Flower Arranging Workshop

The Nativity Flower Guild is sponsoring two flower arranging workshops on April 12th, 1:00-5:00pm and April 14th, 8:30am-12:30pm. Lark Brown recently attended a workshop taught by members of the Washington National Cathedral Altar Guild and she will be sharing their secrets for simplifying traditional designs most often used on church altars. Everyone will make an arrangement, so please bring your own clippers.

Rogation Sunday

Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 6 for Nativity's annual Rogation Sunday celebration, an ancient church tradition of blessing seeds and fields, and asking God's blessing for the growing season. This year we'll gather at the home of Bob and Paula Provine, 11178 County Road 94 off Money Road at 5pm. Bring a beverage, an appetizer to share, and some farming or gardening item to have blessed when Peter celebrates a simple outdoor Eucharist.

The Choir Corner: The Great 50 Days of Easter

David Williamson, Choirmaster and Organist

David Williamson, Choirmaster and Organist

In our 10:30 service, we typically sing the Gloria ("Glory to God in the high-est...") at the beginning of worship, just after the opening sentences. During the Great 50 Days of Easter, however, we are instead singing the Easter Canticle, the Pascha nostrum (which means Our Passover) in place of the Gloria. We are singing a metrical version of the Pascha nostrum by the Rev. Carl Daw, which sets it to the familiar tune "Sine nomine," which you know as the same tune as "For all the saints." Daw's Paschua nostrum first came out as an anthem in the 80's, and I was overjoyed that it became available for congregational use by being included in the popular, authorized supplement to the hymnal, "Wonder, Love, and Praise" from which the choir often sings.

Presiding Bishop Curry: Easter 2018 Message from the Holy Land

Filmed on Palm Sunday during his visit to the Holy Land, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry delivered his Easter 2018 Message while standing outside of St. George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem.

The Early Church: Struggle and Formation

Our democratically chosen adult forum on the first three centuries of the Church's history continues through March with one interruption. On March 4, we'll learn about the worship of the early Church. After Spring Break, we'll regather on March 18 to hear about the Church's relationship to Rome, including its persecution in the centuries before it became legal.

On March 25, we'll hear about some of the controversies the Church faced as it clarified what it meant to call oneself a “Christian.”

Nativity Easter Egg Hunt and Ice Cream Social

Saturday, March 30, our youth group will hide eggs all over Nativity for the benefit of our
pre-school and elementary aged children. And, because candy isn't enough sugar, we'll also
be feeding them ice cream! With toppings! But before we do all this, we'll need to recover our “Alleluia!” banner so that our celebration of the resurrection can begin! The fun begins at 3pm. EYC kids check with Steve on when to report to make preparations.

Kirkin' o' the Tartans

Sunday, March 4, Nativity has been invited to join in First Presbyterian's annual celebration of its Scottish heritage. At 10:15am, weather permitting, a parade of bagpipers, drummers, and Presbyterians will march down Church Street and stop in front of Nativity to play a song before parading on. We're mostly participating because it's fun. However, it is also the case that The Episcopal Church received its first bishop with the help of some Scottish Anglicans; we have some shared heritage! You are invited to wear your plaid scarves or clothing to the parade!

A Note from Peter (March 2018)

To prepare for Easter, we gather as a church family to tell one another the story that makes all the difference for our lives, the story to which we entrust our lives. Here's a quick reminder of all the unique ways we worship and live out that story during Holy Week.