NorthStar Church Blog

The NorthStar Game Show is back! Pastor Roscoe and Pastor Grantley answer all of our questions about NorthStar, faith, being a Christian and anything else that we felt like asking.

The first question that the wheel landed on was #2: How do we deal with prejudice? How do we love someone who hates us based solely on the color of our skin or on other circumstances we can’t control? Answer: Be honest and admit prejudice exists. The Bible tells us to love our enemies by praying for them. While it’s almost impossible to love our enemies with our own hearts, God gives us the strength that we don’t have ourselves and we can love and pray for them with God’s help.

The next question was #3: What is the meaning of our church name and logo? Answer: The NorthStar name signifies that we want our church to be a guiding light in our community. The logo, three triangles, represent a different person of the trinity.

The third question was #5: There are so many different versions of the Bible, how do we know
which is the right one? Answer: The original Bible was hand-written in Hebrew and there were only so many copies to go around. With the translation to Greek and the invention of the printing press, many more people could read the Bible. Because of the language used, however, as time goes on, more people try to translate the Word into a more readable and understandable version. Commercialism also contributes to this. To get a sampling of different versions available, go to www.biblegatweay.com and find one that you works for you.

The fourth question was #7: How should a Christian respond to Halloween? Answer: It’s a personal choice for your family. If it offends you, don’t celebrate it. If you’re ok with it, allow your children to dress up, go out and meet the neighbors and get candy.

The last question was #6: How does God deal with people who misinterpret His words? How do we know that we aren’t the ones misinterpreting His words? Answer: It’s important to look at the context, genre and type of language being examined. In the Bible, Jesus often exaggerated and used hyperbole to get across his teachings. If the Bible isn’t clear in certain areas, demonstrate grace and not dogma. Connect the dots to get the whole picture. Recommended reading: How to Read Your Bible for All It’s Worth: Bible Study Methods by Rick Warren

Family Performing Arts Concessions
Starting July 18 for five consecutive Wednesday nights, Clifton Park offers free children-oriented performing arts concerts. We will be hosting free concessions at each one to show God’s love in a practical way. Sign up at the information table for one or several nights if you would like to give out free popcorn, snow cones or cotton candy. Please arrive at 6 p.m. The event starts at 7:00 and lasts one hour.

Discovering Spiritual Maturity 201 Prerequisite: Discovering NS 101
On Saturday, July 28 at 3 pm in the church office (1741 Rt. 9 Clifton Park), learn the Four Basic Habits every Christian needs to develop in order to grow towards spiritual maturity. It’s a great opportunity for personal spiritual growth. Sign up on your Connection Card if you are already a member.

Women’s Summer Bible Study #1
Beginning July 17 at 7 p.m. and lasting for 7 weeks, learn how to let God change you from within by signing up for “Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to Change Us from the Inside Out”. See the Women’s Bible Study table to sign up and for more info. Being held at 5 Tintagel Way

Visiting Brad
A sign-up schedule has been created for visiting Brad. Only two persons per day are allowed during regular visiting hours so sign up to claim your time slot.

In Part 6 of The Creed Series, Pastor Roscoe give us a daily prayer:

God, if I accomplish nothing else today, please help me love you more and love those around me more.

To live with Heaven in mind, we have to wonder what happens when we die. We make the choice each day to accept or reject God. Because of free will, we have this choice and God will say, “your will be done.” The Bible tells us that if we reject God, we will be cursed and live in eternal fire. Every single day counts and matters for our eternal life. Pastor gives us three things which matter most. First, the best use of life is LOVE. We can have all of the money in the world but without love, it is worthless. Loving each other is the most important thing in life. It’s a necessity to live as we were created to. Next, the best expression of love is TIME. Our loved ones don’t want gifts or promises, they only want us. Pastor encourages us to spend fifteen minutes each day with someone we want to spend time with and ask them five questions: 1) Is everything okay in your heart? 2) Did anyone hurt your feelings today? 3) Are you mad at anyone? 4) Did anyone break a promise to you? 5) Is there anything I can do for you? Finally, the best time to love is NOW. Don’t have regrets in your life. Love today right at this moment. Don’t have to stand before God and tell him why you didn’t love those he put in front of you. The most important thing is loving those God has put around us.

Pastor encourages us to know Jesus in our hearts and not just in our heads. He encourages us to ask our children those five questions this week. He also asks what we can stop doing so we can have more time to love today.

Operation Clean Sweep (Youth Community Service)
On Tuesday, July 17, help clean up and beautify the Turf Trailer Park Basketball Court. Meet at the church offices 1741 Rt. 9 at 4:00 p.m. Show God’s love to others and volunteer to help!

Family Performing Arts Concessions
Starting July 18 for five consecutive Wednesday nights, Clifton Park offers free children-oriented performing arts concerts. We will be hosting free concessions at each one to show God’s love in a practical way. Sign up at the information table for one or several nights if you would like to give out free popcorn, snow cones or cotton candy. Please arrive at 6 p.m. The event starts at 7:00 and lasts one hour.

PALS
On July 20, meet at Moreau State Park at 11:00 for beach fun. Feel free to bring picnic lunches for you and your kids and be prepared to spend the day. Call Toni at 638-2330 or email mamalyng@aol.com for more info. PALS is open to parents with children four years of age and under.

Women’s Summer Bible Study #1
Beginning July 17 at 7 p.m. and lasting for 7 weeks, learn how to let God change you from within by signing up for “Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to Change Us from the Inside Out”. See the Women’s Bible Study table to sign up and for more info. Being held at 5 Tintagel Way

Visiting Brad
A sign-up schedule has been created for visiting Brad. Only two persons per day are allowed during regular visiting hours so sign up to claim your time slot.

By now you’ve all heard the segment on Pulse 96.7 in which Pastor Roscoe and family woke bright and early to the sound of someone singing/screaming loudly through a megaphone (check the post from May 21st)! Pulse is now giving away dinner to the Pastor who receives the most votes from their Pastor wake up! Only one Pastor can win, so vote for Roscoe! Tell all of your friends and family members to vote for Roscoe too!

VOTE FOR ROSCOE

SHEN Cookout for School Employees
On Friday, July 13, NorthStar is cooking up a summer BBQ for all Shen 12 month employees. We need volunteers to help with food prep, grilling and serving. If you can help in any way, sign up on your Connection Card and let’s give back to our community! Volunteers need to arrive by 11:00 a.m.

Discovering NorthStar 101: Membership Class
If you have been attending NorthStar for at least 2 months and want to take your commitment to the next level, sign up on your Connection Card to attend this class on Saturday, July 14, from 10 a.m. – Noon. Class is held in the church offices at 1741 Rt. 9. Lunch is provided.

Planet NorthStar Pool Party
On July 14 from 3-6 p.m. at 3 Barkwood Lane, bring your water toys and games for this fun event! Pizza will be provided. Please bring a soda or snack.

Visiting Brad
A sign-up schedule has been created for visiting Brad. Only two persons per day are allowed during regular visiting hours so sign up to claim your time slot.

Joyce McLeod July 10
Tracy Young July 22
Peter Glogowski July 28
Liz Del Grosso July 29

In Part 5 of The Creed Series, Pastor Roscoe tells us that in the Bible, when “church” is mentioned, it is not referring to any kind of building but instead a group of people who, in God’s plan, were to be the hope of the world. Pastor explains the words in the Bible used to describe the church. First, the church is an ekklesia meaning an assembly of people called by God. The ekklesia is composed of The Universal Church (the holy catholic church) which transcends all barriers, is non-denominational and houses a universal brotherhood and The Local Church (the communion of saints) in which members commit to one another. Second, the church is a koinonia which means a creation of community and fellowship. Six characteristics are necessary to create this caring, sharing kinship.

We need to live in honesty by sharing struggles, accepting imperfection, asking for help and relying on others when our own faith is weak. We need to live in unity by bringing our different parts together to share the same heart and purpose. We need to live in acceptance by offering grace and by giving each other room and time to grow. We need to live in generosity and to take on someone else’s need as our own need. We need to live in suffering by sharing our pain with others instead of hiding it. We need to live in communion.

Pastor Roscoe encouraged us to join the universal church, become a member of this local church and to live in koinonia with our brothers and sisters in this local church.

Or should we say the Summer of Showing God’s Love has officially kicked off.  We started the summer by hosting a block party in Turf Trailer park to help Cheryl’s Lodge celebrate another successful year of their after school program.  We gave away popcorn, hotdogs, water, and we even brought a bounce house.

Next, we conducted a Mother’s Care Station at Clifton Park’s annual 4th of July celebration.  It was a place where mom’s could come and change diapers, nurse, and receive free juicy juice for their children.

The next event you can show God’s love at is the Shen Employee Cookout on Friday, July 13.  We hope to see you there as the Summer of Love continues!

Great news! NorthStar is registered with GoodSearch.com. Each time we use their search engine NorthStar receives 1 cent!

GoodSearch.com debuted at the end of November 2005 and allows internet users to donate money to nonprofits, charities, religious organizations and schools of their choice. The money donated by GoodSearch comes from organizations which advertise on their search engine at no cost to the user or the nonprofit organization which receives the money.

Powered by Yahoo, GoodSeach.com is comparable to well known and larger search engines. The only difference is that half of all ad revenue your searches generate, approximately a penny a search, goes to the charity of your choice.

More than 38,000 non-profits and schools are now generating revenue from the site and more than 100 charities and schools are registering daily. So, the next time you log on, check out GoodSearch and earn money for NorthStar while you browse the internet.

Click here to begin your search!