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Third Sunday of Advent
9:30 am
The presence of the Lord "in your midst" in the wonder of the holy supper is cause for singing. The nearness of the Lord in prayer, in every circumstance, is cause for rejoicing. The coming of one "more powerful" than John, even with his winnowing fork in his hand, is good news-and cause for exultation-for us who are being saved. Great joy is the tone for the third Sunday of Advent.
Pastor Brent gives the 3rd of his seasonal sermon series entitled "Advent Travelogue"...exploring D.C. sites. This week we continue the tour with Washington's "bookends"
Capital Hill and Arlington Cemetery.
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Outdoor Church Cleanup
Church clean up is this Saturday December 15th, Cristo Te Llama will be working to make our outdoor space attractive for Christmas...raking leaves and cleaning the parking lot. If you have an hour or two throw your rake in the trunk...all of Nativity are welcome to join in!
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Sunday's Givers
This Sunday we thank Sandi Kottman for providing candles ... and to Nancy Schuetze for her ongoing provision of Advent greens. Kirsten & Steve Olechnowicz also offer a delicious fellowship hour following worship...we are grateful for all who every Sunday fill our hearts with their generosity!
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Gifts of Hope
Nativity continues to work with the Metro DC synod to donate Gifts of Hope this year. There is a wide selection of gifts of varying dollar amounts which help support beneficiary organizations supported by the ELCA. Barbara Gigure will be our coordinator again this year, collecting donations for Nativity, which if you desire can be donated in the name of someone you hold near and dear (with a card for them to let them know you donated in their honor).
Please see Barbara in the fellowship hall after church for the next 3 Sundays to donate. She will have the catalog of gifts for you to view or you can preview the catalog online at www.giftsofhopedc.org. New this year is a gift that can be purchased in any amount you choose which will be 'undesignated,' with anonymous donors matching up to $9000 when this gift is purchased, and the funds distributed where the needs are greatest. Support Gifts of Hope and make a difference, locally and/or globally!
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Christmas
The Nativity of our Lord, our namesake holiday, will be celebrated December 24th at 6:00 pm with a service that includes beautiful music, a time for children, hearing the Christmas story, Holy Communion and candle lighting. Mark your calendar, make your plans, invite family and friends as we gather once again to welcome our Lord Jesus into our world and our hearts!
Let's remember that Christmas is not a day, rather a season. Come on Sunday December 30th and you will receive a gift for the New Year...and the following Sunday January 6th is Epiphany. This festival honors a star, wise men and all who seek Jesus...and closes Christmas while opening another year of grace.
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Flowers, Candles and Fellowship
We are happy to say we are fully subscribed for candles, floral arrangements and fellowship hour through the end of the year! On Christmas Eve we are asking if you can bring a plate of Christmas cookies to be shared following worship that evening...some who come will be going home to an empty house and we would love to provide a bit of cheer for all who care to linger.
Once again on Christmas Eve
Poinsettias will grace our
space. Sunday is your last chance to reserve a poinsettia so sign up in the narthex to sponsor a plant or two...cost of each plant is $10.00.
Sign up sheets for 2019 Fellowship, flowers and candles are also now available...make plans to grab your Sunday of choice!
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Nativity Book Club
On Sunday, February 10, 2019, at noon, Nativity's Book Club will meet with a discussion of the book "Master and Commander (Vol. Book 1)" the first in the series of of 'Aubrey/Maturin' novels by Patrick O'Brian. The venue will be announced in the near future. Please come and join us. We always have a great time and invite everyone regardless of whether they have the time to read the book beforehand. Snacks and drink will be provided. Also, after the discussion, we will be watching the 2003 movie 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,' the movie based on the 10th novel in the same series for those interested.
If you have any questions feel free to contact Barb Gigure at 703-915-9066 or email her at bgigure@cox.net.
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UCM Notes...
Greetings;
Last Monday Nativity delivered 71 toys to the UCM Christmas Toy Drive...the gifts were welcomed most heartily. UCM volunteers were sorting through hundreds of presents and putting them into age and toy type groups so they could be wrapped and prepared for distribution. A Christmas workshop indeed!
Many thanks to all who made this contribution possible.
Sincerely,
Robert Wales
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
Our carts need to be
replenished...when you're shopping fill a bag (see above) with items that are crucial to feeding the hundreds who weekly count on UCM for proper nourishment! Simply drop off your donation in the narthex. Thank you!
Chrismitt Tree is out...
simply purchase a pair of children's gloves or hat and clip it to the tree. This offering will be available through Epiphany.
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The Last Word...
Even though they finally won a game on Sunday, I'm pretty sure my Green Bay Packers will miss the pigskin playoffs this year...I'm surrounded by a whole bunch of fans of the local Washington club that will join me in lamenting our seasonal football fortunes. I know this isn't exactly a penetrating analysis, but both share the same problem...they've lost too many games!
In sports, maybe in life, it seems to come down to our "
won/lost" record...you can feel a bit better sometimes in how the outcome was determined, whether you played well even in defeat, maybe take solace in the fact nobody was too badly injured. But at the end of the day, if the Ls outnumber the Ws, championship aspirations quickly disappear.
With multiple definitions to many of our words, you have to know that the opposite of lost is not just won...our "fun" holiday tomorrow is a case in point. The second Friday in December is celebrated every year as
Official Lost and Found Day. Losing things is part of life and if what we lost is deemed not very important, most people tend to stop looking for it after awhile. Lost and found offices all around the world are chock full of articles that people have lost and forgotten about. Although this holiday's been around only since 2012, that's been true a lot longer... the lost and found system in Japan today, for example, dates back to a code written in 718!
So this unofficial holiday reminds people not to give up on things they have lost and maybe redouble their efforts to find them...chances are still pretty good that if it's a personal item someone is holding it for the owner to claim it. If you're prone to losing stuff, maybe tomorrow is the day to "tag" your important items so you can be contacted...I've saved replacing my sand wedge numbers of times by having my name and phone # on it. At the very least develop a better checklist when you leave home so you'll have all your belongings going and coming in your travels.
But to claim December 14th as the "official" day is a joke...the real
lost and found day comes 11 days later. Humanity was lost...each of us included. We were beaten by sin and death and had lost our bearings. Christmas is God's way of finding us...and in sending Jesus we have found our way back to God. So now our Father not only waits for us as destiny, we also welcome Jesus as our traveling companion this day on the way...especially when we get off course or turned around. And when we do suffer setbacks, when we trip up on stumbling blocks and impediments divert us off course, we trust God will find us, pick us up, and continue to join us on the way home. The Christmas story is rife with tales of travel by Mary and Joseph, angels and shepherds and kings...because of that story we know we will never be lost again.
You can lose your appetite or temper, lose face, be lost in thought or at a loss for words, even be in a losing battle...but you will never be a lost cause! In fact Jesus shows us the way to heaven is found in losing self in love for others...his
touchdown at Christmas signals our victory.
Get ready, set...almost to go!
Pastor Brent,
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Assisting
December 16, 2018
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Lector/Communion Assistant: Billy Pope
Ushers: Bob Wales
Counters: Don Bright & Council
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Monday, December 24
10:00 am Christmas Eve preparation (decorating etc...) See Pastor if you have a few minutes to spare
6:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Holy Communion.
Sunday January 6: The Epiphany of Our Lord and the last of the Christmas carols 9:30 am.
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HAVE YOU LIKED NATIVITY ON
FACEBOOK? |
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If you haven't, take a moment and check it out by using the link above. You'll find pictures and the latest information on what's happening at Nativity. When those Nativity emails get deleted, you can always find our Connects published on Facebook! Liking us is an easy form of EVANGELISM and INVITING OTHERS to Nativity since your "Likes" show up on your daily feed. Take a moment to LIKE Nativity on Facebook today! |
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| 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 |
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Directory
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The Rev. Brent H. Thalacker,
Pastor
Carrie Brutscher, Music Director and Council Secretary
Bob Kehler, Council President
Brian Bauman, Vice President
Debbie Bowers, Treasurer
Donilou24@gmail.com
Joe Mattis, Stewardship
Sandi Kottman, Council Member (at large)
Marianne Wendel, Administrative Assistant
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December 16, 2018 thru
December 22
, 2018
| Sunday |
9:30 am
Holy Communion
and Fellowship following
11:30 am COI Service
2:00 pm Cristo te Llama
7:30 pm AA Meeting
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| Monday |
1:00 pm AA Meeting
7:00 pm Cristo te Llama
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| Tuesday |
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| Wednesday |
11am-4pm Pastor Brent and Marianne in office.
7:00 pm Zenergy Yoga
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| Thursday |
6:00 pm Energetic Yoga
7:00 pm COI Band Rehearsal
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| Friday |
5:30 -8:30 pm Piano Concert in Fellowship Hall
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| Saturday |
6:00 pm Cristo te Llama
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