www.nativityarden.org
828.684.0352
Nativity Notes     10 /19/17
+ noisy offering

jar_coin.jpg
Thank you for your generosity!  Our October Noisy Offering for Lutheran Disaster Response collected $816.91!  The entirety of this offering will go towards relief efforts in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the rest of the Caribbean for hurricane recovery.  LDR will continue to support the rebuilding efforts of the Caribbean for years to come, and your offering helps make that possible. 
Pub Theology Tonight!

Don't forget, tonight we are gathering for another round of Pub Theology! We'll meet at Blue Ghost Brewing Company at 7:30 for some quality discussion and fellowship. 
Non-alcoholic drinks are available and this group is open to people of all ages. 
We hope to see you there! 
REFORMATION BOOKFAIR
October 22 & October 29


The 500th anniversary of the Reformation is fast approaching! Learn about Martin Luther, his writings, and the impact of the Reformation for the church today. Stop by the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, October 22 and Sunday, October 29 and discover a variety of resources on the Reformation for readers of all ages. 

On Sunday, November 5, 2017  we will commemorate our members who have united with the Church Triumphant over the past year.  During the prayers we will name other loved ones who have died since last All Saints Sunday (November 6, 2016). To add a name you wish to be lifted up in prayer on All Saints Sunday, November 5, please click here .

We will meet at Trinity View at  4:00 PM on Sunday, Oct 22nd.  You are invited to wear costumes!  (But they are not required.) We will trick-or-treat and then we will head back to Nativity.  If there's extra time before dinner, we'll play some games, otherwise, we will go straight in for dinner!  Pick up afterwards will be at  6:15 as usual.  There will be NO Young Youth Choir that day.
 
**Parents - please stay at Trinity View during trick-or-treating so that you can drive your children back to Nativity afterwards. You're then welcome to drop them off for dinner and return for them at 6:15. 
+ council corner

CONGREGATION MEETING
Sunday, November 5
between services at 9:40am
in the sanctuary.

Agenda
_________________

OPENING:   Call to Order, Declaration of Quorum & Prayer

ACTION ITEM:  Approval of 2018 Budget.   For a copy of the proposed budget, click here.

THANKS:  Reformation 500

UPDATE:   Music Director Search

PROMO:  Advent & Christmas

INVITATION:  2018 Congregation Council Nominations

CLOSING:  Prayer & Adjourn
__________________

Minutes from past Council  meetings (including minutes from this month's meeting)  can be  found  on the Nativity website  Council page .

The next Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 13 at 6:30pm.
+ Choir Opportunities

This fall we are offering 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 on Sundays at 4:30pm.

The next rehearsal is this Sunday, October 22.

 

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. Campfire Choir sings this Sunday! After that, the two Sundays remaining for Campfire Choir are: 11/26, 12/10.

 

Handbell Choir - rehearses on the two Tuesday evenings that fall before the choir rings in worship. Handbell Choir will play on the third Sunday of the month. The next rehearsal will be November 7th at 7pm.

 

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

All Guild members and anyone who is interested finding out more about the Guild are invited to attend the Altar Guild Brunch scheduled for Saturday, October 28, 9:30AM until 11:30AM
  + F A I T H  FORMATION
Classes are held between worship services from 9:40am until 10:40am.
_____________________________________
N ote:  Faith Formation classes WILL NOT MEET  on Sunday, October 29 (Reformation) or Sunday, November 5 (Congregation meeting).  Classes will resume on Sunday, November 12.

 + Adult Forum 
with Pastor Mark in the North Fellowship Hall.

 + Confirmed Youth 

with Pastor Gregg in the Modular. 
 + 7th & 8th Graders  with Wes McCall
 +  5th & 6th Graders 
with Debbie McGinnis in the Modular.

+  3rd & 4th Graders with Kirsten Cooper and Stacey Zabel in the Curious Kinders Room (downstairs).

+ K-2nd Graders with Colleen Dieterly and Laura Baylor in the Little Explorers Room (downstairs).

+ 3 and 4 Year Olds with Laura McCall and Liz Teall-Fleming in the Awesome Owls Room (Preschool Hall).

+ Nursery available for children under 3.


A Theological Seminar for Women will be presented Friday-Saturday,  November 17-18, 2017 , in NC Synod Office in Salisbury, NC. A registration fee of $50 includes Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast and lunch. A special room rate of $92 at the Hampton Inn - Salisbury is available before October 22. Deacon Inez Torres Davis will be the presenter For Such A Time as This. Don't let the term "theology" scare you. The dictionary defines it as "the study of God's relation to the world." More information is located on the bulletin board next to the water fountains in the hallway leading to the covered entrance.
G I V I N G
Update

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

For the month of September
Budgeted to receive: $40,320
Actual received: $33,419.75
Budgeted to spend: $48,485
Actual spent: $41,453.84

To see the  financial summary for the month of September, 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!
MELC   volunteers needed!
+ + + + + + + + + +
At God's Work, Our Hands, many people were surprised to see how large Nativity's
M edical Equipment Loan Closet 
has grown!  This ministry is important to our neighbors, and we want to keep it going strong.  We are in need of volunteers to help with a variety of MELC tasks.  Please click HERE   to see our volunteer opportunities, and please email Pastor Rachel if you'd like to be more involved.  
 Got a question?
Click here to so we can 
get you an answer!
 Click  for Nativity's

Click for:
to sing
THIS SUNDAY ! All are welcome to join rehearsal (led by Pastor Tim) at 8am in the choir room. The group will sing the Offertory anthem at the 8:30 service.
REFORMATION T-SHIRTS 
will be available for for pick up 
THIS Sunday.  As a reminder, the cost is $15 for short sleeved and $20 for long sleeved.  Checks should be made out to Nativity
(please note "t-shirt" in the memo line) .
+ elca youth  gathering
This Changes Everything

Thank You from the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering group! As of this week, we have raised half of the money we need to go to Houston - $10,500! We are deeply grateful for your support!

Thank You from the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering group! As of this week, we have raised half of the money we need to go to Houston - $10,500! We are deeply grateful for your support!
As part of our October ELCA Gathering prep meeting, we practiced our "elevator speeches."  
These videos answer the question:
 "If we were in an elevator in Houston and someone asked, "Why are y'all here?" what would we say?"

+ october money minute

Freed for the Future: Our Selves, Our Time, and Our Possessions

This week, we kicked off our fall Stewardship drive!  Over the next 6 weeks, we'll talk about our hopes for 2018 and the ways we can give generously to support goals which Make Christ Known.  Be on the lookout for bulletin inserts, temple talks, a brochure, and a letter in the coming weeks.  If you missed the first letter, please click here to read more about how we are Freed for the Future to Make Christ Known! 

LADIES LUNCH BUNCH 
will meet on October 26 at 1:00PM at 
Beef O'Brady's, 2625 Hendersonville Rd. in Arden.  All ladies are invited to attend.  Please call our hostess,  Peggy Mann , 684-3617, so she can make a reservation for you.
  + Book Discussion Group

The book for November 16 is Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance.  All are welcome. You don't need to come every month, just come when you are able. The group will meet in the Fellowship Hall from 2:00 until 3:30PM.
+ learn   
 
Daily scripture readings 
beginning October 22

Sunday
Matthew 22:15-22
Monday
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Tuesday
Jeremiah 29:1-7
Wednesday
Daniel 1:3-21
Thursday
Romans 13:1-7
Friday
Isaiah 45:1-7
Saturday
Psalm 96
Sunday
Matthew 22:34-46

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 Pastor.
D I S A S T E R   R E L I E F
HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA and MARIA
Join other Thrivent members by supporting disaster relief efforts.


from Thrivent.com - 2017 Hurricanes - The recent hurricanes have left an overwhelming trail of destruction.  Harvey uprooted the lives and livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people in Texas and western Louisiana.  Weeks later, Irma and Maria caused chaos and devastation in Florida as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  You can make a personal donation on  Thrivent.com to provide assistance to hurricane victims.  When you do, Thrivent will double the impact - up to $3 million.  This opportunity will run until the $3 million match is met or until December 31, 2017, whichever comes first.

We are pleased to announce that we are posting for the Music Director position at Nativity!  The new hire will begin in 2018.  If you would like to read the job description, click here.  

If you have questions, please contact Pastor Gregg
AwakeningSoul
proudly presents

SACRED REVOLUTION
Diana Butler Bass &  John Dominic Crossan
November 9-12, 2017
Lutheridge

Click here to view the full flyer.
To register, visit  awakeningsoulpresents.org
or call Ann Holtz at 865-414-8509.
PARENTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

Nativity's Card Ministry keeps in touch with your son/daughter by sending hand-crafted greetings at special times of the year. 
We need an update of your child's current address and the college he/she attends. Include an email so we can keep them abreast of all the activities happening at Nativity through the e-news.
Please email this information to our 
Membership Coordinator 
  Thanks for your help!
+ check us out
on social media!
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
View on Instagram
CHURCH OFFICE
HOURS
Mon-Thurs
9am-2pm
Want to get  the word out?
Please submit your communications, 
articles, events,  
and updates to:    
by noon on Wednesday  for weekly 
Nativity Notes.