This Week At Nativity

Prayers

Please Pray for Our Sick and Shut-Ins:

Chet Cosgrove, Fred Scott, June Rupp, Georgette Konow, Linda Shultz, Lisa Tranchida(friend of the Binner’s), Marie Young(friend of Liz Zarillo), Sharon Sorensen(friend of Emily Melnyk), Jean Quinn Driscoll(Lisa Lowe’s friend), Jeanne Bueschel(Jeanne Philpitt’s mother), Carol Lynn Birnbaum( Alan Blake’s sister), Wendy Dorack(member of the Chartoff family), Mae & John Weck, Danny(friend of Pastor’s family), Samantha Wallace(Bill & Kay Wallace’s granddaughter), and Daniel Capri(Don & Estella Wieder’s grandson).

We ask you to keep in your prayers all those who are currently serving in the military especially Nick Eosso, Stephen Maslowski, Lara, Jo Asplund, Christopher Botterbusch, Kevin Magee, Adam Morell, Dan Ferdinand, Joe Finley, Mark Amador, Devin Morales, Chris, and Brendan McMahon. If you have someone that you would like to add to this list, please contact Kathy in the office. All those in the military need our support.

A note on our prayer list... As our list of prayer concerns grows, we must occasionally remove the names of folks who have been listed several weeks or more. We encourage all to continue to pray for those with ongoing concerns, and invite you to contact Pastor Jill or the church office when you feel that a name should be put again on the prayer list. In all of our prayers - at home, and together here - let us lift up to God all in special need, those both known and unknown to us.

If you are ill, hospitalized, having surgery, or otherwise in need of prayer or a pastoral visit, please contact Pastor or the church office. Click here.

Communion

In this assembly we welcome all of the baptized to join us in Holy Communion, where we receive Christ’s body and blood, and God’s gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. If you are visiting and your children are currently communing in another church, they are welcome to receive Holy Communion at Nativity. Children who have not yet prepared to receive Holy Communion for the first time are welcome to come forward to receive a pastoral blessing. Grape juice and gluten free wafers are available by asking Pastor at the altar. If due to mobility issues you wish to be communed at your seat, please inform the ushers.

Bread 'n' Broth
	The Bread ‘n’ Broth suppers are on Wednesday evening at 6:30pm during Lent. Join Us! A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex for those who would like to bring soup and bread.

Help Wanted
	Worship assistants such as Usher, Lay Reader, Altar Care provider. Training will be on Sunday, February 7^th between services. If you are interested but can’t make it, please contact Emily Melnyk. See you all on the 7^th!

50th Anniversary News

There will be an organization meeting on Sunday February 14^th between services. If you have ideas, questions or concerns please plan on attending. This is going to be a large effort which absolutely CANNOT be done by one or two people. We are going to need people to step up and take on some of the many tasks that will need to be done for this celebration to be great. We will need people to help with correspondence, party planning (food, decorations, give away etc. - all should be done by different people), fund raising and planning the worship service, just to name a few.

We will try to keep the meeting as short as possible but it is critical that we get people to attend as we are running short on time and need to get this project moving.

Year End Contribution Statements
	Before leaving today, please be sure to pick up your Year-end Statements of Contributions needed for filing taxes. Any questions, with regard to your statement, please see Joyce Cosgrove.

Noah's Ark Committee

The Noah’s Ark Committee needs volunteers!!! Anyone interested in helping to make the school an important and exciting extension of the church as well as an outreach to the community. Please put a note in the Noah’s Ark mailbox with the times you are available to meet. It would be nice to have a fresh perspective and fresh ideas so Noah’s Ark can continue to keep pace and continue to offer a quality Christian education to the children of our community.

Stewardship

- Give Joyfully… and Electronically!

Give joyfully, give from the “first fruits” and give electronically!! Did you know that you can use on-line banking to make your contributions? It is convenient-no more forgotten envelopes! It is regular-you can make a donation even if you are unable to attend church. It is “green”-go paperless and save trees! Please contact Suzi Fuller with any questions or information requests.

Give Joyfully...and Electronically!
	Give joyfully, give from the “first fruits” and give electronically!! Did you know that you can use on-line banking to make your contributions? It is convenient-no more forgotten envelopes! It is regular-you can make a donation even if you are unable to attend church. It is “green”-go paperless and save trees! Please contact Suzi Fuller with any questions or information requests.

Offering Envelopes

The 2010 Offering Envelopes are now available in the Narthex. Please be sure to pick up your box. Also, please be sure to discard any 2009 envelopes you may have at home and be sure to use only 2010 envelopes after the first of the New Year. If your name is not on a box of envelopes or if you have not had offering envelopes in the past, please leave a note for the secretary-she will assign you a number and forward the envelopes to you. Thank you.

Now that most of the congregation has their new envelopes, this brief explanation of the different offering choices is intended to clarify any possible confusion between this year’s and last year’s envelope format.

· Current Expenses – these amounts are deposited into Nativity’s main checking account for general purposes.

· Missions & Benevolence – these amounts are used to offset the NJ Synod Mission Support Pledge, any excess over Nativity’s pledge obligation is also sent to the NJ Synod. You may further designate a specific mission such as World Hunger or Elijah’s Promise by writing that on your envelope by using the blank space above the boxes.

· Debt Retirement – these amounts are used to pay the interest and principal portion of the parsonage mortgage.

· Capital Improvement – these amounts are deposited into the Fund (Savings) and are used for large capital improvement expenditures relating to the church and parsonage.

All designations are necessary and important – please give joyfully while accepting the Stewardship challenge! As always, if the offering choices are left blank, the tellers record the contribution toward Current Expense. Even if your intention is to contribute to Current Expense, please remember to complete that section of the envelope regardless, it really benefits the tellers by reducing the time it takes to process the deposits. The tellers will greatly appreciate it!!

Men's Bible Study
	The Men’s Bible Study will be meeting on Saturday, March 27th at 9:30am. Any questions, please see George Lowe.

Easter Flowers

The Worship & Music Committee will be ordering Easter flowers for decorating our sanctuary on Easter Sunday. In lieu, you may make a donation to the World Hunger Appeal or to the Nativity Educational Scholarship Trust (N.E.S. T.). To order flowers, fill out this form and leave it in the offering plate with your check or mail it to Diane Lawson 16 Marissa Drive New Egypt, NJ 08533. We ask that payment be made at the time of ordering. Forms and checks must be at the church by Sunday, March 28, 2010. Make you check payable to Nativity Lutheran Church and clearly mark it for Easter flowers. If you have any questions, contact the office at (732) 257-7745.

Your Name:_________________________________________________

Telephone Number:_______________________________________

In Memory of:_____________________________________________

In Honor of :_______________________________________

Quantity Amount

Flowers ($7.00) each pot ________ ________________

Donation to World Hunger Appeal ________________

Donation to Nativity Scholarship Fund ________________

TOTAL _________________

Flowers (Tulips or Lilies) may be picked up following the 11am Easter Service, on April 4^th at approximately 12:30pm. Remaining plants will be sent to shut-ins.

Bible Study
	Wednesday morning Bible Study has resumed meeting at 11am. We will be doing a study of the Psalms. Come once, come every week, come when you can. We welcome you either way!

Yard Sale

ATTENTION!! The Yard Sale/Flea Market sponsored by Noah’s Ark will be held Saturday, April 24^th from 10am-3pm in an effort to promote the school. It is a great way for getting rid of unwanted but still useful items we all have lying around! If you would like to participate, please look for the flyers on the bulletin board in the hallway and reserve a table for this event. Any questions, please see Lois Ryan.

Lay Reader & Usher Sign-up
	The New Lay Reader and Usher sheets are in the hallway. Please look at the dates and consider signing up to help a week or two!

Flower Information

Roots of Love, the florist who provides us each week with beautiful flowers for our altar has begun a special program with the churches it serves. With every personal order made by a member of friend of Nativity, 10% of the sales will be given back to the church. When ordering, please mention our church number #552 so Nativity receives credit. Roots of Love is located at 124 Main Street in Spotswood. Their number is 732-251-7730 and their website is www.rootsoflove.com. If you have any questions about this program, please speak with our flower coordinator, Kathleen Dolphin.

2009 Flower Calendar
	The 2010 Flower Calendar has been posted in the hallway. Please be sure to complete both the calendar and detail sheet next to the calendar. The cost for the flowers is $25.00. Flowers are a wonderful way to remember loved ones birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms etc, as well as to honor those who have passed on. If you have any questions, please contact Kathleen Dolphin

Noah's Ark

Noah’s Ark has ongoing registration for the school year 2009-2010. We offer ½ day programs for 3 and 4 year olds. Please put a note in Lois Ryan’s mailbox in the office or give a call to the school at 732-390-0848.

Emanuel's Food Pantry Needs Our Help

For the month of February we will be collecting the following items:

~Peanut butter and jelly
~Canned vegetables: Green beans, peas, corn etc.
~Canned pasta: Ravioli, spagettios
~Canned fish: Tuna & salmon
~Soups: Chunky soups with meat
~DIAPERS & WIPES (always requested and desperately needed)

Thanks so much for your continuing support of feeding the hungry. Remember to look for sales, add a few items to your weekly shopping and we could all donate a grocery bag full of food each month. Our donations are making a difference! Thank you!