October 15, 2026

NOEL FERNANDEZ AND ORMARA NOLLO

HONORED WITH CUBAN AWARD

Recently our dear friends Rev. Noel Fernandez and his wife Ormara Nollo were honored by being named as “Illustrious Son and Daughter of the City”. That is the city of Ciego de Avila, Cuba where Ormara grew up and where they have been devoted members of the community for many years. Noel was the founding pastor of Northminster’s partner church, Enmanuel Baptist Church in Ciego de Avila, in 1994, and is now its pastor emeritus. Ormara was a founding member of Enmanuel and has remained a very active member.

Omar Martinez is mentioned in the following article as having been the “researcher” for this award. We first met Omar in 1994 when four of us from Northminster traveled to Cuba in search of a church with which to partner. As we have said many times when we arrived in Ciego de Avila and met Noel and Ormara and others of the new, not yet officially founded Enmanuel Baptist Church, we “fell in love”. And the rest is a beautiful history. In 1994 Omar was the Cuban government official who was the liaison for religious affairs in the province. On that first occasion he greeted us with great warmth. And on each of the now more than thirty occasions we have visited Enmanuel he has always warmly greeted us and always with a big hug. We consider him one of our Cuban friends.

When we first met Omar, he was a “secular” Cuban and was not involved in any church in the province. However, since his retirement from his official position several years ago he and his wife have become active in the life of Enmanuel. You will read in the following article that Omar wrote how it appears he also “fell in love” with Enmanuel Baptist Church and Noel and Ormara.

Cuba si!

Craig Henry

“Authentic Faith” Enmanuel Baptist Church

Today we live a memorable day for our community. Within the framework of the XXVI Meeting of Heritage Researchers in Ciego de Avila, researcher Omar Martinez dedicated his exhibition to going through the history, social impact and cultural value of the Enmanuel Baptist Church since its foundation on November 13, 1994.

That beginning with just 30 people was the starting point of an institution that knew how to intertwine in an organic way with the history, national culture, and the needs of its people. From sincere ecumenism to inclusion in every way, through the historic relationship of brotherhood with the Northminster Church, our community has been a living testimony of love, solidarity and ethical social commitment through community projects, health and service missions.

Our dear Pastor Emeritus Noel Fernandez specified with profound wisdom the essence of our walk: “It is not that we have a peculiar faith, but that we have an authentic faith.”

An authentic faith is one that contemplates a Christ made flesh, who embodied love, peace and justice to build the Kingdom of God here and now. We do not pretend to be perfect, but consistent with Jesus’ demand: imitate his attitude, serve in difficult contexts and transform realities with open hands.

It fills us with immense joy and gratitude to know that, for this fruitful trajectory and this life given without reservation to the service of Ciego de Avila, it is worth declaring our beloved pillars and founders, Pastor Emerituoel Fernandez and Ormara Nolla, as Illustrious Son and Daughter of the City.

SUNDAY WORSHIP

October 18, 2026 at 10:45 am

Rev. Jillian Hankamer preaching

Matthew 22:15-22

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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

The Opening Hymn: Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation The hymn has its origins in an early Latin poem, Urbs beata Jerusalem based on passages from Ephesians, 1 Peter, and Revelation. "Holy Zion" refers to the church transcendent, built of "living stones" - the saints of God.

The Hymn: O Jesus I Have Promised John Ernest Bode wrote these words when his daughter and two sons were confirmed. Although the Oxford scholar and rector wrote books of hymns, this is the only one to achieve lasting fame.



The Anthem: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms by Eric Nelson. Text by E.A, Hoffman.

The Communion Anthem: A Prayer of Saint Patrick by John Rutter.

The Closing Hymn: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less William Bradbury met great success by composing hymn tunes and religious songs in a lively, popular style. He also helped establish music programs in New Youk public schools, served a church, and co-founded a piano company.

The next hour, the next moment, is as much beyond our grasp and as much in God's care, as that a hundred years away. Care for the next minute is just as foolish as care for the morrow, or for a day in the next thousand years-in neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything. Those claims only of the morrow which have to be repeated today are of the duty of today: the moment which coincides with work to be done, is the moment to be minded; the next is nowhere till God has made it. - From An Anthology of George MacDonald. Edited by C. S. Lewis

OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS

Al Peterson 16th

Susan Roberts 16th

Baron Brandon 16th

Lisa Cross 22nd

Pastoral Care Ministry Team

On-Call Team Member for October:

Patti Pate (318-791-3215)

CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Please see the sign up sheet in the hall to indicate you will decorate your trunk and or bring candy. There will be a prize given for the best decorated trunk!

YOUTH FOOD PANTRY NEEDS

We are having a time keeping the Youth Food Pantry filled. Folks are utilizing it and we need your help with items for the youth to stock the pantry with. We are in need of items that will keep in the heat and are sealed:

Any/all Canned Goods, (including meat, sauces, vegetables, etc..., Baby Food, pastas, mac and cheese, instant potatoes, rice, spapgetti sauce peanut butter crackers, snacks, protein/breakfast bars...just about anything you can think of that are considered "staples."

CHURCH LIFE

We will be mainly working on the front flower beds and are in need of a great deal of pine straw and weed blocking fabric. Please sign up to indicate that you can be here to help us with this churchwide project. The sign up sheet is in the hall off the Narthex. Thanks!

PUB THEOLOGY

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



ANNUAL AGAPE MEAL SET

Our Agape meal will be held on Sunday, November 15 at 6pm. There is a sign up sheet in the hall off the Narthex. Please list each person on one line that plans to attend so we may have an accurate head count for the amount of food needed. Again this year we will offer the traditional Thanksgiving Meal or you may indicate your preference for Gumbo.

The cost is $12 per person, with a cap of $50 / famil. Funds are due at signup!

(You may pay by paypal, check, (note" Agape Meal") or cash. If cash, please indicate on the envelope that it is for the Agape Meal

COMING UP

THE FLORAL OFFERING

Arrangement by Marilyn Decker

OF INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY

GIVING TO NORTHMINSTER