This is the fourth sermon in the series titled “Shift: Learning to Live Missionally”.

Theme – As people who live missionally, our calling is to be strong inwardly, yet focused outwardly. But this can be easily misunderstood. To be inwardly strong and outwardly focused does not mean that we have a lot of potlucks and fellowship events so that we know each other well—it means to be so committed as a people to loving God, and worshiping God, and growing in our relationship with God that we cannot help but be propelled outward into the world as God’s sent people, the people who are on mission for God.

The text for this mornings sermon was taken from 1 Peter 2:1-9 and 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 and was focused on Northminster’s transition to a church that is INWARDLY STRONG and an OUTWARDLY FOCUSED.

As an INWARDLY STRONG church, we will:

1. Be a community of people who are growing in their faith
2. Be a strong “building,” built on a strong foundation.
3. Have clarity about who we are.
4. Know our purpose.

As an OUTWARDLY FOCUSED church, we will:

1. Love our neighbors in a practical way.
2. Reach across barriers that may be uncomfortable for us.
3. Remove every obstacle that might keep someone from knowing Christ.
4. Realize that we exist, not for ourselves, but for the world.

 

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The sermon for this week from the series “Shift: Learning to Live Missionally” will be titled “Inwardly Strong, Outwardly Focused”.

It’s never to late to sign up for a small group. You can do it by calling the church office at 858-490-3995 or via this site by clicking HERE.

The small group discussion questions for week 4 of the current sermon series are below. Click HERE if you would like to download and print the questions.

START IT – Connecting with each other

• What’s your favorite food?  When did you last have it?  What do you love about it?
• Is your favorite food good for you or bad for you?

STUDY IT – 1 Peter 2:1-9, 1 Corinthians 9:19-22

• Read 1 Peter 2:1-9 out loud.  What stands out for you in this passage?  What questions do you have?
• Look at vv. 2-3.  What does “pure spiritual milk” refer to?  What happens to us as a result of drinking “pure spiritual milk”?
• What does v. 9 say about who we are?  How does it make you feel to know that you are these things that Peter mentions?
• Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 out loud.  What stands out for you in this passage? What questions do you have?
• Why do you think Paul is so committed to adapting himself to the people to whom he is reaching out?
• Read this passage in the Message translation.  What insights do you gain from reading it in this translation?

LIVE IT – Applying the truth of Scripture to life

• What expression would you use to describe your desire for “pure spiritual milk”:  1) It would be nice, 2) I’d like it, 3) I want it, 4) I need it, 5) I can’t live without it.  Why?
• What are some things that make up the foundation of your life?  To what extent is Jesus Christ the foundation of your life (give a percentage)?
• What are some things you could do to become more inwardly strong?
• Thinking about 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, what group of people are you especially aware of who need God’s love:  The poor?  Homeless? Homosexuals?  Those in nursing homes?  Teenagers?  What barriers are there between you and these groups?  What “rights” would you be willing to give up to love them?

PRAY IT

• Application: Ask God to help you grow inwardly so that you’ll be better able to focus outwardly.
• Joys and Challenges: What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
• Here at Northminster: Pray for the Session this week as they begin to look ahead to 2009.
• Beyond Northminster: Pray for Reality Changers, a Christian organization in San Diego that helps at-risk teens be the first in their families to attend college

Several of the past faithful volunteers have asked when the Interfaith Shelter Rotation will start. Due to the workload that CCSA has this time of year, it was decided to open the Shelter in January 2009, instead of October, as in previous years. So, this season’s Interfaith Shelter Rotation will begin Monday, January 5 at Clairemont Lutheran Church (across the street from NPC). Northminster will be responsible for Thursday, January 8 through Saturday, January 10.

For those of you who have not had the opportunity to volunteer to help out with The Interfaith Shelter Network, this is an amazing opportunity to be MISSIONAL!

The Interfaith Shelter is a network of faith congregations in San Diego County who get together each year to house homeless families and individuals during the cold weather months. Homeless families will be living at Clairemont Lutheran Church for the month of January. During that time, several Clairemont churches will be working together to provide these folks home cooked meals and hospitality. This is a “hands-on” ministry. Volunteers cook the meals (at your home or at the church), serve the homeless guests, and join them in the meal. This is your opportunity to model your Christian faith by showing your love and compassion for those who have fallen on hard times. We also need volunteers (one or two each night) to spend the night at the church. I am proud to say that Northminster has been volunteering in this effort for more than 20 years! This could be a great mission project for your Small Group!

There will be a sign-up table outside after the church service beginning November 16. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please give me a call or leave me a message at the Northminster Church office at 858-490-3995.

God Bless and Thank You!

Johana Smith

This year in Young Life we started Community Nights. We had our first two at the Clairemont Square, and from now on will have them in the  youth room at Northminster.  Following Community Nights from 6:30-7:30pm on the Mondays that we do not have Big Club, we will have Campaigners from 7:30-8:30pm for the kids who want to stay.  Campaigners is a Bible Study.

We will provide dinner at Community Nights, which will cost $20-30.  We will need donations for these nights- monetary donations as well as food items such as bags of chips and packaged cookies.  I appreciate all of the donations that have come in already, thank you!

For our 2nd Big Club of the year, which is this Monday, we will need donations totaling $100 for cheeseburgers and tacos.  We also would like to have donations of potato chips and Halloween candy, since our theme is Halloween. Please leave all donations in the office, marked “Young Life.” Thank you!

We want to encourage everyone to join us on Mondays, whether it is for Community Night, or our Big Club nights. You are welcome to have dinner with us. If you can come this Monday, Oct. 27, we will be in Halloween costumes! Bring your family and enjoy the controlled chaos, as well as special music from Haley Montgomery, and speaker Markus Watson!

God Bless You!

Chelsea

Sermon by Markus Watson on October 19, 2008

This is the third sermon in the series titled “Shift: Learning to Live Missionally”.

Theme – As Christ-followers who live missionally, we recognize that the world is not a place inhabited simply by wicked people who are against us or out to get us or even merely indifferent to us. Instead, we begin to understand that God is already at work in the world. Our calling is simply to participate in what God is already doing.

The portion of Michael Frost’s comments on “worldview” were shown during the sermon. The complete video of the Michael Frost’s opening remarks at the 2007 Presbyterian Global Fellowship on Being the Missional Church is available below.

 

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The sermon for this week from the series “Shift: Learning to Live Missionally” will be titled “Seeing the World in a New Way“.

It’s never to late to sign up for a small group. You can do it by calling the church office at 858-490-3995 or via this site by clicking HERE.

The small group discussion questions for week 3 of the current sermon series are below. Click HERE if you would like to download and print the questions.

START IT - Connecting with each other

• As a child, what “big dream” did you have about what you would be when you grew up?

STUDY IT - Mark 4:26-29

• Read Mark 4:26-29 out loud.  What stands out for you in this passage?  What questions do you have?
• Which of the interpretations of the parable mentioned in the sermon resonates most with you?  Why?
• In v. 26, Jesus says, “This is what the kingdom of God is like.”  In your own words, how does this parable describe the kingdom of God?
• Read Mark 4:30-32, another parable about a seed.  How does this parable describe the kingdom of God?
• How does the parable in Mark 4:30-32 complement what Jesus says in Mark 4:26-29?

LIVE IT - Applying the truth of Scripture to life

• At what stage is the kingdom in your life now:  Still a seed?  Sprouting?  Producing a harvest?
• Think of someone you know in whose life God is at work, even though it might not be obvious.  Share about that person with your group.  Are there ways that you might join God in what God is doing in that person’s life?
• What hope does this parable (and the one in vv. 30-32) give you when you feel that you, your church, or your work for Christ is insignificant?

PRAY IT

• Application:  Have each person say a short, one sentence prayer for someone they know in whose life God is working.  Simply say, “Lord, I pray that you would continue to work in _____________’s life.”  If a group member would like to add to that prayer, feel free.
• Joys and Challenges:  What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
• Here at Northminster:  Pray for Northminster Preschool.  Ask God to be with the kids, the parents, and the teachers, and that God would be at work in all of their lives.
• Beyond Northminster:  Pray for Nate Landis’ organization, Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC). Pray for the Christian lunch clubs at high schools and middle schools all over San Diego and pray for Nate as he becomes Northminster’s new Parish Associate in December.

The sermon for this week from the series “Shift: Learning to Live Missionally” was titled “Seeing Ourselves in a New Way“.

It’s not to late to sign up for a small group. You can do it by calling the church office at 858-490-3995 or via this site by clicking HERE.

The small group discussion questions for week 2 of the current sermon series are below. Click HERE if you would like to download an print the questions.

START IT - Connecting with each other

• Did you grow up going to church? If so, what was your experience of church in elementary school? Jr. High? High School?
• If you didn’t grow up going to church, what was your perception of church?

STUDY IT - Matthew 5:13-16

• Read Matthew 5:13-16 out loud. What stands out for you in this passage?
• What are some qualities of and uses for salt? How might the church embody those salt-like qualities?
• What are some qualities of and uses for light? How might the church embody some of those qualities?
• Based on this passage how would you describe the marks of a true follower of Jesus?
• When we live our lives as salt and light, how does Jesus say the world around us will respond? Why do you think that is?

LIVE IT - Applying the truth of Scripture to life

• Is your life salty or unsalty? Is your life a bright light or a dim light? Is your life adding value to those around you?
• Is Northminster salty or unsalty? Is Northminster a bright light or a dim light? Is Northminster adding value to the community of Clairemont?
• What could you do to become more salty and more bright in your life? What could you do to add value to those around you?
• What could Northminster do to become more salty and more bright? What could Northminster do to add value to the community of Clairemont?

PRAY IT

• Application: Ask God to help you live as salt and light.
• Joys and Challenges: What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
• Here at Northminster: Pray for Young Life, our youth ministry, as we experiment with a new meeting format and reach out to kids who don’t yet know Jesus.
• Beyond Northminster: Pray for the people who live in the apartments around the church building. Many are no doubt suffering during these difficult economic times.

Our Annual Mission Brunch will be held this Saturday, October 18th at 10:00 a.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Congdon Hall.  All are welcome to join us.  Brunch will be prepared by JoAn Johnson followed by a presentation by Johana Smith and JoAn who will share their experiences of their recent trip to the Presbyterian Global Fellowship Conference.  Please RSVP through the church office at 858-490-3995 and we hope to see you then!

Additionally, the Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery will meet on Friday October 24th at the Iglesia Presbyterian Church at 9:30 a.m. at 2691 B. Street.  The program promises to be very interesting as it will feature the Ministry and Gifts of Deacons in a panel of Deacons from various churches.  We will also be collecting personal and cosmetic items for the Nilesisters to help them adjust to our American Culture.  Thank you for your participation!

Sermon by Markus Watson on October 12, 2008

This is the second sermon in the series titled “Shift: Learning to Live Missionally”.

Theme - Just as God sends himself into the world, so God sends his people-the church-into the world. No longer is the church simply a gathering of believers for the sake of worship. Instead, we begin to see ourselves as the sent people of God. We have been sent by God into the world to bless and to love a world in need.

The portion of Michael Frost’s comments on the Greek word for “church” ekklesia were shown during the sermon. The complete video of the Michael Frost’s opening remarks at the 2007 Presbyterian Global Fallowship on Being the Missional Church is available below.

 

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What a wonderful time everyone had at the Get Acquainted Potluck! I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. I want to thank everyone who came and shared a dish. It is always exciting to see the dad’s at the preschool! We have some dishes in the office that are unclaimed. Please stop by and pick it up if you are missing one.

The classrooms are transforming as we speak, getting ready for that special day at the end of October. We have a Halloween Parade on October 30, and 31 around 9:20 a.m. Please, no masks if you choose to have your child dress up. Mrs. Keri’s friends do not participate in the parade. Ask your child’s teacher about their procedure for this event. You are invited to stay and take pictures.

Northminster’s Parent Group is starting up the popular fund raiser we call ‘Pizza Day’. Once or twice a month you can sign your child up to stay for lunch bunch and they are served pizza and carrots and ranch dressing. Please make sure you sign-up for lunch bunch if you participate on Pizza Day and remember, we charge for lunch bunch. This is a fund raiser for the parent group but I still have to pay the staff for working lunch bunch.

Our open house will be on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to see what your children have been doing in preschool since September. We hope to see you all there!

I have been asked by a few parents to remind everyone about parking lot safety. Please, Please, Please drive slowly when you enter and exit the parking lot. We have up to 95 children being dropped off or picked up on any given day. It would be tragic beyond anyone’s comprehension if a child were to dart out in front of a car going too fast in the parking lot.

I also would like to remind parents to sign-in and out every day. This is a state requirement as well as how we do our billing system. Please also remember at the end of the month, Korin and I read 140+ time sheets. Please make sure the times are legible and correct. We can only go by what we see on the sheet for billing purposes.

In regards to billing, we do not print out statements every month, in order to save paper. If you ever want a print out of your bill, or if you have a question about your bill, please stop by the office. We are always happy and willing to print a bill or show you the sign-out book in regards to your extended care total. If there is a mistake, we want to make sure to correct it right away.

We had a great Innisbrook fund raiser and it looks like the preschool profit will be a little over $1800.00. Thank you to everyone who participated in this fund raiser. I believe the orders should be back around Thanksgiving. School pictures should be back around that time as well.

I have seen a lot of donations coming in for the Carnival already. Thank you, thank you, thank you! The classroom bins for the silent auction baskets are in front of the classrooms with the theme attached. Your donations will help create a beautiful classroom basket to be auctioned off at the Carnival on November 15, 2008. Please have any donated items in the bins by Friday, October 31, 2008. The carnival committee is also looking for gift cards for the raffle on Carnival day. If you have a business or know of a business that would contribute a gift card or you would like to donate one, please stop by the office. We will give you a non-profit letter to take to the business as they can write the donation off. If you would like to sponsor a booth, we have those forms in the office as well. Thank you to those of you who have sponsored a booth already. We still have booths available if you are interested in sponsoring one.

As I walk around the school each day, I am reminded of all the efforts past and present that the parents have done to help make Northminster Preschool one of the best in this area. It is because of parents like you that we are able to look at our school both inside and out and be proud of both the physical plant and the teachers and staff who make it special. I am extremely grateful to be the Director of Northminster Preschool. We have an amazing group of parents, children and staff here. We are so blessed! Thank you for all you do as parents to make it a pleasure to do my job.

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please stop by the office. If not, you can still stop by and say hello!