On Sunday, September 13 we will have a live in person worship service at 10AM on the Church lawn, followed by a called Church-in-Conference. The service will begin at 10AM, but you are welcome to arrive around 9AM and bring your own breakfast.

The purpose of the Church in Conference meeting is to consider and vote on proposed amendments to NDBC’s bylaws as recommended by an ad hoc committee appointed to periodically review the bylaws. The committee includes Dave Wooten, chair, and members Hartwell Dew, Jackie Hardin, Don Janney, and Carolyn Mahaffey.

The Church Council approved the committee's proposed bylaw changes on March 1 of this year. The motion before the church is for approval of the recommended revisions.

the existing bylaws with the proposed revisions here. You can also download the document by clicking on this link to our website, then scrolling down and following the link for each document. Hard copies are available on request by calling the church office at 404-237-8621. Copies will also be available at the Church-in-Conference.

Please plan to attend the Church-in-Conference to discuss and vote on
these amendments. If you have questions prior to the meeting, please contact Dave Wooten at [email protected].

Jo Meeks, NDBC Moderator                                           

Our now retiring Senior Pastor James Lamkin has long been a fan of A Prairie Home Companion, the live radio show on air from 1974 to 2016 known for its folk and traditional musicians, tongue-in-cheek radio drama, and relaxed humor all masterminded by the wry storytelling style of Garrison Keillor. James' passions for storytelling, music, and memories make our Northside Drive Home Companion a similarly winsome format to honor James Lamkin and have fun together remembering the 23 years he has ministered among us as Senior Pastor.
Below are the Sundays, each created around a seasonal theme, when our church will gather (as Covid protocols instruct and weather permits) for these times of remembering and celebrating together. More details will follow as plans are confirmed.

October 11 Stories and Song from a Long Pastorate
5:00 pm Church Grounds
 
November 15 Precious Memories. . . with Quilts as Backdrop
3:00 pm Church Grounds

December 6 Home for the Holidays
3:00 pm Church Grounds
For each event, church member/singer/musician Kurt Thomas will be the Musical Choreographer with James Lamkin as Chief Storyteller and Honoree. Other church members will also contribute.

 Save these dates and times for the Northside Drive Home Companion series.
 Contribute your favorite stories about James Lamkin and his ministry among us (short paragraphs only) to Syd Janney at [email protected] or to her mailing address 705 E Morningside Dr NE Atlanta 30324. Examples of these memories will be sprinkled throughout each Northside Drive Home Companion event and/or assembled for his further reflection and enjoyment.
After a wonderful summer series, we will pause church school this Sunday for the Labor Day holiday and again on September 13 for Church in Conference. On September 20 the Art & Soul Class will begin its fall semester, which will focus on the study of each week's lectionary scriptures. The source for study is Feasting on the Word, published by The Thoughtful Christian. If you would like to receive email reminders about each week's class, along with the weekly study guide, please email David Beavers, class coordinator for Art & Soul. Everyone is welcome to join for discussion, Sundays at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.
We've all seen photos and heard reports of the devastation in southwestern Louisiana caused recently by Hurricane Laura. The missions committee has approved funds from our discretionary budget to support the rebuilding and restoration efforts in the Lake Charles area of the state. Funds will be sent to the Louisiana Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) for supplies such as generators, building materials, and gift cards for families. As we learned when supporting CBF efforts following the destruction of Hurricane Michael in 2018, CBF is not a first responder, rather the organization provides long-term support to the most vulnerable, namely the uninsured and under-insured, as they rebuild their homes and lives following a disaster. The National CBF, with their headquarters here in Decatur, is using them as the on-site coordinators for local efforts.

Northside Drive has numerous connections with the area:

*Tanner and Megan Stines live at ground zero where the hurricane hit: Lake Charles, LA. The city and university and infrastructures where they work were greatly damaged. Tanner is the son of NDBC members Mona and Chuck Stines.

*Dr. Leonard Ezell attended NDBC some during his days at McAfee School of Theology. He is the son-in-law of Paul Duke and Cathy Duke who were NDBC members years ago. He is now pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, and a leader in the CBF of LA. 

Please keep the people of Louisiana and all those helping in the recovery efforts in your prayers.

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Here are links for our Missions partners should you want to volunteer or donate to the organizations in this time of great uncertainty and need.

Buckhead Christian Ministry
Information is available here.

Urban Recipe     urbanrecipe.org

Andrew P. Stewart Center
If you would like to help with headphones or other items, please use this link to the Stewart Center's Amazon Wish List. Once you add to their cart from the wish list and check out, select the option to ship to Ashley Hick's Gift Registry.

NW Metro Mask Makers---Visit the group's Facebook page
or contact Gayle Hall, 404-281-7649 or [email protected]
Clarkston Cluster Schools Mask Makers-Contact Missy Lester [email protected]
The NDBC sanctuary is now open each weekday from 2:00-3:30 p.m. for prayer and meditation. Hand wipes and sanitizer will be available on the narthex table as you enter. Please clean your seated space with hand wipes before leaving the sanctuary.
The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is the President & Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival; Bishop with The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries; Visiting Professor at Union Theological Seminary; Pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and the author of three books: Revive Us Again: Vision and Action in Moral Organizing; The Third Reconstruction: Moral Mondays, Fusion Politics, and The Rise of a New Justice Movement; and Forward Together: A Moral Message For The Nation.
Peace, 
The Alliance Staff
In Search of a Good Epitaph
         
Today’s epistle lesson reads like words on a tombstone. “If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord, so then whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”
Sounds like an epitaph: an inscription which summarizes one’s life and/or hope. For the Apostle Paul, it would be that his life and death were enveloped by the love and Lordship of Christ. And not only his, but Christ’s inclusive embrace, welcomes all.
It’s not a bad epitaph. What is yours?  
Weekly/Upcoming Church Events
Weekly
Art and Soul Church School - Sundays - 9:30 a.m. via Zoom beginning September 20
Sunday Morning Worship - 11:00 a.m. via Facebook and YouTube
Sunday Morning A Time with the Children - 11:00 a.m. via Facebook and YouTube
Wednesday Pastor's Morning Bible Study - 10:30 a.m. via Zoom
Saturday Prayer Meeting - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom

September 13
BYOB (bring your own biscuit) Breakfast - 9:00 a.m.
Worship on the lawn - 10:00 a.m.
Called Church-in-Conference - 10:30 am

September 21--Church Council meeting - 7:00 p.m. via Zoom

Tim Getsay - September 12
J B Gilbert - September 14
Betsy Walker - September 14
Suzette Knight - September 15
Will Ervin - September 15
Theresai Manley - September 17
Henry Collins - September 18
Karen Massey - September 18
Hal Meeks - September 18
Cyndi Vander Ven - September 19
Reid Cook - September 19
Linda Bridges - September 20
Rebecca Moore - September 20
Jake Baumstark - September 21
Kendall Konekamp - September 21
Bil Caderet - September 22
Keith Milligan - September 22
Ingrid Bongers - September 24


Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and our church office being closed, we were remiss about celebrating our church staff on their work anniversary. Those anniversaries are:

Daniel Headrick, Associate Pastor - June 15
Keith Walker, Director of Music Ministries - July 1
Rose Hidlay, Business Office Manager - August 1
Will Mathews, Administrative Manager- August 7
Mary Lou Swann, Director of Children's Choirs - September 1
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 http://northsidedrive.org/giving/ 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 am - 4:00 p.m.
(404) 237-8621