5:30 family worship
9:00 communion service

Choir photos continued

Many Thanks to Nancy Gwaltney for more pictures of the choir.

Choir Cantata

The musicians who led the congregation in worship were marvelous. I appreciate all of them. Many thanks for a great Christmas Choir Cantata 2007.

Children's Christmas play

Northminster's children told us the story of the first Christmas on Sunday night. They asked us, "Will you carry the light of Christ into the world?" A great crowd of members and friends were in attendance for dinner and the play.

Children baking cookies for reception and homebound members

After rehearsing for the Christmas Play, children of the church baked Christmas Cookies for the reception and for homebound church members. Pics of the play will be posted in a day or two.

Two Advent Links

I've come across two good Advent links.

The first is an article about our presbytery's "Christmas at Dogwood."

The second is an interesting site about making Advent and Christmas more holy. Thanks to Brian McLauren's web site for the idea.

These are a few of the trees around the church that are decorated for Advent and Christmas. It is fun to be back in the 'purple season,' and to anticipate the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus.

We have a number of special services and activities planned at Northminster this year. Plan to join us.

Here and Now ad campaign

Northminster's Advent Commercial asking the question "Which guy will you worship?" began playing on Escambia County cable stations today. (Cox media)

You may click here to see the commercial from the denomination. Our commercial concludes with Northminster's picture and address/phone number.

If you've found this blog through our webiste because of the commercial, welcome! Please post a comment and let us know or ask anything about the church. Please do the same if you are a Presbyterian interested in the commercials. We think they are helpful.

Through the Advent season I'll post more information about Northminster Presbyteian Church on this pastor's blog.

When do we start singing Christmas Carlols?

I suppose we should start singing them on Christmas Eve.

Dennis Bratcher has a wonderful copyrighted article on the subject that I encourage you to click on and read.

Thanks, Rew, for finding the article for me.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

There was a beautiful cornucopia of food and flowers on Northminster's communion table Sunday. We celebrated the Thanksgiving Holiday with beautiful worship Sunday morning and a Community Thanksgiving Service on Sunday evening.

Our choir sang at all 3 services, then rehearsed after the last one. They are super! I am as proud of their work ethic as I am of their voices and performance skills.

New Bells

The sound of bells again punctuates the air at Northminster on Wednesday mornings. The bell choir practiced today with our own bells for the first time! They will play frequently in the coming weeks.

mist at sunrise

2nd hole at Scenic Hills Golf Course, near my home.

an interesting essey in the Financial Times

I don't blog a lot about politics, but I found this essay in the very conservative Financial Times (of London) very interesting.

Prayer at Military Appreciation Luncheon

This is the text of the prayer I wrote for Pensacola's Military Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by the Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola (CROP).

At the end of my prayer I invite everyone to join me in the Rotary Prayer, which is on the back of your programs. Now, let us pray:

Heavenly Father, Creator of the World, Author of Salvation, and Judge of humanity: We gather this day in appreciation of all who serve this country in her military service.

As you promised in the Book of Isaiah, we look for a day when nations will beat swords into plows and spears into pruning hooks. We long for a time when your love, peace and justice reigns and warriors are no longer needed. But until your day comes, O Lord, we beseech your blessing and protection on all who wear this nation’s uniform.

God of compassion, be with all at home who wait and worry. Be especially present with families who grieve. We pray for the family of another area “favorite son” Army Sergeant Dan McCall, who died Tuesday in Baghdad. Comfort them.

Lord we lift up all of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coastguardsmen, and Airmen. We pray for their officers: give them the intelligence, energy, and integrity to be leaders worthy of trust. We pray for our President and his advisors.

Finally, O God, I thank you for the men and women of Rotary International, serving the causes of health, education, and peace around the world, who pray together… O Lord, giver of all good. We thank you for our daily food. May Rotary friends and Rotary ways help us to serve you all our days. Amen.

A story about the luncheon is here.

Trunk or Treat

Honoring Julia

Part of Sunday's dinner was an opportunity to honor Julia Major, our church Administrative Assistant, who will be leaving November 1, after four years at Northminster. We feted her with cards, gifts, and good words. In this picture Julia (right) is hugged by Carol McElroy.

Northminster's First Ordination

On Sunday, October 28, Northminster hosted the first ordination by the Presbytery of Florida. Our own Mike W. was ordained by the presbytery; he will be minister of First Presbyterian Church in Elberton, Ga.

Presbyteian Women's conference in Georgia

I had the opportunity over the weekend to speak at the Synod women's conference at St. Simons Island. I saw a few old friends from PW leadership in other presbyteries. I had the opportunity to spread the word of disaster preparation. It was a good event.

Missionary Speaker next week

Next Thursday (Oct 25) at 7pm Ellen Dozier, a Presbyterian missionary to Guatamala, will speak at Northminster. Plan to come for dessert and her talk.

There is a good article on the PCUSA web site about the work she and colleagues do there. The article starts out with a story of Ms. Wiseman, then talks about Rev. Dozer.

There is a information and a video about Rev. Dozier on her home page.

Concert this Sunday

I am so excited about Bryan's concert here Sunday evening at 6. Youth will gather at 5; we'll have a game and dinner. Everyone is invited. Many youth from churches in the presbytery are coming.

A Special Birthday (in a strange place)

One of our church members, Estelle, was in the hospital for her 80th birthday. A group of us went and transformed the waiting room into a 'party room.' Here is a picture of the event. Please pray for everyone involved.

Northminster is the kind of church where we often have special birthday parties in strange places -- it is one of the things I like so much about it.

Documentary movie about Katrina recovery

A friend from Cursillo is working on a documentary about Katrina and the role of volunteers and work groups. You may click below to see one story from the documentary.

The Revolution will be Blogged

Andrew Sullivan is right again: the revolution in Burma is being blogged in real time. One of Sullivan's posts lists these sites:

Here is a site in Burmese (I guess).

This is one in English.

Please make a comment below if you know of others. I think we are seeing real democracy emerging. I wonder if it will be crushed by a corrupt and strong government. I pray it is not.

Democracy in Burma

Something exciting is happening in Burma. I pray for these Buddhist Monks: that they are able to stand up to an oppressive military junta.

Picture above is from the Mizzima News Service.

Seminarian in Scotland

Adam Copeland is a student at Columbia Seminary in Atlanta. He's a member of First Pres, Tallahassee. He is serving a year-long intenship at St. Columba Church in Ayr, Scotland. He plans to keep a blog and I plan to follow it here, and invite you to do the same.


http://adamcopeland.vox.com/

Communion Table

The morning sun came directly into the sanctuary at 7:45 this morning and illuminated the Communion Table with a beautiful light. I was distracted from my prayer and took this picture with my telephone, then continued my prayer. (It is more about my distraction from prayer than the beauty of the Table.)

clouds

News from Mexico after the hurricanes

This note came to me yesterday from a North American missionary to the Yucatan of Mexico. These are different folks from the medical doctor in Belize whose note before Felix is several entries below.


Dear Friends and Prayer Partners:

We have been receiving emails from various of you, wanting to know how we weathered hurricane Dean. Actually, we were ending up our 2-week trip to the States when it hit. We flew in from Houston on Tuesday (Monday’s flight had been cancelled), and saw that there was practically no damage at all in Merida. Only wind gusts of up to 60 miles an hour were felt, and no rain to speak of. Dean came in further south, so that most of Yucatan as well as Cancún, were spared major damage. Our camp at Porvenir was not affected at all. Praise the Lord!

Where Dean came in was further south, near Chetumal and Belize, at a resort town called Majahual (pronounced “Mah-hah-WAHL”). The piers that received cruise boats were destroyed, as well as most of the town. That area of the Peninsula is sparsely populated, and only about ten deaths were storm-related. Dean hit as a category 5, but moved through very quickly. The greatest damage was to the crops and to the trees and jungles of the area. Maya villagers lost their homes and possessions (they had mostly palm-thatched houses). All the crops are gone in a swath that covers northern Belize, southern Quintana Roo and Campeche, and the south tip of Yucatan, the 3 states that comprise the Yucatan Peninsula.

Northern Belize apparently will be without electricity for two weeks more. They lost their trees and crops there, too. Helen Lacey’s garage collapsed, but she and her vehicle were at a refuge, so no serious damage. Amidst the losses, we thank the Lord for His protection!

Here in Merida, Seminary shut down as a precautionary measure. Classes will resume on Tuesday. We have put our downtown house up for sale. We pray the Lord to determine whenever and to whomever He wants it sold.

As a footnote, we had a wonderful 2 weeks in the States visiting friends in Michigan we do not get to see frequently. Times of prayer and praise were very meaningful to us. The high point of the trip was the baptism of Dan and Debbie’s third child, Owen David. We enjoyed some days with our children (Daniel, wife Debbie and daughter Debbie) and grandchildren Alyssa, Caleb and Owen. We praise the Lord for them.

Continued blessings to you as you enter into fall activities and serve Him where you are.

Your servants for Jesus’ sake, (2 Cor 4:5)

Jean and David Legters

For donations, please send (with a note) to

I.D.E.A. Ministries;
4595 Broadmoor Ave. S.E., Suite 237;
Grand Rapids, MI 49512

Finally, information from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance's response to Felix may be found here.

Concert October 14

On Sunday, October 14 Bryan Field MacFarland, a Presbyterian minister and singer/songwriter will perform at Northminster -- probably at 6pm. Watch this blog for much more information.

His site is here.

He wrote saying:
It's not everyday that a musician gets a blurb from such a prominent theologian as Walter Brueggemann. So, I wanted to share with my friends Brueggemann's words about my newest release:


"Re: All That Matters by Bryan Field McFarland... What matters to McFarland is the connection between deep faith rootage and current courage for faith in action. In cadences that bring the listener along, McFarland witnesses to hard issues that must be faced, but sings, in the midst of those hard issues, about healing, hope and finally about the divine “You.” Sung faith generates openness to freedom and obedience. The beat is just right for free obedience and obedient freedom."
- Walter Brueggemann, author of The Prophetic Imagination & Theology of the Old Testament


A portion of the proceeds from CDs sold AND digital downloads of the songs Enough For Everyone & Lyrical Freedom Riders goes to the Presbyterian Hunger Program AND We Shall Overcome: The Fund respectively!

Another Hurricane in Central America

A friend of a friend, Dr. Wiley Smith, is a Presbyterian Medical Missonary in Belize, Central America. The area was hit moderately by Hurricane Dean, and now there is a Category 5 Hurricane headed straight for where they live in Patchakan, in Northern Belize. Please pray for them and the Patchakan villagers.

Yesterday Dr. Smith wrote:
We're watching the weather reports again concerning hurricane Felix and its potential to strike Belize. The forecasters this afternoon are thinking that it may be a problem for southern Belize, rather than for us in the north. Nonetheless, we've been busy at the clinic today seeing our regular patients, fueling up the generator and boarding up the windows. Having done this a couple of weeks ago for hurricane Dean, it's getting to be a bit old hat.

Please be in prayer for whoever this storm affects. Our fellow missionaries Craig and Kim Marshall, who live in Belize City south of us, are moving inland to stay at the American Embassy in Belmopan. Belize City, which is built on a river delta like New Orleans, has a history of massive flooding with hurricanes. It is also where Unity Presbyterian Church is located, whose members live in the swampy ghetto area known as Burial Grounds. Unity Presbyterian members came north to help us last week with the cleanup from hurricane Dean. This reminds me of the Macedonian church, whom Paul applauded for "giving out of their extreme poverty."

Those interested in contributing for hurricane relief here, please be advised that the Mission to the World account to which gifts should be designated is now number 097105.

Yours in Him, Wiley
Dr. Wiley Smith
Presbyterian Medical Clinic
www.missionaryclinicbelize.org

The line above this one is a clickable link to the hospital. This link goes to the PDA response, please click it.

Remembering Katrina

It may be fitting that on the 2nd anniversary of a destructive storm the weather forecasters named "Katrina" there are large rain clouds over the Florida Gulf Coast. I don't know what the weather is doing in Louisiana and Mississippi, but these ominous clouds remind me of the power and potential of rain and wind.

We've needed rain for the past two summers. But we do not need the rain of a tropical storm -- we need gentle rains that come for 24 or more hours and water crops, trees, and lawns. We need afternoon showers, not the destructive forces that come with tropical activity.

I continue to pray about the weather: thanking God for the rain when it comes and remembering his promises to Noah and creation not to destroy the earth by flood. I think of that Bible story almost every time I see a rainbow. I pray for colleagues and friends in Mississippi and Louisiana. Some friends have moved to Gulfport or New Orleans since the storms. Others have moved away, even coming here to Pensacola. I pray for friends made in Gautier, MS and surrounding cities in the months following that storm.

Finally, I pray that God will spare this nation from another storm this hurricane season. I know that the way the earth rotates, storms will swirl in the oceans and some will make landfall. They have been hitting the Pensacola Bay area since the Spanish settled and abandoned their settlement here in the 1500s. But I pray that we are spared again this year so we may prepare for the next landfall.

This morning I was thinking about my trip to Israel in February 2006. It was a spiritual pilgrimage and an opportunity to see the sights of the Bible from a religious perspective. We were 20 mid-career pastors who traveled with two professors from Columbia Seminary and an Israeli guide.

It was marvelous to worship with those friends every day in holy places. But I learned then that the places became holy not because Jesus walked there, but because I was worshiping with a group who had become my friends. I miss that and like the holy places we have here. Northminster has become a holy place for me, because it is a place where I worship with my friends and family.

PC(USA) Disaster Assistance Update on Dean in Mexico

In the middle of this entry is a link to give to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program for recovery in Mexico. Since Northminster Presbyterian empesises one large offering for disaster assistance at the One Great Hour of Sharing, we will not be having a special offering at this time.

This came to me because I am subscribed to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Rapid Information Network email list of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
=================================================

Hurricane Dean - Mexico

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has just heard from the leadership of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico and learned that have been in touch with the Presbyteries in the area impacted by Hurricane Dean. The presbyteries include the Caribe, Peninsular, Juan Knox, and Eben Ezer de Campeche.



Most affected by the hurricane were the poor communities. Most of these homes in these communities were of simple wood and mud construction. These communities subsist on agriculture and have lost much of their harvest.



The National Presbyterian Church of Mexico is providing the affected communities with zinc sheeting and building materials to assist homeowners in rebuilding their homes, and with agricultural support for replanting crops.



PDA will be providing support to the church as they prepare a plan and budget for the response and will continue to update as this process moves along. Gifts may be designated to Mexico - DR000014. Please click here to give.



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Volunteer Work Teams – U.S. Midwest

There have been numerous calls asking if volunteers will be needed to help with clean-up and rebuilding efforts related to the Midwest floods. Currently, several members of the PDA National Response Team are working with the affected presbyteries and one area being addressed is the use of volunteers.



Although specific volunteer opportunities have not been identified at this time, we are asking interested work team leaders to register their teams online at

.



Should volunteer opportunities be identified, team leaders will be notified with details of work that needs to be done, accommodations available, and other information to help the team make an informed decision.



All teams that register will be contacted within a two-week period.

Dean is south of Merida

Looking at maps, and reading the thoughtful commentary on Jeff Masters' weather blog at wunderground.com, I think the worst of the storm passed south of Merida and our Mayan friends in the Mexican state of Yucatan. Now, there are Mayan peoples, and Presbyterians south of Yucatan state on the peninsula, down into Belize and Guatemala, etc. We need to pray for them and to be ready to help them if we can.

Many of the folks in Mexico live in concrete houses with or without windows. This must be a frightening day for folks exposed to 100 mph winds.

The two presbytery camps I have been to on the Yucatan's Gulf coast are well north and east of the worst winds from Dean. It also looks like the worst storm-surge was on the eastern side of the peninsula.

Friends in Mexico

As you can see from maps of the track of Hurricane Dean, it is passing south of the city of Merida and the towns and villages we visited in July. Yet, this is a wide storm with a wide swatch of damage. It will affect Presbyterian Churches we helped. I will reflect more on this in a few hours, please stay tuned.

Bread

I'm intrigued by Biblical images of levan, yeast, dough, and bread, especially as I am trying to learn to bake. Tomorrow I'll teach children of the church about the Lord's Supper. In this 2nd class on the subject we'll bake bread together in the church kitchen.
I'm intrigued by Biblical images of leaven, yeast, dough, and bread, especially as I am trying to learn to bake. Tomorrow I'll teach children of the church about the Lord's Supper. In this 2nd class on the subject we'll bake bread together in the church kitchen.

I've never been much of a baker. Usually I combine grain, water, and yeast with some hops to make home-brewed beer. Making bread with most of the same ingredients is surprisingly similar.

Making bread takes a long time! Chris is going to help me with the right ratios of water and flour, but it is finally up to me alone. One has to be patient. Bakers already know this, but I'm surprised; I don't like sitting around waiting for something to rise, so I can beat it down and let it rise again.

Jesus talked a lot about bread. He reminded us that people don't live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. He reminded us of the importance of yeast -- how a little can leaven a whole loaf. I think he was saying that a few Christians can change their community.

But of course, I think mostly of the Lord's Supper, where he took the unleavened Passover bread and shared it with his disciples, saying it was his body, broken for them.

I'm learning to bake bread so we can make Communion Bread. This most-basic of foods becomes very special when it is 'churched.'

well written essay

There is a marvelous essay on the bottom of the Editorial page of today's New York Times. Below is a link, I don't know how long it will be free and active.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/16/opinion/16observer.html

Verlyn Klinkenborg is the writer, appearently he is a retired professor of some kind who now lives on a farm. I will try to learn more about him. If you like good writing, which I enjoy but can't do, check this out.

UPDATE: this URL is now only available to NYTimes subscribers.

sign repair

Many Thanks to Ernie, Lamar, Wes, and perhaps others for repairing the sign this month. As you can see, it looks great. Things are looking good around the church; the hard rain we had on Saturday has kept everything very green.

I appreciate all the Darren and Ernie do leading the Facilities committee. The mowing crews are doing a great job this summer, keeping ahead of the grass.

pic is worth 1 000 words

I continue to test the mobile blogging system. This should enable me to post pictures of the church (or a home) following a natural disaster. These are flowers I photographed earlier this summer and sent directly to the blog from my PDA.

You may want to watch this blog for updates about Northminster should there be a disaster this fall.

this is a test of

this is a test of the mobile blogging system. With this I can post from many places, or without power. I don't want a storm. But I feel ok.

Reality Check

It was a wonderful two weeks of vacation. I saw the following in my inbox this morning that brought me back to reality, it was sent from Craig Fugate, Director, Florida Division of Emergency Management to his staff and Emergency Coordinating Officers for Florida. It provides a timely reminder that we are entering the most active period of the hurricane season. Please read Craig's email below:

In 1992 on August 1st, there had been no named storms, we had a new Governor, and the State Budget was a mess with Special Sessions required to set a budget.

HURRICANE ANDREW

In 2004 on August 1st, there had been one named storm.

HURRICANES CHARLIE - FRANCES - IVAN - JEAN


We are now entering the most active period of the Hurricane Season - August - September - October

Are you Ready?

Checklist

Family Disaster Plan - Completed
Emergency Job Assignments - Trained - ready to deploy or serve in the State EOC
Emergency Station - Checklist in Place, all equipment and systems operational


We are either ready or not, storms don't care - get your game face on, because its HURRICANE SEASON!

********end of email**********

In the coming days I will post a few thoughts about Northminster's disaster plan and links to state, federal, and Presbyterian disaster sites. I'll also retest my mobile blogging capabilities so you may check this site for Northminster news and I may blog from my PDA.

Vacation Time

The blog will be quiet for a few weeks as I rest and enjoy time with my extended in-law clan. Nancy's folks will celebrate 50 years of marriage next week. Eighteen of us will be on a family trip together. If something is striking, I may blog about it. But this is my blog as pastor of Northminster Presbyterian Church. While I am on vacation, the blog will be too.

Great worship is planned for Northminster on July 29 and August 5. There will not be communion August 5, rather the August communion will be on August 26. Please join us at 8:30 and 11:00am each Sunday at 1100 E. Nine Mile Road. A map to the church is here, on the church's main web page.

Mission Trip Reflections

Click on the words "Energetic, Traditional Creative Church" above to go to the blog's main (home) page.


PICTURE: mixing concrete for the roof of a CE Building in Uman, Mexico at the Disciples of Jesus Presbyterian Church.

A web log (blog) like this offers a person the opportunity to record thoughts and impressions as they happen, with few edits, changes, or a long time to reflect. Blogs are also a way to use links to other web sites. (Links are another color and are underlined.) I have done both in this post.

This post is redacted from notes made on the flight home from Houston following a mission trip to the Yucatan in Mexico.

On this mission trip, I realized again how each of us in the church around the world need each other.

Our host was Pastor Joel Canche. He and his wife Rosario (whose nickname is Chary), and their seven children were a big part of our trip. Their eldest four are working or in college. Their youngest two, Romanti and Gidalti were often with us. Through constant contact with these folks I feel like we got to know a Mexican family.

On Sunday we worshiped in a big Presbyterian Church in Merida. Jean Legters, a missionary, translated the service for us. On Monday we were in her home at the beach east of Progresso. Her husband, David Legters founded the San Palo Seminary in Merida in the early '70s. It is now a significant center of learning for Spanish-Speaking Presbyterians across Central and South America. This seminary has stimulated the Presbyterian Church in Mexico by training two generations of evangelical leaders.

We spent time with the Legters in their home on Tuesday. They are profoundly Christian people who became Missionaries exactly 40 years ago and having been living in Merida and among Mayan Presbyterians these many years. Here is a link to give to the seminary.

Our youth enjoyed their hospitality and the beach and do not know they were in the home of a seminary president.

When we arrived at the city of Progresso for a late lunch a cruise ship was at the end of the city's long pier. It was fun to see the vendors and cruise-tourists, but the city calmed down when the ship left port.

Tuesday evening, the last of the trip, we gathered for ice cream in the hotel restaurant. We shared stories of the week. Anne Louise said she liked being with the Mexican Christians, especially the children. I said it was the variety of experiences on the trip: 1) building a roof, 2) repairing a water system, 3) the new internet cafes the provided links to the USA and 4) the old ruins at Uxmal. Jack mentioned the religious aspect of the trip as being the most meaningful for him.

Have I mentioned in previous posts that our group consisted of ten adults and six youth? Two adults and one youth were the Northminster participants. Four adults were from Enterprise, Alabama. Two were from Dothan and six from Mobile. They all go to various churches within the bounds of South Alabama Presbytery. I enjoyed becoming friends with them and with many Mexican Presbyterians.

Nancy and I led a mission trip 19 years ago to build roofs on churches in Merida. This week we did the same construction. The economy in Merida is much improved and the church is alive and well! Their churches are alive with the Holy Spirit and they can expand buildings because North American Presbyterians help them with money and labor. It is like the way the presbytery and General Assembly helped Northminster buy land and build our first phase about sixteen years ago. We are good partners in the Service of Jesus Christ and His church around the world. I am pleased to be a tiny part of it.

We are home from the Mission Trip

We are home after a wonderful week of mission and ministry in the Yucatan in Mexico. Here is a picture of the Presbyterian church in Maxcanou, where we worshiped Sunday evening. The church is very much under construcation. We worshiped in the room that will eventually be the kitchen. I shot the first picture from the doorway looking into the worship space; that doorway is in the center of the building in the 2nd picture. Those Christians have such heart and spirit. Praise God.

I have a lot of pics, but don't want to clog the blog with all of them.




Here are a few more pictures from Maxcanou.