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+ worship
Third Sunday in Lent
This Sunday is all about the lost being found. Sometimes we are the ones who are looking for something or someone.
Other times,
we
are
the lost, hoping to be found. We hope to see you in worship this week, where the Holy Spirit finds each one of us, and leads us forward in the way of Christ.
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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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We're having a Book Fair!
Our Book Fair, sponsored by Sparkhouse Family, is designed to help parents, grandparents, and friends instill an open-hearted, transformational, lifelong Christian faith in their children at every age and stage.
Stop by the Fair and shop award-winning Bibles, books, and videos for kids. Save up to 50% PLUS free shipping on all titles.
This is a great Easter Gift option!
The Fair will be in the Fellowship Hall
on March 19th and 26th.
Our church will earn 20% of the proceeds to go towards curriculum or other resources!
Questions? Contact Pastor Rachel
here.
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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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Sunday's Noisy Offering will go to Pisgah Legal Services' "Justice for All Project." Through this project, PLS assists eligible immigrants in Western NC in securing work authorization and legal status at no charge. PLS also helps them secure food, housing, and safety from abuse.
A challenge grant has been given to PLS so that every gift given by April 30th will be matched, up to $20,000. Today's Noisy Offering will help members of our community find safety and security.
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+ nativity women
Save the date for the Spring Gathering of the Women of the ELCA. The Mountain Conference will hold a gathering for all women at Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Andrews, NC, on
Saturday, April 29, 2017. We will car pool from Nativity at
8:00 am. The program is
titled "Women of the Reformation." The offering is designated for Agape+Kure Beach and in-kind offerings of personal toiletries and paper products will be received for Friendship House in Andrews. Cost is $8.00 which includes lunch. We should be home by 3:00 pm. Please call Linda Blake, 684-8378, for reservations (by April 18) and questions.
The Nativity Women will meet on
Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 11:00 am in the fellowship hall for their monthly meeting.
Please note this is a week earlier than usual. Bring a bag lunch, if you wish. We will continue with our Bible study with chapter nine of John's Gospel. All are welcome. Each lesson stands on its own, so don't worry if you have not come to previous sessions.
The Nativity Card Ministry will meet on
Thursday, April 6 at 12:30 pm. in the fellowship hall to make cards for our members on the prayer list. Again, this is a week earlier than our usual time. Men and women are invited to help make beautiful cards in a step by step process. Creativity has been provided, we just need your willing hands to put it all together.
Ladies Lunch Bunch will meet
Thursday, April 27, at
1:00 pm. Our hostess is Nancy Seekamp. More details will be announced later.
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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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+ council corner
Minutes from previous meetings can be found on the church's website here.
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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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+Offering Envelopes
Offering envelopes for April - June 2017 are available in the Fellowship Hall.
Please pick yours up to help us save on postage.
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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 is April 2, from 4-7:30 pm - our topic is "Generosity."
Dinner will be provided.
Please click
here to RSVP.
We are excited about this first event and topic, and look forward to more GIFT events in the future.
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+ learn
New! Saints for Our Times. Begins this Sunday (Pushed back due to last week's snow)!
What is a saint? Are there saints throughout Christian traditions and histories worth learning about? Come find out on 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, and 4/9, 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:
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 15:1-32
Monday: Deuteronomy 21:15-17
Tuesday: Deuteronomy 21:18-21
Wednesday: Psalm 51
Thursday: Proverbs 21:1-5
Friday: Luke 16:1-13
Saturday: Luke 16:14-18
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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
$24,640 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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+ 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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+ 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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+ March
Birthdays
Click
here to see our updated list and find out who's celebrating this month!
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+Nativity Preschool and Kindergarten
NPK Snapshot, to see how some of our children answered the question:
"How do you show love?"
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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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The monthly periodical of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Read the March 2017 Issue today!
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+ copyright updates
Ever wonder what Nativity is doing to avoid infringing on copyrighted material?
Most folks hardly ever think about it, but infringing on copyrighted material is stealing; it's theft of intellectual property. (For more on stealing,
see Commandment #7)
The issues surrounding copyrighted material and church use might be overlooked elsewhere, but we are working hard to keep things honest.
If you would like to learn more about how copyrights affect the life of the church, click one or both of the following:
Link 1 (an ELCA resource with links to other resources)
Link 2 (a helpful webpage with an overview of the subject, courtesy of the United Church of Christ)
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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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CHURCH OFFICE
HOURS
Mon-Thurs
9am-2pm |
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