North Presbyterian Church, Williamsville

Pre-Election Prayer and Meditation

Our congregation will join three other congregations in the Buffalo area to offer an inter-religious and nonpartisan time of prayer on Monday, November 4, from 4 pm to 6 pm in the Sanctuary. All are welcome to attend regardless of their faith. There will be no sermon. There will be readings and music. Anyone interested is invited to come and go as they feel moved at any time during this two-hour period.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12th, at 2:00 pm to honor Dr. Anselm George. Please join his family in giving thanks for Anselm's remarkable life.

What is a blessing? In both Greek and Latin it means "to speak well." "A blessing is a form of poetry that calls on God and stirs up the heart of its listeners." Each month for one year, Adult Education will provide a Blessing. We hope you will read and keep it near you to reread until the next blessing. May this month's blessing give you hope, courage, and rest for the moment.

for when you are afraid

God, I am paralyzed by fear.
Afraid my past might creep back to haunt me.
Afraid of what might happen next.
Afraid of what might not.

For my loved ones, my kids, my friends,
my parents, my job, my nation, and my world . . .
afraid, afraid, afraid.

Blessed are we who admit:
"God, I'm afraid"

Blessed are we who confess:
"I don't know how to stop
this spin cycle of worry."

You know our anxious minds.
You fill our restless hearts.
You promise us your presence--
the quiet of your love.

God, quiet my fears. Hold me when I feel
there is no place to stand.

For now may I inhale and exhale your presence.
Inhale: For our God
Exhale: is closer than air.

God, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Spirit, have mercy.
Amen.

"My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me." -- Psalm 22:14, NIV

Source: The Lives We Actually Have - 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie. Kate Bowler is a Duke University Professor; she earned a master's degree in religion from Yale Divinity School and a PhD from Duke University. Jessica Richie received her MDiv from Duke Divinity School. They both are involved in the Everything Happens podcast where Kate is the host and Jessica is the executive producer.

Although the calendar says it's Fall, it sure doesn't feel like it! We've been enjoying some lovely extended summer warmth, but we know the cooler temperatures and beautiful autumn color is just around the corner. We are pleased to share the fall edition of the North Star!

Pastor Bill shares his thoughts about Fall and the harvest sea*on. I've written about some fun research on the origins of a few popular catch-phrases. We have lots of news and pictures about our members and their families, fun activities, and upcoming events.

This quarter's newsletter is filled with profiles, book reviews, information you need to know, lots of pictures, and much, much more! We hope you enjoy the Fall edition of the North Star.

northchurchwilliamsville.org

Brad Sprague is the son of Jim and Diane Sprague. Congratulations Brad!

Congratulations to the winner of the 2024 Stan Thompson Award for Outstanding Service in the Care for Injured Children in Western New York: Bradley Sprague, pediatric STAT transport team coordinator! Brad has worked at OCH for over 15 years and has ensured competence, compassion and excellence in the care he provides to every patient. He loves the challenges and new experiences that his role has offered and the positive outcomes from the patients he treats.

Congratulations to Brad for this honor, and thank you to the WNY chapters of the Kiwanis Club (like Lewiston Kiwanis!) for supporting our phenomenal staff!

Summer isn't over yet and you have one chance left to enjoy the last chicken BBQ of the sea*on! Take a break from the kitchen and treat the family to a delicious Weidner's chicken BBQ dinner TODAY!

Wednesday, September 18, 2024
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM (or until sold out)
$15.00 at the Door/online at Humanitix
Dinner Includes:
½ Chicken, Coleslaw, Red Dill Potatoes, Roll & Butter
Drive Thru Pickup
Presale Tickets may be purchased from the Church Office or Online at Humanitix

Weidner's Chicken BBQ | Humanitix Please join us to enjoy a delicious prepared meal and support the mission and work of North Presbyterian Church!

What is a blessing? In both Greek and Latin it means "to speak well." "A blessing is a form of poetry that calls on God and stirs up the heart of its listeners." Adult Education is providing a Blessing for each month for one year. We hope you will read and keep it near you to reread until the next blessing. May this month's blessing give you hope, courage, and rest for the moment.

for this ordinary day

"Lord, here I am.
How strange it is,
that some days feel like hurricanes
and others like glassy seas
and others like nothing much at all.
Today is a cosmic shrug.
My day planner says,
rather conveniently,
that I will not need you,
cry for you, reach for you.
Ordinarily, I might not think of you at all.
Except, if you don't mind,
let me notice you.
Show up in the small necessities
and everyday graces.
God, be bread.
Be water.
Be laundry.
Be the coffee cup in my hands
and the rea*on to calm down in traffic.
Be the gentler tone in my insistence today
that people pick up after themselves for once.
Be the rea*on I feel loved
when I catch my own reflection
or feel my own self-loathing
fluttering in my stomach.
Calm my mind,
lift my spirit,
make this dumb, ordinary day
my prayer of thanks."

"Earth is so thick with divine possibility that it is a wonder we can walk anywhere without cracking our shins on altars." -- Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World.

Source: The Lives We Actually Have - 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie. Kate Bowler is a Duke University Professor; she earned a master's degree in religion from Yale Divinity School and a PhD from Duke University. Jessica Richie received her MDiv from Duke Divinity School. They both are involved in the Everything Happens podcast where Kate is the host and Jessica is the executive producer.

You still have one chance left to get that taste of summer! Tickets are now on sale for our last chicken BBQ of the sea*on! Take a break from the kitchen and treat the family to a delicious Weidner's chicken BBQ dinner!

Wednesday, September 18, 2024
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM (or until sold out)
$15.00 Advance Sale/at the Door/Online at Humanitix
Dinner Includes:
½ Chicken, Coleslaw, Red Dill Potatoes, Roll & Butter
Drive Thru Pickup
Presale Tickets may be purchased from the Church Office or Online at Humanitix https://events.humanitix.com/north-presbyterian

Many thanks to all who stopped by yesterday to donate blood at the ConnectLife Mobile Collection Unit!

Last Wednesday, Jane Arnold delivered $1,500 in Visa cards (purchased with funds from last month's Veteran's campaign) and 20 BBQ chicken meals to Willow Lodge at the Buffalo VA Hospital. Jane a*o delivered 7 BBQ chicken meals to People Inc for 2 young Autistic men and their caregivers. All meals were courtesy of donations received at North to pay for the meals.

Many thanks to everyone for their generous donations to the Veterans' Campaign and BBQ chicken meals and to Jane Arnold for her tireless efforts in supporting our veterans!

Nancy Kaszynski of Willow Lodge with Jane Arnold