“And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry,
‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’”
Luke 1:42
September 2008
Sisters and Brothers at Nativity!
The cry of Elizabeth, as Mary came to visit her in the hill country of Judea, is echoed across time in the prayer “Ave Maria” and becomes our own cry as we delight in the miracle of God’s incarnate love in the birth of his son, Jesus. Blessed is the fruit of Mary’s womb! Jesus!
“Blessed fruit.” The angel says it, and so does Elizabeth. Blessed is Mary’s fruit, for in saying yes to God the whole world is blessed. And truly, blessed is the fruit of our lives and souls, as we, like Mary, say “yes” to God’s work in our lives, at home, at work, and here at Nativity. Blessed is God’s incarnate love!
Look at all the wonderful ways this incarnation is happening right here at Nativity, as we enter into a blessed season of celebrating his love: Our long-range vision for becoming a cradle-to-grave center for ministry – with our desire to grow into a center for liturgical worship, for education including a school, for a new fellowship facility, and for providing community service including assisted living, memory care, and affordable senior housing! Our weekly celebration of the Holy Eucharist, our Christian Education program for all ages (9:30 a.m. between services), our full complement of Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Youth, Young Adults and Family Ministry, our diakonia program (a.k.a. School of Lay Ministry), our music program (with adult and children’s choirs) our Parish Fellowship Events, our Community Service Programs, and the list goes on and on. I urge you to get involved! Watch for our Ministry Fair at Nativity on Sundays, September 14th and 21st where you can find out how to get involved, plugged-in, and part of God’s incarnation of “blessed fruit.”
Finally, let me say how much I appreciate your sacrificial giving to the ministry here at Nativity. Without your generous support none of this would be possible. God bless you for your prayers, your time, and your faithful stewardship.
In His Service,
Reverend Mark David Luttio, Ph.D.
Pastor and Principal, Nativity Lutheran Church & School