Every year, the neighborhood of Lakewood Balmoral has a yard sale the Saturday after Labor Day. The church always provides hospitality (water and restrooms). We also set up food stands featuring traditional cuisines from our different congregations.

This year, we have decided to celebrate the talents of our family, friends, and neighbors by hosting a Crafts & Vendor Fair. We hope to offer a variety of local, handmade items.

If you are a crafter or artisan and would be interested in participating, please review the information at the link below, and fill out the included form.

Crafts & Vendor Fair Information and Application

or download this pdf

On Sunday, August 5, we will gather on Lakewood Avenue in front of the church at 11:30 am for a picnic and block party.  All are welcome! 

This summer, we will again be hosting a Summer Mission Explorers series for our children. Rather than doing a one-week VBS program, we will be gathering during the traditional Adventures in Learning hour -Sundays from 11:30-12:30 - to learn more about the mission work of the church and do crafts together.  Summer Mission Explorers will take place on July 29, August 12, August 19, and August 26.

​This year, we will learn more about the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America; the church's work in Retalhuleu, Guatemala; the Samaritana Ministry in the Philippines; and our lunch and shower ministry for those experiencing homelessness.

In April, Anna Mangahas from ONE Northside (a community organization of which NSBC is a member) came to the Church Council meeting to discuss the work of the Grassroots Association for Police Accountability (GAPA).  At its meeting in May, the Church Council voted to formally express support for the work and recommendations of the coalition, which we believe furthers the work of building peace, justice, and right relationship in the city of Chicago. 

 GAPA describes itself as “a broad-based coalition of community organizations committed to making our neighborhoods safer, improving police practices and accountability, and transforming the relationship between the Chicago Police Department and the communities it serves.” The coalition formed two years ago in order to create an avenue for broad-based community input in the city’s discussion regarding police oversight reform. Over the past two years, it has been hosting community conversations between various stakeholders, including the police department, local businesses and organizations, and members of communities experiencing high levels of violence.

 Based on these conversations, GAPA has formulated a proposal to establish a Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, which will share oversight responsibilities of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and the Police Board with the mayor.  Members of the commission, while elected by the city, will be required to have experience and education in fields directly related to the work they will be overseeing.   The full proposal can be found on GAPA’s website.    

By Rev. Kathryn Ray

​Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. -John 3:5-9

You know when you've done something basically your entire life, and then suddenly one day it's like you're discovering it for the first time?  This is the story of how I rediscovered sacred reading. Even though I'd literally been doing it the week before.