www.nativityarden.org
828.684.0352
Nativity Notes          12/7/17
+ commitment sunday

As of this
e-news publication, we have received
 131
Commitment Cards for our Stewardship For All Seasons drive! We are well on our way to reaching our challenge of 135  commitments and funding our goals (deadline for challenge gift has been extended to December 14). Thank you to those who have turned in their cards. 
We only need 4 more!!
________________________________
Haven't submitted your commitment card yet?  No worries!  Click here to submit it electronically.  Please do so to support our ministries and help us reach our challenge gift of $5000! 
                                                                                                                               

If you have questions, please click here to contact Pr Rachel.

Click here for all the info!
+ welcome table 

The Welcome Table at Skyland Methodist Church, which Nativity has been a part of ever since its inception, grows stronger with each passing month.   We're into our 5th year of serving breakfast on Saturdays from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.   Among those who attend are the lonely, the homeless, and whole families who don't have enough food in their homes for the weekend.  Some people come to breakfast after picking up food at the Calvary food pantry in Fletcher.   And there's the table of 6 to 8 ladies who have made the Welcome Table their social gathering place every weekend.

Nativity Welcome Table Volunteers
Lisa Hamilton, Corinne Feid, Princess Ferguson, Randy Treiber, Susan Montella, Nancy Seekamp (Nativity Coordinator), LaRue Ridenhour, Allen Ray, and Kathleen Treiber.

Click here for more photos!
 
Nativity is in charge of the third Saturday each month.  The sign-up sheet at the Welcome Desk in Fellowship Hall gives people a chance to pick what they'd like to help with: Friday prep or Saturday kitchen help, set-up, greeting, serving, busing, or dishwashing.  There is a core list of workers, but we are always looking for more people to express an interest because each time we serve, we need 10 - 12 people to fill all the roles.  Children are most welcome to help; younger ones need to have an adult with them.
 
This ministry of Nativity has been an enlightening and satisfying experience on several levels.  People who serve are always saying how glad they are to be there and look forward to the next chance to help.   Two unsung heroes are Jeanne Russell, who shops every month for our groceries and Nancy Phillips, who acts as "red apron" in charge of the dining hall.  Now that you know about the Welcome Table, come join us!  Just call Nancy Seekamp at 687-8265 or email at [email protected] or sign up at the Welcome Desk.
Classes will meet for the next two Sundays between worship services (December 10, and 17).

Class will not meet on December 24 and 31.

Faith Formation will resume on Sunday, January 7.
G I V I N G
Update

 Your faithful giving contributes 
to our mission of 
Making Christ Known.
__________________________________

For the month of November
Budgeted to receive: $46,080
Actual received: $40,419.25
Budgeted to spend: $46,871
Actual spent: $43,126.80

To see the  financial summary for the month of November, click here.

To read the Treasurer's Report, 

Thank you for your support 
of the ministry we share!

If you have any questions, please contact our  Financial Secretary,
Carrie Dahlberg by clicking here

Click here to see who's celebrating!
+ Choir Opportunities

We offer a variety of opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to combine their gifts for God's glory. Here are some of the options:

Nativity Choir - rehearses on Wednesdays at 7pm. This choir sings each week at the 11am worship service. 

 

Youth Choir - rehearses most Sundays at 4:30pm- check the Youth calendar.

 

Young Youth Choir - rehearses on the Sundays on which Young Youth is being held. 

 

Campfire Choir - now rehearses on the Sunday mornings when the choir will sing at the 8:30 service.  The last Sunday remaining for Campfire Choir is December 10.

 

Handbell Choir - rehearses on the two Tuesday evenings that fall before the choir rings in worship. Handbell Choir is on a break until the new year.  If you are considering playing with us, click here to contact Amber Wollner.

 

If you would like to get involved or would like more information, contact Pr. Gregg by clicking here.

Nativity Endowment Fund Applications are Available!

The Endowment Fund Committee is now accept applications for grant and scholarship disbursements for 2018. Scholarship funds are available to Nativity members attending seminary, ELCA camps, colleges, and universities.  Ministry outreach grants are available for use within Nativity or for the benefit of our local community.  

This means you can apply for scholarships to Lutheridge and Lutherock! (Please use the Scholarship Form and fill it in as you are able.)

Established in 2004, the Nativity Endowment Fund receives and disperses financial gifts from church members and friends to carry on the ministry of Christ through Nativity in future years. 

For an application, or to learn how you can make a gift of kindness, please visit the Endowment page on the Nativity website by clicking here.

This year when the weather is inclement there will USUALLY be a late service at Nativity.  Please check the website at www.nativityarden.org  or call the Church Office at 684-0352 for the status of a service or other scheduled events.  
We also post on WLOS.

CHURCH OFFICE
HOURS
Mon-Thurs
9am-2pm
+ check us out
on social media!
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Please submit your communications, 
articles, events,  
and updates to:    
by noon on Wednesday  for weekly 
Nativity Notes.
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The next meeting of Pub Theology will be
TONIGHT, Thursday, December 7 at 7:30pm at the home of Pastors Rachel and Gregg.  It is time together for refreshing beverages and great discussion.  All confirmed members are welcomed.  (Beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages are available, so all we need is YOU!) Questions?  Contact   
Andra Nus  at  [email protected] 
or 828.545.9519. 

beginning Wednesday, November 29.
Click here for Nativity's Advent and Christmas Schedule.
Congrats to  Estes Elementary 
2017-2018 Teacher of the Year
Jenny Feid!
A reception is being held in her honor on Thursday, December 14.
POINSETTIAS TO DECORATE NATIVITY FOR CHRISTMAS
If you would like to purchase a poinsettia to proclaim the birth of the Christ Child, or in honor or memory of a loved one, forms will be available at the end of each pew on Sunday.  These plants will be wrapped in green foil and each will have three plants per pot and many blooms.  They are priced at $12 each.  They may be picked up after each service on Christmas Eve, December 25, or December 31. Order by Sunday, December 17! 
This Advent, Sparkhouse is offering a free daily family devotion, sent to your email!  To receive these devotions, click this link and sign up. 

Click here to view the December 2017 issue of 
Living Lutheran.
+ calvary food pantry

Special holiday announcement: 
Change of pantry hours only December 9: 12:30-3:30 due to Fletcher parade. 
Pantry is closed 12/30. 

Thank you for helping Calvary Food Pantry provide Thanksgiving hams and turkeys and weekly groceries for over 160 families. Would you like to assist with Christmas dinner? You may designate your monetary gift through your regular offering. To mail a gift directly, here is the address: Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry, P.O. Box 187, Fletcher, NC 28732. 

If you would like to honor a friend, colleague, teacher, or coach this Christmas with a monetary gift to the pantry, cards are available at the Welcome Desk to announce the gift. 

Join Nativity Pre-K alphabet giving with  K and L foods: 
Letter K foods: kidney beans, Kellogg's/Kashi cereal  Letter L items: lentils, legumes, linguini, lasagna, lemon juice, lemonade mix, lotion

Volunteers are needed weekly and every Saturday.  Join the Nativity crew on the first and second Saturday mornings of the month.  To volunteer, click  here

Questions?  Contact Heather Neal at
658-9309 or Pastor Rachel.
+ veterans quarters meal
     
Ovie and Susan Montella, Allen Ray, Tom Walker, Ulla Thompson, Princess Ferguson and Mike Kestner served at ABCCM's Veterans Quarters Meal last Sunday. Thanks for your help! 
Click
for the
latest
news!
+ learn   

beginning December 10
Click to read daily scripture.

Sunday             Mark 1:1-8
Monday            Isaiah 40:1-11
Tuesday            2 Peter 3:8-15a
Wednesday      1 John 4:16-21
Thursday          1 Timothy 1:12-17
Friday              Malachi 3:1-4
Saturday          Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Sunday             John 1:6-8,19-28

TAKING FAITH HOME 
This weekly devotional handout is available on the Welcome Desk.  "Taking Faith Home" is a production of Milestones Ministry, LLC, and is created by a team lead by an ELCA Pasto r.
+ nativity book group

The December meeting of the Nativity Book Group has been postponed. The group will meet next on Thursday, 
January 18, at 2pm  in the church fellowship hall and will discuss The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas Preston. The book for February is Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. All members and friends are welcome and invited to join the group as they are able.

Click here to read the 
October 2017 reports.

November and December reports will be submitted together at January's 
Council Meeting.
 Got a question?
Click here to so we can 
get you an answer!