2015, 4 CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY THE MESSENGER FROM GRETCHEN S PEN

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1 CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY Volume 2015, Issue 4 FROM GRETCHEN S PEN This month is all about new beginnings and new life. We start on the Wednesday of Holy Week and the darkness is growing; by Friday, it appears that the Light has left the world, that love has lost, that evil has triumphed. However, the Resurrection is the Divine stamp of "no" to all the forces of hatred; "no" to the forces of evil; "no" to those who would sacrifice the innocent for the sake of their own power or gain. The Resurrection teaches us that when all seems dark, the Light comes; when all seems lost, we will be found; when love seems gone, it is never ever lost. The Resurrection is new hope, new love, new life. It is the reminder that we may always begin again, we may always choose again, love again, live again. Easter is a glorious day, it is a glorious season, it is a glorious way of life. In the midst of this Easter season, we have our parish rummage sale. Which might seem totally unrelated to the Resurrection, but at a simple level is it taking that which is old and "dead" to one person and finding another to give that same thing "new life." It is a chance to reuse and repurpose, instead of throw away. We will also redecorate our parish hall this month, in order to bring new life to our common fellowship space and to give it an even warmer and more welcoming feel. We want all who enter to have the sense that they have found "home" and this is part of the purpose of the parish hall redecoration project. We frequently hear people say that they don't like change, or that change is hard, but everything this month is about great and glorious change - the change of new life and new beginnings. Let us learn how to embrace and rejoice in this glorious change of God, the change that is the Resurrection, the change that is new life. HOLY WEEK! THE MESSENGER Gretchen Holy week is in full swing as this month starts. Stop your busy lives for the first few days of the month and be present with God as we observe each day of Holy Week with a service at 7:00 p.m. Tenebrae, on Holy Wednesday, is a service of readings and psalms. Maundy Thursday brings us the commemoration of the Last Supper, footwashing and the all night vigil in the garden where the reserved Sacrament will be kept. Good Friday includes the veneration of the Cross and the Easter Vigil is a glorious service of readings, music and baptismal vows as we hear salvation s story and find ourselves in that story. Every night at 7:00 p.m.! Easter services are at our normal times of 8:00 and 10:30 a.m.

2 Page 2 Volume 2015, Issue 4 N A T I V I T Y S OUTREACH: FOOD PANTRY The food pantry continues to be open each Tuesday morning and concurrently with Saturday Suppers. We always need food donations and volunteers. SATURDAY SUPPER Pat Chase, Rosemary Daubert, and Karen Riddle prepared and served tacos for Saturday Supper guests on March 14 th. Rose Mortensen and crew will be serving turkey sandwiches, fries and salad on March 28 th. Thank you, Susan Pearson, for delivering advertising fliers to the community; and, thanks to all the volunteers - those who serve as table hosts, set-up and serve, and clean-up after meals! If you would like to volunteer, please call the team leader to see where you might be needed. ~ Rosemary Daubert, Saturday Supper Coordinator SNAKE RIVER CLINIC The next delivery of finger-food, for approximately 15 workers at the clinic, will be Tuesday, April 14 th. If you would like to assist with this ministry, please find the sign-up sheet on the table in the parish hall and/or speak with Susan Pearson ( ). APRIL EVENTS: RUMMAGE AND COOKIE SALE! The annual parish rummage sale will be Friday and Saturday April 17 th and 18 th. We will begin setting up at 2:00 p.m. on the afternoon of Sunday, April 12 th ; by bringing everything up from the basement. There is a WHOLE LOT of stuff to bring up! We need strong backs, and young legs and arms on Sunday. Set up will continue Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. 12 noon each day. We are also selling cookies! Everyone who likes to make cookies, please bake up several batches and bring to the church Thursday for the sale. Thanks for all your help! PARISH HALL REDECORATION The week of April 19 th, the parish hall is getting a spring-cleaning spiff up. We will be painting, doing some redecorating, and basically working to make our social gathering space into a more warm and friendly place where people will feel at home. During this time you might smell paint!

3 Page 3 Volume 2015, Issue Page 43 THE NATIVITY STORY: 19 TH AND 21 ST CENTURY WOMEN EMBODYING THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFTS In the early years of Nativity, women played their societal roles and also found their prophetic voices in the church and in the society as a whole. While bearing a child every two years was the norm, Nativity women embodied their spiritual gifts, critiqued the system and engaged in shaping the wider community. Today, we lift up our pioneering women and their spiritual gifts. Meet Sarah Vollmer with one of her spiritual gifts, administration. The spiritual gift of administration is defined by Episcopal sources as helping a body function smoothly, choosing goals. Dear reader, you have already met Sarah Vollmer, mother of Evangeline Vollmer and wife of John Vollmer. The story goes that when the territorial legislature chartered Lewiston s school district, the bill called for an elected board of five school commissioners. (As early as 1870 women could run for and vote in school elections nationally.) Sarah Vollmer filed for one of the seats, but lost in the May 18, 1881 election. More men than women supported the female candidates. The Lewiston Teller reported, A goodly number of our people could not be made to see the propriety of placing women upon the ticket as candidates to decide questions in relation to finances. Women were acceptable for their softening and healthy influence on children, but they were not fit, so many thought to be judges of how public money should be spent. Further, people were aroused at some degree at least to the importance of having good schools, even if the women question did rouse them. 1 Sarah Vollmer had long been identified with the education of Lewiston s children and, among other things, had raised money for a new schoolhouse. 2 As we have been celebrating the history of our church windows, you may recognize Lillie Kester, a mother who, with her husband J.D. Kester, lost children to the raging childhood diseases of the time. Women were eligible to serve on juries in Idaho in 1896, when they were granted the right to vote. Lillie Kester served in 1897 on the first all-female jury. In the 1920 s, prosecutors preferred having female jurors on cases involving prohibition violations. However, when an all-female jury convicted a man for unlawful possession of alcohol, he appealed his case on grounds that women were ineligible to serve. The Idaho Supreme Court upheld his appeal It was not legal for women to serve on juries in Idaho until Lilly and the women on the jury critiqued the system and it eventually was changed. We would be remiss if we didn t mention Anna Joslin McConkey, you will recall, wife of John Douglas McConkey. One of her spiritual gifts was teaching and, no doubt, hospitality. Anna had enjoyed a good education and received this hand-written recommendation from her school superintendent in Massachusetts: Miss Anna M. Joslin under my supervision, has taught in one of our public schools and has met with a commendable degree of success she adds firmness and self-reliance, and I think would be likely to succeed in any school which, she would be willing to undertake. 4 Reading, writing, and arithmetic? After Anna married John McConkey in 1877, John received the call to Washington Territory and left for the west in February Anna, heavy with child, endured all the hardships of their more than 16,000 mile voyage around the Horn with her husband. Writing in his book about the ocean voyage around the Horn, he has only one passing mention of Anna. 5 It is not hard to imagine the spiritual gifts embodied in these pioneering women of the church, even when they are scarcely acknowledged. In the 19 th century, Nativity had a solid start feeding body, mind and spirit. Our heritage began with those early women and men, and continues on into the 21 st century with Story continued on page 4

4 Page 4 Volume 2015, Issue Page 4 THE NATIVITY STORY: continued our beloved, Rev. Gretchen Rehberg, priest, teacher, mentor. This year, we celebrate 150 years of Nativity life, and we celebrate 50 years of Reverend Doctor, Doctor Rehberg s life. She leads us on to question and critique our mission as a parish, practicing her many spiritual gifts at Nativity. So, happy birthday Nativity through the 19 th, 20 th, and into the 21 st century; and, happy birthday to our gifted priest. Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia. End notes: 1. Branting, Steven Historic Firsts of Lewiston Idaho, pp 72, Ibid, pp Ibid, pp Branting, Steven Lost Lewiston, pp McConkey, J.D. New York to Portland, p 39 Works cited: Branting, Steven Historic Firsts of Lewiston Idaho History Press Charleston, SC 2013 Branting, Steven Lost Lewiston Idaho History Press Charleston, SC 2014 McConkey, J. D. New York to Portland Oregon with a History of the Voyage, Scene, Places, Incidents and Notes of the Journey Statesman Book and Job Printing Office, Walla Walla, W.T ~ Deloris Jungert Davisson and Margaret A. Cole, 2015 Rev. Dr. Dr. Gretchen Rehberg 2015

5 Page 5 Volume 2015, Issue 4 B I RT H DA Y S IN APRIL John Willows 1 st Karen Parkman 11 th Ray Rosch 1 st Jim Harris 11 th Lisa Martin 3 rd Liam Schmidt 13 th Dick McMillen Peggy Flowers 8 th 9 th Joanne McCormack Happy birthday! 18 th THE ALTAR GUILD Our thanks to those who have donated flowers: April 5 - Easter flowers April 12 - Given by Dick & Mavis Ohms in memory of Mitch Ohms. April 19 - Given by Ray & Nancy Rosch in thanksgiving for their 35 th wedding anniversary. April 26 - Given by Johnette & Richard Moore in thanksgiving for Jason Moore s birthday. Our thanks to those who have donated sanctuary candles: April 5 - Given by Gretchen Rehberg in thanksgiving for her 10 th Easter at Nativity. April 12 - Given by Karen Riddle in thanksgiving for Fritz Hoffman. April 19 - Given by Ray & Nancy Rosch in thanksgiving for their 35 th wedding anniversary. April 26 - Given by Deloris Davisson & Margaret Cole in memory of Rev d. J.D. McConkey. CHANCEL GUILD Thirteen were present for our March meeting. Maxine Hubbell served angel food cake with orange sauce and gluten-free brownies, and provided a devotion on meditation. Pat Johnson reported that we have $1.00 more in our account, due to last month s birthday offering. Nancy Rosch agreed to temporarily take over courtesy (sending cards), until Caryl Mackey can resume those duties. It was requested that cards be sent to Caryl Mackey, Ted & Marsha Creason, and Bob Coats. We discussed where the proceeds from the rummage sale should go this year, and Pat recommended we think about it and vote at the next meeting. The rummage sale is April Pat recruited volunteers for the food pantry. Johnette Moore encouraged us to go to lunch, at the Salvation Army, Saturday, March 7 th, to support their youth group who are raising money for camp. $9.38 Was collected in our Church Periodical Club basket. We celebrated Barb Campbell s birthday with prayer and song. Our next meeting is April 6 th, with Mary Lou Gregory and Fran Caradine as hosts.

6 Page 6 Volume 2015, Issue 4 WEEKLY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Sunday: Eucharist - 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Study and choir practice - 9:00 a.m. Monday - Friday: Noon Day Prayer - 12:15 p.m. Tuesday: Book/DVD Study - 9:00 a.m. DVD Study - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: Eucharist - 7:00 a.m. Thursday: Knitting Group - 10:00 AM APRIL 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday March 29 Palm Sunday HOLY WEEK! 30 Evening Prayer 31 Evening Prayer 1 Vestry meeting 5:30 pm Tenebrae 2 Maundy Thursday 3 Good Friday 4 Easter Vigil 5 EASTER!! 6 Chancel Guild 7 Food Pantry 8:45-12 pm Snake River Clinic meal delivery Saturday Supper 4 5:30 pm, Food pantry Open 12 Compline Food Pantry 8:45 am - 12 pm RUMMAGE SALE SET UP RUMMAGE SALE Parish Hall redecoration all week 21 Food pantry open 8:45 am - 12 pm 22 Salvation Army Soup Kitchen Saturday Supper 4 5:30 pm, Food pantry open 26 Party for Anita May 1 2 Tree Walk

7 Page 7 Volume 2015, Issue 4 DATE April 5 Easter Ushers SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR APRIL April 12 Easter 2 April 19 Easter 3 April 26 Easter 4 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM Don and Maxine Hubbell Neal and Peggy Flowers John Willows Jerry Pierce LEM Jerry Pierce Pete Ruppel Maxine Hubbell Jess Stone Lector Frances Hedrick Jerry Pierce Joe Lillard John Willows POP Margaret Cole Maxine Hubbell Anne Rhoads Pete Ruppel Greeters 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM Nancy and Ray Rosch Phyl Lacy Nancy and Ray Rosch Keegan and Liam Schmidt Ushers Rosemary Daubert Ray Rosch Phyl Lacy Bill Caradine Bill Fitzgerald LEM Marcu Johnson Pete Ruppel Phyl Lacy Mary Lou Gruber Lectors Ray Rosch Marcu Johnson Harold Crook Pat Johnson Thomas Pearson Fran Caradine Thomas Pearson Toni Pierce Ray Rosch POP Nancy Rosch Mary Lou Gregory Rosemary Daubert Fran Caradine Altar Guild Johnette Moore Maxine Hubbell Pat Chase Pat Johnson Roberta Coats Marilyn Harris Marcu Johnson Caryl Mackey Rosemary Daubert Karen Turner Merrily Lillard Karen Parkman Susan Pearson Debbie Riedle Fran Caradine Coffee Hour Need help! Phyl Lacy Diana Hughes Need help! Fran Caradine PARISHIONERS NEWS: ADDRESS CHANGE FOR ANITA ROGNAS After March 24 th, my mailing address will be: 626 Preston Street Missoula, MT I will be using my cell phone in Missoula, rather than a land line, and will keep my current number: I have extra bedrooms in Missoula; please feel welcome to visit or to stay with me if you need a bed while traveling through Missoula on your way to somewhere else.

8 Page 8 Volume 2015, Issue 4 Dear friends in Christ, On this most holy night, in which our Lord Jesus passed over from death to life, the Church invites her members, dispersed throughout the world, to gather in vigil and prayer. For this is the Passover of the Lord, in which, by hearing his Word and celebrating his Sacraments, we share in his victory over death. With these words, the faithful around the world will gather for the Great Vigil of Easter, marking the end of Lent and the beginning of Easter. On Easter morning, we will sing Alleluia, marvel at the flower arrangements, hear the story of frightened, courageous women and an empty tomb, and rejoice with the Resurrected Christ. And then most of us forget. Not intentionally, I think. We ve endured 40 days of Lent and participated in our parish Lenten programs. Some of us have given up coffee, taken on more prayer time, and waited for Easter. Forty days is a long time, and we ve put energy into being penitential and spiritual for Lent. So we celebrate Easter Day and we re done. But why? It s like taking hours upon hours to get ready for the big party and then staying at the party of the century for 10 minutes. Really? Why not celebrate? Why not stay at the party? Why not see what joy and life lessons this season can bring? Why not fully celebrate the Fifty Days of Easter? There is one way to do this; it is called 50 Days of Fabulous. It is a way to engage the season of Easter beyond just one day. Each day of the Easter season, which is, if you haven t guessed yet, a full 50 days (10 more than Lent), is a day to celebrate rebirth, light, resurrection, surprise, joy, and the triumph of life over death. Through daily reflections, based on scripture, saints, art, music, and whatever else inspires the contributors, everyone is invited into this amazing party that is the Feast of the Resurrection. Each day also has a response. Our faith is not a faith of reading something and thinking, How nice. Our faith is a faith of proclamation, action, prayer, and response. Easter implores us to proclaim the resurrection, and we will offer you some simple, profound, and even quirky ways to do so. To sign up for the daily reflections, simply go to or you can bookmark the page and look at it each day. It is a great way to keep Easter fabulous! THE SHALOM PROJECT The Shalom Project is fundamentally about connecting churches to love in action. Nativity has been part of this from the beginning with Gretchen serving as part of the planning and organizing group. In the past couple of years the Shalom Project has collected food for the Feed the 5000, and conducted a Habitat for Humanity blitz build. This year the project will take on a different flavor with neighborhood block parties. On Sunday May 3rd the churches on Normal Hill and surrounding areas of Lewiston will be invited to do a food drive and collect food for Nativity s food pantry! Then, we will come together from 2-4 pm for a block party with food, music, and games. Each congregation will have a table with information their own church. Nativity is blessed that the focus of the food drive is for our pantry, and it is a great opportunity to get the word out to more people about our parish. Look for more information this month as we work together on the Shalom project.

9 Page 9 Volume 2015, Issue 4 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY th Street Lewiston, Idaho Office: office@nativitylewiston.com Rector: rector@nativitylewiston.com CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY Wardens/Vestry Rector Rev d. Gretchen Rehberg Vestry Diana Hughes, Sr. Warden Harold Crook, Jr. Warden Pat Johnson, Treasurer Dick McMillen, Clerk Ted Creason Harold Crook Rosemary Daubert Debi Fitzgerald Diana Hughes Richard Moore Cathlin Stewart FIND US ON THE WEB! us on Facebook! Episcopal Church of the Nativity