Our History

Celebrating 40 Years

The Bible makes no bones about it - forty can be tough. In the days of Noah, the heavens open and it rains upon the earth for forty days and nights. Jonah declares to the people of Nineveh that after forty days they would face destruction. The children of Israel, after their bondage in Egypt, wander in the desert of Sinai for forty years. Elijah, in despair and fearing for his life, fasts for forty days while journeying to the mount of God. Following his baptism by John, and just before the beginning of his public ministry, Christ fasts in the wilderness, alone, for forty days. So forty can be tough. But that's not the end of the story. See what happens next.

The forty days of Noah's flood lead to a new beginning and God's rainbow promise. Nineveh's forty days end not with a conflagration but with God's mercy.Israel's forty years in the desert leads them to the promised land. Elijah makes it through wind, earthquake, and fire and hears the quiet voice of God. Christ's wilderness experience ends with his triumph over evil. The forty days of Lent usher in Easter morning. The grace of God sustains and rewards faithful perseverance. This year, Northminster celebrates forty years as a community of faithful believers in the service of the kingdom of God. Help us celebrate.

Please share your reflections about Northminster, or the goodness of God, or the number forty. You can use the form on our Contact page.