The Episcopal Church of the Nativity

December 2015

22405 North Miller Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85054

480.307.9216

THE NATIVITY SCENE

ADVENTure Event, Friday, December 4: We look forward to our terrific second annual ADVENTure event, with a delicious dinner, silent auction, and lovely choir Christmas Concert. The fun begins at 6:00 p.m.! See page 20 for more details Advent at Nativity As we prepare for Nativity’s feast day, Christmas Day, and the joyous celebration of our Savior’s birth, we enter into a time of waiting and preparation. Advent is the solemn season when we wait and hope for our Savior’s coming. This Advent at Nativity: Sunday, Nov. 29: All-Ages Advent Wreath Making after the 10:30 Service. Sunday, Dec. 6: St. Nicholas Day for children, during Children’s Chapel. Sunday, Dec. 20: Bishop Visitation (both services); Part 1 of our Nativity pageant (both services); adult and youth confirmations at the 10:30 service. The Season of Giving, and Thanksgiving

Christmas at Nativity Join us for the heartwarming, joyous, holy celebration of the birth of Christ, with beautiful music, traditional carols, and candlelight “Silent Night” at both services. Christmas Eve, December 24: 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

Family Service with Pageant Candlelight Mass

Christmas Day, December 25 10:00 a.m.

Christmas Day Service

Nativity is grateful for all who have pledged to support the church’s ministries in 2016. Your support makes everything we do possible – we receive no funding from our diocese or other sources. A pledge makes it possible for us to budget for our staff and programs – but it is not a contract. Of course you may change your pledge at any time if your circumstances change or you move away. If you haven’t yet turned in your pledge card, please pray about your commitment and mail or bring your pledge card to church. Extras are available in Christopher Hall and in the sanctuary book holders. You will be contributing to God’s mission in a very meaningful way. Nativity thanks you from the bottom of our heart.

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Nativity Schedule Sunday Schedule! 9:00 - 10:00 Festive Eucharist Rite II with Children’s Chapel 10:00 - 10:30 Hospitality 10:15 - 11:00 Children’s Sunday School 10:30 - 11:00 Power Bible Study 10:30 - 11:30 Festive Eucharist Rite II 11:40 - 12:15 Power Bible Study 11:40 - 1:00 Youth Group (Grades 6-12)

22405 N. Miller Road Scottsdale, Arizona 85255 Telephone: 480-307-9216 www.NativityScottsdale.org

Christmas Schedule

   Christmas  Eve,  December  24   5:00  p.m.  Family  Service  withPageant   7:00  p.m.  Candlelight  Mass    Christmas  Day,  December  25   10:00  a.m.    Christmas  Day  Service  

Take a moment to wish a Happy Birthday To: Every month we list those whose birthdays are being celebrated. If you would like your name added to the list, please contact Mina Rafferty at [email protected].

Carter  Ross     Tucky  Harrison     Marty  Christopher   Lewis  Smith     Jen  Goins       Lisa  Davis     Donna  Hartz     Holly    Bright     Mattie  Ohl     Elizabeth  Moyer   Aaron  Graves    

12/3 12/11 12/12 12/14 12/19 12/21 12/24 12/25 12/26 12/28 12/29

Leslie  Hosford     George  Hartz     Kazue  Balint    

Nativity’s Vestry

Nativity Staff The Rev. Susan B. Snook Rector [email protected] The Rev. Dr.Wayne V. Whitney Associate Rector [email protected] Dr. Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler Director of Music Ministry IlonaKubiaczyk-Adler @TheNativity.net Shelley Byrnes Director of Christian Formation [email protected] Mina Rafferty Parish Administrator [email protected] Tim Kosky Sexton

12/29 12/31 12/31

Senior Warden: Junior Warden: Treasurer Suzanne Cohen Jennie Dobbins Kris Haugen Cotty Peabody Lani Sambach Steve Smith Darrell Spencer Colleen Whichello

David Bolger 480-945-3810 Mark Miller 480-368-5530 Kara Erickson 480 518- 2683 480-586-6625 602-770-0513 480-515-4803 480-588-8328 602-793-2808 480-285-7679 702-540-5050 301-520-2689

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

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A note from Pastor Susan

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Transforming lives with the love of God in Jesus Christ

For God alone my soul in silence waits; truly, my hope is in him. Psalm 62:5 The holiday season starts with Thanksgiving, perhaps my favorite holiday of the year, as it is a time for family and a time to practice gratitude. In our gratitude, we remember to take our minds off day-to-day worries and instead, give thanks for the many gifts God has given us. That season of gratitude becomes the prelude to the season of Advent, when we look forward to the coming of our Savior – both on Christmas, our celebration of his coming in the past, and in the Second Coming, the advent of God’s kingdom that we look forward to in the future. Here in the inbetween time, we wait in hope and prayer for God to bring the kingdom of love, peace, and joy in its fullness. For many of us, however, Advent becomes a time of feverish activity, when we barely have time to pray, worship, and hope for God’s coming. Each Advent, I like to draw your attention to the thoughts of the good folks at The Advent Conspiracy, www.adventconspiracy.org. They propose a different way to spend our Advent and prepare for the coming of the Christ child, based on four tenets. Below is a quote from their website that tells the basics of the Advent Conspiracy.

Spend Less. Spending Less isn’t a call to stop giving gifts; it’s a call to stop spending money on gifts we won’t remember in less than a year. America spends around $600 billion dollars during the Christmas season. By spending wisely on gifts we free ourselves from the anxiety associated with debt so we can take in the season with a full heart. Give More. We know what you’re thinking. “Wait, didn’t they just say I should spend less, and yet here they are telling me to give more? What gives?” The most powerful, memorable gift you can give to someone else is yourself. And nobody modeled this more than Jesus. So what does this look like for you? When it comes to spending time with those you love, it’s all about quality, not quantity. Love All. It all boils down to love. Love from a savior. Love to a neighbor in need. By spending just a little less on gifts we free up our resources to love as Jesus loves by giving to those who really need help. It’s not that there’s something wrong with the shopping mall – it’s that the better story is about loving all. Advent Blessings, Susan+

Worship Fully. It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus. It’s a season where we are called to put down our burdens and lift a song up to our God. It’s a season where love wins, peace reigns, and a king is celebrated with each breath. Entering the story of Advent means entering this season with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest.

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Wayne’s World

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Time is like money in that we use it knowing there is a limited amount available. Coming to church on Sunday mornings is an investment of time and it’s the kind of time that we elevate to a higher importance in our lives. Why else would we break up our weekend time “off” to get in our Sunday clothes and head off to church? While our Sunday morning worship services generally run an hour, Sunday Morning Power Bible Study goes 35-40 minutes. Just like you might recharge your body by taking a “power” nap you can recharge the rest of your brain by coming to “Power” Bible Study. The length of the

class is designed to maximize your invested time at church on a Sunday Morning without eating up all of your day. Power Bible Study in December features selections from the portion of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) called The Prophets. A lot of us think of the prophets as religious crystal ball gazers who do little more than predict the future. In reality the prophets were interpreters of history. These servants of God looked at what was happening in the world around them and saw the Divine hand at work. They offered these thoughts, most all of them, in public sermons and their words were considered so impactful that their words were written down and read and reread over and over again. Join us for Power Bible Study after the 9:00 service from 10:15-11:00 in the Youth Room and after the 10:30 service

COME TO OUR FIRST PARISH LENTEN RETREAT! We'll be going to the beautiful Chapel Rock Camp and conference Center in Prescott, AZ February 12-14! There will be programs for all ages: • The Rev. Gil Stafford, Canon Theologian for the Diocese will be leading the adults in a program called "The Integrated Spiritual Life". • Harriet Cole, Professional Storyteller, will be leading the Children in the art of listening, crafting, learning and telling Bible stories as a path to connecting with community and God through Storytelling. • And the Youth will be working with the youth leaders and the Ropes Course Certified professionals on both low and high ropes course to hone communication skills through group and individual goal setting, strategy planning and group bonding. Additionally there will be a bonfire and talent show, prayer stations and worship that all ages do together. Join us in this idyllic place for some peace and growth time to start your Lent off right! Look for a brochure in Christopher Hall, and contact Shelley Byrnes at [email protected] for more information. We need to have our final count by December 15!

Bible Study Wednesday Bible Study Wednesday presents Celebrating the Saints during December on the 2nd, 9th, and 16th. This study focuses on holy women and holy men who have risked their lives to change the world for the sake of the Gospel. December features Thomas Cranmer the 16th Century Church of England pioneer, Sojourner Truth the 19th Century American slave who became an activist for the Gospel’s message of freedom for all of God’s children, and Dorothy Day the 20th Century American Catholic who fought for peace and justice in a violence-filled era. Class time is 6:30-7:30 p.m. and concludes with Compline. Start your Wednesday Evening at Nativity with Evening Prayer in the Prayer Chapel at 6:00 p.m.

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A note from our Music Director

The ADVENTure fundraiser on Friday, December 4th is an event you don’t want to miss. As a part of the evening the Nativity Music Ministry will perform a Christmas concert. Your favorite secular and sacred carols, beautiful solos and choir anthems, accompanied by great food and a silent auction. It cannot get better than that! And soon after, on Saturday, December 19th at 4 p.m. we will celebrate the upcoming Christmas season with a concert by a group of 10 musicians called Bartholomew Faire. They are the Valley’s most eclectic ’early music’ group. They’ll perform yuletide music from various European traditions through the centuries: 15th century English carols, melodies from the Piae Cantiones, French Noels, Elizabethan drinking songs, Cantigas de Santa Maria, the Christmas witch la Befana, the Kyng Henry VIII, and bardic declamation. A chorus of lusty voices join Bartholomew Faire’s medieval and renaissance instruments: lutes, harps, recorders, citole, oud, mandora, viola da gamba, pipe & tabor, shawm, rauschpfeife, bagpipes, percussion, doucaine, dulcian, and symphony (aka the "hurdy gurdy"). They will bring back the antique sounds of Yuletide celebrations. This years Christmas Eve is going to be very special. We will start each service 15 minutes earlier with a few Christmas choir anthems and a sing-along of our favorite carols. Join us at 4.45 or 6.45 if you are coming to 5 or 7 p.m. service respectively. We will have a trio of wind instruments to accompany the choir, and you will hear again the beautiful voices of our leading singers: Marcy McKee and Michael Frongillo. With the strong musical leading of our Adult Choir, beautiful solos, and the favorite carols, Christmas Eve at Nativity will be an unforgettable event! Don't forget to bring your friends! Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler, DMA W

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NATIVITY’S CHRISTMAS GIVING PROGRAM Deadline - December 6th! Like the Three Wise Men who brought gifts for the Baby Jesus, Nativity has three need during the celebration of Christ’s birth.

ways to give gifts to those in

Gift Cards for Seniors

—donate gift cards for Fry’s, Safeway or 1. Walmart in dominations of $10, $25 or $50 for seniors who are in Vista del Camino’s Senior Program. These seniors live in the Scottsdale area and are in need of financial assistance. Vista del Camino provides services to prevent homelessness and help people maintain self-sufficiency.

Phoenix Rescue Mission Gift Drive— bring new, unwrapped toys for 2.

children of all ages. They will be delivered to the Phoenix Rescue Mission for their Winter Wonderland event where parents will get to “shop” for their children. The goal is to deliver a message of hope to less fortunate families and to give them a chance to “shop like others” during Christmas time.

Stuff-A-Stocking

—Select a handmade, decorated stocking made by 3. Nativity’s sewing group. Then using the supplied shopping list fill the stocking with designated goodies, like toiletries, small toys, gift cards and candy. The stuffed stockings will be personalized with an embroidered name-tag and delivered to the children at Save the Family’s Domestic Violence Shelter.

Contacts: Cindy Cohen [email protected] Barbara Worthington

480.575.7830 [email protected]

Sandy Spencer at [email protected]

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SAVE YOUR CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR ST. JUDES St. Jude’s Ranch for Children located in Boulder City, NV collects new and used greeting cards, especially Christmas, to be turned into new “up-cycled” cards. They remove the fronts of the cards and attach new backs to create the new card, which they sell to the public. This project gives the kids at the ranch a hands-on project as well as teaching them about entrepreneurship. A collection box will be in the church on December 17th. All sizes and types of greeting cards accepted: Birthday, Thank You, Get Well, Christmas, etc. Please make sure there is no writing on the inside of the front cover.

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Many thanks to Nativity's sewing group for their beautiful handmade stockings. These stockings will be "stuffed" with all the goodies Nativity members have donated for their chosen child at Save the Family's Domestic Violence Shelter. Many members at Nativity have built a connection to the families at the shelter and what the shelter provides for moms facing a huge struggle.

The stockings will be handed out at a potluck dinner the moms and kids will have a few days before Christmas. How great for each kid to receive a stocking made and stuffed with love that has their name on it! Thanks to all who "stuffed" the stockings too!!!

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THANK YOU---Packages from Home Collection A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed supplies, money and gift cards for our soldiers serving overseas. In the soldiers’ thank you notes they continue to talk about the lack of availability of snacks and basic supplies in remote areas. One of the most appreciated items is the drink mix, because they say the water starts to taste like dirt without it. On November 18th, a group of Nativity volunteers went to the Packages from Home center to pack boxes that will be shipped to our soldiers. It was a fun and rewarding time for everyone. And a special shout-out to Lani and Mike Brown for their continued support (from afar) for this important organization. Contact: Bill Worthington 480.575.7830

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Fall Fun---Festival at Domestic Violence Shelter A group of Nativity volunteers and a few others gathered at Save the Family’s DV shelter for games, face painting, pumpkin decorating and dinner to make a fun night for all the kids and their moms. There was even a visit from some mini horses that were dressed up for Halloween. And of course there were cupcakes and Halloween treat bags filled with candy and toys. The older kids played “Guess How Many Candies are in the Jar” and Jayden, an 11-year-old boy was the winner—he only missed by 6. Everyone got into the pumpkin painting and there was definitely some creativity! The little ones loved the balloon drop and popping all of the balloons. Thanks to all who contributed money, time and food, and a special thanks to those who were at the event. The moms and kids had a great time and that is what it was all about…seeing those smiles! And who can forget George’s screams and giggles as the balloons were popped—so fun!!!

Contact: Barbara Worthington

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[email protected]

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THE ANNUAL DIAPER DRIVE February 7TH thru February 21st Pampers, wipes and diaper cream, For Homeward Bound, oh, what a dream. Their diaper drawer is a little bare, So bring some diapers to show you care. Bring in diapers of all sizes, diaper cream and wipes to be given to the moms at Save the Family and Homeward Bound. We all know that babies go through lots of diapers and they are expensive. Our help will give the moms a hand up towards independence. Contacts: Barbara or Bill Worthington [email protected] Janyce Schneider [email protected]

A cause you can really get behind!

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HELPING HANDS FOR NAVAJOLAND This year has been a very busy year for our sister church, St. Mary of the Moonlight in Monument Valley, and Nativity has been a major partner. • New wheelchair ramp for the parish hall-now the elderly and disabled can join in on activities taking place in the hall. • Repaired well pump • Replaced water pipes from the pump house to the parish hall, church and priest’s trailer. • Plumber put in stubs on water line for future housing. • Built wheelchair ramp on trailer for disabled girl. • Kitchen sink-faucet-2 base cabinets (family gets water line-2016)

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NAVAJOLAND PROJECTS FOR 2016 The National Church has identified St. Mary’s as the best location for building a rustic retreat center, which will hopefully make an income producer for the Church in Navajoland. The Navajo Tribe will begin running water lines to many homes around St. Mary’s. • Spring Mission Trip--help with construction of 3 rustic hogans. • Help a family build a bathroom addition to octagon. Had no running water-used outhouse--Tribe will run water line to their octagon this summer. We are excited about the retreat center. It will be a place for Episcopalians and others from around the world to come and learn about the connection between the Navajo culture and Christianity, along with giving visitors a peaceful and restorative refuge to reflect on their spiritual journey. If you are interested in helping, Contact: Barbara or Bill Worthington 480.575.7830 [email protected]

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Start Collecting…PURSE PROJECT is Back for 2016!!! Tell your friends…Our Mother’s Day Purse Project is back! It was such a huge success last year with so many happy kids and moms; we had to bring it back. So start collecting and remember when you get that new purse for Christmas, bring us your gently used ones and we’ll store them until May. COLLECTION ITEMS: • Gently Used Purses • Travel size hygiene items, perfume, and nail polish • Scarves and costume jewelry. Start the New Year with clutter free closets! Whenever you get items collected please let us know; we have plenty of storage. The big collection boxes will be out April 3rd, but if you want to turn items in early, contact: Barbara Worthington

480.575.7830 [email protected]

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EGG-A-PALOOZA… Back by Popular Demand! Egg-tastic Fun! Help us fill 500 plastic Easter eggs with jellybeans for the Phoenix Rescue Mission’s Easter egg hunt. Give homeless and needy children the fun of searching for candy filled eggs. Please join us for the sugar rush on March 16th 10 am to 12 pm. at the church. Contact: Barbara Worthington [email protected] Tucky Harrison [email protected]

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NEW FOR 2016 TWO NEW LOCAL OUTREACH PROJECTS

Warren, the Rescue Bear, for Scottsdale Police

!

Nativity’s sewing group enjoyed making the Christmas stockings so much they decided to continue doing other projects. We contacted the Scottsdale Police and they were excited to have us make 100 teddy bears to be used for domestic violence, accidents and other calls. Warren, the Rescue Bear, is a simple and easy bear to create and also gives opportunities for non-sewers to help: we need cutters, stuffers and sewers to complete this meaningful project. And a great bonus: once the bears are completed, a few police officers and a photographer will come to the church for a photo op when receiving the bears—what great publicity for Nativity! We will be starting this project in January, so if you are interested in joining this fun group, please contact: Barbara Worthington 480.575.7830 [email protected]

Bag-A-Meal: Sandwiches for the Homeless VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Starting January 5th, Nativity volunteers will be making 200bagged meals for the homeless each month for the Phoenix Rescue Mission. • 1st Tuesday of every month from 10 am to 12 pm at the church. • Make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches OR stuff lunch bags with fruit, cookies, chips, sandwiches and a bottle of water. • Monthly Sponsorship: Want to help but can’t join us; you can sponsor a supplies purchase: $200/sponsor or $100/ co-sponsor • Sign-Up Sheets in Christopher Hall. •Phoenix Rescue Mission needs//delivers 800 sandwiches each week to the homeless living on the streets of Phoenix. Phoenix Rescue Mission is a Christian-based organization that is committed to helping the homeless and those in need in our community. This project specifically brings Mission workers in contact with homeless on the street in hopes that the homeless will learn of the Mission’s facilities and programs and seek out their help. Our support is an important piece of this effort. Any questions please contact: Barbara or Bill Worthington 480.575.7830 [email protected] W

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Upcoming Opportunties

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A very important and loving outreach from Nativity is the building of homes for the needy. 2016 Build Dates will be announced. Habitat for Humanity – semi-annual construction of homes in our area. No construction experience necessary, both those who are handy are most welcome. Must be 18 years of age or older. – Cotty Peabody, [email protected] Church of The Nativity works with The Episcopal Habitat Coalition to help build homes for needy families, and there is plenty of work to be done. Join us for part of your Saturday to make a huge difference to a needy family while actually having some fun! You do not need to be an experienced builder! Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and we ask that you bring your own work gloves as well as proper shoes. Flip flops are NOT allowed. Work generally begins at 7:30 and usually ends about 2:00PM. Water is provided. If you would like to help out, there will be a sign up sheet hanging in the hallway just outside the office. If you would like a ride, please note this on your sign up and we will organize a carpool to and from Nativity. Thank you in advance for joining us! For more information, please contact Cotty Peabody at [email protected]

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Updates

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Women’s Ministry Update WHAT: DATE: TIME: WHERE: DETAILS: RSVP:

WHAT: DATE: TIME: DETAILS:

Christmas Tea Thursday, Dec 10, 2015; 11 AM Debbie Myrick’s home: Join with women of the parish for a Christmas “tea” with plenty of food, and a good time. No RSVP necessary, but if you want more information or directions contact Debbie: [email protected] or 602-538-2648 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Second Annual Quarter Auction Thursday; January 14, 2016 6:30 PM Finger food dinner, fellowship, a rocking good time. What’s a Quarter Auction? Basically what happens when an auction marries a raffle! For a quarter, you can get a chance to enter a raffle for some cool items that have been donated. Each person gets a number, a numbered “paddle” and stack of numbered slips of paper with your number on it. To bid on an item, you raise your paddle, and two auctioneers will come with bowls – one to collect as many “chances” as you want to put towards an item, and the second “auctioneer” will collect a quarter per “chance”. Some “luxury” items may cost two quarters per chance, but the vast percentage will be one quarter. Once all the bids are collected, a numbered “slip”, will be pulled – and if it is YOUR number, you get to take it home! Last year some of the items donated were candles, jewelry, nick-knacks, outfits for an “American Girl” sized doll; Wine. We will be collecting items for the Auction: Do you have a Christmas gift you didn’t like? Maybe a hostess gift you won’t use? jewelry you don’t wear? Handbag that isn’t your style? How about that fancy box of Christmas candy that is calling your name but you really shouldn’t be eating? As they say, one woman’s trash is another’s treasure. Look around your house for items and donate them for this Women’s Ministry fund raiser.

RSVPs

or AUCTION DONATIONS or more information: RSVP’s are preferred, so we can estimate food quantities, but not absolutely necessary [email protected] or 602-538-2648 or Donna Hartz, 480 513 3155, [email protected] or Annie Blum: (480) 502-2005 [email protected]

SAVE THE DATE: EVENT:

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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Thursday Morning, March 10th, 2016 Western Spirit Museum: Scottsdale's Museum of the West

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Upcoming Opportunities

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Ones and Twos One’s and Two’s is a social group of adults from the Church of the Nativity that meets about once a month.  The group is open to everyone.    Join the Spencer- Trienens for Ones and Twos on January 8th from 6-8. Please bring some food and/or drink to share.  7502 East Nestling Way, Scottsdale 85255:  Take the 101 to Scottsdale Road, Go north to Thompson Peak Park Way, and turn R. Take TPPW to 76th (At the light), Turn L, on 76th.  Go 1 block N, turn L.  Go short block, and turn left. Follow the street, it will make a dog leg.  Go to the next corner, turn L. (you should have passed a playground)  At the next corner turn L. We are the first home on the L.

POINSETTIAS Christmas Flower Dedications A traditional Christmas favorite will be offered again this year by the Floral Guild. Not only will the colorful flowers beautify our sanctuary and the dedications our bulletins, but the flowers are also available to take with you after the Christmas evening service. Contributions of $20 per poinsettia is suggested. In Thanksgiving of : _________________________________________________________________________

In Loving Memory of : ___________________________________________________________________________

Given by : ____________________________________________________________________________ This information must be turned in to the office no later than December 20th in order to be included in our Christmas Eve service bulletin. Please contact Kathy Graf 480-473-7047.

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Upcoming Events!

Friday evening, December 4th at 6:00 PM, over 100 members/guests will gather here at Nativity for the second annual ADVENTure. Together, we will celebrate and raise funds for Nativity’s Outreach ministries, such as the Christmas Giving Program, Habitat for Humanity, and Barrio La Laguna (Veracruz, Mexico), to cite just a few examples. The evening will start with a silent auction accompanied by appetizers and two cash bars. Thanks to the many wonderful donors, there will be an amazing variety of items to consider for bidding. Prior to the silent auction’s final closing, dinner will be served, followed by a specially prepared Christmas musical program presented by Ilona and the choir, including favorite Christmas carols. Dessert will cap the evening’s festivities. A new feature this year in the silent auction will be the guaranteed “Gotta Have It Bid”. This bid, calculated at 125% of the item’s value, will be displayed at the bottom of the Bid Sheet. By selecting this bid, the bidder closes out any further bids and guarantees securing that item. ADVENTure promises to be a wonderful time to gather in fellowship, while we all remember that the Outreach ministries serve to extend our mission, “transforming lives with the love of God in Jesus Christ”. Your generous and giving support of these ministries will be much appreciated. Contact David Bolger at [email protected], Cotty Peabody at [email protected], or Colleen Whichello at [email protected] with any questions and offers to help make this year’s ADVENTure a success.

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C h i l d r e n ’s a n d F a m i l i e s M i n i s t r y

Page 21 Pepsicola Club families are being contacted about casting the speaking parts of our Christmas/Epiphany Pageants!

That said, Remember that the Christmas Eve pageant is for EVERYONE! The younger children won't have any lines to memorize so If you have guests who will be joining you for the Family Christmas Eve service at 5:00 please bring the children a little early so that they may be in the pageant! Even if he or she cannot come to the rehearsal there is a part for your child! Your younger child is welcome to come to the dress rehearsal which will be from 11:00 - 12:30 on December 23. We need Angels, Shepherds and Sheep! We will be costuming until 11:30 and then we will be doing dress rehearsals including music with Ilona! If your child is nervous about new things, this is a great opportunity to make it NOT scary on Christmas Eve! I am looking for some parents or grandparents or kind parishioners to help with supervision and costuming on December 23rd from 9:00 - 12:30 and to help as the children arrive on Christmas Eve (starting at 4:00). I am also looking to borrow stuffed sheep, donkeys, cows or anything else that might have been in the stable. You will get them back after the service on Christmas Eve, but we'd like to borrow them for our rehearsal so if you can bring them to my office by December 21st that would be a great help! Be sure to put some masking tape on the bottom with your name on it so we get them back to the correct families.

Pageant Practice Schedule For those who are participating, but do not have speaking roles, a voluntary practice with music will happen on December 23rd, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. This is a great way to help children who might be a little nervous on Christmas Eve, but it is not required. W

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C h i l d r e n ’s a n d F a m i l i e s M i n i s t r y

The second Sunday in Advent is December 6th and we will have a very special visitor coming to Children's Chapel during the 9:00 service!  St. Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra will be coming for a visit. I need a couple of teenagers to step out of Bible Study that day to help fill the little kids' shoes with treats! It won't take long and we can still do Bible Study!

Annual Cookie BakeAnnual Cookie Bake-off will be held after the 10:30 Service on December 13th. So get out your cook books and pick your entry, then sign up on the form in the Parish Hall! Top three vote getters will earn bragging rights for another year! A youth group holiday party will follow the Bake-off. We will have our annual white elephant gift trade too! Please bring a wrapped gift that cost $10 or less! Re-gifting is perfectly acceptable!

Pepsicola Club Pizza Night will be December 11 at 5:30 - 7:00 pm. This will also be our Pepsicola Club Holiday Party so the children should bring along a small wrapped gift for the white elephant gift exchange. This is a great opportunity for your child to pay it forward with a gift they no longer love. If you choose to purchase a gift please do not spend more than $10.

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F a m i l y & C h i l d r e n ’s M i n i s t r i e s

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Family Lent Retreat at Chapel Rock February 12-14! Registrations are Due by December 15!!!! This is for the whole family! • The Adult program theme is "The Integrated Spiritual Life" • The Youth Program will be about team building and communication (including both high and low ropes courses!) • The Children's Program will experience Storytelling with a professional Storyteller All ages will combine for worship, singing, meals, bonfire with storytelling, jokes and songs and prayer stations! Please click here to see the brochure and link to the registration form on our website: http://nativityscottsdale.org/2016-parish-lentretreat/

December 12 - First Pageant Rehearsal! December 13 - Cookie Bake-off and Youth group white elephant exchange!  December 19 - Pageant Rehearsal December 20 - Bishop's visit/ Confirmation/ Part1 of Christmas Pageant/ Confirmation reception. December 23 - Pageant Rehearsal 9:00 am - 12:30 pm

WE NEED YOU! We need to know who will be helping with ADVENTure this year! Reply to this email if you can wait tables at this fundraiser dinner on Friday, December 6. The event starts at 6:00 but you should arrive by 5:00 pm and plan to stay long enough to help clean up in the kitchen afterward (10:30 pm at the latest)! This is a WONDERFUL way for the youth to show support for the outreach committee! It is important for the parish to see us serving others when we are also asking them to support our fundraising events! It is also lot's of fun!

December 24 - Pageant prep for service (arrive at 4:00 pm)/ Pageant at 5:00 family service January 22 - 23 Diocesan Service Retreat (at Christ Church of the Ascension) February 12-14 - Parish Family Weekend and service retreat for Youth Group!

Wear your black bottoms and white tops (dark tie if you want to wear one!) So we look professional!

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The Episcopal Church of the Nativity Mailing Address: 22405 North Miller Road Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

www.NativityScottsdale.org Worship Sundays 9:00 & 10:30 a.m.

Upcoming Events!

December  20      

Bishop  Visitation,  

 

 

 

 

ConGirmations,  and  

 

 

 

 

Christmas  Pageant  Part  1  

December  24      

Christmas  Eve  

 

 

 

 

5:00  p.m.  Family  Service  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7:00  p.m.  Candlelight  Mass

withPageant

   Christmas  Day,  December  25  

 

 

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10:00  a.m.    Christmas  Day  Service  

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