www.nativityarden.org
828.684.0352
Nativity Notes               7/6 /17
VBS Starts Monday!
We have nearly 50 kids and 36 volunteers who are a part of this year's Maker Fun Factory VBS!  It's going to be a fantastic week of learning and growing in faith. 

Please keep these kids and volunteers in your prayers this week as they learn how we are Created by God, Built for a Purpose!
+ VBS Setup! 

We will be setting up the church for our week of Maker Fun Factory VBS  this Saturday and Sunday. 

If you'd like to help us get ready for an awesome week, we'll be working starting at 9:30am on Saturday, and 12pm on Sunday!  
Giving Update

 Your faithful giving contributes to our mission of Making Christ Known.

Click here to see a summary of what was given and spent in the month of June.

Thank you for supporting the ministries of this parish! 

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

Join the revival of acoustic music at Nativity with the Stringed Instrument Group!

Do you have a hankerin' to pick, strum, or fiddle?  How about just stompin' clappin' and singin'?  Acoustic music will be back at Nativity on 
Sunday August 13.  
Bring your talents to help us sing praise to God while playing some classic favorites that celebrate a golden age of songwriting and the Appalachian sound.  

Contact  Paul Calderone 
(simply click here) for more information.  The first meeting will be Thursday, July 13 at 6:30pm.  
She's back!
Michele Grush began her position as Parish Administrator this week. Her office hours are Monday - Thursday, 9am until 2pm.  Stop by and say hello!
man_scratches_head.jpg
  Why do we do that?

Have you ever had a question about something we do in church, but weren't sure whom or how to ask?  This feature is for you! 

The goal of this portion of the 
e-news is to provide a safe space for questions to be answered and provide more information for everyone's benefit.

This week's question asks about the significance of Communion linens. Click here to read the answer.
 
Please submit your question by clicking here.
Three special travel opportunities for members and friends of Nativity:
  • Sat., July 29 - Footloose; The Musical. Barter Theater, Abingdon, Va.
  • Sat., Dec. 16 - White Christmas
  • Spring 2018 - Cuba!
UPDATE: There are only
two seats left for the "Footloose" coach day trip, departing July 29th. If you have been thinking about going, but have been waiting, now is the time to sign up. The price is $70 per person for transportation and the ticket to the show. We will stop for lunch (on your own) on the way to Abington in Jonesborough, TN.

Click here for details or talk with
Dave Lloyd (687-3655).
+ give

Calvary Food Pantr y Volunteers are needed at Calvary Food Pantry. Join the Nativity crew on the first and second  Saturday  mornings of the month. If you have experience shopping with a grocery list or pushing a grocery cart, you are qualified! Volunteers with computer data entry skills are also needed. Sign up digitally  here or at the Welcome Desk. Contact Heather Neal (658-9309 or email) or Pastor Rachel to learn more.
+ council corner
 
Minutes from the Council's June 2017 meeting can be found here
on our website's Council page. 

The next Council meeting will take place in August.
+ book discussion group


The next Book Discussion Group will meet on  Tuesday, July 11, at 1:30 pm  in the fellowship hall and again  Thursday, July 13, at 6:30 pm  in the fellowship hall. The book under discussion in both meetings will be  Iris and Lily  by Angela and Julie Scipioni. There is no June meeting.

For Discussion Guidelines, click here .
For a new list of upcoming books (Aug-Dec) and corresponding synopsis, click here
+ lose something?

droid_smartphone.jpg

Sometime last week, a phone was found in the church building. If you think it might be yours, let Pr. Gregg know by emailing him  here
(We would suggest you give him a call, but that would be a cruel joke)
+ Nativity Preschool and Kindergarten


Click here for this week's NPK Snapshot, highlighting the exciting summer projects that are taking place. 

Want to get  the word out?
Please submit your communications, 
articles, events,  
and updates to:    
by noon on Wednesday  for weekly 
Nativity Notes.
+ check us out
on social media!
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
View on Instagram
S A B B A T I C A L

Pastor Mark's sabbatical continues, and we continue to hold him in our prayers for a rejuvenating experience.  
Read how this teaching opportunity has given a new focus to his sabbatical leave time for this year.

Sabbatical leave:  
Monday May 22 - Sunday July 30

 Click  for Nativity's
+ Pub Theology

  Join us tonight, July 6
for  Pub Theology here at Nativity! 
We will meet at  7:30pm. 
All we need is you! 

Questions? Call or email
Andra Nus at  [email protected] or  828.545.9519.
+
Reformers 
Reading
Romans

In honor of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the synod's Reformation 500 and Book of Faith Task Groups are pleased to present an  online summer Bible study-Reformers Reading Romans-with lessons by Lutherans from all over NC. 

Romans influenced Luther's spiritual development and pointed him to God's undeserved and life-changing grace. Join us as we learn about Romans and each other through this study.

Access the study in three ways:
  • Follow the synod's Facebook page (NC Synod, ELCA) beginning July 9. 
  • Download it in its entirety from the synod's "Engage the Bible"
    ( here) 
     or "Reformation 500" ( here ) web pages.
  • Subscribe to receive a daily email with a link to that day's lesson. Subscribe to Reformers Reading Romans from the "Engage the Bible"  (here) or "Reformation 500"
    (here) web pages.  
+ learn   
 
Daily Scripture Readings for the Week:
Sunday: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Monday: Isaiah 40:28-31
Tuesday: Romans 7:15-25
Wednesday: Jeremiah 31:1-26
Thursday: Matthew 6:25-34
Friday: Luke 12:22-31
Saturday: Psalm 145:8-14
Sunday: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

TAKING FAITH HOME:
This weekly devotional handout is available on the Welcome Desk.
"Taking Faith Home" is a production of Milestones Ministry, LLC, and is created by a team lead by an ELCA Pastor.
+ opportunity to share your gifts this summer!

If you are interested in singing a solo, or joining your voice in a duet, or playing an instrument, or offering a liturgical dance, or just about ANY artistic expression of your faith during the offerings this summer, please sign-up on the board outside the choir room. Pastor Gregg and Gary Mitchell will contact you and explore possibilities. If you would rather discuss your ideas with Pr. Gregg first, let him know by clicking here
Meet Nativity's Social Media Intern:
 
Grace Loizzo!

Grace is a rising senior at T.C. Roberson High School, and has been a member of Nativity for most of her life. For her Senior Project, Grace will be working with Pr. Gregg to help run Nativity's various social media accounts, learning more about communication in the process. We welcome Grace to the team! 
+ Money Minute

Click here to read 
July's  Money Minute, 
and read how our financial contributions support the care ministry of Nativity.

+ nativity women

The Nativity Women's Group will not meet in July.  For more information, please call Linda Blake at  684.8378 or email at  [email protected] .

The Nativity Card Ministry will not meet in July. Join us again in August. More details coming.

Lunch Bunch will meet on Thursday, July 27, at 1:00 pm. Sandy Vlahos is our hostess. 650-2781. More details coming.

Benefit Concert
Sunday, July 16th @ 3pm
Calvary Episcopal Church,
Fletcher, NC

Nolan Anthony, organ/piano
Calvary Food Pantry
Canned Food & Monetary Donations Welcomed
Electronic 
G I V I N G 

Did you know that Nativity has an electronic giving option?

We contract with Vanco, an e-giving company endorsed by the ELCA, to provide an easy option for your offering.

Vanco allows you to set up auto-payments, so you never have to worry about sending in your offering when you're on vacation or forgetting your checkbook.

Auto-payments also help us keep our ministries running steadily here at Nativity.

Like putting something in the offering plate? Good news!  Soon, we'll have e-giving cards in the pew racks, so that you can indicate your offering physically during worship.

To sign up for e-giving, click  here.

If you'd like to learn more about e-giving, please email our Financial Secretary,  Carrie Dahlberg,   
here.


birthday candles

Click here to see who's 
celebrating this month!
+ When are you going to camp this summer?

 We want to support our youth as they attend camp this summer, and Nativity's custom is to lift them up in prayer during their week of camp. In order to do this, we need your help! 

Please email the office ( click here) if you have one or more children attending camp this summer. Let us know when they are going, that way we can pray for them on that Sunday as a part of our worship at Nativity. 
Thank you for your help! 
Lutheridge currently has a part time position open in the registration office. 
A complete job description is available here. Resumes can be mailed to the address below.
  
Jessica Steele, Registration Manager
NovusWay Ministries
2049 Upper Laurel Drive
Arden NC 28704

+ + +

Also, Lutheridge is looking for some volunteer help. Lutheridge Home Office Volunteers give 4 hours a week, answering phones, greeting visitors and other general office work. Entry-level computer skills are helpful.  Office volunteers are currently needed for Thursday afternoons, and Friday morning or afternoon.  Contact Margo Rabon for more information,
828-209-6327 or speak to other Nativity members who volunteer:  Terry Clever, Doris Fogg, Michael and Tina Kestner, Nadine Lloyd and Don Poole.
CHURCH OFFICE
HOURS
Mon-Thurs
9am-2pm