The Rev. Brent H. Thalacker, Pastor
(C) 571.236.4976
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Nativity Connect
May 19, 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 and we celebrate Holy Communion drive in style (88.5 on your FM dial) at Nativity. So whether we are on the lawn, in our cars or on our screens our hearts and minds are in the same place. We are together in worship.
Sunday, May 23rd, 9:00 am:
Day of Pentecost. Don't forget to wear RED.
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Sunday May 30th: PB in SC, Pastor Ron from Messiah will preside and preach as our guest.
June 4th-6th: Virtual Synod Assembly. See below for details.
Sunday, June 6th: Synod Live Stream Worship Service 10:00 am. (No outdoor Worship at Nativity.) Details TBA.
Wednesday June 9th: Anneliese Betz's interment is at Arlington Cemetery June 9 at 11 am. Arrive at 10:15 for vehicle/id check at the administration building.
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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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Slowly but surely, I'm beginning the task of emptying my study at Nativity. Since I've never been one to leave things until the last minute, I can guarantee that I'll have it all out by 11:58 p.m. on June 30th! Although the last decade has flown by, I can mark the time by the layers of office accumulation, sometimes resembling an archeological dig. Tucked away in a box I discovered a cache of old CDs which I've not seen in, you guessed it, almost a decade.
This one is a long lost friend; Leo Kottke is a master of the 12 string and has a voice that marries well with his instrument. In my favorite of his songs he borrows the lyrics written by the legendary Tom T. Hall and applies his own licks and twists to fashion "Pamela Brown". Hall's 'story song' came from his own experience growing up in a small town; even the names weren't changed to protect the innocent. Leo does it justice in his tuneful way; the song always brings a wry smile...this time a column as well!
This singer expresses a debt of gratitude to Pamela Brown for not reciprocating his affection for her; he had fallen hard for "educated, well-intentioned, good girl in our town" Pamela. He wonders where he'd be if she had loved him too, "probably driving kids to school". Instead, he's roamed to cities and foreign lands, achieved fame and fortune, become the star of the show...and he owes it all to her disaffection. Tom/Leo can't resist a mild dig; she chose another because she "dug his pick-up truck".
Maybe I find affinity in this song cause my first true love was also a Pamela; she afforded me the same favor by failing to recognize my well concealed crush. Somehow I got over it, and for all my adventures between 54494 and 22039, including being Pastor of Nativity, I am most grateful! So join me in either thanking or blaming her, depending...
Maybe you have a 'Pamela Brown' in your past...appreciate that encounter! We usually value the people that have loved and helped us on our way or the experiences that bring joy and meaning. But we've all had our share of rejection, disappointment, and loss; that which gives an emotional noisy 'no' is also the prelude and gateway to the 'yes'. This is the language we use: grace and time turn sadness to joy; we cannot see that which awaits around the corner, the trail that leads to the sunny peaks that we blessedly may achieve often originates in the shadowed valleys of rejection. There is death, then resurrection; we acknowledge both as the components of the "good times" both behind and ahead for us individually and as church together.
Leo guesses he owes it all to PB; there's another PB...me! I'm educated and well intentioned as well... just not very pretty! This PB knows who he owes; but you'll have to stay tuned for June 27th to find out! I'll be specific then; today I'll thank you, dear reader, for hanging in for all my verbal 'roamin' these past 300+ columns, and hoping you'll stay with me for the month ahead. I'll be off next week in South Carolina to be with the grandsons, and check back in the first week in June. Just to show that you can teach an old dog new tricks, for the first time ever I'm closing with a video! I don't know much about the "tube" part, but I do love "you"!
Pastor Brent,
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Grandparents Bob and Marj Kehler are excited to announce that they have a new grandson.
Parents Jared and Kaylee Kehler welcomed a new baby boy into the family.
Dustin Edward Kehler
Born 5/16/2021 at 5:16 pm
8 lbs 6 ozs
All are doing fine.
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Mental Health Awareness Statement from Bishop Eaton |
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Since the global pandemic was declared in March 2020, many of us have endured extended emotional and psychological anguish. That experience may be dramatically worsened by the ugly realities of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia or poverty. Our anguish has taken the form of sadness in isolation, anxiety in uncertainty, grief over loss, stress over economic challenges and worry over events beyond our control — including the tremendous impact of the crisis on our children. This pandemic threatens our mental health just as much as our physical health. For millions of us adults living in the United States, receiving the vaccine and the hope it brings has alleviated our unease, sorrow and grief.
This past year has provided some of us with a deeper understanding of and empathy for the ongoing mental health challenges endured by our neighbors, friends and family. During Mental Health Awareness Month, especially, our church intentionally recognizes the anguish our siblings in Christ experience daily — pandemic or no — and the fear many of them feel about sharing their stories....
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Mar-Lu-Ridge Community Dinner |
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Join MLR on Sunday, June 13 beginning at 5:00 pm in the main camp pavilion for a picnic supper, fellowship with our summer staff, and community worship. We can’t wait to see you all again! We will follow all COVID regulations such as face coverings and social distancing as we gather safely to celebrate and welcome back summer camp! |
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Feel Good Friday
Girls on The Run 5K, Kiwanis Club Shout-out, and
Volunteers Go the Distance During Gas Crisis
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Creekside Girls On The Run Season Finale: This week our amazing Girls on the Run teams at Creekside Village Community Center finished off their season strong! The team ran a whole 5K around their neighborhood! Way to go ladies!
A huge thank you to Coach Amy and Coach Heather from Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia for all the amazing time and effort they put into helping our community's youth this season!
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Community Member Spotlight: This week's community member spotlight goes to Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club Members Rich Keil and Jeanette Wong.
Rich and Jeanette have worked tirelessly to help our community. Each week, they help collect hundreds of pounds of leftover fruits, veggies and other produce from the Mount Vernon Farmer's Market and donate it to United Community's food pantry.
This week, they also secured a donation of 30 boxes of PPE from their local Safeway!
"It's rewarding personally to help those less fortunate," Rich shared.
Rich was recently awarded the "You Make A Difference" Award from the Mount Vernon Rotary Club, in recognition of his service to the community. The Award included a $1,000 cash grant that was donated to United Community. Click here to read more!
Please join us in thanking Rich & Jeanette!
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Volunteers Go the Distance During Gas Crisis: Early this week, United Community was notified that due to the gas pipeline shutdown, our missionary volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would be unable to make the commute to help out in our Food Pantry.
So you can imagine our surprise when Sisters Briggs, Shermer, & Lewis walked into our main office , smiling and eager to help out. Without a car, these incredible volunteers walked all the way to and from the food pantry -- a 20+ minute trek, each way -- so they could spend time serving families on one our busiest days of the week!
Our food pantry team is so grateful for their service and their incredible example!
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New Faces at United Community: We are excited to welcome Mohamed Asali to the United Community team! Mohamed joins us as an Account Clerk with our Finance team.
Mohamed is originally from Jordan and has been in the US since 2015. He received his Associate's in Business Administration from Northern Virginia Community College and recently graduated from George Mason University last December with a Bachelor's in Accounting.
In his spare time, Mohamed loves football, movies and playing video games. He is excited for this opportunity to work with United Community and to continue to grow as a professional, while gaining as much experience and knowledge as possible.
Please join us in welcoming Mohamed!
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United Community Kicks Off "Be The One" Campaign- As we welcome spring after the long “COVID Winter,” our thoughts can’t help but to turn toward renewal — fresh starts and new beginnings.
Our world, and our Route 1 community, are of course still recovering from the devastating effects the pandemic has wrought. It has been a long road and there is much more to do on the journey to end multi-generational poverty. It's time to spring into action and consider the power of one!
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From your Editor
Marianne
We have been sending the Connect and Worship via email for many months now and will continue to do so even as we gather again. I am always looking for a funny picture, anniversary, graduation, birth or an intercession for someone close to you whom we can pray for, an insight, idea or something to lighten everyone's spirit...feel free to email them to me at momwendel57@gmail.com. This is something Pastor does on Sunday...but not often enough! I would love to share these special moments with our whole church family by adding them to our Connect.
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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
Donilou24@gmail.com
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Joe Mattis, Stewardship
Sandi Kottman, Council Member (at large)
Brian Bauman, Council Member (at large)
2brianbauman@gmail.com
Marianne Wendel, Administrative Assistant (Volunteer)
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Address:
1300 Collingwood Road,
Alexandria, VA 22308
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