www.nativityarden.org
828.684.0352
Nativity Notes      9 /21/17
150 ENVELOPES FUNDRAISER

What is the 150 Envelopes fundraiser?
It's an opportunity to support Nativity's 14 youth and 4 adult leaders who will attend the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, TX, next June! The Youth Gathering is a unique faith forming experience based in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, alongside 30,000 Lutherans from the US and beyond. 
 
How does it work?  
This fundraiser proves that Every Dollar Counts! There are 150 envelopes, marked with dollar amounts from $1-$150. 
You're invited to take any envelope (or envelopes!), fill it with the noted dollar amount ($36 in the example above), and return it. If every envelope is filled and returned, we will raise $11,270 for our Gathering group! This would be an incredible gift to our Gathering group, covering over half of what they'll need to go (the total cost will be about $21,000). 

Click here to read more!

Click here for exciting updates on Nativity Youth's 
journey to the Gathering!
ONE SUNDAY LEFT to order your
R E F O R M A T I O N  t-shirt!
Luther Rose Reformation emblem on front left and Luther "nailed it" on back of shirt.  Available in red or royal blue.  Short sleeved - $15.  Long sleeved - $20. Payments due upon delivery.
Available in sizes Youth S - XL and Adult S - XXL. Look for the sign in the Fellowship Hall!
+ Choir Opportunities

This fall we are offering a variety of opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to combine their gifts for God's glory. Here's a peek at some of the options:

Nativity Choir - rehearses on Wednesdays at 7pm. This choir sings each week at the 11am worship service. 

 

Youth Choir - rehearses on Sundays at 4:30pm.

 

Young Youth Choir - rehearses on the Sundays in which Young Youth is being held. The first rehearsal for this group THIS SUNDAY Sept. 24th.

 

Campfire Choir - will now rehearse on the Sunday mornings when the choir will sing at the 8:30 service. The four Sundays this fall for Campfire Choir are: THIS SUNDAY 9/24, 10/22, 11/26, 12/10.

 

Handbell Choir - rehearses on the two Tuesday evenings that fall before the choir rings in worship. Handbell Choir will play on the third Sunday of the month, beginning in October. The first rehearsal is Oct. 3rd at 7pm. 

 

If you would like to get involved or would like more information, contact Pr. Gregg by clicking here.

MELC   volunteers needed!
+ + + + + + + + + +
At God's Work, Our Hands, many people were surprised to see how large Nativity's
M edical Equipment Loan Closet 
has grown!  This ministry is important to our neighbors, and we want to keep it going strong.  We are in need of volunteers to help with a variety of MELC tasks.  Please click HERE   to see our volunteer opportunities, and please email Pastor Rachel if you'd like to be more involved.  


Click here to see who's
celebrating!
Pastor Mark to Lead Laughter Workshop at Lutheridge

Pastor Mark will be one of many presenters at the  50Forward LIVING WELL retreat - Oct 6-8 at Lutheridge. Those in the late career, early retirement stage of life will discover LAUGHING MATTERS in physical, mental & spiritual health. Talk to Pastor Mark or Dana to join their group & get the discount. Come for practical knowledge, inspiration and FUN! 
More info  here
+ council corner

Minutes from past Council  meetings 
can be  found  on the Nativity website  Council page .

Our September meeting was postponed due to weather; instead, Council meets tonight at 6:30. Click here for the agenda. 

Click here to see the minutes from the August meeting (pending approval).
 
Classes are held between worship services from 9:40am until 10:40am.

 + Adult Forum  with Pastor Mark in the North Fellowship Hall.

 + Confirmed Youth with Pastor Gregg in the Modular.

 + 7th & 8th Graders  with Wes McCall
 +  5th & 6th Graders  with Debbie McGinnis in the Modular.

+  3rd & 4th Graders with Kirsten Cooper and Stacey Zabel in the Curious Kinders Room (downstairs).

+ K-2nd Graders with Colleen Dieterly and Laura Baylor in the Little Explorers Room (downstairs).

+ 3 and 4 Year Olds with Laura McCall and Liz Teall-Fleming in the Awesome Owls Room (Preschool Hall).

+ Nursery available for children under 3.

LADIES LUNCH BUNCH

Thursday, September 28 at 1pm 
Carrabba's Italian Grill in Arden 
Nancy Rehan is our hostess. 
You can reach her at 231-1135.

SACRED REVOLUTION
with Diana Butler Bass & 
John Dominic Crossan

November 9-12, 2017
Lutheridge

Click here to view the full flyer.
To register, visit
or call Ann Holtz at 865-414-8509.
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.

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.
+ 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.
 Click  for Nativity's

Click for:
T O N I G H T

Join us for the next Pub Theology meeting at 
Blue Ghost Brewing Company
in Fletcher (off Airport Rd. at 125 Underwood Rd. Fletcher) on at 7:30PM.  All we need is YOU!  Questions?  Contact Andra Nus at [email protected] or 828.545.9519.
CAMPFIRE CHOIR 
to sing this Sunday! All are welcome to join rehearsal (led by Pastor Tim) at 8am in the choir room. The group will sing the Offertory anthem at the 8:30 service.
We are pleased to announce that we are posting for the Music Director position at Nativity!  The new hire will begin in 2018.  If you would like to read the job description, click here.  If you have questions, please contact Pastor Gregg
+  money minute

Can $2 really make a difference at Nativity?
 
Click here to read September's Money Minute to learn how valuable this seemingly small amount really is!
Lutheran Church the of the Nativity
BLOOD DRIVE
In the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, our local and national blood supplies are severely depleted. 
Your help is urgently needed. 

Thursday, September 28
2:00pm - 6:30pm
Fellowship Hall

Please sign up to donate blood:
Thank you.

S pecial Opportunities for
Nativity Members!  

Comedy Tour
Saturday, October 14th.
(Rumor has it Pastors Rachel and
Gregg are going to be on the bus!)
____________________________
 
"White Christmas"
Barter Theater in  Abingdon, VA
Saturday, December 16th.
____________________________

Click here for details and 
how to sign up for these fun events!
Interested in learning more about Nativity?  God?  Following Jesus? 

Starting  Wednesday, 
October 46:00-8:00 PM
THE WAY:  INQUIRING HEARTS

Questions are always welcome.  The curriculum is our own stories shared in the light of God's story. The journey begins  October 4.

Pastor Mark and Dana invite all adults who wish to gather for food, fellowship and faith formation to be their guests Wednesday, on October 46:00-8:00.  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?  Please RSVP  here.  Supper and sharing will happen at the Fitzsimmons' home.
+ learn   
 
Daily scripture readings 
beginning September 24

Sunday
Matthew 20:1-16
Monday
Jonah 3:10-4:11
Tuesday
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Wednesday
Ephesians 1:3-14
Thursday
Titus 3:3-7
Friday
John 1:14-18
Saturday
Psalm 145
Sunday
Matthew 21:23-32

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.
+ give

THANK YOU for helping us save on postage by picking up your 4th Quarter giving envelopes in the Fellowship Hall.

Click here for the latest news!
Save the date!

Click here for details!
+ give

Do you give electronically,
but like putting something 
in the offering plate? 

Good news!  We now have 
e-giving cards in the pew racks, so that you can indicate your offering physically during worship!   If you'd like to know more about  e-giving, scroll down to the GIVE + Vanco block below.
G I V I N G
Update

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

For the month of August
Budgeted to receive: $51,840
Actual received: $48,526
Budgeted to spend: $56,950
Actual spent: $48,699

To read the most recent 
Treasurer's Reportclick here .

To see the  financial summary for the month of August, click here.

Thank you for your support 
of the ministry we share!

If you have any questions, please contact our  Financial Secretary,
Carrie Dahlberg by clicking here
HURRICANES HARVEY AND IRMA
Join other Thrivent members by supporting disaster relief efforts.

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have left a trail of destruction across the southern United States.  Harvey uprooted the lives and livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people in Texas and western Louisiana. Just two weeks later, Hurricane Irma caused chaos and devastation in Florida as well as in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It's anticipated Irma will impact multiple other states, including Georgia and the Carolinas, too.  You can make a personal donation on Thrivent.com to provide assistance to hurricane victims.  When you do, Thrivent will double the impact - up to $3 million.  This opportunity will run until the $3 million match is met or until December 31, 2017, whichever comes first.

 Got a question?
Click here to so we can 
get you an answer!
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