Nativity Lutheran Church

1300 Collingwood Road

Alexandria, VA 22308

www.nativitylutheran.org

703.768.1112

The Rev. Brent H. Thalacker, Pastor

People of Nativity, Ministers

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 NATIVI TY CONNECT
April 19, 2018 
Fourth Sunday of Easter 
9:30 am
The image of the Good Shepherd shows us how the risen Christ brings us to life. It is the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep, one of mutual knowledge and love, that gives the shepherd authority. The shepherd's willingness to lay down his life for the sheep shows his love. First John illustrates what it means to lay down our lives for one another by the example of sharing our wealth with any sister or brother in need.

Pastor Brent begins a four Sunday Sermon Series on the 23rd Psalm...taking us through the rest of the Easter Season.
Sunday's Givers!
Many thanks to Bob & Marj Kehler for providing flowers in celebration of Jared's birthday and to the Steve & Kirsten Olechnowicz for candles in observance of Frank's wife Heidi's birthday..  We also appreciate  Steve & Kirsten Olechnowicz  for preparing and  organizing Fellowship.
Ruth's Circle
(Ladies mid month Bible study).

Messiah Lutheran Church Women  meet each second Monday of the month (May 14th) at 1:00 p.m. at a member's home for sharing and conversation. We currently use Gather Magazine as the focus of our study.  All are welcome to join us!

Please contact Charlotte Hicks if you have questions or interest.  iemjags08@gmail.com
Nursery
Our fully outfitted nursery is ready for childcare...  even on the mornings when no staff is available.  We will attempt to offer any visitors who need it our undivided attention and assistance.  See Pastor if you have any questions.
Enrolling Now!
New sign-ups for flowers, candles and fellowship are now available in the Narthex... we need everyone to participate.  Bring a bouquet for flowers, drop $10 in the offering for candles, and bake or buy away for a tasty fellowship. Recognition for each is noted in the Connect.
Choir
Thanks to Carrie and our singers for  special music.  Voices young and old, new or experienced are always welcome. The season of Easter is an excellent time to show interest in this joyful and worthy enterprise! 
Simply show up at 8:45 am on  Sunday and the rest will take care of itself! 
                         
 Questions or  interest? See Carrie.         crbrutscher@gmail.com
UCM  Notes...
The UCM Food Pantry always has need for heart healthy food items. Some of the items that are always needed  Include-
      -canned tuna (or other meats) in water
      -whole wheat pasta
      -low salt canned goods
      -low sugar cereals
      -canned beans or dry beans
      -olive oil or canola oil for cooking
      unsalted nuts and seeds  
 
The UCM Food Pantry serves as a supplemental source of food for needy families  In the Mount Vernon area.   UCM distributes food every weekday plus the last Saturday  of the month. Over a 12 month period the Food Pantry has served an average of 300-400 families Per week.
  
The Last Word...
Tomorrow, April 20th, is Look Alike Day. Probably like you I had no idea that there was such a day let alone when it's observed. This unofficial holiday with unknown origins is for people who have been told that they look familiar or like someone else...sometimes it's even a famous person. This day is tailor made for identical twins and few others; for most of us it seems to not apply...unless you believe the research that says there are at least 7 people in the world who look like you!

I must say I don't think I remind anyone of anyone... I've never met any of the other 7 unfortunate folks or been stopped on the street being confused with a celebrity. Maybe with your features or body type it's possible others have seen your doppelganger out there somewhere. At the very least celebrate the day by choosing some luminary you admire and can pass for and dress up, walk or talk like them...maybe you'll run into your double.

Who do you resemble? Since this little column is meant for a Christian context the question could be phrased a different way...when others see you "in action" do you remind them of the One we celebrate as our Risen Lord? Does your life of faith prompt a connection to the Source of our being? What folks see and hear in you...does it help ring a bell of freedom and joy for them and strike a chord of familiarity and peace? When eyes are on you do others around catch a glimpse of Easter morn and grasp a bit of hope for tomorrow? How often do you profile the tenderness of God?

I can tell you this when it comes to me and my look...the answer is I fall woefully short in any expectation that I might resemble Jesus. My eyes and ears are too small and my nose and mouth too large...and my heart is too puny and hard. It's purely through grace and mercy that I'm not convicted for failure to impersonate Him... instead we are forgiven and given a new day and opportunity to be a mirror image. We need only be available to reflect the face of God.

Thank God it's not the resembling that counts...it's the reassembling that the Spirit undertakes when we are broken and worn out. We are built back up and made brand new and recreated in the very image of Christ as the people of God. While each of us is one of kind we are also always called and gathered as the full assembly. So we may not have a look alike...but may we always have a look a love!

Here's looking at you, kid!

Pastor Brent,

P.S. Please George don't sue me!
Assisting 
April 22, 2018
Counters: Bob Wales & Joe Mattis

Worship Assistant: Ronnie Gattuso

Lector
:  Dotty Ludwig

Ushers:  Joe Mattis & Joe Gattuso

Altar Guild: Esther Johnson
Down the Road
Saturday, May 5th :  Church clean-up 9:00 am.

Saturday, May 12th:  Thrivent Shred Event.  10:00-2:00 at Nativity. 

Sunday, May 13th  Mother's Day.

Saturday, May 19th  West Potomac HS Band car wash 9:00am - 2:00 pm at Nativity. 

Sunday May 20th:  Congregational Meeting 11:00 am.
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STAR Mission Statement

SEEK to grow in God's Word

TELL the story of Jesus' love & forgiveness

ACT as God's Hands in the world

REACH OUT to welcome all

Directory
The Rev. Brent H. Thalacker,
Pastor

Carrie Brutscher, Music Director and Council Secretary

Bob Kehler, Council President
c.robert.kehler@gmail.com

Brian Bauman, Vice President

Debbie Bowers, Treasurer 
Donilou24@gmail.com

Joe Mattis, Stewardship

Sandi Kottman, Council Member (at large)

Frazier O'Leary, OASIS Director
frazierslaptop@gmail.com

Marianne Wendel, Administrative Assistant
Weekly Calendar
April 22nd, 2018 thru
April 28tht, 2018
Sunday

9:30 am
Holy Communion 
Fellowship following
11:30 am  COI Service
2:00 pm  Cristo te Llama
7:30 pm AA Meeting


Monday

1:00 pm   AA Meeting
7:30 pm   Cristo te Llama

Tuesday
10:00 am Music Together
1:00 pm  AA Meeting

Wednesday



Thursday
7:30 am  Business Roundtable
10:00 am Pastor Brent in office
6:00 pm  Energetic Yoga


Friday
7:00 am  Yoga
9:00 am  Music Together

Saturday

10:00 am
Music Together
12:00 pm Dikaioma Ministiries International
6:00 pm  Cristo te Llama