After 23 years of service at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Liz Harris-Lamkin will retire on December 15.

Here is an article about her, published recently in The Village, a news magazine published for Piedmont employees:

"Liz is known throughout the hospital for her energy, curiosity, a warm smile, quick wit and investing in the lives of patients, families, and staff. She is a serious student of her profession and loves the inter-professional work of the care team.

Countless numbers have experienced her caring and healing presence - both at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital and in her role as an Air Force chaplain in the Georgia Air National Guard. (Liz retired from the Georgia Air National Guard in 2017, after three deployments and 23 years of service.)

During her earlier years, her primary clinical focus was in oncology, and later she has focused largely on cardiac critical care. She has been an active member of the Ethics Committee.

Liz has a deep passion for palliative care, particularly the compassionate art of complex conversations that help patients discern and integrate their values and hopes with the goals and plan of care. 'It is a sacred enterprise that begins and ends in relationship, listening to and respecting the patient's story," she said. 'The work of the chaplain is always about a 'promise story' even if it is painful and hard. Please join us in sending Liz a hearty thank you for her service."

NDBC members also wish Liz much joy and fulfillment in this new chapter of her life.
Christmas Eve Services at NDBC
         4:00 pm Family Vespers        
 5:30 pm Lessons and Carols

At each service, we will light the Christ Candle at the center of the Advent wreath, and we will joyfully celebrate the birth of Christ through the reading of scriptures and the gift of music.  
At the 4:00 pm service: Kurt Thomas will sing. Andrea Johnson will tell the Christmas story, and all children will help her from the pews as they hold up masks of shepherds, sheep, the Magi, Mary, and Joseph. Afterward, for those who wish to stay, the pastor will tell the Juggler of God story. 

At the 5:30 service: Keith Walker, Melinda Clark, and the staff ensemble singerswill provide music between the reading of the scripture lessons. 

Both services will be in person and live-streamed. Attendees will observe all Covid protocols (socially distanced, all wearing masks), and the services will be abbreviated appropriately. Out of Covid concerns, we will not observe Communion, nor will we be able to have a choir or congregational singing. The 5:30 pm service will take the place of the 10:30 pm service this year.

The NDBC sanctuary is open for individual prayer
weekdays from 2:00-3:30 pm.
Please bring a coat, as the sanctuary is unheated.

The Wade Davis Nativity Gallery is open.  
The Wade Davis Nativity Display, introduced Advent 2019, is once again on view, but in a more concise format, on the balcony level of the sanctuary (level 5 in elevator). The display can be enjoyed any time the sanctuary is open for safe Covid gatherings.

Curator of the display Syd Janney says, "Flip on the overhead lights and begin in the elevator hallway by opening the glass-fronted display case lent by the Clark Family. Some child-centric activities using small nativities are available in the display case drawers. Enjoy this celebration of Christ’s birth through a former member’s collecting spirit."
Update from the NDBC Finance Committee - Status of the 2021 Pledge Campaign.  

Through December 8 we have received pledges of $452,500 or 73% of our needed offerings for 2021. We are well into the season of Advent and would like to finalize our pledging process soon and ask that, if you intend to do so, please make a pledge at your earliest convenience. We still hope to adopt the Challenge Budget that was approved by the Church in Conference on November 1. We have received a few pledges from people or families that have not previously pledged. This is encouraging, especially given the current pandemic environment.

The Challenge Budget considers the impact of the pandemic on our operations and further reductions to the budget would present some difficulties. At the appropriate time, we will follow up directly with those who have not pledged.

Pledging is easy and a great way for you to make a difference in our world. You can contact Rose Hidlay our business manager at 404-237-8621 or email her at [email protected]. You can mail a pledge card to the church at 3100 Northside Drive Atlanta GA 30305 or give online at www.northsidedrive.org/giving.

We encourage you to give as your situation allows.  For those that can increase their pledge over last year, that is most welcome.

Gratefully, 
The Finance Committee

Make your pledge by clicking here, emailing Rose Hidlay, or by calling the church office at 404-237-8621.

This week, watch Daniel Headrick as he interviews Jeremy Lewis of Urban Recipe.
The Art & Soul church school class will meet this Sunday, December 13 at 9:30 am via Zoom, ending in time for those who would like to attend worship in person to do so. You can prepare by reading the short Feasting on the Word preparatory sheet. Cathy Wooten will lead our discussion. Note that a passcode is required.

Meeting ID: 824 8851 2109
Passcode: 936319
Christmas Giving 2020

🎄🎅🎄
The Andrew P. Stewart Center
The Stewart Center serves children and families in the Pittsburgh area of Atlanta. Their wish list for craft supplies, books, educational supplies, and snacks is available on Amazon. Click on the link, choose your gift, and then select the address for Ashley Hicks and your gift will be delivered directly to the Stewart Center.  If you prefer to make a financial donation, send a check to NDBC with Stewart Center on the memo line, or you can send a check directly to the Center at APS Center, 987 Ira St. SW, Atlanta 30310.
                     🎄🎅🎄                        
Morningstar Children and Family Services
Morningstar, a residential treatment facility in Brunswick, is home to about 50 youth ages 12-18. This year has provided additional challenges as opportunities for off-campus trips and family visits have been less frequent or non-existent. All the gifts for Alex and Kayla have been purchased. (Thank you!) If you would like to help purchase clothing and shoes for the children, send a check to NDBC with Morningstar on the memo line. 
  
⛪🎄⛪
Buckhead Christian Ministries
The holidays are a time for families to be together at home, not worrying about evictions or foreclosures. As the mission of BCM evolves to focusing on building caring communities where everyone has a home in which to thrive, your donations to help with mortgage and rental assistance are important. Checks may be sent to NDBC with BCM on the memo line or mailed directly to BCM, 2847 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta 30305. Donations can also be made online. 

Please share this information with anyone you know who may need assistance.  
 
If you have questions or need help with online shopping, please contact Nancy Hall at 404-791-7104 or Barbara Atchley at 770-436-0709.
At the morning worship service on Sunday, December 13, at 11 am, our staff ensemble singers will present nine carols from the English tradition. Most of the carols are presented in the annual “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” at King’s College, Cambridge, England. The Staff Ensemble features Katherine Carey and Allison Drinkard, sopranos; Shantá Johnson, alto; James Ranson, tenor; and Evan Drew, bass. Our organist, Melinda Clark, also will present organ selections of the season. The live-stream will be available about 10:50 am. We hope you will join us online for this celebration of the joy of the season.  
Weekly Church Events

We are moving to live-streaming our worship in the next few Sundays, and we ask for your patience as we figure out the technology. We are grateful for the Audio Committee and the direction of Brian Knight.

Art and Soul Church School - This Sunday at 9:30 am via Zoom
Meeting ID: 824 8851 2109
Passcode: 936319

Sunday Morning Worship - 11:00 am live-stream via YouTube, a recording of which will be available for later viewing.

Wednesday Pastor's Morning Bible Study - 10:30 am via Zoom 
Meeting ID: 250 663 1572
Passcode: 6789

Saturday Prayer Meeting - 2:00 pm via Zoom
Meeting ID: 250 663 1572
Passcode: 6789

Sanctuary Open for Prayer - Daily - 2:00-3:30 pm. The Wade Davis nativity sets are on display in the church on the fifth floor.
Elaine Eassa - December 13
Clayton McClure - December 18
Charlotte Dalke - December 20
Jenn Knight -December 23
Joan McIntyre - December 24
Emma Chandler - December 27
Joseph Cassata - December 27
Ruth Trager - December 28
Jeanne Goodwill - December 30

In last week's The Pinnacle, we inadvertently omitted Susan Richards, whose birthday was December 5. We apologize for the error.
During this time of remote worship, know of our prayers for you and your family. Contact our clergy if you have prayer requests or other concerns. 
You may make your donation via our website through this link or by mail to
Northside Drive Baptist Church
NDBC Staff

Nick Bonner, Custodian
Melinda Clark, Organist
Daniel Headrick, Associate Pastor
Rose Hidlay, Business Manager
Andrea Johnson, Director of Children's Ministries
James Lamkin, Senior Pastor
Will Mathews, Administrative Manager
Joleen Neel, Preschool Director
Mary Lou Swann, Director of Children's Choirs
David Vaughns, Custodian
Keith Walker, Director of Music Ministries
Church Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(404) 237-8621