​Dear Northminster Friend,

What does it feel like to feel rich?

Of course, to feel rich, one's basic needs need to be met. Food on the table, shelter overhead, and clean water at ones fingertips. A sense of safety and security that pervades one's life. But having one's needs met is a far cry from feeling RICH. Another easy answer is money and wealth. Yes, this is the most simplistic understanding of being rich, but it is one that pervades most of our current culture. Some would describe the feeling as being able to order anything on the menu without being concerned with price. Others are more audacious and dream about buying anything, frivolous or seriously expensive, they want without the fear of going into debt. Still others cannot image being rich without being clothed in anything less than luxury fashion they sip rare wine at an exclusive country club looking out over a natural wonder. American richness always seems to be guided by what one has and by the accumulation of things.

I remember in an Anthropology 101 class in college watching the 1970's documentary Ongka's Big Moka that documented a custom between various clans in Papua New Guinea who participated in a ritual gifting of pigs called a Moka. The "Big Man" would spend years breading and cultivating pigs to gift to other. Oddly, I recall that the tribes and clans did not eat pigs, but they were used as a type of currency in what was called a gift economy. In this world view, to be rich was to be able to give your riches away to others. Notably, this system of gifting is generally not seen as altruistic, but comes with social obligations and other customs.
I have seen both of these types of aspirational wealth play out with people I know. On the one hand, I have seen friends strive for more and more because they never feel like they have acquired enough wealth or things to feel safe. Often, these friends knew instability and precarity early in their lives. Now that they are older, they still struggle to trust that what they have accumulated will be enough. On the other hand, I have also encountered other people who "humble brag" about how much they are able to give away. It is as if they make a show of how much they are able to gift to charities, organizations, and churches, without themselves being affected.

My own sense of richness that I have personally cultivated is one that grows out a feeling of abundance. It is, "Hey neighbor, I made a huge pot of chili and I can't eat it all myself. Do you want some?" It is, "Here! Have a zucchini from the garden! Do you want some rosemary? I can give you a cutting!" It is, "I am already heading that way. Do you want me to pick something up for you?" It is, "I made a pot of tea. Come, sit with me and have some." It is, "I have extra space. If you need a space to be, come use it." Abundance is, "I have enough and more! And I want to share it with you." It isn't the same as a gift, but the spontaneous sharing often stemmed from the understanding that one has enough and more still to share.

Last year, Oakland University had to shut down some of its buildings due to a water/heating issue. It was at the end of the year when students were having rehearsals, performances, and recitals to show off all of the work they had put in that semester. We were reached out to by the music department (through one of our members) asking if we had space for them. It was Advent Season, so I joked that of course we did! Especially in a season where we tell a story about there being no room in the inn, we could make room for them! For me, this is the abundance of community: we have space and space to share. So we hosted the Oakland University Music department for a variety of performances, recitals, and rehearsals.
Here is the fun part of abundance: abundance shared is often abundance multiplied. Just today I got a card in the mail from the OU Music Department thanking us for hosting them. Included in that letter were 10 cards, each good for 2 tickets, to the Oakland Symphony Orchestra and Chorus's performance of Haydn's Mass in the Tie of War and Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances on Tuesday March 31st at 7:30 p.m. at Orchestra Hall, Detroit.

I will be honest, I do not know the correct way to distribute the 20 free seats to this gala concert. I will not be able to go myself, but I wanted to share this abundance with you all, for you made room and shared the abundance of the Northminster building as well.
If you are interested  in attending, please contact the office and we will share with you the information. First come, first serve.
​
Blessings,
Pastor Chris

Dear Northminster, 
​
At the beginning of the year, one of our members the Session with a proposal to put notices at all of our entrances that we would not allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers into our building without a signed judicial warrant. This proposal was based on a reflection and advice given by Presbytery of Detroit Stated Clerk Melissa Allison which you can read here. In this letter, she askes:

1. How will your church respond if an individual is seeking safety in your church building?
2. What do we do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seek entry into our church (or are seen in our parking lot/on church property)?

 I know that this is a hot-button issues at the moment, one where opinions are strong at opposing viewpoints are not likely to listen to the other side. I do not wish to start a political debate, but I do feel that it is our responsibility to take ownership over the safety of our community, specifically the communities that rely on our facility. Here is the reality that we as a congregation have to take into consideration:

1. The Northminster building currently houses five different organizations; Northminster Presbyterian Church, the Congregational Church of Birmingham, The Discovery Corner, Troy People Concerned, and Baby Basics.
2. While we may have an understanding of the citizenship status of our congregation, we do not have that knowledge of the other four organizations or the clientele of The Discovery Corner, Troy People Concerned, and Baby Basics.
3. The Discovery Corner, Troy People Concerned, and Baby Basics all serve diverse populations, including recent immigrants. We have seen reports that non-white immigrant populations and communities that fit the stereotype of a recent immigrant be targets of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
4. We set the policies for the builds and grounds of Northminster. All other organizations are subject to the decision that we make as a congregation.
5. We are congregation that has signed the Matthew 25 covenant agreement. The Matthew 25 Bible verse describes a scene where the people who will be celebrated in the kingdom of God are those that served Jesus in their life: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me […] just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me. (Matthew 25:35, 40). The Matthew 25 agreement commits us to dismantling structural racism.
6. All of Michigan is within the 100 mile boarder zone. The federal government claims the power to conduct certain kinds of warrantless stops within 100 miles of the U.S. border. (Link to learn more)

 The Session took the proposal to put signs on the doors seriously but also wanted to understand a fuller pictures of the dynamic of our area before putting signage at our entrances. They had many questions that I could not answer myself. Therefore, I reached out to Troy Police Officer Greg Pokley who has helped us in the past when we were being harassed by neighbors over our Pride flags. After explaining some of the dynamics I mentioned above, I asked him the following questions:

1. Is that signage meaningful to ICE officers or effective?
2. What are our rights to refuse entry to officers, or those claiming to be officers, without a signed judicial warrant?
3. Would various parts of the church building be treated differently? As we understand, the parking lot, hallways, and sanctuary are considered "public space." Is there a different procedure for officers entering the preschool, an independently run organization?
4. Does the Troy Police have a 287(g) agreement with ICE?
5. How are the Troy Police handling calls about ICE Enforcement?

Officer Pokley recently got back with me with the following response:
“This is great information to have.  A lot of this is out of my purview but I will send this information to our City Attorney’s office and they should be able to give you and I a better understanding of the do’s and don’ts.  Give me some time to get the information back from them.
Regards, Greg”

When I get a fuller response, I will forward it to the Session first for more discussion. Then we will let the congregation know how we are choosing to move forward.

Blessings,
Pastor Chris

Dear Northminster,

​This Sunday we are trying out something new: Learn How to Preach with Pastor Chris Hallam. I will be meeting with folks before worship at 9:30 am and after worship at 12:15 pm in my office to discuss how to write a sermon. I have broken down my personal sermon writing process into bite-sized chunks and spread them out over three workshop days. Click here to see the packet that we will be working through as a group.

Everyone is invited regardless of your interest, or lack there of, in preaching this sermon after you have written it. This is workshop designed to help you learn the skill of how to tell your own stories of faith.
Currently, there are not enough people signed up for the Wednesday morning Zoom offering to run that class. If you are interested in that time, please let Pastor Chris know ASAP!

And if you are entirely uninterested in learning how to preach, let alone doing in, please consider donating an extra $200 this year. That is the cost of hiring Pulpit Supply for one Sunday. By donating a little extra, you are supporting Northminster’s Sunday service and you are giving me the peace of mind that Northminster will be in good hands while I am on my maternity leave. Thank you in advance!

But with that folks, one more quick update for you all:
We have offered the office assistant job to our top candidate and she has accepted! We are now in the final stages of contracts, background checks, and start dates. We are excited to introduce you all to her shortly!

Blessings, 
Pastor Chris

Dear Northminster,

I am a big believer in the thought that a) you never know when the Holy Spirit is going to speak to you & b) you never know whose mouth the Holy Spirit will use to speak. This week the Holy Spirit spoke to this pastor (me) through the voice of internet creator Emile Ennis Jr. in his video about Uncertainty Aversion. Seriously, if you have the time, click this link and go watch his video. He is upbeat and explains uncertainty aversion in a very accessible/relatable way.
 In this video, he defines uncertainty aversion as, “the distress we feel when outcomes are unpredictable. When not knowing what outcome comes next creates more stress than the change itself. When we have the tendency to favor the known verses the unknown, including the known risks verses the unknown risks.” He goes on to state that, “I’m just exhausted by not knowing how everything is going to change, especially when the world already feels unstable.”
 Uncertainty aversion is not the fear of change. The fear of change says, “I like things how they are and I don’t want them to change.” Uncertainty aversion says, “I don’t know how things will change, so I’d rather them not change.” This may be the reason some folks stay at bad jobs or in bad relationships longer than they should. It is likely why it takes a long time for churches to change even small parts of their ministry. And I would hazard a guess that uncertainty aversion is also why it is hard to pass laws that would result in widespread change in our country. Everyone I know complains about the health insurance systems in the US, but switching to another model scares people because the results of that change and uncertain. We know that our judicial system unfairly targets and punishes people of color and other minorities, but many are scared of any alternative because we don’t know if it would still give us the feeling of protection.
 If you are feeling the weight of uncertainty aversion, you aren’t alone. As someone who admittedly loves things that are unique and novel, I am also tired and feeling myself retreat into the familiar and the known. If you are feeling this too, what do we do with this emotion? We let ourselves feel it and work through the emotion so we can move beyond it. Do this exercise with me:

• One hand on your chest, one on your belly, and close your eyes.
• Deep breath in 2, 3, 4, hold 2, 3, 4, exhale, 2, 3, 4 and hold 2, 3, 4.
  (this is called box breathing)
• Ask yourself, “Where in my body do I feel anxious or stressed? Where does that emotion live?” and allow yourself to feel the discomfort of that feeling for a minute or two.
• Ask yourself, “What uncertainty am I worried or anxious about? Why does this uncertainty make me feel worries or anxious? What am I afraid will happen?” and allow yourself to ponder for another minute or two.
• Another deep breath in (through your nose) 2, 3, 4, hold 2, 3, 4, audibly exhale (through your mouth), 2, 3, 4 and hold 2, 3, 4. Do this again.

This practice will not necessarily make your uncertainty aversion go away, but it will help you notice when it arises. And when we can notice and name emotions when they appear, we can better deal with them rather than be controlled by them.

Blessings, 
Pastor Chris

“It’s not FAIR!” is the chorus from children around the world at a certain age… and sometimes... I still say that to myself today. I am old enough now to know that the world does not run on fairness, however much we wish it would. Some people are born with a leg-up in the world because their families had bountiful resources and connections. Other people get a lucky break at some point and luck is not fair either. And still other times the system is as fair as it can be… and yet… it still doesn’t FEEL fair.
  
More often than not these days, when my brain is screaming at me, “THIS ISN’T FAIR!” it is because someone twice my age is throwing a tantrum or hissy fit. In these moments, the angel on my shoulder reminders me that, “You are never not a 5-year-old. Every person has the capability to throw a temper tantrum… especially on their bad days.” But in the next breath, the devil on my other shoulder responds, “But it is not fair! Why do I have to be the emotionally mature person to calm down the person throwing a hissy fit? This person is twice my age! Haven’t they learned how to regulate their emotions yet? For once, I would like to be the one who is allowed to throw the temper tantrum!” To that, the angel chimes in again: “I know it would probably feel good in the moment to throw a fit, and yell, and scream, and carry on… and I know it isn’t fair that you have to be the adult in the room… but this situation will get a whole lot worse and have a dramatically worse outcome if you indulge that impulse. For now, you need to de-escalate the situation and save your personal hissy fit for when you are at home by yourself.”

The idea that I bring to you all today is de-escalation: “De-escalation refers to the methods and actions taken to decrease the severity of a conflict, whether of physical, verbal or another nature," wikipeadia. De-escalation is a conflict resolution tool used to calm a room or situation so that clearing minds can prevail. It can, at first, look like weakness and vulnerability because de-escalation often requires someone to back down to some degree. It requires humility and admitting that you may have made an error or misunderstood the other party. The hope is that by one person backing off the situation, the other person will feel safe to do the same. This often takes training to get good at this skill. Trained mediators are often used to de-escalate contentious situations so that both parties feel safe to walk back the tension.

But when we are out and about in the world, who is responsible for de-escalation?

As we are about in the world, skilled moderators are not usually nearby when something happens and de-escalation is needed. If a customer is yelling at an employee, the employee is often expected to de-escalate the situation. If that isn’t working, a store manager is often called in as a mediator. Other times still, a kind fellow customer might step in to try and de-escalate the situation. Government officers are also supposed to de-escalate tense situations. I think this why people’s perception of the police can differ: some people feel that the police de-escalate the situation while others feel that the presence of police is itself an escalation of the situation.

As I pay attention to current events, one of my fears is whose responsibility is it to de-escalate tense, sometimes violent situations that keep cropping up? Generally speaking, I don’t feel it is the general public’s responsibility to de-escalate because most people have not been given training on how to do so. Therefore, the general public can be expected to make impulsive decisions based on fear, anger, or other overwhelming emotions. Without training, people are prone to panic and make irrational decisions based on primal fight or flight responses. While they are still responsible for their actions, de-escalation should not primarily be their responsibility.

The person that I do believe has the responsibility to de-escalate any given situation is government employee that has been given a weapon with the capacity to injure or kill. Because the presence of a weapon inherently escalates the feeling of tension, fear, and potential violence, the one bearing the weapon has the inherent responsibility to lower the fear and tension in a situation. It is not fun having to be the adult in the room that is responsible for managing another person's emotional state. But when someone has the power to take life, it is essential that that person is able to regulate their own emotions in the moment and then help the other person regulate theirs.

Because those with institutional power and government sanctioned weapons are escalating situations across the United States in various towns and cities rather than de-escalating them, it is unsurprising to me that the public and protestors are responding by escalating the situation further in order to protect what they care about.

Jesus tells us that “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9. That means that our faith calls us to make for peace and de-escalate situations when it is in our power to do so. It isn’t as fun as throwing a fit, but it is our calling. Yet we must also understand why others are not choosing this route in the face of state-sanctioned violence. If the state does not also agree to de-escalate and instead used more violence against the people, we must do what we can to protect all of God’s beloved children.

Blessings, 
Pastor Chris

Dear Northminster,

Last Saturday, our Elders and Deacons met for leadership training. As a part of our yearly training, we studied the Book of Order, part 2 of the PCUSA Constitution. Each year we take a look at a different part of our constitution. The idea is that over the years, our leaders gain a fuller understanding of the principles that guide our denomination. At the request of a few leaders last year, this year we looked at the Book of Discipline, the fourth section of the Book of Order. Since not many people willing read the Book of Discipline for fun, I thought I'd share some of its core principles. 

1) The Book of Discipline is not a replacement for secular law. 
One issue that has arisen in recent decades is how churches and denominations have handled allegations of abuse or malpractice within the congregation or church structure. Often, leaders have argued that their system has handled the situation and it's punishment and therefore, the secular State does not need to get involved. We have seen this as a tactic to shelter abusers and preserve public image. 

The PCUSA condemns this practice. If something illegal has taken place, pastors, Elders, Deacons, Staff, and Volunteers working with children are mandated reporters. Our system of discipline runs alongside the secular system. 

2) The cornerstones to our discipline process are the ideas of reconciliation, justice, truth, repentance, and rehabilitation. 
The judicial system in the United States largely focuses on punitive punishment. When a wrong has been committed, there is a fine to be paid, service to be completed, or time to be served behind bars. The assumption is that if a crime has a big enough punishment, it will deter people from committing it. Moreover, it  is believed that there is an exacting price to be paid for every wrongdoing. 

The PCUSA's system is not about punishment but repairing what has been broken. It asks:
- How do we restore relationships? 
- What would be healing for a community torn in two? 
- If someone is struggling, how do we help them? 
- If someone needs to be removed from a community, what would they have to do or change to be restored to that community again? 
- How do we balance justice and forgiveness? 
While I agree that the system of discipline in the PCUSA and the United States should remain separate and distinct systems whose aims and goals are distinct, I also believe that our society would be in a better place today if our national conversation implemented more principals of the PCUSA's Book of Discipline.  

When considering actions of our government, I often ask myself, "Is this repairing what has been broken, is this punishing perceived wrong-doers, or is this causing still more harm?" 

Like many of you, I am horrified by the news these days. In particular, I am horrified by unarmed civilians being killed by persons employed by our national government. Rhetoric and political commentary has been flying around the internet and news as people take stands on this latest political hot-button issue. And as I see this, I return to the principals that undergird our polity's way of resolving conflicts: does this bring about reconciliation and restoration?
- Does rounding up undocumented civilians who have only committed civil infractions promote the reconciliation of the world?
- Does shooting and killing unarmed civilians promote the reconciliation of the world?
- Does mocking her or her family promote the reconciliation of the world?

Most people I know, whether we agree politically or not, agree that our nation needs healing and reconciliation. The difficulty of the reconciliation process is that it requires accountability but also to give up a desire to punish (in a punitive sense) the other side. 

Jesus came to reconcile the world... and as he was being nailed to the cross of his execution, he said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34). 
 
Blessings,
Pastor Chris

Dear Northminster,

​Happy New Year! I hope you all have had a lovely holiday season and that this new year has gotten off to a good start. That said, I also know that this year has a lot in store for us at Northminster (as well as for me personally). So let us take a brief look at what is happening in the short and long term in 2026 at Northminster. 

This Week: 

• January 8 - First Session Meeting of the year. 
• January 10  - Leadership Training for Elders, Deacons, and Committee Members
  • This Saturday, the leaders of the congregation are gathering for our annual Leaders Training. We will meet in the Lounge at 10 a.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided
  • The morning session is specifically for Elders and Deacons where they will be doing group building activities, reviewing the Book of Order, and setting goals for the year. 
  • The afternoon session is open to everyone in the congregation who would like to be involved with our 2026 brainstorming and planning session where we will begin to tackle how to implement our new Mission Focus. 
• January 11 at 11 a.m. - Installation of our 2026 Elders and Deacon
• January 11 after worship - Sharing Dinners Planning Meeting.
  • Because of the leadership training on January 10th, the January Sharing Dinners event has been postponed until January 16th or 17th. 

Next Week:

• January 12 at 7 p.m. - Stitch n Bitch
• January 15 at 7 p.m. - First Deacons Meeting of the year
• January 16 or 17 - Sharing Dinners. 

Week of Jan 19:

• January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr Day
• January 20 at 12:30 p.m. - Men's Lunch 
• January 22 at 7 p.m. on Zoom - first All Committee Meeting of the year

Week of Jan 26:

• January 26 - Women's Lunch

Later this year:

• February 18 - Ash Wednesday
• February 22 after worship - Annual Meeting 
• Mid-March through June/July - Pastor Chris on Maternity Leave. 
  • While I would love to provide a more definite timeline, babies do not understand calendars or planning. At this point in time, it is best for us to be prepared for my leave to begin anywhere from March 8th on the early end to March 22nd on the later end. 
• March 29 - Palm Sunday
• April 5 - Easter Sunday. 

As you can see, there is a lot happening at the beginning of 2026. On top of these planned events, the Operations Committee and Personnel Team are hard at work in the search for a new office assistant. We have received over 70 applications for the job. The team is spending the rest of this week reviewing applications and we hope to begin interviews next week. In the meantime, I will be covering some of the office duties (including assembling this email). So I ask for your grace if you spot errors or mistakes in the Notes in the weeks to come. 

Happy New Year everyone! There is work to be done and Jesus is asking us to step out in faith. Let us trust that the Spirit will guide us throughout our work this year! 


Blessings,
Pastor Chris

​In elementary school, we learn that many animals in North America hibernate in the winter.  They gorge on food, grow a protective layer of fat, and sleep for days on end.  While I recently learned that hibernating animals are not 100% unconscious the whole time (they do wake up occasionally to deal with some bodily needs), winter is a time in the animal kingdom to slow down.

Earlier today, I was chatting with someone about how difficult it can be to get up on these cold mornings.  The sun comes up so late, and we agreed that we are groggy even when it does.  Then I made the comment about how humans are still animals and most animals hibernate at this time of year.  They agreed that this makes sense… though I fully admit that I love any excuse to sleep in and move more slowly.

Now that we are past the frenetic rush of the holidays, I hope you get to enjoy the slowness of the season.  Now is the time when we get to slow down and enjoy the simple comforts and the coziness of our homes.

The Northminster building will be closed this week.  Hopefully, business can wait until the new year.  See you all on January 4th at 7:00 p.m. as we celebrate Epiphany Sunday.

Blessings,
Pastor Chris

It doesn’t take much for a song to get stuck playing on repeat in my head.  For those who don’t experience the phenomenon, this is what it feels like: my brain is a radio and I don’t have control over the station (for those who are curious, not having a running inner dialogue where your brain interprets your thoughts as actual sound is called anauralia, a term coined in 2021 by Australian researchers).

When a song is stuck in my head, it feels like I can hear it as if it is playing in the room.  Trouble is, sometimes my brain acts like a scratched record repeating one line or verse of a song.  The other day, I had Santa Claus is Coming to Town playing on repeat in my brain against my will.  Unfortunately, after some time, my brain got stuck on the first line and the song sounded like this:
   “You better watch out, you better watch out!
    You better watch out, yoooouuu better watch out!
    Santa Claus is coming to town!”

Needless to say, my brain’s changes to that song make it much more ominous and foreboding.  Why do we need so many warnings to watch out?  Why is my brain repeating this ONE line?!  At the same time, this is what the holidays can feel like: a foreboding sense of needing to get things done that grows with every day that brings us closer to the holidays.

 To give us all peace of mind, here is my semi-annual holiday reminder:

• Even if the food burns, baby Jesus will still be born.
• Even if the food is terrible, baby Jesus will still be born.
• Even if someone isn’t able to make to the family gathering, baby Jesus will still be born.
• Even if something in the Christmas Eve service doesn’t go as planned, baby Jesus will still be born.
• Even if you lose or break a present, baby Jesus will still be born.
• None of our imperfection can stop the love of God being born to us this holiday season.

So - let us all relax into the human, messy, and joyful parts of this season.
And in case you forget,

As many of you may have heard, Suzanne Joy’s time with us at Northminster is coming to a close.  I am extremely grateful for her work and all that we have done together.
So let me brag about her for a moment.

Since I joined you all in 2020, Suzanne has been instrumental in our ability to weather the storm of unprecedented times and adapt to a new landscape.  When we went all online overnight, Suzanne was our support, making sure communications went out and learning new technologies to make sure we stayed connected.  She took it upon herself to learn how to update and edit our website so everyone could find updated information as things changed.  Later on, she brought to my attention that when you googled “Churches in Troy Michigan,” Northminster was pretty low on the list.  So - she learned how SCO (Search Channel Optimization) affected our ranking on Google.  She worked on our internet presence to improve our SCO and raised our rankings.

When it became clear that social media had become a vital tool for communication in or modern world, Suzanne and I worked to create a social media calendar so that we were consistently posting congregational updates, prayers, the Pastor’s letter blog, and relevant news articles.  This often means that she takes my words, uses her graphic design skills to format them to be pretty and social-media friendly, and posts them.  I know that many of you are on Facebook.  Did you know that she has been running our Instagram account as well?  You can find that HERE.

Suzanne has also jumped in to learn the "ins" and "outs" of running our YouTube channel.  She schedules our livestreams, creates beautiful thumbnails for videos, and organizes our videos into neat playlists.

All of this she has done over the years, taking on the responsibility to learn more and help us more effectively reach out online and in person.  She does so much behind the scenes in the office as well just to make sure things go smoothly.
So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all that you have done.  It has been a joy to work alongside you for these five years.
So, Northminster, what is next?
The Operations Committee has put together a personnel team.  That team has created a job description and is in the process of posting that online on various job search websites.  If you know someone who may be interested in this kind of work, feel free to forward them THIS job description and have them email a cover letter and their resume to [email protected] by January 5, 2026.

In order to do this job search well, it will take us into the new year.  I feel that it is better to take our time, do this search calmly, and find a good fit for our congregation.  However, that means that there will be a few weeks where we will not have an office administrator.

I am working with the personnel team to create a plan.

• Part of this plan will be to go to minimum function.
• Minimum function means that only necessary & essential tasks get done.
• I will be able to assemble and print the bulletins for Sunday and well as assemble and publish the Tuesday Notes.  There likely will be a temporary increase in my weekly hours.  I will work with the personnel team to create a compensation package for my additional hours.
• I will work with Operations and the financial team to make sure bills are paid and checks are cut.

Our hope is that this arrangement will only be needed for a couple of weeks in order to finish our search process, at which time, we hope to find a qualified candidate, negotiate compensation, sign the hiring paperwork, and begin their training.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask.

And again, Suzanne, we are so grateful for your time, energy, and imagination that you have poured into your work here at Northminster.  We give you our blessings and prayers as your journey continues.

Blessings,
Pastor Chris

What would you think if I told you that our typical depiction of the scene above is wrong/historically inaccurate?  Most of the time, the assumption is that Mary and Joseph had to lay down in a faraway barn because there was no room in the tavern-style guest house.  If Jesus was a Medieval European peasant, this likely would be true.  Europeans typically kept their animals in their own separate building or in a lower level of the house (think walkout basement).  When people traveled from town to town, the travelers would find an establishment where someone ran a business renting out rooms to strangers and serving them food in the tavern.  But Jesus was a first-century Palestinian, not a Medieval peasant.In ancient Judea, families would not keep their animals in a separate building.  Rather, families would build one big room that included a kitchen, eating area, sleeping area, and animal pen.  A short wall would subdivide the room to keep animals like sheep or goats out of the humans' living area.  Built into this low wall was the manger for food and a trough for water.  “But what about the guest room?!”  The term in Greek that is used implies a spare bedroom built on top of the flat roof of the house.  Ancient Judean custom would hold that Joseph would be welcomed into any home as family as long as he could recite his family heritage.  Only true outsiders with no shared family lineage would be forced to rent a room from a businessperson.

Thus, Jesus was not born “Away in a Manger,” but on the living room floor.  Jesus would have been surrounded by aunties and grandmas in a crowded house.  While some derive meaning from Jesus being born far away from the chaos of humanity with only the animals to attend to him, I have always found it much more impactful to imagine a family having to squeeze in tighter to make room for Jesus in the chaos of life.

In this spirit of Christmas, I told our neighbors at Oakland University's Music Department that we could squeeze in a bit tighter and make sure that they have a home for some of their end-of-semester music lessons, practices, and recitals.  This includes the Oakland University String Department Student Recital at 5:00p.m. in the Sanctuary this Friday.  They have extended an invitation to our community to attend this performance for anyone desiring a bit more music in their life.

Saying yes to letting OU using our space was a matter of principal and theology for me.  Not only are we in a season where we celebrate a story where the world makes room when a family is in need, but this kind of request also brings up the question of, “why have a building at all?”  Theoretically, we don’t need a building in order to hold a service and continue our ministry; but the building is a tool for our ministry.  It is helpful for our ministry to have a place to gather (and to store our stuff).  However, sharing good news with the community implies a willingness to share our resources and tools for the betterment of the wider community.  And if we are not willing to make space and share our resources in a time of community need, then we are not stepping up to the calling of sharing the good news.

So, let us welcome our neighbors in need and make room in our crowded life for the coming of Jesus.

Blessings,
Pastor Chris

In my kitchen, there is a built-in nook that houses two appliances: 1) our microwave and 2) our toaster.  Both toaster and microwave are slightly broken but not broken enough to replace.
The microwave came with the house.  It is not a high-end microwave nor is it cheap.  What is its main offence?  It is stinky.  I have tried to clean that little machine in every conceivable way.  I have tried all the internet hacks and various cleaning methods.  But the only thing that actually works is keeping a coffee mug filled with activated charcoal pellets in the microwave when we aren’t using it.  If guests come over and want to heat up their coffee, they discover our charcoal mug waiting for them in the microwave.  We quickly explain it away telling them to just set it on the counter and carry on.  Do I wish that we didn’t have a stinky microwave?  Yes!  Do I wish that we didn’t have to constantly take a mug full of charcoal in and out of the microwave to use it?  Yes!  But I have learned to be content with what we have since the microwave still works in every other way.
Then there is the toaster.  The toaster was a wedding present.  Once again, it is not a fancy toaster nor is it a cheap toaster.  It is a good toaster that does exactly as it is intended to do.  The one problem it has is that the plastic bit for the lever broke off when we moved into our house.  Now one has to push down on a thin metal lever to push the bread down.  The toaster works just fine - it is just uncomfortable to use!  I have seen other people with our exact toaster and no one else has had this problem.  My solution?  I have a dowel rod that lives next to the toaster that I use to press the lever down.  Do most people need a dowel rod to use their toaster?  No.  Does the toaster still do what it was designed to do?  Yes!  Do I wish there was a way to attach a piece of plastic to the metal bit again?  YES!  But for now, I am content with my "toaster stick".
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, followed by a season of consumerist shopping, I am asking myself this year, “What do I need to live a good life?”  There are many products that advertisers SWEAR will change my life.  Commercials depict people that are happy because of sales, low prices, and abundant gifts.  Influencers will explain why the products they are promoting are must-haves for the season if you want your family to have the PERFECT holiday season.  When I encounter these things, I think about my stinky microwave and slightly broken toaster.  I could replace them – I do have enough money to do so – but they won’t revolutionize my mourning routine, bring me ultimate happiness, or bring joy to my family gatherings.
The things that folks shared this past Sunday that they were grateful for were all things that had an ineffable quality to them: family, friends, health, peace, music, & community.  These are all things that don’t have a price tag.  They are things we value but cannot buy at a store. They are the types of things that Jesus tells us to store up in heaven where thieves cannot break in and steal them.
So, as we give thanks this Thanksgiving, let that thanksgiving be our guide for this season, that we might be content with what we have and that we might value the people in our lives more than the things and sales we encounter.
Happy Thanksgiving! 
Pastor Chris

Whew!  Did I not warn you all that the Gospel of Luke was a doozy?
It has been fun to return to the lectionary for a time.  While I enjoy putting together sermon series and constructing a larger narrative that flows from one week to the next, I was reminded how important it is to read the gospel stories in sequence to see how Jesus shaped his own narrative (and how the Gospel writers then shaped his message).

But for now, we will be taking a break from the lectionary to jump into A Sanctified Art’s Advent series called, “What Do You Fear?”  This series focuses on how Mary, Joseph, their family, and their friends lived in uncertain times.  Much like today, they had to find hope in a world that felt dark and frightening.  And yet, despite their fears, God was able to break into their lives with hope and light that cast out the darkness.

As a part of this series, we will have some additional ways to engage with the Advent story (click on them to download):

1. An Advent Devotional.
   We will be printing these next week, so please sign up for one or email the office to reserve one.  Extra copies will be printed, but we would like to have an estimate number.
2. An Advent calendar for adults (PDF) and a coloring Advent Calendar for kids (plus instructions). These can be printed at home, but we will print many of each in the office on 11x17 paper.
3. Original liturgy for worship by the creative team at A Sanctified Art.
4. Original art for the bulletins and that will be displayed in the service and online.
5. Original poetry that will be included in the weekly email and on social media posts.

This series will take us through the end of the year and to Epiphany Sunday on January 6, 2026.  After Epiphany, we will be returning to the Lectionary and diving into the Gospel of Matthew until Lent.

However - for this week, we have our joint Hanging of the Greens Worship Service at 10:00a.m. with decorating afterward.  As a part of this service, we will be inviting in-person attendees to write down on a notecard their answer to the question, “What are your grateful for?”  This will be read out loud by the liturgist later in the service

If you are worshiping online, we invite you to submit your answer to the question, “What are your grateful for?” in one of the following ways:

1. Comment on the YouTube Livestream
2. Email the tech team at [email protected]
3. Text Pastor Chris
4. Text someone you know is attending in-person worship and have them write your answer on a notecard for you.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me and ask!
 
Blessings,
Pastor Chris

When do Christmas decorations go up in your family?  When growing up in my family, the Christmas tree and stocking went up on Thanksgiving or the day after.  This choice was less about stopping the slow colonization of the calendar by Christmas season and more about who had the knowledge about how to put up the 1990 artificial Christmas tree.  My dad was the keeper of the knowledge of how the branches linked into the tree stand and Thanksgiving Friday was a day when we knew he would be home to do it.  So, the whole family pitched in after turkey day to decorate the house.

Knowing that my tree won’t be going up for another few weeks, it was humorous for me to read my text messages before service on Sunday after it had snowed.  My in-laws had blissfully left us to the snow as they flew to Hawaii.  We were sending them pictures of sleet and snow and they sent us pictures of palm trees.   My youngest sister-in-law responded by saying, “yeah… mom and dad the Christmas tree might be up when you get home.”

Christmas displays are already up in stores.  Christmas music is already starting to creep in at the edges.  Many of us are breaking out the warm sweaters and winter boots.  We are already in the early stages of preparing for Christmas…
… but how do you prepare for Advent?

It is odd to think about preparing for Advent because Advent is the season when the Christian Community prepares for the coming of the Christ Child.  So, preparing for Advent kind of feels like preparing to prepare.  It is a little silly.  And yet, by the time Advent begins, the Christmas season will be off like Rudolf leading the reindeer.  So, it is worth spending some time now to think about what we want out of the Advent season this year.

This Advent Season, we will once again be joining in with the A Sanctified Art Curriculum.  Their theme for this year is, “What do you fear?”  As a part of their curriculum, we will, once again, be making available their Advent Daily Devotions.  This Sunday, we will provide a sign-up sheet for those who would like a printed copy.

In addition, we will be preparing our space for the season in a slightly different way this year: we have a joint Hanging of the Greens Worship service planned for November 23rd at 10:00 a.m.   This service will be a non-traditional service during which we begin to decorate the worshiping space for the season of Advent.  Decorating the rest of the building will continue after the service (and some coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies!).

So, get ready to be ready!  It is time to prepare to be prepared.  The seasons are changing, and we change with them.

One of the values that I hold very strongly to is, “If you didn’t participate, then you don’t get to complain.”  The one caveat to this being if you are not allowed to participate… then you get to complain about being kept out of the process.  But, generally speaking, if the process is fair, you have a chance to participate, and you decline to participate, you don’t get to complain about the results.

For me, this will take the form of me delegating a task or responsibility to someone else and that person doing that task/responsibility differently than I would have (or would have liked it to be done).  In that case, the price for me not having to do it is that I don’t get to criticize how it gets done.  If Logan takes on a chore in our household, does it in a way I deem inefficient (or simply it doesn’t conform to how I do that chore), and I don’t have to take care of that chore, I don’t get to complain about how it gets done.  Other times, I delegate tasks to members of Session or to committees.  To be honest with you, I can often do those delegated tasks faster if I do them myself.  The price I pay for not doing those delegated tasks myself is that it will likely involve more steps, it will take longer, and I am not in control of the results.  But then again, I didn’t have to do them.

I maintain this opinion when it comes to group decision making.  This is why we have had so many town hall discussions over the past few years about the budget, our committee structure, and the ministry focus; so that as many people as possible had an opportunity to learn, understand, and voice their opinions.  By not participating in those discussions, it is a cue to me that you have delegated your opinion to the resulting opinion of the majority.

In all of this, what will get under my skin faster than anything are people who complain about our government and the decisions it makes but have not participated in the most basic level of choosing who comprises our government leadership.

So, if you want to be able to complain about the choices that government officials are making, GO OUT AND VOTE TODAY.  I know that many people would not consider this a major election year, but policy begins at a local level.

After I wrap up here at church, I will be going to my polling station and voting for one City commissioner and one person to sit on the board of the Library.  Just two items, but they are still important.  AND I want to maintain my right to complain about the city I live in.

Blessings,
Pastor Chris

On Sunday, we had our Congregational Meeting to choose our Ministry Focus.  With around 31 voting members present (quorum is 25 members), we elected to choose the LGBTQIA+ community as our Ministry Focus for the coming years.  This was not a unanimous vote: the unofficial paper vote was 21 LGBTQIA+ focus to 10 Young Adults focus and the official vote to affirm the LGBTQIA+ community as our Ministry Focus had 2 "nay" votes.

It might surprise some to hear but I am actually glad that this was not a unanimous vote.  Here is why:

1. Session worked hard to come up with good ideas for what our Ministry Focus should be. They were all good ideas. To me at least, a vote for one idea was not a vote against the other idea. The hope was that people would vote for what they saw as the BEST option for our community, not to condemn the other option as bad.
2. One of my worries going into this vote was that Northminster folks would be too agreeable and go with what they perceived as the majority opinion was.  One of the downsides to Robert’s Rules of Order is that motions must be made in the affirmative of one opinion/point of view.  It doesn’t really allow for an either/or vote.  This is why we did the unofficial paper vote first.  Furthermore, if it sounds like the majority of the room votes “yes” for a motion, it can be intimidating to be the only one to vote “no.”
   That said, if members really did think that the other option for a ministry focus was truly better for our community, I wanted to vote to show that.  Thank you to those who voted their conscience and made sure that the record accurately reflects the sentiment of our community.

What do you do when the community did not vote unanimously?

Especially when you get larger groups of Presbyterians together, votes are rarely unanimous.  But fear not! Our polity is rather explicit about how to proceed.

•        F-3.01 Principles of Order and Governance
•        F-3.0101 God is Lord of the Conscience
  •    b. “Therefore we consider the rights of private judgement, in all matters that respect religion, as universal and unalienable.”
  •    This means that every person has a right to their own opinion and that is between that person and God.
•        F-3.0105 Mutual Forbearance
  •    That, while under the conviction of the above principle […] we also believe that there are truths and forms with respect to which men of good characters principles may differ. And in all these, we think that it the duty both of private Christians and societies to exercise mutual forbearance toward each other.
•        F-3.02 Principles of Presbyterian Government
•        F-3.0205 Decision by Majority Vote
  •    Decisions shall be reached in councils by vote, following opportunity for discussion and discernment, and a majority shall govern.

Translation: every person has a right to their own opinion; good people will, at times, disagree; and the community will be governed by the majority opinion.  Discussion and discernment happen before the vote.  Once the vote is taken and the majority opinion is expressed, that motion is put into effect.  The voice of the minority is VITAL in this process because it is a key piece of discernment.  However, once the majority vote is taken, the minority opinion is expected to support and help carry out the plans of the majority until such time that it is up for debate again.

This is not a perfect system, but it is the best system the PCUSA has found to lift up voices to be heard but not to be hamstrung into inaction by the dissenting opinion of the few.

If you want to know what next steps look like, keep your eyes peeled for the November Newsletter where I will lay out in detail where we go from here.

Blessings,
Pastor Chris

We are finally at our final stage in the process of choosing a ministry focus.


As a quick refresher of this process:

1. Session brainstormed and fleshed out eight ideas for potential focus topics.  Then, over the summer?  I put together a presentation about what these ministries could look like. In September, I gave this presentation to Session, and they voted for their top four ideas.  
2. These four ideas were presented to the congregation.  Four town-hall style meetings were held over two weeks attended by 36 individuals.  An additional 9 individuals read the presentation on their own and got back to me with their thoughts and votes. In total, I heard back from 45 people, exceeding our goal of 42 participants (80% of our 52 members).  Each of the 45 people voted for their favorite topics (two votes for one topic or one vote for two topics).  These votes were then tallied and totaled to give us our top two topics.

There was a clear first place choice in topics: the LGBTQIA+ Community.
The second-place choice was a close call.  Young Adults and Persons with Disabilities went back and forth as the second-place choice.  In the end, Young Adults won the second place slot with two more votes.

• The final step of the process is to hold a Congregational Meeting in order to discuss these two potential ministry focuses, their merits, their drawbacks, what makes people excited, and what makes people hesitant.  An outline of the two potential ministries will be made available, but I will not be walking through the information in the presentation again.  Rather, this time is intended to hear from one another, debate the ideas, and come to as close as a consensus as we can as a community.  Once we feel that we have discussed the ideas adequately, we will take a Congregational Vote. For this to be an authoritative act of the congregation, we will need a minimum of 25 voting members.  While non-members cannot vote, the members of the congregation can vote to give voice to those individuals wishing to participate in the discussion.

I am very excited to be at this step in the process and even more excited to hear what you all have to say this Sunday about these ideas.

Here is one final promise I will make to you all: while we will have chosen our ministry focus for the next few years, we will not try to implement everything that I have listed on the presentation all at once.  We will have to grow this ministry slowly and strategically.  This means tackling easy projects first in order to build momentum.  Part of Session’s work in 2026 will be creating a strategic plan for the committees and congregation to implement slowly.  The journey will be long, but hopefully we will make friends and build relationship along the way that will sustain us.


Blessings,
Pastor Chris

With the leaves finally starting to turn colors and the air having a chilly nip in the air, it is finally starting to feel like fall. I admittedly jumped the gun on fall when we had a cold snap back in August. I brought out my sweaters and started brewing my favorite cinnamon spice tea. But after a few chilly weeks, it returned to the heat of summer throughout September. Now that we are entering into the middle of October and Halloween is right around the corner, it good and truly feels like fall.

But with fall comes a plethora of things here at Northminster. It is Stewardship Season, Budgeting Season, and Nominations Season. And we need to get this business done before the beginning of Advent.

So, to keep us in line, I thought I would share with you all some dates to keep in mind:
 
Stewardship Sunday
Oct 26 in Worship – Please bring your pledge cards

The question we are asking you to consider this season is, “What will be more vibrant and fruitful with little more time, energy, or resources?” If you want to read my full stewardship letter, CLICK HERE.

If you want to print your own pledge card, CLICK HERE. Pre-printed pledge cards will be made available on Sundays for you to use. A 2026 preliminary budget will be made available shortly.

Congregational Meeting: Final Round of Choosing a Focus
Oct 26 after Worship – In Person and on Zoom

This fall, we have gathered in a series of Town Hall meetings to hear a presentation about the work of Session in helping this congregation choose a ministry focus.  CLICK HERE to access that presentation.
This is the final step in that process: to gather as a congregation to hear the top two choices of the town hall meetings, discuss the merits and drawback of the two ministry focus topics, and then vote upon one to become our official ministry focus for the following years.  Non-members can be given voice in the meeting and discussion, but only active members can officially vote.

Memorial Service for David Lundquist
Nov 2 at 3 p.m.

Memorial Service for MaryEllen VanCanneyt
Nov 9 at 2 p.m.

Congregational Meeting: Electing Elders and Deacons
Nov 16 after worship. In Person and on Zoom.

The Season of Nominations has begun.  This Congregational meeting is our annually scheduled meeting of the congregation to hear the report from Nominations and elect the next round of Elders and Deacons.

Memorial Service for Rod Griffard
Nov 16 at 2 p.m. – In Person and Live Streamed on YouTube

Hanging of the Greens
Joint Northminster/CCB Service to prepare for Advent
10 a.m. – In Person and Live Streamed on YouTube

Advent is a time of preparations. A Hanging of the Greens Worship Service is a service to prepare ourselves and our space for the season of preparations.  After worship, Northminster and CCB will work together in teams to decorate the building for Advent.  Projects will be made available for people with limited mobility.
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Blessings,
Pastor Chris

I have this more or less memorized, but whether or not I say it exactly the same way every time is anyone’s guess.

This section of the liturgy is called, the "Invitation to the Table.”  It isn’t strictly necessary by the standards of our faith; many congregations and pastors don’t include it.  But I personally find this section necessary and will always include it.  Why?  Because I find that the Invitation to the Table does two important things:

1) It reminds us of the breadth of God’s love and
2) It situates us within the story of God’s loving redemption.

The Breadth of God’s Love
Many denominations and congregation have what they call a “closed table.”  Closed table theology dictates that only Christians that meet certain requirements – like baptism, confirmation/catechism, and/or membership in that tradition – can take Communion when it is served.  The scriptural reason for this goes back to Paul’s fist letter to the Corinthians where he is scolding them for abusing the Lord’s Supper:  “So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord,” (1 Cor 11:27).  In order to prevent people from sinning against the body and blood of the Lord, these traditions put restrictions on who can partake in Communion so that no one who approaches the table is unworthy.  The social/cultural reason to have a closed table is because some traditions have a certain set of ritual movements or patterns that go along with taking Communion.  Traditions such as the Catholic or Orthodox have such rituals and movements that are taught to people and children in the congregation, but which outsiders would not know.  By restricting who can come forward, they are ensuring that everyone knows the proper way to partake in the sacrament.

The PCUSA is an “Open Table” denomination.  That means that we do not restrict who can partake in Communion; we simply ask that people treat the sacrament with respect.  This theology comes out of the fact that Jesus, himself, doesn’t put restrictions on who can partake of the Last Supper.  Jesus even included Judas in the ritual as he is in the middle of turning Jesus over to the authorities.  So, we believe that Communion is a demonstration of the breadth and depth of God’s love, and all are welcome to experience that grace.


Our Place in God’s Story of Redeeming Love
The first major split in the Christian Church was in 1054 with the Great Schism that broke apart what would become the Orthodox tradition and the Catholic tradition.  Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517 created further divisions and factions in the Christian tradition.  Protestant Christianity would continue to splinter into smaller and smaller denominations as the United States would grow in population and territory.  It is not uncommon to find congregations or traditions that want to claim that only they have the correct and true understanding of the Bible.  But Communion reminds us that we are only a one piece of the story.  We play a part in God’s story of redeeming love, but we are not the main characters.  Our God is a universal God that loves, guides, and protects people all over the world.  So, yes, while we might ask God to protect our family, watch over our community, and even guide our nation’s leaders, God does not favor any one country or group of people.  We don’t worship a Northminster God, a Presbyterian God, or even an American God.  We worship the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end; the God that always was and always will be.  We are invited into God’s story, but we play only a part in that story.

World Communion Sunday is a reminder of these things.  God is so much bigger than us and God’s love surrounds us and the world so fully.

Blessings,
Pastor Chris

On Sunday, we held our final Choosing a Focus Town Hall meeting.  Thank you to everyone who has participated in this process so far!  The turnout has been good and the discussion around these topics has been wonderful.  It has been amazing to share with you something that Session and I have been working on for quite some time.  It has been even greater to hear you all get fired up and excited by the ideas we are putting forward.

With that said… we only have 67% congregational participating rate at this point!
The goal I set was for 80% participation.
That means that we need 7 more Northminster people to participate.
​
While we have a clear preference for our #1 idea, two ideas are tied for our #2 spot. In order to complete this step in the process, we need a clear second choice.

Therefore, I am asking those who have yet to participate and vote to join in the process!  It doesn’t matter if you live close by or far away; it doesn’t matter if you attend frequently or infrequently, it doesn’t matter if you are an official, card-carrying member or just a part of the wider Northminster community: if you are invested in the future of Northminster, we want to hear from you!!!

In order to (hopefully) achieve the goal of 80% participation, I am extending the process 2 more weeks.  HERE and on our website is the Choosing the Focus Presentation.  If you have not yet done so, please read through it.  The presentation includes:

1. Background of how we got here
2. An explanation of the process and how to use the rubric
3. Explanations of the four proposed ideas
4. And an explanation on how to vote.

​Feel free to walk through this process yourself or reach out to me if you want to discuss it with someone.  And if I don’t hear back from enough folks, I will begin reaching out directly asking folks what they think.

Once this process is done, we will tally the results, share the top two ideas, and schedule a congregational meeting to discuss and vote on which of these two will be our ministry focus moving forward.

Again, thank you to all of you who have participated so far.  I have added in many of the suggestions that have been discussed in the town hall meetings thus far.

Blessings,
Pastor Chris