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+ worship
Second Sunday in Lent
Jesus challenged the widely held notion that people who had bad things happen to them were being punished by God for their sins. Jesus knew that the connection between sin and punishment was not that cut and dried. He warned them against thinking they were better simply because bad things like these hadn't happened to them - yet. Jesus' challenge was to stop dwelling on the sin and punishment of others and turn their attentions toward their own sin and repentance. Jesus' parable is a transition, encouraging repentance, and also indicating that the window for repentance (at least while Jesus walked the earth) was soon closing. Jesus would soon be in Jerusalem, where his earthly journey would end.
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LENTEN MIDWEEK
On Wednesday evenings we gather for a simple supper and shared learning at tables.
In this 500th year of the Reformation, it is right and proper to guide our conversations with the matters in Martin Luther's Small Catechism.
This small booklet covers the basics of Christian Teaching: Commandments, Creed, Prayer, Baptism and Communion.
WEDNESDAYS IN LENT
March 8, 15, 22, 29 & April 5
5:45 Supper & Sharing
6:40 Evening Prayer
The beautifully simple music of Taize gathers our hearts in prayer and meditation for an Evensong experience
7:00 Nativity Choir
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+ MINISTRY FAIR
Thank you to those who participated in Nativity's Ministry Fair this past Sunday. Many members shared their passion for ministry with one another, and we had a number of signups!
If you missed the Fair but still want to be involved in ministry at Nativity, you're in luck! Our ministries are continually open to new members; ask a pastor to point you in the right direction to connect.
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+ Pub Theology
Pub Theology
is back!
Join us
Thursday evening,
March 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 meet every
first and third
Thursday
,
so mark your calendar.
If you have any questions,
please contact Andra Nus by calling 828-545-9519 or by emailing her here.
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Offering Update
For the month of March:
$51,840 Budgeted
$16,367 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,
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Thanks to those who have already given or pledged to support our youth going to the 2018 Youth Gathering!
If you would like to give or pledge, donation envelopes can be found on the Welcome Desk. Please return them to Pastor Rachel by March 26th.
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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!
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Women's Wellness Weekend at Lutherock
Women of all ages need to take time to get away and focus on their own wellness. Hannah Ward and Jenny Feid would like to encourage others to join them at beautiful Camp Lutherock
April 21-23 for a weekend in which, according to the program description, "We will focus on ways we can take care of ourselves physically, spiritually, and mentally.
The weekend will be filled with fellowship, Bible study, and various wellness opportunities."
Register soon if you'd like to attend, and let Hannah or Jenny know if you'd like to carpool.
Click
here
to learn more and to register.
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+ council corner
Minutes from previous meetings can be found on the church's website here.
Click here to see the agenda for the upcoming Council Meeting on March 13
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+ Bells will be ringing
Are you interested in playing handbells for Palm Sunday?
How about Mother's Day?
We are going to be starting handbells once again, this time with Amber Wollner as our director. We are glad to have anyone join us for the first rehearsal, which will be held on Tuesday, March 28 at 7PM.
No expertise is required - we'd be happy to have you even if you only want to ring one bell!
Anyone who is interested in playing, please contact Amber
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Thank you to all those members from Nativity who are joining us on our bus day trip to the Belk Theatre in Charlotte on
March 11.
We have 31 folks going. The bus leaves at 10 am sharp! Don't be late! It should be a great event. We will be stopping at a great BBQ restaurant in Belmont, NC called Peace'n'Hominy "Q" shack for
lunch before heading into Charlotte for the show.
Stay tuned for news about our next theater event. We will be seeing...
(click here to read more
from David Lloyd)
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CHURCH OFFICE
HOURS
Mon-Thurs
9am-2pm |
The monthly periodical of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Read the March 2017 Issue today!
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+ time change
th
is weekend
spring forward
 remember to set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday night!
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+ learn
New! Saints for Our Times. Begins this Sunday!
What is a saint? Are there saints throughout Christian traditions and histories worth learning about? Come find out March 12, 19, 26, and April 2, as we meet between worship services and explore together the lives of several saints through the centuries, and what their lives can mean for us Christians today. This forum is for confirmed youth and adults.
Intergenerational Faith Formation - Renewed
Intergenerational Faith Formation will continue through the spring! This class is open to all members of all ages. We will meet in the Middle/South Fellowship Hall.
Daily Scripture Readings for the Week:
Sunday: Luke 13:1-9, 31-35
Monday: Luke 13:10-17
Tuesday: Luke 13:18-30
Wednesday: Luke 14:1-6
Thursday: Luke 14:7-14
Friday: Luke 14:15-24
Saturday: Luke 14:25-35
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+ 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: will meet this Sunday at 3:45 PM.
Youth Choir:
will meet this Sunday at 4:30 PM.
Campfire Choir: meets monthly. Check the church calendar for the next meeting.
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+ nativity women
The Ladies Lunch Bunch will meet Thursday, March 23, 1:00 pm at the Olive Garden restaurant on Airport Rd. Please RSVP to Barbara Hamilton at 702-2384 to make your reservation. All ladies of Nativity are welcome.
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+ opportunities from the altar guild
Would you like to find out more about the Altar Guild and what it does? Then plan to come on Saturday, March 18, 2017, 9:30 am in the fellowship hall for an
Altar Guild get together and a pot luck brunch. All are welcome - just RSVP.
A good meeting is planned with Pastor Gregg sharing thoughts and ideas and listening to your thoughts and ideas as well.
Come and experience stations of the cross (not all 14 - just 7), make an Easter craft, and sign up for the stripping of the altar on Maundy Thursday (April 13).
You will renew acquaintances and perhaps make some new ones, so b
ring a dish to share, your best smile, and willingness to have a good time.
See you there!!! RSVP
and questions to:
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+ book discussion group
The next meetings will be Tue., March 14, at 1:30 pm and Thu., March 16, at 6:30 pm. The book to be discussed at both meetings is The Nightingale
by Kristen Hannah. Feel free to come to either gathering.
For Discussion Guidelines, click
here
.
For upcoming books and corresponding synopsis, click
here.
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GIFT
GIFT - Growing In Faith Together - is an event for our entire Nativity family! Come spend time in fellowship as we learn and grow together. Our first GIFT event will be April 2, from 4-7:30 - our topic is "Generosity."
Dinner will be provided. We are excited about this first event and topic, and look forward to more GIFT events in the future.
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+Nativity Preschool and Kindergarten
Here's this week's NPK Snapshot:
Thursday morning at NPK means it is time for Chapel. Teachers and students gather in the sanctuary for a Bible lesson, songs, prayer, and an offering. Each class keeps a small "offering bucket" outside the classroom door, and during Chapel the buckets are carried forward and a combined offering is dedicated for a ministry goal. Currently, the NPK Chapel offering is going toward the purchase of a family farm through ELCA Good Gifts/ELCA World Hunger. Woods, age 3, a student in the Friendly Fish class, arrived to school last Thursday with a heavy plastic bag full of pennies, dimes, nickels, quarters and even some dollar bills. In fact, Woods had brought the entire contents of his piggy bank! His excitement and generosity was a blessing to his teachers.
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+ March
Birthdays
Click
here to see our updated list and find out who's celebrating this month!
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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
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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+ 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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+ north bank project
Yard Guard is in the process of landscaping the north bank of the church building.
Phase 1 is to set boulders and other large rocks into the bank to prevent further erosion. Rocks, equipment and labor have been donated.
Phase 2 and 3 will take place in April (22 & 29) and involve planting & mulching. Thrivent Action Team funds will be used in part.That means we will be recruiting congregation help for these phases. Stay tuned for further developments.
Supplies needed from the congregation: new or used soaker hoses. Contact Tim Feid if you have one to donate.
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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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