I'm writing to you from the mountains of North Carolina where I've just finished meeting with my preaching group. This group is part of the Zick Preaching Scholars Program which was started by a retired couple who have a vision of nurturing preachers for our denomination. Mary Zick, for whom this program is named, was living outside of Chicago in the 1950's when she, along with a few dozen others, were founding members of a Presbyterian church in their community. The Presbytery appointed an organizing pastor, but by the end of the first year, Winnetka Presbyterian Church needed a full-time pastor. Mary Zick was involved in that search process and ultimately helped hire a twenty-six-year-old Lloyd John Ogilvie as their pastor, who went on to serve as Chaplain of the United States Senate. Mary was committed to supporting Rev. Ogilvie as he developed his preaching and leadership skills. When Mary died, her daughter and son-in-law thought that the best way to honor her legacy would be to develop a Preaching Scholars program that nurtures young pastors who are committed to developing their preaching skills, which is how I wound up in NC for the week.
We are a group of six pastors from NC, SC, GA, and TX. We serve very different congregations and have very different preaching styles, but we all share the conviction that preaching is the most important thing we do each week and we want to grow in the craft of preaching. We spent a couple of days hearing from Rev. Dr. Craig Barnes, President of Princeton Theological Seminary, about how he approaches sermons and what he's learned throughout his ministry about shaping his soul so he can continue to be energized about preaching. And we came with outlines of our sermon plans through next summer and workshopped our ideas together. Our time together left me with much to ponder and with much excitement about our worship life for the coming year.
Our group not only meets in person twice a year, but we also meet monthly over Zoom to workshop sermons, discuss books, brainstorm, and more. And most importantly, we pray for each other and the congregations we serve every Sunday morning. I don't step into the pulpit on Sunday morning without having prayed for this group and their churches. And they don't step into their pulpits without having prayed for me and for Northridge Presbyterian Church.
I'm headed back to Dallas with gratitude for a congregation that enables me to get away for continuing education and with renewed wonder that I get to share the good news of the gospel with you week after week. It is a privilege and a joy!
With great hope,
Betsy
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Masks are required – regardless of vaccination status – for indoor worship and other meetings and activities in the building (including Sunday school and committee and Session meetings) and also recommends that people in the building for worship or other purposes be strongly encouraged to socially distance.
Worship continues to be available via livestream on our YouTube channel. If you are feeling ill, have been exposed to COVID-19, or simply feel more comfortable worshipping from home, then we encourage you to worship via livestream.
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Rev. Betsy Lyles Swetenburg
will be preaching a sermon titled
Who Are We Now? Hope
You're invited to read
in preparation for Sunday.
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KID CONNECTION
This Sunday, we will start Sunday School for kids with a new twist. We are providing space for many different learning levels and styles through a Montessori-like learning environment where we will continue to offer substantive and meaningful opportunities for faith development.
Children will begin with a combined gathering with music and a Bible story on the children's wing south porch. They will then divide into two groups (pre-school and elementary) where they will rotate through various stations at their own pace, learning in various ways about the story for the week.
We will be using the new PC(USA) curriculum, Follow Me. This curriculum helps kids learn about what following Jesus really looks like in daily life. We will begin with a series on Welcoming and head into a series on Following Jesus.
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YOUTH CONNECTION
Youth Connection Begins this Sunday
at 10 a.m. in the Youth Suite.
Teachers Mike Buchanan, Linda Hale Buchanan, and Monty Watson will be leading the youth in a fun game of Jeopardy this week!
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Youth Group Kick-off this Sunday
The youth group will have a pool party this Sunday from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Raymond's pool. There will be pizza, fun, and time to bond with church friends.
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Coleman & Alex Feeley have been visiting since fall 2019. They have two daughters, Charlie and Poppy James, and a bulldog named Boomer. |
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Jacie Minick (pronounced "Jackie") is transferring her membership from St. Mark Presbyterian Church in East Dallas after 51 years. She previously worked as a math teacher in DISD. |
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Jo Rader moved to Dallas after Hurricane Harvey and has visited Northridge for more than two years. She transfers her membership from First Presbyterian Church of Dickinson, Texas. |
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Janice & Mark Nacol are transferring their membership from Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. They are excited to join the Northridge family. |
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Rebie Nicholson is transferring her membership to Northridge after visiting with her son, member Darren Nicholson. |
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LABYRINTH OPEN FOR REFLECTION |
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Reflect in the Labyrinth from August 18-29
Come reflect, hope, and lament over the past year and the time to come from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, or from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Sundays in adult classrooms 130-131.
If you come during the week, enter the church through the west doors by the office. Bring a pair of socks, as you will be instructed to remove your shoes as part of the practice.
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LITERACY ACHIEVES: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! |
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LITERACY ACHIEVES VOLUNTEER TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR 2021 FALL SEMESTER
Applications are now being accepted for volunteer teaching at Literacy Achieves, one of Northridge’s primary mission partners, for the fall 2021 semester. Classes start Monday, September 13 (both online and in-person classes are currently planned).
- You do not need to speak a foreign language or have teaching experience. Literacy Achieves provides the curriculum and training. Opportunities are available for morning, afternoon, or evening classes.
- Time commitment is 2 hours per week for a 12 week or 13 week semester. Volunteer teacher opportunities are available at the Vickery Meadow, ELM-East Dallas and West Dallas locations. Additional volunteers needed for office help, tutoring, student registrations and recognition, or other special events.
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To learn more about volunteer teaching opportunities, contact LaTress Peoples [email protected] 214.265.5057 x 114 or complete your application online at LiteracyAchieves.org
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SIGN UP TO DONATE SANCTUARY FLOWERS |
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If you would like to provide flowers for worship, please call the church office to see if a date you want is open. 2021 dates open at this printing are Sept. 12th and Sept. 26th. The approximate cost of a flower arrangement that fits the size of our sanctuary is about $100 plus delivery. 214-827-5521.
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FALL GRIEF RECOVERY WORKSHOP: REGISTER NOW |
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Faith & Grief Recovery Workshop
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Have you lost a loved one in the last year or two? Or has someone you know? This workshop is open to Northridge members and the community at large with a limited class size.
In conjunction with the Dallas-based Faith & Griefsm Ministries, Northridge will offer an 8-week Faith & Grief Recovery Workshop, beginning September 13. The workshop is a series of sessions where participants explore sacred stories related to grief, share their stories in small group discussions, and are introduced to spiritual practices designed to promote comfort in grief. The workshop will be facilitated by Faith & Grief cofounder Rev. Wendy Fenn and senior workshop leader Rev. Diane Pennington.
The series will be held in person at Northridge on Monday evenings, September 13—November 1, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend*. To learn more about Faith & Griefsm Workshop and to register, use the link at the top, or contact Tony Cummins at [email protected].
*Registrations cancelled less than 2 weeks in advance will incur a $20 materials recovery fee.
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Bible Study: Tuesdays - 7:30 a.m.
Join us!
Meeting ID: 954 9571 6184
Passcode: 027540
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