FROM GRETCHEN S PEN. Gretchen

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1 The Episcopal Church of the Nativity Volume 2016, Issue 4 THE MESSENGER FROM GRETCHEN S PEN Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed, alleluia! With this shout of joy we start our Easter season, and open our worship every day with this powerful acclamation of reality. The Lord is risen and that fact changes everything. With the resurrection we know that love wins. With the resurrection God has given the divine stamp of NO! to the forces of evil. With the resurrection God shows us that the greatest power in the universe is not force of arms, political will, financial might, but love. With the resurrection God demonstrates that loving service is always stronger than fear. At the same time, resurrection life is life that has come through death. Resurrection is an act of God bringing life from death, and that can be a hard thing for humans to accept, for death always brings with it loss and grief. That death can be physical the reality of the fact remains that Jesus died on the cross and was buried in the tomb. That death can also be of our own understanding of ourselves, the death of our power, the death of our beliefs about reality. Death brings awareness of our own vulnerability and mortality, and many people resist such an awareness. Resurrection however, is life which is God infused and God empowered, and such life is a delight and joy. When we learn to embrace and walk through the death, whether physical, emotional or spiritual, we can walk into resurrection life here and now. Resurrection life is a way of life which not only knows that love is more powerful that hate, it actively works to provide love. Resurrection life demonstrates mercy, compassion, justice, healing, forgiveness and strives to show God to all. Resurrection life is life in God. Where are you experiencing death in your life today? Where is God inviting you to walk into resurrection? With Easter we claim the powerful truth that resurrection is real, and available to all of us here and now. As we celebrate the great 50 days of Easter, take each day to live into the joy of resurrection life. As we continue to experience resurrection in our own life, strive to show that life to others. For the resurrection is God s gift to you and to me, and to all creation. Alleluia, Christ is risen! Gretchen

2 Page 2 Volume 2016, Issue 4 N A T I V I T Y S OUTREACH FOOD PANTRY 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 We continue to have from 60 to 80 community members join us for Saturday Suppers. Gretchen and Vestry members served Hungarian stew over rice on February 27th. Rose Mortensen and her team served roasted marinated chicken tenders with vegetables on March 12th. We are still asking the congregation to sign up for ingredients. We like to have those ingredients in place by Thursday morning so that those who wish may begin preparing Friday morning. Also, having items in the kitchen or refrigerator in hall off the kitchen allows team leaders to see what might be missing. We did not be have Saturday Supper on Holy Saturday. Thank you, volunteers! SNAKE RIVER CLINIC The next delivery of finger-food, for approximately 15 workers at the clinic, will be Tuesday, April 14th. Thanks to Nancy and Ray for signing up. 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, April 27. If you would like to join us in serving others, please call Pat Johnson at MEN AND WOMEN S GROUPS CHANCEL GUILD An even dozen ladies attended Chancel Guild in March. Mary Lou Gregory provided green cake in honor of St. Patrick s Day. Fran Caradine read from the Khalil Gibran book Sand and Foam for our devotions. Caryl Mackey reported sending four get well cards from our guild. Maxine Hubbell said the rummage sale is coming right along. We discussed how the rummage sale is a time to bring folks together for fellowship as well as to raise money. We expressed our thanks to Maxine for all her hard work. The basket was passed collecting money for Church Periodical Club. Pat Johnson secured volunteers to bring

3 Page 3 Volume 2016, Issue Page 43 food for our turn at the Lenten Soup and Study. Pat also reported we have $ in our treasury. It was moved my Mary Lou Gregory and seconded by Rose Mortenson that we give $250 to the music program, at church, in honor of Myrl Larson. The motion passed. We discussed where we would like to donate money from our rummage sale. This will be decided at a later date. We said the birthday prayer for Barb Campbell, but did not sing, since she could not attend the meeting. We closed with a benediction. Our next meeting is April 4 th with Rosemary Daubert and Marilyn Harris as hosts. THE CHANCEL GUILD RUMMAGE SALE Our annual rummage sale will be held on April 29 and 30. Set up will be that week, and volunteers are needed to help out. At this point the rummage sale storage room is full, please bring any additional items for our sale to the parish hall on Sunday afternoon the 24th or on Monday the 25th. Thanks much. MEN S BREAKFAST Men s breakfast group meets the 2 nd Saturday of April, the 9th. All men are invited to participate, gathering at 9 am on Saturday. UNITED THANK OFFERING OFFERING OUR THANKS EACH DAY TO GOD Our Change Changes Lives. From Forward Day by Day, Acknowledging God s providence that abides with us clothes us in joy. Experiencing this joy of abiding with God calls forth an attitude of gratitude that deepens joy. The Spring United Thank Offering ingathering is Pentecost. May 15, I d like to encourage each of you to pick up your UTO box now and make gratitude a daily practice. Consider keeping your UTO box and a small bowl of loose change on your dining table or kitchen counter, and stop by throughout the day to put a coin in the box and say aloud your blessings ~ big and small ~ for something you learned, for a friend who stopped by, for a day of sunshine, for healing, etc. SPRING 2016 REGIONAL GATHERING DAY The Gathering Day for the SE region of the Diocese will be held at Nativity on Saturday April 23rd. This meeting is for all vestry members and clergy and all other interested members of the parish are invited to attend. Thanks to all who are helping provide our lunch that day.

4 Page 4 Volume 2016, Issue Page 4 GETTING TO KNOW YOU MEET RICK AND LESLIE SMITH: Last year neighbors Rick and Leslie Smith crossed the street to check out the Church of Nativity. While this is their first experience with an Episcopal church, they have liked it and have continued to attend Sunday services as well as other group events. They were confirmed into the Church this past fall. Rick a Nez Perce County law enforcement officer, is from Rochester, New York. Leslie, a nurse at Nimiipuu Health, lived in Lewiston until age 14. They met at ISU in Pocatello. They have three sons: Shaun, 29, and Bobby, 20, both of Pocatello; and Ricky, 25, in Los Angeles. Rick and Leslie have lived in Lewiston the past decade or more. In their spare time, Leslie reads, gardens and does antiquing. Rick likes motorcycle riding, karate, guitar and bagpipes. Together they enjoy their boys, walks and going to the movies. We are delighted Rick and Leslie are part of our Nativity family. Tuesday supper study - Demystifying the Book of Revelation Tuesday supper study resumes on April 12th with a DVD and conversation about the Book of Revelation one of the most confusing and often misunderstood books of the Bible. Come on out on Tuesdays for supper at 5:30 and the study at 6 pm. Hear what the Spirit is saying After our lessons on Sunday morning the lector says hear what the Spirit is saying to God s people. and we all respond Thanks be to God. As a way to emphasize the nature of listening to, and hearing, the Spirit, for the season of Easter we will not be printing the lessons in the bulletin, encouraging all of us to really listen as the lector proclaims the Scriptures. In this way we join the long tradition of our ancestors who had no access to the written word, and relied on hearing the scriptures being proclaimed. We will resume printing the lessons after Pentecost.

5 Page 5 Volume 2016, 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 18 th THE ALTAR GUILD Our thanks to those who have donated sanctuary candles: April 3 - Given by Frances Hedrick/Jess Stone in memory of The Reverend Kay Ryan. April 10 - Given by Karen Riddle in memory of Frances Hoffman. April 17 - Given by Barb Campbell. April 24 - Given by Gretchen in thanksgiving for Margaret Rehberg s birthday. Our thanks to those who have donated sanctuary flowers: April 3 OPEN. April 10- Given by Karen Riddle in memory of Frances Hoffman and given by Marsha Creason in memory of Ted Creason. April 17 - Given by Karen & Keegan Schmidt in thanksgiving for Liam s 12th birthday. April 24 - Given by Gretchen in thanksgiving for Margaret s Rehberg s birthday. Our Easter flowers were given to the glory of God by: Darrell and Rosemary, Daubert Marcu Johnson in memory of John and Barbara, Phyllis Lacy in memory of Jack, Joe and Merrily Lillard, Teresa Uptmor, John and Raydene Willows, Ed and Linda Martinson in memory of Ed and Marcella Martinson, Susan Gray, Karen Riddle, Marsha Creason in memory of Ted, Mike and Debbie Riedle, Rose Mortensen, Jerry and Toni Pierce, Dick and Sherri McMillen in memory of Earnest, Martha, Erle and Jean, Gretchen Rehberg, Julie and Dick White in memory of their parents, Bill and Fran Caradine in thanksgiving for Gillian, Emlyn and Stella, Marilyn Sittner, Tom and Karen Parkman in memory of Helen and Grant Bowden, Erma and Milton Warne, Lena Caverly and Douglas Parkman, Rick and Leslie Smith, Barb Campbell in memory of Phil Campbell

6 Page 6 Volume 2016, Issue 4 WEEKLY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Sunday: Eucharist - 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Bible Study/choir practice - 9:00 a.m. Study Hour - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday: Noon Day Prayer - 12:15 p.m. Tuesday: Book Study - 9:00 a.m. Supper study 5:30/6 pm Food pantry open 8:45-noon. APRIL 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Chancel guild 5 6 Vestry 6 pm Men s group Saturday Supper Compline 7 pm LCSC Choir Nativity 7: Gathering day Saturday Supper Salv. Army soup kitchen Nativity Rummage Sale 30 Nativity Rummage Sale

7 Page 7 SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR APRIL Volume 2016, Issue 4 DATE April 3 April 10 April 17 April 24 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM Ushers John Willows Don and Maxine Hubbell Jerry Pierce Neal and Peggy Flowers LEM Maxine Hubbell Jerry Pierce Jess Stone John Willows Lector Anne Rhoads John Willows Maxine Hubbell Pete Ruppel POP Jerry Pierce Margaret Cole Frances Hedrick Pete Ruppel 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM Greeters Rosemary Daubert Phyl Lacy and Marcu Johnson Keegan and Liam Schmidt Nancy and Ray Rosch Ushers Caryl Mackey and Ray Rosch Bill and Debi Fitzgerald Rosemary Daubert Richard and Johnette Moore LEM Marcu Johnson Marsha Creason Lectors Toni Pierce Jane Abbott Rosemary Daubert Alicia Case Mary Lou Gruber Fran Caradine Madison Winn Caryl Mackey Marcu Johnson Harold Crook POP Fran Caradine Mary Lou Gregory Caryl Mackey Nancy Rosch Altar Guild Coffee Hour Pat Johnson Roberta Coats Marilyn Harris Marcu Johnson Caryl Mackey Rosemary Daubert Karen Turner Merrily Lillard Karen Parkman Susan Pearson Debbie Riedle Johnette Moore Maxine Hubbell Fran Caradine Help needed! Help Needed! Rose Mortensen Help Needed!

8 Page 8 Volume 2016, Issue 4 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 FIND US ON THE WEB! us on Facebook! Episcopal Church of the Nativity 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 LCSC choir concert here, April 19th The LC choir, directed by our music director, Sarah Graham will be offering their spring concert at Nativity on Tuesday April 19th. There will be a talk at 7 pm to introduce the composers and the music, the concert is at 7:30. They will be performing a series of organ works including Benjamin Britten s Rejoice in the Lamb, Haydn s Missa Brevis, Fauré s Agnus Dei from Messe Basse, and Mozart s Ave Verum Corpus. All are invited, this is a great opportunity to welcome visitors into our parish.