Thursday, November 5, 2026 | | Thank you for subscribing and welcome to Lutheran Church of the Nativity. We look forward to keeping you informed, sharing stories, and answering your questions. | | |
Sunday Morning
November 8, 2026
24th Sunday after Pentecost
| | Live streaming on Sundays at 10am on our Facebook page. Service recordings are available on our YouTube channel. | | |
"PACK THE VAN" CEREAL DRIVE
Dear Nativity Family,
Our neighbors at Calvary Food Pantry are counting on you and so am I. When I was a kid, cold cereal was the main, and often, the only food for breakfast. We are distributing 130 to 170 boxes of cereal weekly, with most families receiving one box. The variety of cereal is usually very limited. As a big kid, I understand the joy of having a favorite cereal show up.
Here is where you and I come in. I have written a grant through Thrivent Financial which will be used to buy cereal. They are seeding the project, and my hope is for you to respond in-kind. We'll have our van outside the South Entrance to collect your gifts of boxed cereal between services on November 8. I am asking you to bring your favorite cereal or something special for our kids or kids at heart.
Thank you, for supporting our CFP projects!
Michael Neal
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STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN
At Nativity, we are Rooted in Grace, Growing for Tomorrow. Each week from October 25 through November 15, you'll hear from a different household about our current ministry and what we have planned as we gather in the love of Christ to care, grow, and serve. Intent Card Sunday is November 15.
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Tom Keesecker, pianist, will be with us next Sunday, November 15 at our 10am worship service. He is a published composer of piano and choral music as well as a gifted pianist.
Come share in a wonderful morning of music. Our choir will be singing one of his choral pieces at this service.
Tom will play a full concert on the afternoon of November 15 at The Episcopal Church of Saint John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock.
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PREPARE IN A YEAR Join your faith community for a conversation about becoming more prepared at home for disasters. Each gathering offers simple, practical steps you can take to strengthen your household’s readiness for the kinds of events we face here in WNC. Whether you’re just beginning or already have a plan in place, your experience and perspective matter. Our next gathering, Flooding, is THIS Sunday, November 8 at 11:15am in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Amy Phillips with questions.
WOMEN OF NATIVITY are reading The Message of Jesus: Words That Changed the World by Adam Hamilton. The Bible study includes a DVD and group discussion. Each chapter stands on its own, so no previous reading is necessary. The group will meet on Thursday, November 12, from 11am until 12:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. We will discuss chapter four, “Who Do You Say That I Am?” Bring a snack to share and join your sisters in Christ for fellowship and learning. All are welcome to attend at any time.
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RECONCILING CONVERSATIONS is a small group that meets monthly after the second service in the North Fellowship Hall classroom. Our next meeting is Sunday, November 15 at 11:15am. We spend time discussing topics related to LGBTQIA+ issues along with other opportunities for welcome and inclusion. Additionally, we are learning to practice respectful conversation when interacting around challenging topics. During the fall and winter of 2026, we will be following an ELCA study in order to give feedback to the ELCA's task force assigned to the reconsideration of the "bound conscience" portion of the ELCA's "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" social statement. We welcome all perspectives to our conversations. Please join us! You can contact Jenny Feid at jennyfeid44@gmail.com for more information.
"I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace: There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of All, who is above all and through all and in all. ~Ephesians 4:1-6.
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SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY Are you looking for a deeper dive into the Bible on Sunday mornings? Several weeks ago, a new Bible study started between the worship services. It goes from 9:15am to 9:45am in the conference room. Sunday Morning Bible Study for All Ages is designed for all ages to learn together- kids through seniors!
WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY continues on Wednesday mornings at 10am in the Fellowship Hall. We're currently studying the book of Mark . Come on out as we look at the book that is the focus of our readings in worship for the coming church year. Wednesday Morning Bible study will not meet on November 25 due to Thanksgiving.
| | NATIVITY BOOK GROUP will meet on Thursday, November 19, in the library from 2pm - 3pm. We will discuss Guest on Earth by Lee Smith. The door under the canopy on the back side of the church will be open, as will the office door. All are welcome to attend and join the lively discussion, even if you have not finished the book. We will NOT meet in December. Our next meeting is January 21, 2027, and we will discuss Judge Stone by Viola Davis. | | | |
BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN!
We have a group event scheduled for Friday, December 4 for all members. The Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley Tour will be departing from our north parking lot at 6:30pm. The tour lasts about 75 minutes not counting our ride to and from Asheville. We should be returning toNativity by 8:45pm. There are 32 seats available for this event for the price of $36 per person. To make your reservation, please contact Linda Blake or Dave Lloyd, Checks should be made out to Asheville Grayline Trolley. The tour consists of holiday storytelling and traditional classic caroling, accompanied by a local musician. The tour goes past festive holiday decorations in downtown Asheville, Montford and Grove Park neighborhoods. Songbooks will be provided. Please remember to bring a tip for our driver and musician. Please consider joining your friends on board The deadline is November 27 and payment is due at that time.
| | | | This devotional can be used for home devotions and small groups to deepen your daily and lifelong faith formation. | | Small Catechisms Podcast Our church podcast is back for its fifth season! You can look forward to episodes on everything from women in the bible, the ministry of bishops in other denominations, AI usage in sermon writing, and beyond. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. | | | | |
NATIVITY CARD MINISTRY will meet on Thursday, November 12, from 12:30pm until 2pm in the Fellowship Hall. Join us as we assemble beautiful cards for our members on the prayer list. No experience is necessary. All are welcome to help with this important ministry of sending love to our members needing our prayers.
WELCOME TEAM MEETING Did you know that Nativity has a Welcome Team? Would you like to be part of this group or need a refresher? This group will meet between the worship services on Sunday, November 15 in the Fellowship Hall. If you want to see Nativity become a warmer, even more welcoming place, please plan to attend.
THANK YOU to everyone who came out to celebrate my fifth anniversary at Nativity. It was a complete shock, and there were pies! I had no idea this was planned. Thank you for making Nativity so special to my family and me. ~ Pastor Sean
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2026 CROP WALK $27,012.02 was raised from the Asheville-Buncombe Crop Walk this year. Thank you for Nativity’s donation of $378.35 and for Nativity’s sponsorship. ~ Daniel Dudde, St. Mark’s Lutheran, Crop Walk Coordinator.
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER?
Would you support an outreach dinner to invite our neighbors in for a meal and to join us for Christmas Eve worship? We are gauging interest in offering a 4pm dinner ahead of our 5pm service. We will need people to bring food (based on church-provided recipes), set up, serve, and clean up to make this happen. If you might like to be involved, please let us know using this short form. Questions? Contact Vicar Aaron.
| | Nativity Volunteers (L-R) Carol Copeland, Heather Neal, Michael Neal, Rick Stine | | Halloween Saturday was a fun, festive, and fruitful morning. Volunteers welcomed at least 158 households representing 571 neighbors. New volunteers are always welcome! Thank you for the many ways our congregation supports this ministry.To learn more contact Karen Rich at 828.242.6403 or click here to sign up. | | This Sunday, November 8, our youth group continues its partnership with Fletcher UMC. We will be joining them from 5pm-7pm for dinner, activities, and fellowship. For questions about Nativity's youth, contact Vicar Aaron. | | |
Applications are open for Endowment Scholarships!
The core mission of the Lutheran Church of the Nativity is to gather in the love of Christ to care, grow, and serve. Through the gifts of generous donors and prayerful stewardship, the Endowment Fund provides financial support for ministry initiatives within Nativity, outreach to our surrounding community, and educational scholarships for our members. Deadline for application is December 31, 2026.
Scholarship & Grant Opportunities Include Support For:
- Members attending seminary
- Youth and young adults attending ELCA camps
- Students enrolled in colleges and universities
- New or expanding ministry and community outreach initiatives
- Every application is given careful, prayerful consideration to ensure funds are awarded where they can make the greatest impact.
| | | | Click image to get more information or sign up! | | | | | |
