www.nativityarden.org
828.684.0352
Nativity Notes: 3/23 /17
  + Worship



We continue our journey with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem, listening as he tells us a parable:  
          The Rich Man & Lazarus

Rich man, poor man. Heaven and Hell. Was Jesus telling a simple morality tale, or was Jesus making a deeper statement about what is possible for each of us right now - in this present moment?

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
Volunteers needed for cooking, set up and clean up.   Sign up online!
 
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

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.


+ 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. 
+ Noisy Offering 
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Thank you for your offering of $216.16!
Last Sunday's Noisy Offering went 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.  

Combined with the program's matching grant, we will provide $432.32 to PLS!
+ 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.
 

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.    

VBS - SAVE THE DATE!
July 10 - 14, 2017  

Maker Fun Factory
Created By God, 
Built For A Purpose!  
+ 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) 
+ 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 .
 Click  for Nativity's
  +Offering Envelopes

Offering envelopes for April - June 2017 are available in the Fellowship Hall.  

Please pick yours up to help us save on postage. 
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. 
+ Pub Theology

Pub Theology  will be moving to a new location for the month of April.  
Our meetings on  Thursday April 6 
and April 20  will be held at 

If the weather is nice, we'll be able to move outside for discussion.  
Join us for a beer and conversation!

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

Offering Update

For the month of March:
$51,840 Budgeted
$32,030 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

+ 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 




+ learn

Saints for Our Times
Join us as we 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. Click here for the class handout.

Intergenerational Faith Formation:
This class is open to all members of all ages and meets in the Middle Fellowship Hall. 

Daily Scripture Readings for the Week:
Sunday: Luke 16:19-31
Monday: Luke 17:1-10 
Tuesday: Luke 17:11-19 
Wednesday: Luke 17:20-37 
Thursday: Luke 18:1-8 
Friday: Luke 18:9-17 
Saturday: Luke 18:18-30 
+ book discussion group

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Join us for our April book discussion on Tuesday the 18th at 1:30 pm or Thursday the 20th at 6:30 pm. April's book is A Man of His Own by Susan Wilson.

 
For Discussion Guidelines, click here .
For upcoming books and corresponding synopsis, click here.
+ March  Birthdays vintage_birthday_card.jpg
Click here to see our updated list and find out who's celebrating this month!
+Nativity Preschool and Kindergarten

Click here for this week's 
NPK Snapshot, to find out how the NPK students learned about St. Patrick! 

WISH LIST:
Nativity Preschool and Kindergarten is busy place, which means it goes through an impressive amount of cleaning each week. For those who are willing to donate the following items to the cause, there will be a box near the Welcome Desk:
  • Clorox Wipes 
  • Baby Wipes 

+ 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 March 2017 Issue today!
CHURCH OFFICE
HOURS
Mon-Thurs
9am-2pm
+ council corner

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


+ 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 .