July 23, 2026

DR. PAIGE RAWSON TO DELIVER STRICKLIN LECTURES

We are excited to announce that Dr. Paige Rawson will deliver the Thomas E. Stricklin Lectures in Church History at Northminster on Saturday, September 12 to be followed by the morning sermon on Sunday, September 13. The lectures will begin on that Saturday at 10:00 am and will end at noon. The lectures and sermon will also be streamed live and archived on Northminster’s YouTube channel. A time for a light breakfast will precede the lectures. Childcare will be provided. Please mark your calendars! Lecture and sermon themes and titles will be shared soon, but Dr. Rawson’s suggested outlines are insightful, challenging, and prophetic.

Dr. A. Paige Rawson (Ph.D., M.A., M.Div.) is a certified life coach, interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner, spiritual teacher, healer, writer, public speaker, and professional enthusiast. She is also a long-time friend of our own JK Kimble from high school days, so a Northminster connection. Paige knows firsthand the trauma inflicted by toxic theologies and exclusivist ideologies as well as the way to personal healing and spiritual wholeness. Dr. Rawson focuses her energy and attention on serving clients who struggle with self-love, religious trauma, embracing their own authority and embodying their truth.

Paige spent over a decade in the ministry as a youth pastor and teaching pastor before transitioning into academia to study and teach the Bible, religion, and philosophy, through feminist, queer, and postcolonial lenses. As a professor of Religion and Philosophy, Paige taught at Wingate University, The New School, and Seton Hall University. Paige’s writing is animated by a fierce commitment to spiritual wellness and social justice as well as her own queer, antiracist epistemological activism. Integrating the spiritual, physical, mental, and psychological, Dr. Rawson’s coaching eschews traditional Western European individualism and its methodologies, emphasizing instead the communal, interdependent and embodied nature of knowing, loving, being and becoming the best version of yourself.

Tom and Marjorie (“Marj”) Stricklin were founding members of Northminster. Tom was a long-time professor of history at ULM, and Marj was Northminster’s pianist for more than 20 years until her health failed. Shortly before Tom’s death from cancer in 1995 this lectureship was established and endowed by his good friend, fellow ULM history professor and also Northminster founding member Dr. Marshall Scott Legan. The lectureship was inaugurated by Rev. Dr. Walter B. Shurden in 1996. Other lecturers have included Rev. Dr. Stan Hastey, Dr. Bill J. Leonard, Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, Northminster’s pastor emeritus Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, and more recently Amanda Tyler, executive director of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. For more information about Dr. Thomas E. Stricklin and the Lectureship please see Northminster’s website (northmin.org) under the “Lecture Series” tab.

Save the dates, spread the word, and plan to join us September 12 and 13. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Rawson to Northminster.

SUNDAY WORSHIP

July 26 at 10:45 am

Rev. Jillian Hanamer preaching

Debt Forgiveness and Fair wages

Deuteronomy 15:1-11; 24:10-15

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to stream service

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to view Order of Worship

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to view last Sunday

MUSIC MINISTRY

Opening Hymn: For the Healing of the Nations Fred Kaan's most widely published text was first sung at Pilgrim Church in Plymouth, England at a service of worship marking Human Rights Day in 1965.

The Prayer Response: What a Friend We Have in Jesus No stranger to sorrow himself, Joseph Scriven wrote this hymn to comfort his mother in Ireland. Scriven, who moved to Canada as a young man, attempted to follow literally the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount.

The Middle Hymn: Like a Mother Who Has Borne Us This hymn was inspired by Hosea's depiction of the parental aspects of God's relationship with Israel. It was first sung at a chapel service at Dickinson College, where Daniel Bechtel, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, began his tenure as professor of religion in 1964.

The Anthem: Let Justice and Righteousness   by George Friedrich Handel. Text adapted from Amos 5:24 by D.H. Clark.

The Communion Anthem: You Satisfy the Hungry Heart set to the tune FINEST WHEAT.

The Closing Hymn: Come to Tend God's Garden John Dalles is the author of more than 200 hymn texts. This one was written for the 275th anniversary of the Synod of the Trinity in PA where Dalles served as a pastor at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh.

The best way to move mountains is to begin with molehills and work your way up.

Ever wonder why we don't jump at opportunities as quickly as we jump to conclusions?

Lord, I do not ask for a faith that will move mountains. I pray, Lord, for enough faith to move me.

WEDNESDAY CHOIR REHEARSALS ON HIATUSe

The choir will not meet on Wednesday nights through the month of July but will still rehearse on Sunday mornings at 9am during this summer hiatus.

If you are considering choir membership, please join us when regular rehearsals resume in August! We are always excited to hear of folks interested in choir and you will be embraced regardless of your skill level! 

BARCELONA 2027!

Join Debi and many others May 30 - June 6, 2027 and perform three concerts (two conducted by British Composer, John Rutter) in Spain!

We will be debuting his new work, I'll Think Me a World in Europe.

If you wish to go and not sing it is perfectly ok but the cost will be the same. For more information see Debi or go to www.midamerica-music.com/midam-spain

If you need to see more information check these two PDF files:

Pages 1-7 Pages 8-12

OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS

Camden King 23rd

Lilah Kate Higginbotham 31st

A big thank you to Cathy Webb for the Reader’s Theater piece she wrote, organized, and directed this past Sunday. I am grateful she was willing to share our gifts to enrich our worship!

CHILDREN AND YOUTH

VBS BEGINS SUNDAY! 5:30 - 7:30

REGISTER NOW!!



Northminster's Vacation Bible School will run July 26 - 30 for preschool through 5^th grade. There is a sign-up sheet in the hall for volunteers either during VBS hours (meals, activities, etc...) or you may sign up to help in other ways not associated directly with the VBS schedule. See Beth Mayfield for more information.

Please register your children for Vacation Bible School so that we can be sure to have enough food and craft materials. We can’t wait to see you there!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CHURCH LIFE

DON CINCONE BOOK SIGNING

Recently Northminster Church was priviledged to host the P.E.O. Chapter V Spring Talent Showcase featuring the art of Don Cincone. Not only an renowned artist, Don is also an author. His bok titled "Time Was Not My Burden: The Artist Memoir" . It details his incredible life journey, starting from his birth in a Richland Parish cotton field to his rise as an internationally celebrated expressionist painter.

The book chronicles:

• Early Life: Growing up under segregation and discovering European masters through books checked out by his mother.
• Artistic Journey: His global travels, studying in Europe, and his prominent career, including creating 85 original paintings for the 1965 Universal Studios film The Art of Love.
• Philosophy: His agrarian work ethic and the spiritual and natural themes that influence his art.



The book signing will be held at Northminster on Sunday, August 16 following worshp from 12 noon - 2pm. The public is invited.

PUB THEOLOGY

Pub Theology is held on the third Thursday of each month at 7pm at Melvyns, 1128 Oliver Rd., Monroe.

COMING UP

THE FLORAL OFFERING

Sanctuary Flowers:  As is customary during the summer months of July, and August, altar flowers will only be by memorial or honorarium. If you would like to give flowers during the summer months, please contact the church office. Suggested cost $125.

OF INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY

D. H. Clark , Justin Havard and Vickie Krutzer are heading up this America 250 Patriotic Show at Strauss Theatre Center. Come celebrate our Nation’s 250 years with us!

Preston Anderson has been cast in the Ruston Community Theatre's production of Guys and Dolls. The performances are Thursday, July 23 through Saturday, July 25 at 7pm and on Sunday, July 26 at 2pm.

GET TICKETS HERE

An Invitation from Temple B'Nai Israel