Nativity Scene March 2015

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The Episcopal Church of the Nativity 22405 North Miller Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85054 480.307.9216

THE NATIVITY SCENEMarch 2015

Holy Week at Nativity

Palm Sunday, Sunday, March 29, 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. The services begin with the gospel for Jesus entry into Jerusalem, outside on the front patio. The service continues with the dramatic reading of the Passion, and Holy Communion.

Maundy Thursday, April 2, 7:00 p.m. Worship includes beautiful music by our choir, optional footwashing and the stripping of the altar as Maundy Thursday fades into Good Friday.

Good Friday Prayer VigilCan you watch with Jesus for one hour? Sign up for one-hour shifts to pray in the Chapel in our all-night prayer vigil, beginning with the end of the Maundy Thursday services and continuing until the Good Friday noon service begins.

Good Friday, April 3. Noon Spoken Service 5:00 p.m. Stationary Stations of the Cross, provided for the congregation by the youth. 7:00 p.m. Choral Service

Easter at Nativity!

Sunday, April 5 is Easter this year, and two unique and beautiful worship experiences await you at Nativity.

7:30 a.m. Sunrise Service. This Nativity tradition celebrates the Easter Vigil at sunrise, when the women discovered the empty tomb. This is the most special service of the year, when you experience the coming of Easter to Nativity! We begin outside with the lighting of the first fire of Easter, then hear the stories of salvation history, walk together through the Red Sea, and then experience the moment when Easter comes. Children will flower the cross, and our adult and childrens choirs will sing.

9:00 a.m. Easter Breakfast and Childrens Easter Egg Hunt. Enjoy an Easter breakfast while the children hunt for eggs.

10:00 a.m. Festival Service. This beautiful service features our adult choir and guest musicians, and will finish with a rousing chorus of Handels Messiah. Everyone is welcome to sing along! The glory of God shines bright as we celebrate the greatest festival of the Christian year!

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Nativity Schedule

Take a moment to wish a Happy Birthday To:

Nativity Staff

The Rev. Susan B. Snook Rector

[email protected]

The Rev. Dr.Wayne V. WhitneyAssociate Rector

[email protected]

Dr. Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler Director of Music Ministry

IlonaKubiaczyk-Adler @TheNativity.net

Shelley ByrnesDirector of Christian Formation [email protected]

Susan WeidhaasBookkeeper

[email protected]

Mina RaffertyParish Administrator

[email protected]

Tim KoskySexton

Nativitys VestrySenior Warden: David Bolger

480-945-3810 [email protected]

Junior Warden: Mark Miller

480-368-5530 [email protected]

Treasurer Kara Erickson

480 518- 2683 [email protected]

Tricia Beaird 480-699-7893 [email protected]

Suzanne Cohen 480-586-6625 [email protected]

Jennie Dobbins 602-770-0513 [email protected]

Kris Haugen 480-515-4803 [email protected]

Cotty Peabody 480-588-8328 [email protected]

Lani Sambach 602-793-2808 [email protected]

Steve Smith 480-285-7679 [email protected]

Darrell Spencer 702-540-5050 [email protected]

Colleen Whichello 301-520-2689 [email protected]

Sunday Schedule

9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Festive Eucharist Rite II with Childrens Chapel10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Hospitality10:15 - 11:00 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Festive Eucharist Rite II11:40 - 12:15 p.m. Adult Christian Formation11:40 - 1:30 p.m. Youth Group

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Every month we list those whose birthdays are being celebrated. If you would like your name added to the list, please contact Mina Rafferty at [email protected].

22405 N. Miller RoadScottsdale, Arizona 85255

Telephone:480-307-9216

www.NativityScottsdale.org

Wednesday Schedule

6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer Rite II featuring Healing Prayers 6:30 p.m. Transforming Questions Class


This is the time of year when you begin to notice in the stores displays of little men dressed all in green, wearing top hats and sporting shamrocks, saying, Top o the mornin to ya! St. Patricks Day is famous for leprechauns, parades

and green beer, but do you know the story of the real St. Patrick, one of my favorite saints?

Patrick was born in Britain around the year 400, in a nominally Christian family. But his faith didnt mean much to him until age 16, when he was captured by pirates, taken to Ireland, and sold as a slave. In Ireland, he tended sheep, and in his trouble, fear, loneliness, and suffering, he began to recall the Christian teachings of his family, and began praying for comfort. In his memoirs, he wrote:

After I came to Ireland, every day I had to tend the sheep, and many times a day I prayed the love of God and his fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was moved so that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost as many as night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountains; I used to get up for prayer before daylight, through snow, through frost, through rain, and felt no harm, and there was no sloth in me as I now see, because the spirit within me was then fervent.

After 6 years as a slave, Patrick had a dream that a boat was waiting for him, and he escaped back to Britain, studied to become a priest in France, and then lived a comfortable life back home. But one night he had another dream, in which he heard the voice of the Irish: We beg you, young man, come and walk among us once more. He got ordained bishop and went back to

Ireland, a dangerous pagan country, but a land that Patrick understood from the inside out.

Patrick began to evangelize the Irish, founding monasteries all over Ireland, where Christian men, women, and children would live a life steeped in prayer, exercising the gift of hospitality for all who cared to visit, and telling the story of Jesus. Within two or three generations, Patrick and his followers had converted all of Ireland to Christianity, making him one of the greatest evangelists the world has ever known.

The courage of Patrick and thousands of other early Christian saints are the reason that you and I know about Jesus today. Yet so often we are reluctant to share our faith the way our spiritual ancestors shared theirs. Evangelism at its heart is simply telling someone else about something that is meaningful to you. Why does Jesus make a difference in your life? Why is the community of the church important to you? And do you know someone else who could use that same comfort and community? Invite them to share the experience of Christ with you some Sunday at Nativity! And you can even wish them the top of the mornin!

Susan

A n o t e f r o m Pa s t o r S u s a n Page 3Transforming lives with the love of God in Jesus Christ


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"So, hows your Lent going?

I never really know how to answer this question. For a penitential season, if I say Lent is going well, might I not be

guilty of, shall we say, being a bit full of myself? Think about it.

How is Lent supposed to go? Isnt it supposed to go in a way that we are constantly reminded of being dust and to dust we shall return? If failure is the gateway to the dust bin then Ive seen them open mighty wide. The main question is, what to do with that failure. The Apostle Paul compared the Ten Commandments (aka The Law) to that thing that will always lead us to failure. Failure is built in to the human experience AND failure is one of the best teachers or mentors that we will ever have. If you have experienced any failure around your Lenten

commitments, whether it was taking on some new practice or giving up some old habits, consider that experience as the next lesson there is to learn. Dont let it be the end of the commitment you made, let it be an opportunity for a new start, this time being wiser. This is one of the promises we make in our Baptismal Covenant, to wit whenever you fall into sin, will you repent and return to the Lord? Let your Lent be a time of practicing simple repentance and returning. If this is the new habit you pick up during Lent, it will make the rest of your year a Holy breeze. So however your Lent is going, make all of it, the failure and the success, a starting point for something the draws you closer to God, even if the something is a failed good intention.

Dr. W+

Big Fun Bible Movie Night Presents!

Greetings, Nativity movie mavens! Big Fun Bible Movie Night is kicking off the second half of Season Two, and you need to get these dates on your calendars now, because seating is limited and nobody wants to get left behind when it comes to these special nights.Heres what you need to know:

Friday, April 10: The Apostle, an Academy Award-winner for Robert Duval as a Texas Pentecostal minister whose life takes so many bad turns that he changes his name, moves to Louisiana and becomes a radio preacher. But things still go bad, even when hes having extended monologues with God. Farah Fawcett and Billy Bob Thornton help out. (1997; 2h, 14m.)

Friday, May 8: Salome. BFBMN wraps with a made-for-the screen production of Richard Strauss hair-raising one-act opera about one of the Bibles really bad girls. (You know, Dance of the Seven Veils, etc.) But I dont know anything about opera, you say? You dont need to. This lush artistically, musically and cinematically performance will take care of all of that. Its sung in German with English subtitles and it is stunning. (Composed, 1905; filmed, 1974; 2h, 30m.)

Doors open at 6:15 PM; showtime at 6:30. Color commentary and theological musings from Dr. Wayne. Popcorn and miscellaneous munchies provided by Mary Lynn and David Bolger and the Friends of BFBMN. Bring the beverage of your choice.


A note from our Music Director Page 5 We had a wonderful concert on Sunday March 1st! Two wonderful musicians: Levon Zarasian, who plays in the Phoenix Symphony violin section, and a pianist Peter Gharibian played again at Nativity after their amazing concert last year.

Other concerts in the series:

April 12th - Desert Sun Brass Quintet.ASU based brass quintet will bring joyful, majestic and entertaining selection to celebrate the Easter time at Nativity.

May 17th - Nativity Choir presents their favorite sacred and secular music.

This is the rare opportunity to hear our choir perform music that would not fit during Sunday worship. Some old tunes by Queen and ABBA as well as lots of fun guaranteed!

In March we will perform a bit more meditative music, as we always do in Lent. You will hear some traditional favorites like Take My Hand Precious Lord, "Amazing Grace", "How Great Thou Art", as well as classical anthems by Steiner, Handel, Saint-Saens and Mozart. We have a special treat for you on March 15. John Becker, who is a friend of one of our choir members Claire Smith, is also an author of a few sacred choir anthems. He is going to be in town worshiping with us on March 15th at 10.30 a.m., and we will perform one of his compositions during the Offertory. I am thrilled to welcome a new member in our choir, Pat Jones, who joined our alto section. Pat is an experienced singer and chorister, and our choir is delighted to have her with us. Welcome, Pat!Ilona

Our Music Director performing in the Valley

If you would like to hear Ilona playing concert type music on some of the nicest organs in the Valley feel free to come to her upcoming performances: on Friday, March 6th, at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Phoenix at noon, and on Tuesday, March 10th, at the American Lutheran Church in Sun City at 1 p.m. Free admission.

Congratulations to Eagle Scout Tyler Allen!

Tyler Allen, a member of Nativity and of our Boy Scout Troop 869, was formally inducted as an Eagle Scout on Sunday, March 1, 2015. Tyler's Eagle Scout project was to coordinate Nativity's move from our old Chauncey Lane location to the building that is now our church home. Those who participated in that move, back in December 2012, probably remember how hard Tyler, his family, and his friends from Troop 869 and their parents worked to get our move accomplished. Thank you to Tyler, and congratulations on a big accomplishment! He is pictured here with his father, Matthew Allen, twin sister, Casey Allen, and mother, Suzanne Allen.


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Mens Pub Fellowship

The Society for Enlightened, Sensitive, Progressive Boyfriends and Husbands (the Mens Pub Fellowship) will be meeting THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH at 5:30PM, TAVERN AMERICANA. We always meet the first Thursday of every month to share feelings and discuss the role of the pro-feminist male in society today. If the women in your life question your role in our organization, we can provide you a notarized Certificate of Authenticity, along with a handy list of excuses (patent pending). Remember to sign up for our email list posted right outside the Nativity front desk!

EASTER FLOWER DEDICATIONSThe flower guild invites you and your family honor loved ones in thanksgiving or to memorialize those we have lost by providing flowers for our Easter Sunday worship service. These dedications will be included in our Easter celebration and will help to beautify our worship space. Please provide the following information to Mina Rafferty via email at [email protected] by March 29th.

In Memory of _________________________________________________________________________________

In Thanksgiving of _____________________________________________________________________________

Given By _________________________________________ Contribution amount __________________________

The flowers will be available for you to take home following the second service on Easter Sunday.

Nativity Community Forum on Addiction

On Thursday evening, Feb 26th, parishioner Joyce Ditzler led a discussion on addiction with a group of about twenty people. Joyce has over 30 years of experience in this field, practicing in New York and England. She discussed the many facets of addiction and how it not only impacts those inflicted with the disease but those who are closest to them. Numerous examples in all walks of life were presented. This disease in one-way or another impacts us all.

Joyce emphasized that addiction is a disease and should be treated that way. It is not the result of weakness or poor character. She also emphasized the importance of twelve step programs in the treatment of not only the addict, but all those closest to them.

While Joyce is not licensed to counsel in Arizona, she is more then willing to talk to parishioners as long as they understand it is as a fellow church member. Her number is 480 595 2927.

This was the second in an ongoing series of forums on issues facing our community. Future forums will be announced shortly.

By Paul Rank, [email protected].


Transforming Questions

Transforming Questions is a program exploring important questions of the Christian Faith. The sessions are open to all interested. 'Transforming Questions Upcoming Sessions:

March 11 Does God answer prayers?

March 18 Why do bad things happen?

March 25 Where do we go when we die?

April 15 Why do I need Church?

April 22 Where do we go from here?

Please join us each Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Bring an item of of food to share with the group and email Dr. Wayne at [email protected] to let him know you are coming.

C h u r c h o f t h e N a t i v i t y C o m m u n i t y Fo r u m s Pa g e 7

The Crucified Life: Jesus Seven Last Words - a Study for Lent

For Lent, we invite you to join in a small-group study of Jesus Seven Last Words, and what they mean for our lives.Thursdays, 10:00-11:30 a.m. February 19 through April 2. Participation costs $20 for a study guide and devotional book. Please email Pastor Susan to register at [email protected].

Office Volunteers Wanted!

In response to feedback received at the annual meeting, we are putting out a call for office volunteers once more. We need people to take shifts on Mondays and Fridays, as well as people who don't want a regular shift but are willing to substitute sometimes. It's easy and fun, and greatly appreciated! Please contact Mina Rafferty at [email protected], or fill out this form on our website: http://nativityscottsdale.org/office-volunteer-form/.

Nutrition Class Offered for Lent!

Want to learn a bit more about proper nutrition habits? Then please join our fellow member and Registered Dietitian, Theresa Price, as she will be leading a five-week nutrition course during the Sundays of Lent, Feb. 22-March 22. Each week we will learn how to properly fuel our bodies to achieve our healthy way of life goals. The nutrition classes will last approximately 60 minutes and are following the 10:30am service in the back Sunday School Room. Please sign up for participation by emailing Theresa at [email protected], and plan to meet for the entire 5-week course! If you have additional questions you may email Theresa or call her at 601-668-8933.


Santa Maria Food Bank Welcomes Volunteers

Our sister church, Santa Maria Phoenix, runs a food bank for the community the third Saturday of each month. Volunteers are always welcome to organize and give away food. The next date is Sat., March 21. Arrive by 9 am and report to Rev. Carmen to get your assignment. The church is at 6533 W. 39th Ave, Phoenix 85019. It's a fun and rewarding ministry! For more information, please contact Don Balint at [email protected].

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We Need You!

The Church of the Nativity Outreach Committee has defined its mission: "To inspire and equip every member of Nativity to participate in ministries that touch those in need. To be successful we need you to join us. We need people with communication and marketing skills to get the word out about the ministries we are involved in. We need people with ideas for forums that would be valuable to our community and to help organize them. We would like to revitalize parish health ministry at Nativity and leverage this ministry into the community, so we need health professionals. And we also would encourage any parishioner interested in outreach to join us. The committees next meeting is on Tuesday Mar. 3 at 6pm in the parish hall. If you are interested, give Paul Rank a

ONES AND TWOS - ON HIATUS DURING LENT

Ones and Twos is a social group of adults at Church of the Nativity that meets about once a month. It is open to all members, visitors, and guests. It is a time of getting to know each other in the old-fashioned sense, a time for coming together for delicious food and drink, as well as enjoying the warmth and joy of being with our Church family. It is a welcoming time for all and a perfect opportunity to bring guests!

Save the dates for the 1's and 2's April 15th and May 15th. These events are a great way to get to know people better and meet new people. If you would like to host one of the gatherings please contact Susan Burnham, [email protected]. Look for more details on the Mays gathering in next months newsletter.

Jobs for Veterans

Do you have a family member, friend or neighbor who is a veteran seeking employment? Or do you know of a job opening for a valued veteran? If so, we have a valuable local resource, David Willis, Az. Veterans Employment Advocate for the Department of Economic Security. Reach him through info. below or he is at the Desert Foothills Library in Cave Creek every Tuesday. Any questions contact Nativity's Bill Worthington 480-575-7830 Contact Information: David Willis 602-861-0496 x 1038 [email protected] Foothills Library 38443 N Schoolhouse Rd. Cave Creek, Az


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Altar Guild Corner

During the Lenten season, the Altar Guild members set up for the special services held on weekdays, such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. The Altar Guild also sets up for special occasions such as weddings and memorial services. The vestments of the chalice match the vestments of the priests denoting season or occasion. The basic colors of the church year are blue (or purple) for Advent, white for Christmas, green for Epiphany, purple for Lent, white for Easter, and green for the long Pentecost season. For special days on the church calendar, red may be used. On the third day of Advent, pink or rose may be used for the recognition of Marys Sunday. Seasons and events use special colors.

In the Sanctuary on the right side at Church of the Nativity is a golden locked box or vault. This is the repository for the Reserved Sacrament which is consecrated bread and wine set aside after the regular communion in the church for the communion kits which are taken to those who are sick or shut-in. These elements are also available in case of other emergency situations. This safe box is called a tabernacle or aumbry; sometimes it is called a pyx. The tabernacle traditionally resides behind the altar in the sanctuary. An aumbry is usually set into the wall in the sanctuary.

The chores of the Altar Guild members extend our knowledge in our faith and traditions. We are invited to Diocesean Altar Guild events as well as participation in the National Altar Guild Association. If you would like to participate in our Altar Guild, please contact Nancy Bleasdale [email protected].

The Nativity Womens Group

The Nativity Womens Group is going to do an evening event Tuesday March 24th, 6 PM. It will be a little bit of dinner, a little bit of wine, and a great program by Shelley Byrnes on: Essential Oils in the Bible: What They Are and What Are Their Uses. We hope the women of Nativity will join us for this Lenten social/educational/spiritual program and fellowship. More detailed information will be forthcoming watch for it in bulletin or in your e-mail, or contact Donna Hartz at [email protected].

New Flags in Christopher Hall

Thank you to all who contributed toward the purchase of the new Episcopal Church flag and United States flag in the Parish Hall. Information about the symbolism of the Episcopal Church flag is posted next to it. Thank You!


Pa g e 1 0 C h i l d r e n & Yo u t h M i n i s t r i e s

CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES

The children are participating in Lenten practices along with the rest of the parish. The Pancake Supper was a great success thanks to the men's group and youth group! The food was great and the children created their own home-made Mardi Gras necklaces made of dyed pasta! Thank you to Drake Pillsbury who organized the craft activity! On Ash Wednesday we had a lovely children's service with an interactive sermon, imposition of ashes and a simplified eucharist.

Lenten Book DriveThe children are participating in a Lenten Book Drive as well! Parents, please help your children to go through their books for lightly used books that you no longer read and bring them to the classroom during Children's Chapel or Sunday School. These books will be donated to UMOM's Read-to-me program so that homeless children can have books of their own. All parishioners are welcome to join in this book drive.

SINGING PRACTICE!

The children will be practicing a song to sing during our 7:30 Family Easter Service during Children's Chapel over the next couple of weeks! Bring your children so they will feel comfortable joining in on Easter.

Chapel Rock

I know it seems early, but summer is just around the corner! I have been privileged

to be asked to help create the curriculum for the children's summer camp at Chapel Rock this year! I'm working with six other Children's Ministers from the Diocese and Jana Sundin and I can't wait to see how our children respond to this program!

If you have never considered taking your children to Chapel Rock, please consider doing it this year! Camp at Chapel Rock creates lifelong friendships, amazing memories and builds connection with Christ. It is never too early for camp!We have camps for kids finishing Kindergarten through 2nd grade that are only three days and two nights and even a camp where a parent can come too!

Camp for grades 3 - 6 run June 21 - 27 or June 28 - July 3

Please click on Chapelrock.net then click on "Summer Camps" to get descriptions of camps available for ages K-6th grade and watch a short video of Kid's Camp last year! You register on - line as well with a discount of $20 if you


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Chapel Rock Scholarship Guidelines

Please apply directly to Chapel Rock for a scholarship by April 15. You can get an application by emailing CR at [email protected] or pick up a form in the youth room.

Notify Pastor Susan by email by April 15 if you are applying for a scholarship, so she knows to follow up.

Pastor Susan will be in touch with Chapel Rock to work out the arrangements for those scholarships that are approved, so she will notify the family if we can give them a scholarship.

Nativity Youth Group Members cheerfully created dozens of Snack Packs for Super Bowl Sunday - yet another fun fund raiser for the group!


The Episcopal Church of the NativityMailing Address:22405 North Miller RoadScottsdale, Arizona 85255

www.NativityScottsdale.orgWorship Sundays 9:00 & 10:30 a.m.

Easter Sunday7:30 & 10:00 a.m.

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Nativity Scene March 2015