LAST DAY FOR THE EARLY BIRD SPECIAL GLEANING- SAT. MARCH 6.

Leave Nativity parking lot at 7:30 a.m. to carpool to a field where we will GLEAN corn or tomatoes.  The fresh produce is distributed to local needy families by the end of the weekend.  On Jan 23 our group of 9, together with other volunteers, picked more than 5,000 pounds of corn.  That equals at least 12,000 ears of sweet corn!   Enjoy a half day in the country, help feed the hungry, relish a picnic, and maybe sing along with John Bauer’s guitar at the shore of Lake Okeechobee. Questions?  Contact Julius or Linda Roehl 561-493-8873.  Look for the signup sheets in the Loggia. 

Express Sandwiches– To Go To St. George’s  Sat. March 20 (9a.m.)

Join Nancy Steffen in Nativity's Fellowship Hall. Learn how to make 500+ Ham & Cheese or Turkey & Cheese Sandwiches—In one hour or less!

Restocking The Food Pantry at St. John’s        Every Day–All Month

Thank you for your donations of at least one cart full of groceries each week. 

Quicker cooking items are preferred:  Rice; Dry Beans—Red, Black; Mac & Cheese; Rice A Roni, Pasta, Spaghetti Sauce, Pork & Beans, and Nutritious Breakfast Cereals, etc.  Canned vegetables are welcome. However, the “Green Bean Fairy” has overstocked the pantry!  So think of collard greens, mustard greens, whole kernel corn, etc..   Granola bars and 100% individual sized juices are a big hit with the kids. 

Look for “Buy One, Get one Free”.  Keep one for your family & donate the other; or, donate both.  If you don’t shop for groceries and want to help, write a check to Nativity, or give cash (designate St. John Food Pantry) and your donation will buy food to restock the pantry shelves.  Thank you for your ongoing generosity.

Collecting for Haiti

Nativity Lutheran Church is accepting items for victims of the earthquake in Haiti.  We are recommending dry food, clothing, shoes, linens, medical supplies and cruthches.  You may drop off your items Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm or Sunday morning between 8am and noon.  We will provide you with a gift receipt if requested.

Shopping Made Easy

Here’s a suggestion to help you shop quickly yet support a good cause.  For over 60 years, Heifer International has helped families achieve self-reliance through the gift of livestock and training in 53 countries and 28 U.S. states.     You may remember friends and family members by purchasing an animal in their honor.  How excited my grandchildren were when I sponsored a trio of rabbits in their honor!!     Other options include:  chickens-$20, cows-$500, fish-$20, goats-$120, pigs-$120, llamas-$150, rabbits-$60, sheep-$120, water buffalo-$250 and seedlings-$60.     Special envelopes are available in the church office.  Make checks out to F.F.W.C.  Our state president, Linda Dennis will respond with a thank you.     If you have any questions, contact Doris Karlik, Hope Chairman for District 10, 622-4410.  Thank you for your support.                                                                          Doris 

Flower Ministry

Edna Koenig and her group of volunteers have been delivering the altar flowers on Mondays and has had great response to it.  Our members who aren’t able to come to church or are ill, love knowing that we are thinking about them.  But we need your help.  We need to know who you think would like to receive the flowers.  Please call the office and tell us so that we can be sure to brighten their day.  If you have vases you would like to donate to this cause, please drop them off at the church. 

 My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

A simple cross of ashes on a forehead, palm branches waved in the air with shouts of Hosanna, a piece of bread and a cup of wine, feet that are washed, a crown of thorns, a cross with victims attached, these are the sights, touches, sounds and tastes of Lent. Lent seems to involve our whole selves. This is not just a halfway point in the church year. Lent calls for us to jump in with both feet.

We are now just a few weeks into this season of reflection and renewal of our faith. We have committed ourselves to the disciplines of Lent which include, prayer, bible study,  worship that is more frequent (think Sunday and Wednesday services), fasting and good works. How are you doing so far? There is still time to join the journey that will deepen your faith.  I

t is interesting to see the ways that some people today are searching out all sorts of spiritual disciples rooted in a variety of faith traditions from around the globe, yet the Christian faith is filled with resources for spiritual growth. 

In Christ, 

Pastor Miller 

Matthew 6:25 — Therefore I say unto you, do not be anxious about your life, …26 Behold the fowls of the air for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? 27 Which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto his stature?  33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow: for tomorrow will worry about its own things; Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day. 

John 6:67 - Then said Jesus to the twelve, Will you also go away? 68 - Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? you have the words of eternal life. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

These are anxious times.  Many of us are unsettled by Church decisions that puzzle and perplex, that challenge beliefs and traditions we have grown up with.  And then there is the uncertainty – for much of the past year – about who will be our permanent pastor.  What should we do and to whom should we turn for advice?  As we sort through our feelings about these troubling matters, it is comforting to consider the advice of someone in whom we can have absolute trust: Jesus Christ. 

The Bible passages above remind us that turmoil and confusion have been with Christ-followers from the very beginning.  All of us would like to be free of strife and uncertainty yet life rarely works out that way.  But Jesus tells us NOT to be anxious, that our Heavenly Father knows our needs and will look after us.  Jesus also asks us whether we will surrender to the temptation to leave Him, as others have done.  In this time of confusion and hurt we need to remember Simon Peter’s reply:  Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 

As our Council leaders have recently emphasized, we – all of us together — are Nativity Lutheran Church.  Our overriding goal must be to stand together and pray for a brighter future.  Nativity has faced challenging times in the past and has not only gotten through them, but has flourished afterwards.  We can do it again and we will.  Let’s say ‘NO’ to being anxious.  We have a Heavenly Shepherd to guide us.  Let us all trust in Him - as we remember, appreciate and affirm the bonds of warmth and love among our longtime members, new members, associate members, friends and prospective members.  We are one family.                

God’s Peace and Blessings

 Linda Griffis

From the Desk of Nativity’s Director of Congregational Life 

Women’s LOVE CIRCLE

Come join us for our next meeting, Monday, March 8, at 9:30 am in the loggia.            

Band of Brothers

Band of Brothers, a men’s group, meets at 7 am, the first and third Thursday of every month at Nativity Lutheran Church.  Men of all ages are welcome to gather for Eucharist, fellowship, discussion of Scripture and other topics of interest.  The group is exploring the many challenging aspects of being a Christian man in the 21st Century.  This month’s  meetings are March 4 & 18.  

Sandwich Making

Meet in Nativity’s Fellowship Hall to make sandwiches and bag cookies for homeless ministry the third Saturday of each month.  Next get together, March 20.  

Tabitha’s Hand

Meets in Pastor’s study on Fridays at 10 am (except on newsletter days) to share fellowship while crocheting or knitting lap blankets for nursing home patients. 

Bible & Bagels

Thursday 9 am, meet in the loggia with Pastor Miller and friends for coffee, bagels and fellowship as we read together the coming Sunday’s scripture lessons and pray for each other’s needs. 

Rummage Sale

Be a part of a miracle.  Turn your unwanted items into Animals for Lutheran World Relief and/or Heifer International.  Collect your rummage for our annual rummage sale on April 17 and Nativity’s Love Circle will use one  half of their profits to purchase animals from these charities.  You may bring your donations to the church on Thursday and Friday, April 15 & 16.  If you are interested in helping with the sale or would like to rent a space to sell your own items, please contact Ceil at cjthomas@aol.com or 746-8730. 

Spring Book Fair!

Our Spring Book Fair is scheduled from the 15th through the 19th. It will be held in our loggia and we are so excited to have our “little store” back. Supporting our children's love for books and reading  is emphasized during this special time. We will have classroom wish lists available if you would like to donate a book for your child's class. You help is needed  from set-up to take down of the fair. Please let our book fair coordinator Candace Buddemeier or Ms. Pia know if you can help.Looking forward to filling our Easter baskets with great books 

LAST DAY FOR THE EARLY BIRD SPECIAL GLEANING- SAT. MARCH 6. Leave Nativity parking lot at 7:30 a.m. to carpool to a field where we will GLEAN corn or tomatoes.  The fresh produce is distributed to local needy families by the end of the weekend.  On Jan 23 our group of 9, together with other volunteers, picked more than 5,000 pounds of corn.  That equals at least 12,000 ears of sweet corn!   Enjoy a half day in the country, help feed the hungry, relish a picnic, and maybe sing along with John Bauer’s guitar at the shore of Lake Okeechobee. Questions?  Contact Julius or Linda Roehl 561-493-8873.  Look for the signup sheets in the Loggia. 

Big push this month!           

Check your kitchen drawers and cupboards and your friends for “Boxtops & Labels for Education.”  Bring in by March 22 for March bonuses.          

Boxtops:  Look for “Bonus Boxtops.”  Some Pillsbury products have Triple Worth.          

Labels: We need the entire UPC code.  If you’re unsure, bring in the entire label.  Look for bonuses and five point labels.Put all boxtops and labels in an envelope or zip bag with your child’s name or teacher’s name of the class you want to support.For more info check www.labelsforeducation.com and www.btfe.com.

Thank you for all your help.

Peggy Cox

Nativity Lutheran Boxtops & Labels for Education Coordinator  

GoodSearch/GoodShop 

This is fundraising the easy way, no effort.  Simply download our customized Nativity Lutheran toolbar by going to http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/nativity-lutheran-church-and-school and following the instructions.  Any time a search is created on this toolbar, Nativity earns a penny.  As you shop on the internet, a notice will show when that company is participating and Nativity will earn a percentage of that sale.   Want to earn a large and regular stream of donations from GoodShop?  Simple, just ask your office manager at work to download our toolbar.  As they order their office supplies from Office Depot, Staples or Office Max, they will receive special coupon notices along with our receiving our percentage. If you have any questions please contact Kari at 622-4998 or nativitypbg@bellsouth.net.  The toolbar can also be downloaded by going to www.pbnativity.com and clicking on the link. 

 Property Work Day

As we begin our Lenten spiritual journey and look forward to Easter Sunday, the Property Committee would like to have our campus looking beautiful for our congregation and visitors. Please mark your calendars for March 20 at 9 AM. We are planning another work day and as usual, breakfast and lunch will be served. Please plan to stop by, if even for an hour. We are counting on a big turnout for this project. Not only will it be appreciated by everyone, it's fun working together.    The Property Committee would also like to thank the people who have donated time according to their own schedule and did so much work around the campus. It is so much appreciated.  

Wednesday night, November 25, join Nativity for a special musical Thanksgiving Service at 7:00 pm.  Stay for the pie fellowship.  Bring your favorite pie to share or just come!  Bring your friends!

Advent Services

First Sunday in Advent November 29, 8 & 10:30 am

Advent Vespers, Wednesday December 2, 7 pm candlelight service

Second Sunday in Advent December 6, 8 & 10:30 am

Women's Christmas Party-December 6

Advent Vespers, Wednesday December 9, 7 pm candlelight service

Third Sunday in Advent December 13, 8 & 10:30 am

Advent Vespers and Nativity Lutheran School Christmas Program, Wednesday, December 16, 7 pm

Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 20, 8 & 10:30 am

Cookie Extravaganza after both services

Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 6 & 8:30 pm

August 16        Parent Orientation

August 18        First day of School 

September 7    No School - Labor Day

September 21  Catalog Fund Raiser Kick Off

September TBA  K-3^rd Grade Curriculum Night

September 28   No School - Fall Holiday 

October 1, 8:45 am    Annual Blessing of the Animals

October TBA       Picture Day J

October 16       No School - Teacher Work Day

October 30       Costume Parade 

November TBA     Annual Thanksgiving Feast

November 11    No School - Teacher Work Day

November 25-27  Thanksgiving Break  

December 7-14      Scholastic Book Fair

December 16     Annual Christmas Program 7 p.m.

December 21- Jan. 4   Christmas Break 

January 6          Burning of the Greens / Epiphany 

January 18         No School - M.L. King’s Birthday  

February 15        No School - President’s Day

February 26        No School - Teacher Work Day 

March1               Fall Registration begins

March 15-19       Scholastic Spring Book Fair

March 26            No School - Teacher Work Day

March 29-April 5  Spring Break 

April 26             Summer Camp Registration begins 

May 28            “End Of The Year” Ceremony  Last Day of School 

Have a great 2009-2010 school term

COME WORSHIP WITH US!