Special Mother’s Day Program:

“Faith, Parenting, and Mental Health”

Sunday, May 14, 9:15-10:00 am | Fellowship Hall   

Join us for Adult Faith Formation on Mother’s Day as three mothers from the Nativity community share their stories about making room for faith and mental wellness in the challenges of family life. Together they will share stories from raising children of a variety of ages. Each speaker also brings experience from the mental health field or clergy profession. 

Our thanks to Angela Lamoore, Michelle Gustafson, and Sarah Rush for sharing their experiences with our community. Discussion time will follow the stories.

Plant Orders Are Here!

Did you place an order for the Youth Plant & Flower Sale? If so, they'll be available for pickup in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, May 13, from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Do you wish you'd put in an order? You're in luck! Look for extra plants and flowers in the Commons after worship on Sunday. For questions, email Renee@NativityChurch.org.

May Is Mental Health & Wellness Outreach Month

Nativity’s Mental Health and Wellness Outreach Ministries respond to the reality that people in our community are facing life challenges and that they can benefit by our appropriate and timely help and care. These ministries promote awareness of local resources and offer both educational programming and support opportunities.  

The Mental Health and Wellness Outreach ministries will host and highlight events throughout the month, including these upcoming events below.

Look for additional events in our Enews lineup.

“Finding Hope in Times of Loss & Pain”

NMHC Connect & Communicate Meeting 

Thursday, May 18, 6:30-7:30 pm | Room 218 and Zoom 

Optage Hospice Chaplain Jenny Schroedel facilitates grief groups across the Presbyterian Homes & Services Community and in the larger community. She is the author of Naming the Child: Hope-filled Reflections on Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Death. Jenny will speak about grief and children for part of her presentation and will provide information about Bright Day Grief Center, which specializes in supporting children.  

Mental Health Worship & Prayer Shawl Ministry 

May 20-21, All Worship Hours 

Deacon Kyle will bring the message with a mental health themed sermon. We also invite the community to visit the Prayer Shawl group at a table in the Commons to learn about their caring and supportive ministry at Nativity.   

Service Spotlight: Foster Quehl

This winter Nativity member Foster Quehl built and installed a new Little Library at Nativity as an Eagle Project, a capstone for the challenging honor of Eagle Scout rank. Foster believed the Little Library project could help “connect the community" and “be used to start conversations" in the neighborhood.

Read More about Foster's Story

LSS Circle Gathering This Week

May 18, 12:30-2:30 pm | Commons 

Women of Nativity, come join us at this month’s LSS Circle Meeting! Enjoy meeting others, sharing some treats, and taking time to do a service project. We will be tying small blankets for Hands and Voices and coloring birthday cards for Camp Noah. A visitor from the Hands and Voices program will join us to share information about this wonderful family program. 

Collaboration Project for George Floyd Rise & Remember Event

Nativity is partnering with Redeemer Lutheran and First Lutheran to create the kids' zone for the George Floyd Memorial Rise and Remember Community Celebration on May 27th.  We need volunteers to join us in planning and being present. All ages can help!  Contact Kelly Sherman-Conroy for more information at Kelly@NativityChurch.org.

"George Floyd Square" by Fibonacci Blue is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Celebrating Our Graduates

 Graduating from high school is an important milestone, and your faith community is excited to celebrate with you! One way we would like to celebrate you and your achievement for graduation is to share your stories with our community. 

If you would like to participate, please fill out the linked Google Form, and email a few pictures to Renee@NativityChurch.org. Please include one senior picture and one picture from your early years, and send these in by or before Wednesday, May 17th.  

Finally, mark your calendars for our High School Graduation Recognition Sunday, June 4th, at the 10:30 am worship hour!

Form for Graduation Recognition

Join the Growing Green Yoga Event! 

May 24 at 6:00 pm | Fellowship Hall

Nativity Public Ministry and the Environmental & Sustainability Team have partnered with Growing Green Hearts to offer this unique Growing Green Yoga experience. The free event will combine yoga practice with environmental education, hands-on activities, treats from The Sioux Chef, and storytelling for an immersive and connecting experience! 

This intergenerational program is designed for all ages. Children are asked to participate with an adult caregiver. RSVPs are very helpful but not required. Email Kelly Sherman-Conroy to RSVP or for questions at Kelly@NativityChurch.org.

Children’s Summer Faith Formation Schedule

Children’s Faith Formation’s last class of the winter/spring session will be May 21. There will be a two-week break with no class on May 28 or June 4. The summer session will begin Sunday, June 11.   

For more information about Children's Faith Formation, contact Renee Hoffman at Renee@NativityChurch.org.  

Global Outreach Sewing Event

May 15, 6:00-8:30 pm | Fellowship Hall 

The Global Outreach team has a sewing event scheduled at Nativity and would like to invite anyone in the Nativity community to volunteer for a fun evening of service to others.  

Volunteers are needed to help sew washable sanitary pads and assemble hygiene kits for girls in Kenya. A light meal will be available at 6:00 pm, and the work session will begin at 6:30 pm. Sewers, non-sewers, adults and youth are invited to attend and help out. Contact Nancy Laible, njlaible@mac.com for more information. 

Book Drive for Global Outreach

Global Outreach Ministry at Nativity is collecting gently used children's story books for children in Kenya. Nativity is helping to create library space at Kapcheptoror Village in western Kenya, where about 400 children attend school.

If you have children's books to spare, please donate them and bring to Nativity on or before May 21. Place in the bin marked “Books for Kenya” in the Commons.

Thank you for making a difference for the children of Kapcheptoror Village!