www.nativityarden.org
828.684.0352
Nativity Notes: 2/9 /17
+ worship

This Sunday, we hear John ask of Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come?"  We will listen to Jesus' response and contemplate what it means for us.   
 
+ synod assembly
  Voting members to this year's North Carolina Synod Assembly will be elected at our Annual Meeting.  Synod Assembly is June 2 & 3 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro.  If you are interested in having your name added to the ballot, please contact  Allen Ray or Pastor Mark .
Nativity to host 
blood drive

Our congregation has partnered with The Blood Connection to keep donated blood in our local  area well supplied. Ten of the 27 donors needed to meet our goal have signed up. Your participation will save lives!

Thursday, February 16. 2:00 to 6:30 pm. Here's how to participate:

1) 
Sign up 
at the welcome desk in the fellowship hall or,

2) Call or text Corinne Feid for an appointment (828-606- 3158)  or

3)  Sign up 
here 
at the Blood Connection.
+ 2018 ELCA National Youth Gathering Interest Meeting

Youth who are currently in 7th - 11th grade are invited to an interest and information meeting for the 2018 ELCA Gathering on February 12, 2017 at 7:30pm. 
At least one parent must be in attendance at this meeting.

Youth/parents in this grade range should have received an email from Pastor Rachel with more details on this meeting.  If you did not, please click here to connect with Pastor Rachel.

+ CHILI COOK-OFF
KICK OFF

On February 19th, Nativity Youth will be hosting a Chili Cook-Off to Kick Off fundraising for the 
2018 National Youth Gathering!

This will coincide with our Annual Meeting, so we'll have food, fun, fellowship, and faith as the basis for our congregational conversations.

We need YOU to sign up to cook chili!  This is a true Chili Cook-Off, with competition and awards, so dust off your apron and pull out your secret recipe!  To sign up and support this ministry, please click here.

Already signed up?  Challenge a friend! 

+ Dinner Volunteers for Youth  
Would you like to support the Young Youth and Youth Ministries at Nativity?  Do you like to cook?

We need volunteers to prepare dinner for our Sunday night meetings!  This involves preparing the meal, serving, and cleaning up, while interacting with the younger members of our congregation.  There are currently 8 evenings in need of volunteers.

If you feel called to support the Youth ministry in this way, please click here to sign up for a Sunday meal.

If you have questions, please contact Pastor Rachel here.

+ Pub Theology



Pub Theology is back!  Pub Theology started with one of our former vicars, Jared Lee, several years ago.  
After taking a break, we'd like to start up again, meeting at breweries 
for beer and discussion.  

Join us  Thursday evening, 
February 16 at 7:30 pm
for conversation and the beverage 
of your choice.  We will be meeting at 
the Blue Ghost Brewing Company, 125 Underwood Rd in Fletcher .  

We will continue to meet every first and third  Thursday , so mark your calendar.  Our topic for discussion 
on  February 16  will be: Love

If you have any questions, 
please contact Andra Nus by calling 828-545-9519 or by emailing her here.


VBS - SAVE THE DATE!
Vacation Bible School is back, and we'll be spending a week here at the 
Maker Fun Factory
learning that we are 
Created By God, 
Built For A Purpose!  
Mark your calendars for 
July 10th through the 14th, and keep an eye out for upcoming information!  

Women's Wellness Weekend at Lutherock

Ladies, join other women, including Nativity members, for a weekend retreat to learn about caring for yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually while enjoying fellowship and outdoor adventuring.

Head to Lutherock April 21-23 to rest and renew with sisters in Christ.  Click here to learn more.  If you have more questions, please speak to  Hannah Ward.

+ council corner

Minutes from previous meetings can be found on the church's website here.

Click here to see the agenda for the next Council meeting. 

+ check us out
on social media!
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
View on Instagram
Want to get  the word out?
Please submit your communications, 
articles, events,  
and updates to:    
by noon on Wednesday  for weekly 
Nativity Notes  and  Son Times .
+ February Birthdays vintage_birthday_card.jpg
Click here to see our updated list and find out who's celebrating this month!
+ 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 

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.


The monthly periodical of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  
Read the February issue today!
 
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.
+ 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 .

 Click  for Nativity's
 
Annual Congregation Meeting

Nativity's 2017 Annual Congregation Meeting to receive the annual report of our church's activities will be  Sunday, February 19th, after the second service.

A youth-hosted chili co ok-off fundraiser coincides with this meeting.  See youth article below.
+ NPK

Click here for a great opportunity to support Nativity Preschool and Kindergarten.



SOUPER BOWL of CARING
Thank you for your generosity! Last Sunday we filled the Calvary Food Pantry shopping cart to overflowing with food, which will help feed our local neighbors. Thank you for making Christ known in this way.
jar_coin.jpg
THANK YOU to everyone 
who contributed to 
February's Noisy Offering
the proceeds of which were given to ELCA World Hunger. Through your generosity, we were able to contribute $995.01 towards the goal of feeding our neighbors glob ally.

Scout Sunday

This Sunday, we welcome Troop 8 and their families to worship with us.  Scout Sunday is a recognition of the beginning of Scouting in America, on Feb 8, 1910.  Several Scouts will help lead our worship service.  Please greet them as we celebrate our partnership in community.

+ book discussion group

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The Book Discussion Group will meet on Tuesday, February 14, at 1:30 pm in the fellowship hall and also on Thursday, February 16, at 6:30 pm in the preschool playroom. The book to be discussed at both meetings is A Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. Feel free to come to either gathering. 
 
For Discussion Guidelines, click here .
For upcoming books and corresponding synopsis, click here.
+ Shrove Tuesday with the Scouts

We are preparing to begin the Lenten journey with one last indulgence: pancakes! 
pancakes.jpg
Join us here at the church on Shrove Tuesday, February 28 at 6pm for a fundraiser hosted by our very own 
Boy Scout Troop 8.

If you have any questions, 
please contact Fred Friedrichs 
by clicking  here .

 
 
Wednesday, February 15, 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 Wednesday, February 15, 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.

Interested?  Contact Pastor Mark [email protected]
+ learn

Faith Formation 

Spiritual Gifts - Discover, Connect, and Serve
New! This is 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).  We will meet in the Middle Fellowship Hall.  

Daily Scripture Readings:
Sunday: Luke 7:18-35
Monday: Luke 8:40-42
Tuesday: Luke 43-44
Wednesday: Luke 45-48
Thursday: Luke 49-56
Friday: Luke 9:1-6
Saturday: Luke 9:7-9

God's Story, Our Story
Weekly devotional materials relating to the Narrative Lectionary are available on the Welcome Desk.
+ choir opportunities 

Nativity Choir:  meets weekly, Wednesday nights at 7 PM. We are rehearsing regularly, but more singers are always welcome to join! 

Young Youth Choir: meets weekly at 3:45 PM on Sunday afternoons

Youth Choir: meets weekly at 4:30 PM on Sunday afternoons.  Youth Group starts right after choir practice. 

Campfire Choir: meets monthly. Check the church calendar for the next meeting. 
Offering Update
February 2017

$46,080 Budgeted
$11,570 Received

THANK YOU for your faithful commitment to Nativity. 
Your giving has a significant impact on the resources and opportunity for outreach from our congregation. 

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

Click here for an interesting travel and entertainment opportunity offered to Nativity members and friends by David Lloyd. 
+ Girl Scout Service Project

This is the final week when 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

Please contact troop co-leader Jennie Gillette828-707-8343 with questions.

Thank you for your help in assisting 
Troop 2511 in their service project!

+ What's been brewing...

Have you ever wondered how we pick the coffee at Nativity? 

Like many Lutheran churches, 
we support an organization called Equal Exchange.  They do wonderful work all across the globe, working for justice and equal access. 

To find out more, click here and watch a short video about their highlights from 2016. 

coffee_table.jpg

+ 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 .
CHURCH OFFICE
HOURS
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9am-2pm