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+ worship
This Sunday
is a little different, since the weather did not permit worship last week. While it may not be the Baptism of Our Lord Sunday, we feel the lessons are too good to miss. So this Sunday
we will hear the story of Jesus' Baptism, along with the promise of God's constant presence in our lives. We will also baptize two new members into our church family at the 10:30 service: Selena Faith McKinney and Vesper Alice Rackoff. Join us and take part in this celebration of God's promise of everlasting life!
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SNOW POLICY
This Winter when the weather is inclement there will USUALLY be a late service at Nativity (no Sunday School).
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 will also post on WLOS and utilize the church's social media accounts.
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+ c
are
Dear Nativity Friends and Family,
Thank you so much for your love and support during my recovery from knee surgery. Your cards, visits, telephone calls, and especially your prayers were gratefully received.
Sincerely yours,
Ruth E. Young
Flo Siebert
is temporarily residing at Universal Health Care of Fletcher to receive physical therapy after a recent hospitalization. Her goal is to return to her apartment at Trinity View in the new year. Her temporary address is:
Universal
Healthcare,
Room 405
86 Old Airport Road
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+Noisy Offering
This month's Noisy Offering will go to Lutheridge/Lutherock Ministries.
This offering will help provide camp scholarships to children and will aid in camp upkeep and improvements. Through this gift, we will help many children
"have fun, grow in skills and self-esteem, make new friends, and draw closer to Jesus." Thank you for supporting camp ministry!
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Read the latest issue of this monthly periodical from the ELCA.
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+ women of the ELCA
Ladies Lunch Bunch
All ladies are welcome to meet at the Roux (in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel)
in Biltmore Town Square at
1:00 pm
on
January 26
for lunch.
Nadine Lloyd is our hostess.
Please call her at 687-3655
so she can make a reservation for you.
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+ check us out
on social media!
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Want to get
the word out?
Please submit your communications,
by noon on Wednesday
for weekly
Nativity Notes
and
Son Times
.
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+
January Birthdays
Click
here to see who's celebrating this month!
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Click here for an interesting travel and entertainment opportunity offered to Nativity members and friends by David Lloyd.
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+ council corner
Minutes from previous meetings can be found on the church's website here.
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The flower chart for 2017 is posted in the Fellowship Hall
near the north entrance.
If you would like to donate flowers to enhance our worship, please sign the chart and note any "in honor of" or "in memory of" designations.
Plan to take the flowers with you after the late service or pick them up on Monday morning. They will be in a disposable container across the hall from Pastor Mark's office.
Enjo
y them at home or take them to someone you know will enjoy them. Each vase is $30 and payment may be put in the offering plate.
Thank you for providing flowers that enhance our worship.
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+
Support Nativity Preschool
One of the easiest ways to support Nativity Preschool & Kindergarten financially is to tie our school to your Ingle's Advantage Card. This can be accomplished easily by clicking
here
.
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+ Bulletin Cover Art is Back!
We are returning to one of our most popular ministries: Bulletin Cover Art. If you are interested in providing art for our bulletin covers, we invite you to check out the online schedule here.
We simply ask that you not volunteer for more than one cover per month
and that you submit your art by the Monday before the Sunday for which you're scheduled.
If you have any questions,
please email
Pastor Gregg
here
.
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CHURCH OFFICE
HOURS
Mon-Thurs
9am-2pm |
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+ stewardship
Each household was mailed a Stewardship Packet which included a 2017 Commitment Form. You have the opportunity to pledge your financial commitment to Nativity by placing this form in the offering plate during worship.
So far, 61 of our 247 households have returned their forms.
***Because of our snow day, this Sunday, January 15, 2017, is our final commitment Sunday.***
Please faithfully consider how God is calling you to give to the ministry of Nativity. Your pledge enables us to live our mission statement, "Making Christ Known."
To read a
letter from Pastor Rachel, to get a
Commitment Form, or to get an
EFT Form, please click
here.
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+ learn
Faith Formation
Spiritual Gifts - Discover, Connect, and Serve
New! Beginning on January 15th, we'll start a 6 week Faith Formation journey to learn about Spiritual Gifts - which ones we have, where to use them, and how to use them. Confirmed youth and adults are invited to join in this class, which will include both teaching and discussion time. At the end of the 6 weeks, we'll explore how to use our newly identified Spiritual Gifts in and outside Nativity. Ashley Hammack will lead, sharing her passion for Spiritual Gifts with the congregation. We will meet in the North Fellowship Hall.
Intergenerational Faith Formation
Renewed!
Intergenerational Faith Formation will continue through the spring! This class is open to all members of all ages (including those previously in the "Building Blocks" class). Beginning January 15th, we'll be exploring our Spiritual Gifts. We will meet in the Middle/South Fellowship Hall.
Daily Scripture Readings:
Sunday: Luke 4:14-30
Monday: Luke 4:31-37
Tuesday: Luke 4:38-39
Wednesday: Luke 4:40-44
Thursday: Isaiah 61:1-3
Friday: 1 Kings 17:8-16
Saturday: 2 Kings 5:1-14
God's Story, Our Story
Weekly devotional materials relating to the Narrative Lectionary are available on the Welcome Desk.
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Wednesday, January 18, 6:00-8:00 PM
THE WAY: EXPLORING SOULS
Questions are always welcome. The curriculum is our own stories shared in the light of God's story. The journey continues next Wednesday evening.
Pastor Mark and Dana invite all adults who wish to gather for food, fellowship and faith formation to be their guests this coming Wednesday, January 18, 6:00-8:00. A light, healthy supper will be provided; followed by a time for sharing stories and questions about our faith journey. The evening will close with a time of prayer.
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+ choir opportunities
Nativity Choir:
meets weekly, Wednesday nights at 7 PM. We had our first rehearsal this week, and more singers are always welcome to join!
Young Youth Choir: meets weekly at 3:45 PM on Sunday afternoons, beginning on Sunday,
January 22.
Youth Choir: meets weekly at 4:30 PM on Sunday afternoons, beginning on Sunday, January 22.
Youth Group will begin right after choir practice.
Campfire Choir: meets monthly. Check the church calendar for the next meeting.
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+ book discussion group
January's second meeting is tonight, Thursday, January 12. The book is
Circling the Sun
by Paula McLain. Everyone is welcome to attend either meeting.
For Discussion Guidelines, click
here.
For upcoming books and corresponding synopsis, click
here.
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+ Newest Eagle Scout
Dimitri Asaad (center) with Randall Barnett, National Eagle Scout Assoc. Representative -- Daniel Boone Council, BSA and Mike McCue, Scoutmaster, BSA Troop 8 on right.
Dimitri Asaad -- son of Shonda M. Asaad, MD and Marc Asaad, JD -- a senior member of Nativity's own BSA Troop 8 and also an active member of All Souls Cathedral, passed successfully his Eagle Scout Board of Review on December 15. For the Eagle project, Dimitri designed and constructed an outdoor grill and cooking preparation area adjacent to the picnic shelter and fire pit at Nativity. Congratulations, Dimitri, on obtaining the Eagle Scout rank -- an outstanding scouting achievement.
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+ give
Calvary Food Pantr
y volunteer sign ups are going digital. If you would like to sign up, please click
here to view upcoming weeks and select your volunteer position. A sign up sheet remains at the Welcome Desk. To learn more about Calvary Food Pantry, contact
Pastor Rachel or
Heather Neal
You can help stock the pantry shelves by placing items in the grocery cart in the fellowship hall. Special requests for this month: your favorite breakfast cereal (hot or cold), soups & stews, and foods especially for kids home for the holidays (macaroni & cheese, spaghettios, microwave popcorn, canned fruit, etc.).
Thank you for all you do to contribute to this ministry. To read about the impact the food pantry has, click
here and hear from one of the grateful families.
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+Community Service Projects
+ Used Book Drive
Estes Elementary School will be holding its Annual Used Book Fair soon and is now collecting books.
A collection box is in the Fellowship Hall. Please consider donating your gently used books to support children in our community.
Please contact Heidi Ewing
here with questions.
+ Girl Scout Service Project
During the next month, the girls of Troop 2511 (of Abiding Savior Lutheran in Fairview) will be
collecting supplies for Helpmate, a shelter for domestic violence victims and their children. A box for donations is in the fellowship hall. The troop is collecting:
-Wipes and diapers in sizes 2-6
-In all sizes, for women and children: underwear, socks, pajamas, and seasonal items (jackets, hats, gloves)
-Bath & body wash
-Pocket size tissues and sanitizers
-Shelf stable food/pantry items
Thank you for your help in assisting
Troop 2511 in their service project!
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