevate, and inspire. Thurman addresses those moments of trial and uncertainty and offers a message of hope and endurance for people of all faiths.

Ash Wednesday Service

Wednesday, February 14 @ 6:30 pm in F-101 

Lenten Soup Supper 

Wednesdays, February 21 - March 20, 5:00 - 6:00 pm in F-101 

Children & Youth Lenten Programming

Wednesdays, February 21 - March 20, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm in Youth Hall (Parents - children may join you for supper in F-101 prior to bringing them to Youth Hall) 

Lenten Lecture & Reflection Series 

Wednesdays, February 21 - March 20, 6:00 - 7:00 pm in F-101

• February 21 | Rev. Virzola Law
• February 28 | Rev. Dr. Charles Darwin, DMin 
• March 6 | Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, PhD (Pres. Elect Brite Divinity School)
• March 13 | Rev. Dr. Jeremy Williams (Assist. Prof. of New Testament and Director of the Center for Theology and Justice at Brite Divinity School)
• March 20 | Rev. Dr. Kamilah Hall Sharp (Assist. Prof. of Hebrew Bible and Public Ministry at Chicago Theological seminary, Co-Pastor of The Gathering - A Womanist Church)

We have 16 slots for this summer's Mission Trip. Northway youth and sponsors will travel to Albuquerque, NM for a Be The Neighbor experience the week of July 7-13. We will need to make a firm confirmation of the participant list by March 1. You can learn more about the trip and fill out the registration form here.

Hey Parents! If you'd like to keep up with Northway's activities for children and youth, you'll want to click here to check out our "Parent Connection" newsletter.

If you're not receiving this weekly email, but would like to, send us a note.