FROM GRETCHEN S PEN. Gretchen

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1 The Episcopal Church of the Nativity Volume 2017, Issue 1 THE MESSENGER FROM GRETCHEN S PEN This is a hard newsletter article to write, for this will be my last newsletter article as the rector of our parish. Eleven years ago this month I arrived, and now it is time for me to leave. It won't be a full "goodbye" since Nativity and I will still have a relationship, but it will be different. I won't be here day to day. Instead, after a time of transition, discernment and call, you will have a new rector. That new rector will bring their own gifts and skills and passions and will form a new relationship with you all. That is good, it is proper, it is necessary. I am quite confident that your new rector will be someone who will be able to work with all of you and provide the leadership for helping move confidently into the future. Over my time here I have buried more people than I wanted to, married a number, baptized folks, sponsored people for confirmation, and been invited into your lives in ways that have blessed me beyond telling. I have had my own faith strengthened by parishioners here. I have been challenged, stretched, supported. I have had times of joy and times of sorrow. I have found a home here. I hope that in some way I have been able to bless you as much as you have blessed me. I know that I will always carry Nativity in my heart. Perhaps the hardest thing I will do is to leave, and yet it will be necessary for me to leave, and to let your new rector truly become your rector. I might be leaving to become your bishop, but that is different, it is not the same relationship and it can't be. One of the first things I saw when I arrived eleven years ago was a couple of signs, one on the water fountain in the east hallway, one on the west door to the parish hall. The signs said "do not use, broken." At the time I thought that those signs represented in many ways the self-image of Nativity. From my time of discernment I did not think Nativity was "broken" but I was aware that many here did. Those signs no longer represent this parish. This parish is such a good place, full of people who care for each other, people who serve our community in ways that go beyond our side, people who show up for worship, speak to learn more about the faith, play well together. This parish is truly a place where God is worshiped, people are fed, lives are changed. I hope that you will claim that truth and know it deep within yourselves. I am incredibly grateful to have been the rector here. I cannot begin to say thank you enough to all of you for the gift you have been. You will always be in my prayers. My last Sunday as your rector will be on the 8th. We will celebrate together, we will laugh and perhaps cry together, and we will bless each other, and that will be good. I hope that you will be able to be there, but if not, please know how much I love you all. Gretchen

2 Page 2 Volume 2017, Issue 1 FOOD PANTRY N A T I V I T Y S OUTREACH Thank you to everyone who helps with our food pantry, from picking up food at the Food Bank or Winco, stocking shelves, staffing the pantry and bringing food, it is all needed help and much appreciated, especially by those who need the food. SATURDAY SUPPER On December 10th Peggy and Neal Flowers and their team served fewer community members than usual, probably due to snow conditions and Christmas activities. The team enjoyed the time to be able personally to talk to guests! Rick and Leslie Smith will be new team leaders; Peggy and Neal will remain part of the team. The team approach is working great, now we are looking for a list of folks who are willing to be identified substitutes that team leaders can call on if they run into a need for helpers. Please see the signup sheet in the parish hall or speak to Rosemary Daubert if you can do this thanks! SNAKE RIVER CLINIC The next delivery of finger-food, for approximately 15 workers at the clinic, will be Tuesday, January 10th. 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 ( ). SALVATION ARMY SOUP KITCHEN We will be helping to prepare, serve and clean up from the meal at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, January 27. If you would like to join us in serving others, please call Pat Johnson at SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE DICK AND SHERRI MCMILLEN Dick here through my work I have the privilege of volunteering for a variety of activities including Advisory Board of the Salvation Army and Board of Directors of Opportunities Unlimited. In past years I have been active in the Valley Boys and Girls Club, Chamber of Commerce, and City Council. In her capacity of director of

3 Page 3 Volume 2017, Issue Page 13 Community Action Agency and director of the YWCA Sherri always maintained the vision of helping others in countless ways. Currently she is a volunteer at St. Joseph. At Nativity she is a team leader for Saturday supper and we both like to take advantage of the opportunities that the church offers both for study and volunteer. I have been on the Vestry several times and I would be remiss in not mentioning how much of an honor it is to be the Senior Warden especially in this time of change. Thank you. CHANCEL GUILD MEN AND WOMEN S GROUPS Gifts were exchanged and Christmas cookies devoured, at our December meeting. Toni Pierce played the guitar and we sang Christmas songs. Thank you to Debbie Riedle and Karen Parkman, for hosting. Christmas gifting was discussed and passed. Maxine Hubbell and Fran Caradine reported on the transition committee and the January 8 th potluck. Our next meeting will be on the second Monday in January, the 9 th. Marcu Johnson and Caryl Mackey will host. MEN S BREAKFAST Men s breakfast group returns the 2 nd Saturday of January, the 10th. All men are invited to participate, gathering at 9 am on Saturday. THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING The annual parish meeting of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity will be held on Sunday, January 29 after the 10:30 service following a potluck lunch All are invited and requested to attend. Vestry members and delegates to diocesan convention will be elected at this meeting. The deadline for reports for the annual meeting journal is Friday, January 13 th. Please reports into the office if possible. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS We are seeking and receiving nominations for vestry and diocesan convention delegates. If you would like to nominate someone (including yourself) for either position please call the office, at Diocesan convention representative obligations include one Saturday meeting in the fall and preparing for, attending and reporting back from Diocesan convention the third weekend of October. Vestry obligations include two Saturday meetings each year, one overnight retreat, and 11 monthly meetings. Both require that those who serve are active and participate in the life of the parish.

4 Page 4 Volume 2017, Issue Page 14 CHOIR CORNER Happy New Year! The choir will resume on January 1, 2017! Even though January 8 th is the second Sunday, it will be Gretchen s last Sunday, so the choir will sing for the service that day. The Inland Northwest Handbell Workshop will be March 24 & 25, 2017 at Lewiston First United Methodist Church. Brian Tervo, founder of the Emerald City Ringers, a community handbell choir in Seattle, WA, will be the clinician. We need to register before February 6 th in order to get the discounted rate, so please let Sarah know if you would like to attend. If you are interested in singing the Mozart Requiem with the Palouse Choral Society and Lewis-Clark State College Choirs in April, please let Sarah know. You could join the LCSC choir for rehearsals on Tuesday nights from pm beginning January 17, Gretchen s ordination will be Saturday, March 18, Please stay tuned for information regarding choir participation in the service. THANKS TO THE CHOIR, ANNAMARIE, AND SARAH FOR OUR GLORIOUS MUSIC THIS CHRISTMAS! TRANSITION NEWS Thanks to all those who took the time to complete the CAT survey! The following questions will be posted in the parish hall sometime holiday week, and will remain there until the profile committee members meet with fellow parishioners after services, beginning January 15th. 1. What about your experience at Nativity inspires and satisfies you? And how? 2. What do you like about Nativity? What are Nativity's successes? 3. What are Nativity's challenges? Where is there room for improvement? 4. What are your hopes for Nativity's future? 5. What do you believe are the most important tasks/ministries of the next Priest? (Those deemed priority during conversation with Robin include preaching, pastoral care, leadership, teaching, liturgy, formation for all, and administration.) Please consider these questions and feel free to give your feedback on the question sheets in the parish hall, from the last week of December through January 15th, when we begin to discuss them together. If you would like to give feedback directly to a committee member, please contact Karen Schmidt, Nancy Rosch, Maggie Pierce, Rick Smith, or John Willows. More information to come, once we receive our CAT results.

5 Page 5 Volume 2016, Issue 1 B I RT H DA Y S IN JANUA RY Mary Heusinkveld 1 st Charissa Graham 18 th Caryl Mackey 10 th Janet White 21 st Roberta Coats 13 th Marsha Creason 27 th Gladys Huffman 17 th Debi Fitzgerald 30 th Richard Moore 17 th THE ALTAR GUILD Our thanks to those who have donated sanctuary candles. Jan. 8 given by Gretchen in thanksgiving for Nativity Our thanks to those who have donated flowers for the altar. Jan. 8 given by Gretchen in thanksgiving for Nativity Currently we have only one week of flowers and candled signed for. The 2017 signup sheets are out please sign up not only for flowers and candles but also coffee hour etc. Thanks! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED FOR OUR CRHISTMAS POINSETTIAS Joe and Merrily Lillard, Darrel and Rosemary Daubert, Tom and Karen Parkman in memory of Jean Parkman, Dick and Mavis Ohms in thanksgiving for Gretchen and her faithful service at The Church of the Nativity, Pat Johnson in memory of Lee Johnson, Marcu Johnson, Phyl Lacy, Diane and Steve Kottkey in memory of Jean & Wally Crandall (Diana s parents) Muriel & Henry Kottkey & Bob Kottkey (Steve s parents and brother), Karen Riddle in memory of Ray Riddle, Susan Gray in memory of her mother, Gretchen Rehberg in memory of Wallace Rehberg, Annamarie Pearson in thanksgiving for her family,

6 Page 6 Volume 2017, Issue 1 WEEKLY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Sunday: Eucharist - 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Bible Study/choir practice - 9:00 a.m. Monday - Friday: Noon Day Prayer - 12:15 p.m. Tuesday: Book Study - 9:00 a.m. Food pantry open 8:45-noon. Wednesday: Eucharist/M.P. - 7:00 a.m. JANUARY 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 The Holy Name Vestry 6 pm Gretchen s last Sunday! 9 Chancel Guild 1pm 10 Clinic food delivery men s breakfast Saturday Supper/Food Pantry Salvation Army soup kitchen Saturday Supper/Food Pantry 29 Annual Parish meeting 30 31

7 Page 7 SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY Volume 2017, Issue 1 DATE Jan 1 Jan 8 Jan 15 Jan 22 Jan 29 Annual meeting 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM Ushers Jerry Pierce No 8 am Don and Maxine Hubbell EM Pete Ruppel go to the 10:30 John Willows No 8 am John Willows Jess Stone Sleep in and attend the Lector John Willows Gretchen s Margaret Cole Frances Hedrick 10:30 service and POP Peggy Flowers Last Sunday Anne Rhoads Pete Ruppel Annual meeting Greeters 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM Phyl Lacy and Marcu John- Rosemary Daubert Keegan and Liam Schmidt Nancy and Ray Rosch Don, Maxine Hubbell Ushers Noel Abbott Rosemary Daubert Ray Rosch and Caryl Mackey Marsha Creason and Phyl Lacy Bill and Debi Fitzgerald Cary Mackey and Ray Rosch EM Lectors Mary Lou Gruber Pat Johnson Ray Rosch Phyl Lacy Marcu Johnson Caryl Mackey Jerry Pierce Madison Winn Liam Schmidt Harold Crook Fran Caradine Alicia Case Ray Rosch Toni Pierce Marcu Johnson POP Fran Caradine Mary Lou Gregory Nancy Rosch Rosemary Daubert Mary Lou Gregory Altar Guild Johnette Moore Maxine Hubbell Fran Caradine Pat Johnson Roberta Coats Marilyn Harris Marcu Johnson Caryl Mackey Rosemary- Daubert Merrily Lillard Karen Parkman Susan Pearson Debbie Riedle Charissa Graham Johnette Moore Maxine Hubbell Fran Caradine Coffee Hour Rose and Pat Potluck lunch Need help! Need help! Potluck lunch

8 Page 8 Volume 2017, Issue 1 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY th Street Lewiston, Idaho Office: office@nativitylewiston.com Rectory CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY Wardens/Vestry Rector Rev d. Gretchen Rehberg Vestry Dick McMillen, Sr. Warden Joe Lillard, Jr. Warden Pat Johnson, Treasurer Rosemary Daubert, Clerk Mary Lou Gruber Richard Moore Rose Mortensen John Willows Madison-Rose Winn FIND US ON THE WEB! us on Facebook! Episcopal Church of the Nativity Gretchen s last Sunday will be January 8th. She will be off to new bishop orientation the following weekend, and then moving to Spokane to start working for the Diocese when she returns. We will celebrate with one service only at 10:30 and have a potluck lunch to follow. Please come!