Dear Friends in Christ, Wherever you are on your spiritual journey this day, you are in my prayers.

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1 Glad Tidings May 2013 THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY C E D A R C R O F T 419 Cedarcroft Road Baltimore, MD Phone: (410) Fax: (410) stewart@nativitycedarcroft.org nativity.secretary@verizon.net IN THIS ISSUE: Message from Stewart Birthdays & Anniversaries May Calendar Book Club Message from Fr. Tony May Ministry Schedule Adult Forum Pray for our Shut-Ins Find us on Facebook nativitycedarcroft Follow us on Twitter Dear Friends in Christ, I continue to give thanks to God for the blessing it is to be in ministry among you here at Nativity. I am excited to come to work every day to see what new stories I will hear and what new opportunities await us as we seek to live into and spread the gospel together. Our faithful Junior Warden Craig Hart keeps showing me all of the nuances of our beloved buildings. There is always a story. The sacristy is full of stories as well from gifts that have been given in memory of loved ones we see no longer. One of those things is a tippet with Nativity s seal embroidered on it. As some of you remember, tippets were worn for Morning Prayer with a cassock (the black robe) and surplice (the white billowy robe). The seal is also on the beautiful banner on the back wall of the nave. Now that I am writing this article, I hope that some of you will share the story of the shield with me. I understand the colors and stripes from the Maryland state flag. I see the reference to the cedar trees connected to our neighborhood. I am unclear what flowers those are supposed to be maybe poppies? And then under the shield are the words He hath planted. I am assuming that this is from Psalm 104:16 in the King James Version: The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted. Clever. Very clever. But let s expand the quote into a question. Why has God planted us here in this neighborhood? What is the purpose of our beloved Nativity Church in Cedarcroft and in Baltimore and in the world? Are we called to be like a strong towering tree, a beacon of hope and stability rooted in our faith? Are we called to scatter more seeds of the gospel sharing the Good News of God in Christ by caring for those in need? These are some of the questions I am asking so that we can discern a vision together for the future. I look forward to our Annual Meeting and to hearing your responses. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey this day, you are in my prayers. In Christ s love and service, Stewart+ stewart@nativitycedarcroft.org Annual Meeting Sunday May 5, 2013 Combined Worship at 10:30am Potluck & Meeting following Election of three vestry members Nominees: Amanda Cunningham Betsy Dunn Barbara Weldon

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4 Priest Associate s Corner Deacon Linda is in China! She sent an from an iphone. She had a safe journey. She flew with her cousin, Pat, going first to Toronto, Ontario and then direct to Shanghai. She went to the museum, to the Yangou Gardens and a Silk Carpet making factory. Always prepared, she travels with all the usual stuff as recommended by the travel agents, plus her prayer book, scripture and Forward Day by Day. Prayers are a part of daily life even on vacation! The trip celebrates Pat s 70th birthday. Pat is part of the Stephen Ministry in her church. Trained volunteers in the church work to help others, often seniors, over at least a three month period, sometimes much longer. It is pastoral care and requires an ability to listen and to pray! Linda will be back just in time to go the Convention of the Diocese of Maryland, She should be in Baltimore by May 2nd. She left the fridge well stocked so that I will not starve. On that note, Sunday at Church was great, and the breakfast was spectacular. CALENDAR May May The 229 Convention of the Diocese of Maryland May 5 - Sunday - Combined Services May 5 - Sunday - CARES Pantry May 5 - Sunday - Annual Meeting Sunday May 9 - Thursday - Ascension Day May 12 - Sunday Mother s Day May 13 - Monday - Vestry Meeting May 19 - Sunday - Day of Pentecost May 19 - Sunday - Nativity Book Club Tony Hollis+ Remember our Nativity members who are homebound or in health care facilities : Shut-ins at Home Jeannette Battenfeld Mary Gardner Bert Hohman Members at health care facilities: Edenwald Stall Maris Josephine Disney Peggy Tice Genesis Health Care Center Betty Hall The Maples at Towson Thelma Crispell

5 Let s all join together to congratulate our graduates for 2013! Mickey Baroody will be graduating from Gilman Middle School Victoria Baroody will be graduating from Stoneleigh Elementary School Amanda Eversley will be graduating from John Hopkins University with a Masters Degree in School Supervision and Administration Samuel Jon Frain will be graduating from Kent County High School Kathleen Van De Wille will be graduating Magna Cum Laude from Elmira College with a B.A. Degree in English Literature and Classical Studies John Matthew Webb will be graduating from Anne Arundel Community College Shannon Nicole Webb will be graduating from Chesapeake High School God Loves Me By Flora Sheard I know God loves me. God don t make no junk. I am blessed and am his beloved child. He made me to love him. He is my father and all of you are his children. See! He was a single parent too. I study the word to show me how to raise my 2 children alone, with God my guide I made it. Now I am a grandma of five grandchildren and God is still with me. A light lights my path guiding me through the evil world. If God is for you who can be against you. He will never leave us or forsake us. The Holy Spirit lives in us, guides us and protect us. Thank God for eternal life.

6 Baseball Evangelism Diocese of Maryland Day Saturday, June 1, 4:05 p.m. at Oriole Park $6 per ticket Enjoy an afternoon of baseball, fellowship and old-fashioned fun at the Yards with friends, neighbors and church members. Tickets now on sale for our 5th annual diocesan baseball outing. There are 1,200 tickets available for our group. Order your tickets by May 24. If we buy a block of 20 tickets to see your church listed on the Jumbotron! Let Stewart know if you will help signup our Nativity group. NATIVITY BOOK CLUB The next meeting of the Nativity Book Club will be at 2:00 p.m., Sunday May 19 in the Upper Room. After two months of factual reading, we will be looking at a novel this time. It is The Light Between Oceans, by M. L. Stedman. Catherine Bishop will be leading the discussion and Betsy Toland will provide refreshments. The geographic setting for the story is one I do not believe we have seen in all the years of the Book Club Australia. It is set in southwestern Australia, the home of the author although both the lighthouse island and the mainland town are fictional. After four years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as lighthouse keeper on James Rock, nearly half a day s journey from the coast. It fundamentally is a love story with his wife Isabel, a native of the town Tom visits while on shore leave. They become involved in a moral problem which affects the rest of their lives. Please read the book and join us on May 19 th for the discussion. Catherine Bishop

7 The Rt. Rev. Eugene T. Sutton, Bishop The Rt. Rev. Joe G. Burnett, Assistant Bishop Nativity Staff The Rev. T. Stewart Lucas, Priest-in-Charge The Rev. Linda Hollis, Deacon The Rev. Anthony Hollis, Priest Associate Wallington Hankerson, Jr., Director of Music Nancy Meade, Administrative Assistant Vestry and Officers Neal Baroody, Senior Warden Craig Hart, Junior Warden Margaret Dowding, Treasurer Betsy Reese, Registrar Class of 2013 Lee Smith Debby Tupper, Melvina Coleman Class of 2014 Harold Hardinger Maria Hardinger, Jonathan Pearce Class of 2015 Jessica Brain Robin Cox Amy Norwood 3 Jeannette Battenfeld 5 David A. Daniel 5 Jonathan Pearce 6 Samuel Dowding 9 Laura Cunningham 10 Eric Curry 11 Douglas Knowles, Jr. 13 Bruce Nelson 24 Leo Sands 29 Elizabeth Knowles 30 Jack Windsor 30 Ginny North 1 Bruce and Edith Nelson 16 Pat and Joe Kimmel 18 Louis and Mary Beth Willett

8 PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY PARISH FAIR PATRON This year s Parish Fair will take place on Saturday, June 8th. As in the past, this year s Parish Fair needs your support! For your convenience, please use this form to specify how you wish to have your name(s) listed in the Parish Fair Patron Booklet. $5 PER PERSON $10 PER FAMILY NAME(S) Paid: Cash Check# ) THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, CEDARCROFT 419 CEDARCROFT ROAD BALTIMORE, MARYLAND ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED