the Holy Spirit to figure out how we are called to respond to the needs we see.

Transcription

1 GLAD TIDINGS Stewart s Stewings Well I thought last September was exciting, but this year I am even more thrilled with what s going on in the life of our congregation. A few weeks ago I looked out and counted heads while Linda was preaching. (I had heard it at the first service, and I only diverted my attention briefly! LOL) I counted 63 people, 20 of whom were new in the last year and a half! God is doing something amazing in our midst, and we are glad indeed. Welcome to our newest members! This newsletter is full of information about how we gather together for fun, worship, education and service to those in great need in our community. the Holy Spirit to figure out how we are called to respond to the needs we see. Finally, know that I want to spend more time with each of you individually. Now that we have moved to Towson, my schedule is much more flexible. Please call or me so that we can meet for coffee or a simple meal and get to know one another better. Don t miss Kickoff Sunday, September 14! Breakfast starts at 9:15 with a forum. The choir will return and Sunday School will start for the kids! In Christ love and service, Inside this issue: Fellowship On Sept. 20, invite your friends and neighbors to join us for fellowship and a silent auction. Worship David Neff joins our staff this month as our new Director of Music and tells you more about his background in church music. Service Deacon Linda highlights our summer Reading Camp and invites you to take part in a picnic, some painting and a cruise this October. Education Stewart is starting a new Wednesday evening Bible Study at 7pm. Learn more about the scriptures and how they apply to our lives. Plus come hear more about the Adult Forums we are considering for this fall. 6 This fall I hope and pray you will spend some time discerning where you might be able to serve God here at Nativity. We have plenty of room for you to get involved by cooking, singing, reading, serving at the altar, painting a Habitat House, donating food, teaching Sunday School, studying the Bible and so much more. But most of all I hope you will continue to join me in as we persevere in prayer. (Romans 12:12) This world needs our prayers, and we need the help of 1

2 The Church of the Nativity September 20, 2014 from 5:00 8:00 pm $10/adults & $5/children Wine $5/glass Gluten-free, Vegetarian & Take out too! S ILENT A UCTION Ravens tickets Gift Baskets Key West Condo Dinner at the Rector s BSO Tickets Center Stage Tickets Attorney Services Brunch on Park Avenue and much, much more! Bidding begins Sept. 14 and ends at noon on Sept Doug Campbell(twohounds@icloud.com) to help set up, cook, serve or cleanup. Buy your tickets on Sunday, from the church office or online. 2

3 Sing to the Lord a NEW Song! David Neff, Director of Music My earliest musical memory is of sitting on the floor of a radio studio, gazing up at my father s gospel quartet crowded around a single microphone. As I grew, my father (who had been a paid boy soprano in an Episcopal choir) made sure I also heard plain chant and Renaissance choral music. By the time I turned ten, my dad arranged for me to study organ and five years later we were serving the church together, with my father as choir director and me as organist. After I retired last year from my main career as a magazine editor, my wife, LaVonne, and I moved to Maryland to be closer to our daughter and her family. We immediately started visiting Episcopal churches, and once we visited Nativity, Cedarcroft, nothing else seemed so welcoming and interesting. You had us hooked. The last time the Neffs made an interstate move was 1981, and the Illinois parish we discovered then became the 28-year venue for my musical leadership. During my nearly three decades at St. Barnabas in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, I composed a number of anthems, hymn texts, and other songs for the congregation. My writing was usually prodded by necessity, as when I couldn t find a hymn that illuminated the Eucharistic dimension of Jesus miracle at the wedding in Cana. The result, You Saved the Best Till Now, is published here. I believe that participation of all God s people is the key to music in worship. That was the subject of my recent column in Christianity Today: The Best Way to Use Music in Church: Let the People Sing. I am also interested in the history of church music. Here are two glimpses into that vast subject: Dr. Luther, Rapmeister (how the German reformer rhymed the creed in order to interest the church s youth) and The Original Do-Re-Mi (how an Italian monk developed a shortcut for teaching choirs to sightread). I love a wide variety of church music classic hymns and gospel songs, spirituals and chants. That comes in part from working with Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, Disciples, Congregational, and Adventist congregations. It is also partly the result of my coming into the Episcopal orbit in the early 70s, when the charismatic renewal was in full swing and new music was blooming. The charismatic renewal may have run its course, but openness to trying new and different music under the guidance of God s Spirit is still with us. The mission of a church choir, I believe, is to help the people sing with confidence, not to perform anthems. That requires a critical mass, however, and for the Nativity choir to fulfill its mission, we will need an additional half dozen voices. The invitation is open. If you like to sing, contact me at or nefftune@gmail.com, and let me know of your interest. Our regular Thursday evening choir rehearsals begin September 11 at 7:00 PM. I hope to see many of you then. Come early to church on David s first Sunday, to September 7 to learn some new service music too! 3

4 Reading Camp Heroes The five-day camp the first week of August in Remington was a chance for children going into grades 2 thru 4 to sharpen their reading skills and to experience reading as a life-enhancing tool. Fifteen children came from Margaret Brent School as well as Hampden Elem. The Reverend Linda Hollis, Deacon Hero Four was our Music Hero. The Rev. Ken Phelps came to lead us in singing some fun tunes. Hero Five was the Royal Reader, played by the Rev. T. Stewart Lucas who read to the children three afternoons. He gave us our very own reading crowns. CARES Food Pantry Collection Sept. 7 Jessie Brain was our Red Cross Volunteer Worker who explained how important it was to be able to fill out an application for help. The children filled out an application with their own family info. Amanda Cunningham was our Tree Hero from the Baltimore Tree Trust. The children learned about how trees clean the air, provide shade and make their neighborhoods pleasant places in which to live. They played a game showing them how to care for trees. Farm Mom Hero talked about how to grow veggies in small places and the value of fresh foods in our diets. The children weeded a plot outside Guardian Angel and planted carrot seeds. One Straw Farm from Monkton sent fresh veggies for the lunch and snacks. Volunteer teachers and aides taught six skill groups to help improve the children s reading: Sight Words; Phonics, Comprehension, Strategies, Writing, and Pleasure Reading. Thanks go to Sarah Knowles, Judy Jones, and Betsy Reese. In their groups children received individual attention using games, Legos, journals, computers, and shaving cream to learn using all senses. Heroes of Meal Preparation and Afternoon Activities are Meg Elseroad, Tricia Anderson, Melvina Coleman and Jack Webb. These heroes lead Crafts, Outdoor Play, Indoor Games; and field trips to Roosevelt Park Pool and the Maryland Zoo. Betsy Dunn provided pool shirts. Our Nurse Heroes were Betsy Smith and Doris Webb who also helped wherever needed. The volunteers came from The Church of the Nativity, Cedarcroft, St. Andrew s, Glenwood, St. James, Parkton, Redeemer, the Cathedral and Guardian Angel. On the first Sunday of every month, we bring food and toiletries to be delivered to the GEDCO Cares pantry located at St. Mary s Church in Govans. The pantry is currently in need of the following items: peanut butter, jelly, canned soup and laundry soap. Birthdays & Anniversaries Birthdays: Tim Fenhagen, Sept. 1; Harold Hardinger, Sept. 8; Neal Baroody, Sept. 10; Ellie Sharkey, Sept. 11; Craig Hart, Sept. 15; Sergio Lattanzi, Sept. 16; Amy Redmond Norwood, Sept. 18; Chelsea and Clarisse Laoyan, Sept. 19; Mary Tupper, Sept. 22; Robin Cox, Sept. 22. Anniversaries: Basil and Lee Howard, Sept. 1; Tom and Pati Carter, Sept

5 YAY! More Tree Planting this Fall! Habitat for Humanity Thank you all for volunteering or expressing interest in volunteering for tree plantings and the like. Sharing upcoming events - hope you will join us! Below is a list of tree planting dates! Baltimore TreeKeepers Educate yourself. Sat Sept 6 th TK 101 Trees & Baltimore 9am -12 noon Sat Sept 20 th TK 102 Science of Trees w/planting S. Charles Street 9am -12 noon Thurs Sept 25 th TK 201 Advanced Training Tree Planting Leadership Cert. 6:30 pm 9pm All classes this Sept. are free and will be held at: Christ Lutheran Church 701 S. Charles Street Baltimore, MD Parking is available. More info & please register at baltimoretreetrust.org or contact Amanda Cunningham at Soon Nativity will be joining in this effort putting God's love into action by providing affordable housing to deserving families. We are currently in conversation with Habitat Chesapekae to partner with the Church of the Redeemer on renovatiosn to homes on McKabe Avenue in Govans. In preparation, we will help Habitat Carroll County in Westminster on Saturday October 25 probably from 8:30-3:30pm. Volunteers must be 16 years or older. No skills are required. There will be a variety of tasks to accomplish from installing trim to painting to outdoor work. Please join Stewart and the other volunteers already signed up on the Outreach board in the hallway. Take a waterside tour of the Port of Baltimore BALTIMORE INTERNATIONAL SEAFARERS CENTER Thursday, October 9, Don t miss this opportunity to learn more about how chaplains and volunteers serve the crews who serve our economy. Board the Raven promptly at 4:45 PM returning by 7. Tickets are $60/person and include soft drinks, heavy hors d oeuvres and beer and wine. Cash bar for spirits. Call or MaryHTDavisson@aol.com or speak to Tony or Linda Hollis. 5

6 The Church of the Nativity Sunday Forums Sam Dowding has graciously agreed to organize our Sunday morning forum at 9:15 in Hart Hall each week. On September 7, we will gather for a preview of many ideas set forth for our fall series. On September 14, we ll have a special breakfast and begin an in depth conversation on immigration. Stewart will continue his Rector s Forum on the third Sunday, September 21. On September 28 we ll continue our immigration conversation. Other topics and speakers will be finalized after input is received. Book Club The next gathering will be held on Sunday October 6 at 2pm in the Upper Room. Refreshments will be provided, and this is an excellent time to join our group. The story begins with an introduction to the character of Ed Kennedy, a down-and-out underage taxi driver who is hopelessly in love with his best friend Audrey, who, to his dismay, feels that she cares about him too much to date him. He accidentally foils a robbers' escape, and is proclaimed a hero. Shortly after, he receives an Ace of Diamonds in the mail. The ace is from an unknown source.. You have to read the book September 2014 New Bible Study! Wednesday nights from 7-8:30pm This new study will be in addition to our regular Wednesday morning Bible Study. Stewart will lead a study of a book of the Bible or perhaps a book by a religious author or theologian. My goal is that you will commit to this new formation program,; however, weekly attendance will not be required or necessary to be fed spiritually each session. Our popular Advent and Lenten Suppers and programs will replace the study during those seasons. Our new Bishop Suffragan is set to make our annual visitation on the Feast of Pentecost on May 24, (This is Memorial Day Weekend, so please mark your calendars now and let me know if you are interested in being received into the Episcopal Church or being confirmed.) So we may use some time to do an Episcopal Church refresher / Inquirers Class for our Newcomers, or we may need a separate meeting time for this. Please join me for our first meeting on October 8. Special Christmas Concert Saturday, December 20th We are ecstatic that the full Ensemble Galilei will come to Nativity for an amazing night of music for the season. The group s leader Carolyn Surrick was so overwhelmed with our space and enthusiasm at the June concert that she has given us the honor of hosting a Baltimore concert for the holidays. Tickets will be $20 and available on our website soon. Let s host a reception too for our neighbors and friends who will join us! Let Stewart know if you can coordinate some cider and cookies. 6

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8 Vestry Challenge: Support ERD & AFEDJ The American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem need our support for Al Ahli Hospital, a full service, fully operation hospital in Gaza City. The hospital is owned and operated by the Jerusalem Diocese. In addition to addressing the immediate needs of injured people, they are sheltering displaced families. There is desperate need for food, fuel for the generators (which are the only source of power in Gaza now), medication and medical supplies. The Vestry decided at its Monday night meeting to allocate $500 from the Outreach Fund and challenges you to give more. The Vestry also allocated $500 to Episcopal Relief and Development to immediately assist those who are battling and working to prevent the spread of Ebola especially in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Through its local partners, the organization is supporting awareness-raising efforts and providing personal protection equipment and disinfectants to under-resourced hospitals and clinics in the affected areas. Make a check out to the church and note ERD or AFEDJ in the memo line. Or visit or Save the Date! Blessing of the Animals! Saturday, October 5pm! THE CHURCH OF THE N ATIVITY C EDARCROFT 419 CEDARCROFT ROAD BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21212