The Rev. Brent H. Thalacker, Pastor
(C) 571.236.4976
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Nativity Connect
June 30, 2021
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We invite you to join us each Sunday morning as we gather in assembly. Service of the Word arrives in your email. We are together in worship.
Sunday, July 4, 9:00 AM – Independence Day. Holy Communion. Pastor Mitch officiates his first service as our pastor.
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Thursday, July 1. Pastor Mitch Watney assumes pastoral responsibilities
Sunday, July 11, 9:00 AM – Holy Communion and Fellowship. Worship and Welcoming Reception for Pastor Mitch.
Wednesday, July 14, 10:30 AM Services for Paul Mickelson will be held at the Naval Academy Chapel followed by internment at the Naval Academy Columbarium.
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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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Greeting from Pastor Mitch |
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Greetings Nativity Friends,
Hi, Pastor Mitch here. I am eager to gather with you in worship, prayer, study, fellowship and service as we explore what God has entrusted to you and where God might take us both in the months ahead. I am honored to walk with you during this time in the life and work of Nativity Lutheran.
I love the name Nativity. It speaks to me of the power, wisdom and work of God to meet us in the real world, amid our everyday lives, where we somehow least expect to see the face of God. Just like God comes to us incarnate, in a manger, in a barn is the real world. In my 30+ years of ministry I keep discovering that God’s grace and activity often arrives with a human feel; with faces, hands and hearts - in real persons who carry the intentions and purposes of God. Remember Ananias in Acts Ch 9? He was sent to Saul in Damascus to heal him of his blindness, baptize him and welcome him into the ministry he once persecuted.
I feel most alive and engaged in my faith, when I am attentive to the hand, faces, hearts of real persons right around me. So, I am eager to know you, to hear each of your stories of faith and the people who have crossed your path to life in Christ.
At some point you will meet my family, my wife Shannon Anderson (Pastor of Peace Lutheran in Waldorf) and I have two daughters: Sara Noel (now 9) and Willa Joy (now 6). They keep us hopping, always needing to up our game in life, relationship and family.
For now, my plan is to be in and around Alexandria and Nativity on Mondays and Tuesdays. I plan to have office hours from 9 am to noon on those days. I will work from home on Thursdays finishing up plans for Worship. I really look forward to connecting with each of you and you don’t have to wait for me to contact you. Feel free to call the church during my office hours; email me to arrange a time to visit (by phone or in person). In an emergency or with an urgent issue you can call my cell, 240-317-9345.
Now that the building and building activities are beginning to open again, we are looking for comfortable and safe ways to gather, connect, renew our support of each other and continue the activity of growing in faith and life. I hope you will consider joining us in worship and fellowship soon. If you have special or ongoing needs for connections outside of Worship and Fellowship, please let me know and we will see what we can do to help.
I look forward to seeing you in Worship, online, in person or by Zoom someday soon.
Pastor Mitch
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At the Movies with ULS President Guy Erwin |
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Everyone is invited to join President Erwin by Zoom to discuss two of his top picks for movies to engage with (Zoom link sent via email after you register
- Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 PM
“As It Is In Heaven” a Swedish film with
English subtitles
- Thursday, July 29, 6:30 PM
“The Apostle” starring Robert Duval
Enjoy an opportunity to meet President Erwin and engage in discussion around movies he enjoys. Participants will watch the movies prior to the scheduled discussion date.
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Lutheran Night at Camden Yards |
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Join friends from across Metro D.C. and Delaware-Maryland Synods for Lutheran Night at Camden Yards when the Orioles will take on the Washington Nationals! Mark the date: Friday, July 23 at 7:05pm.
Tickets are $25, and you can pay for your tickets by sending a check paid to "DE/MD Synod" to Margie DeLong at 9009 Chateaugay Ct., Parkville MD 21234. Please enclose a self addressed stamped envelope. The deadline is July 12 with no exceptions as we are purchasing the tickets on the July 13 and mailing them out on July 14.
There are only 100 tickets reserved so get them early. You can contact Margie at 410-292-9089 or at madelong1162@gmail.com.
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2021 IFC Unity Walk in PERSON! |
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Registration is open for the Interfaith Council of Metro Washington Annual Unity Walk, which will take place in person on Sunday, September 12th from 1-6 pm.
The annual IFC Unity Walk brings together hundreds of people from all faiths and backgrounds in a public display of solidarity and hope.
Join us as we support one another and begin to heal our communities and our region. The event will start at 1pm at Washington Hebrew Congregation with tours of the synagogue and an opening ceremony and will continue along Massachusetts Ave., NW with a closing ceremony at 5:30pm.
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“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. God's Work, Our Hands Sunday is coming up on September 12, 2021. You are invited to view these resources from the ELCA Churchwide Office to assist in your preparation for this important Sunday.
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Feel Good Friday
Juneteenth 2021, Blasting Off at Summer Camp, and the World Stage
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Juneteenth 2021 - Celebrating Freedom in Creekside: Last Saturday, United Community partnered with INOVA and Supervisor Rodney Lusk to host a Juneteenth Cook-out in the Creekside Village Community.
Nearly 100 residents came out to celebrate the end of slavery with music, food, cultural performances, and local Black-owned small businesses!
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Blasting Off at Summer Camp: Summer Camp is underway at the Sacramento Neighborhood Center! The theme for this week is Space.
Some of our campers favorite activities so far include making their very own Rockets, learning how to make "Galaxy Slime", and even getting a surprise visit from Delegate Paul Krizek!
For more fun Summer Camp updates, be sure to follow the Sacramento Neighborhood Center on Instagram and Facebook
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The World is a Stage! This past week United Community partnered with the Mount Vernon Community Children's Theatre for an Arts Adventure Mini-Camp at Creekside Village Community Center.
Campers learned the basics of singing, dancing, and acting -- including choreography, vocal warm-ups, and how to conduct an interview for TV!
Special thanks to Mt. Vernon Community Children's Theatre for showing our kids how much fun the Arts can be!
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Partner Spotlight - The Safeway Foundation: United Community is excited to share that we've received a generous grant from Safeway Foundation's Nourishing Neighbors Program!
Every penny will be used to make sure families have enough food to eat this summer. Special thanks to Safeway for helping us feed our community!
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Team Spotlight - Healthy Families Fairfax: Hello from our Healthy Families Fairfax team!
These amazing ladies have been helping young parents throughout the pandemic, providing them with one-on-one counseling, parenting advice and much-needed supplies such as clothes, diapers, and developmental toys.
We caught up with them on Tuesday, as they were picking up supplies for the families they serve. Thank you, Healthy Families team for all that you do for our community!
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Just a note of sincere appreciation for our Sunday send off; Sue and I both were deeply touched and agreed that love was in the air, both back in our sanctuary and outside on the lawn. To have my favorite songs was both the best and worst of it: Carrie on our organ was tops and my singing the bottom! And to share all of that with partner and sister congregations, Synod, friends, and community joining in the goodbyes was extra special. Thanks to all who made the day one we shall never forget!!
It is fitting on the last day of an 'administration' to greet the next one with open hand, so we welcome Pastor Mitch today even as we wave goodbye to you. We've already toured Nativity together, and he knows that in the future I will not ask any questions, only try to answer them!
It is also customary to issue pardons today. In this case I'll just repeat the words I spoke to us each Sunday... a reminder that we are forgiven and free to serve the Lord. Thanks be to God!
I'll leave the playing field now, ascending to the bleachers where I'll be cheering you on, hoping for the best, and always loving Nativity.
So my last 'Last Word' to you is "Peace".
Your Pastor (for a few more hours),
Brent,
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New Address
As a reminder, please use the new PO Box for donations, or bring your donation to church on Sunday and deposit it in the familiar collection plate (same plate-different location).
If you need it, here is the PO Box info:
Nativity Lutheran Church
PO Box 8083
Alexandria, VA 22306-9998
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ELCA
Below are the links to our Church websites where you will find up to date info about what is being done by and for Lutherans across our nation and the world.
Quick Links
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The Rev. Brent H. Thalacker,
Pastor
bthalacker@cox.net
Carrie Brutscher, Music Director and Council Secretary
Bob Kehler, Council President
Eric Remick Vice President
Debbie Bowers, Treasurer
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Joe Mattis, Stewardship
Sandi Kottman, Council Member (at large)
Brian Bauman, Council Member (at large)
Marianne Wendel, Administrative Assistant (Volunteer)
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Address:
1300 Collingwood Road,
Alexandria, VA 22308
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