Author: Church of the Nativity

Categories
Glad Tidings

Nativity Foyer

Foyer – word that strikes a chord with many of us at Nativity. A time-honored, popular, and fabulous tradition here,  Foyer is the best way to meet others in the parish, relax, and share meals together. This wonderful program had its beginnings after World War II. For a really good explanation, do have a look at this link.

How it works: you sign up and will be randomly assigned in groups of about 6. One person in that group will be designated the first to host a meal, and will contact the others to schedule. Groups operate completely as they wish – you might even meet at a restaurant, or design a picnic lunch at a nearby park. This is meant to learn about your fellow parishioners, perhaps folks you don’t know yet. It’s also meant to be in the style of your own home – if you always set out your favorite pottery dishes, go for it! If you enjoy using your fancy china, that’s great – it’s always up to you, the host, as to what and how you serve. It’s not potluck, either – the host will do everything for that meal. It’s not for couples only – do sign up without a partner too.

Signups will take place during August and early September. This round will cover late September through November or thereabouts. We’ll also plan an all-foyer Christmas gathering sometime in December. You may email Ailsa Tessier to sign up, and there will also be signup sheets in the narthex at church. Either way is fine, since we’re not all attending church in person. In mid-September a listing of all the groupings will be sent via email, and you’ll be ready to go.

Do join – we have missed each other during these past 2-1/2 years, and so many of us are newer members that we need to get to know each other better. Got fun? Get Foyer.

Categories
Outreach

Homework Haven

There are students in our neighborhood schools whose day starts before sunrise, riding a bus 45 minutes to Leesville Elementary. When school is out, it’s another 45 minute ride home. These children live in the Washington Terrace Community, in southeast Raleigh. Washington Terrace provides a lower cost housing opportunity for indigent families, predominately African American. There are many single moms, aunts and grandparents raising the kids, as many do not have reliable fathers, or father-figures, in their life. Our Pride Packs program supports many of these households with healthy food and beverages.

Each day, many of these children go home to an empty apartment, as the adult(s) are still at work. It’s very likely homework is not foremost on their minds. Opportunities for mischief, or worse, abound in this scenario. This is where Nativity can make a difference! An amazing program called Homework Haven has quietly been providing tutors and mentors to this community several years. After school, Haven kids go straight to the community center, where they are greeted by volunteers with snacks. Once settled, we work together on homework or reading assignments. Due to home conditions, this is often the only true homework experience most of these kids may know. I said ‘we’ because I volunteered with the Haven for several years until the pandemic struck. Of all the volunteer opportunities I have done, this was the most rewarding. You witness a child’s ability to learn, and their confidence, grow right before you.

There are many ways you can help. The Haven wants to provide each child all the school supplies Leesville asks each student to furnish. The list is lengthy but includes the following items:

Book Bags (no wheels)
Packs of Sticky notes                                           
Child size headphones (no earbuds, not Bluetooth)
Dry erase markers
Boxes of crayons (24 count)                                     
Washable markers
Glue Sticks                                                                 
Yellow highlighter markers
Pencil boxes                                                           
Pink Erasers  
#2 pencils (Ticonderoga, no mechanical pencils)     
Cap erasers
Pencil sharpeners                                                     
Rounded edge scissors
Marbled Composition notebooks                             
Donations for 10 Scholastic News subscriptions at $8/subscription            Wide rule spiral notebooks (any color)                           
Boxes of quart and gallon size Ziplock bags         
1, 2 and 3-inch binders
Plastic folders with clasps                                     
Colored Pencils (blue, green, yellow, orange, purple)
Pocket folders                                                       
Facial Tissues
Packages of Baby Wipes                                       
Page Protectors
Notebook paper
Reusable Water bottles

Consider donating money for their snacks – most of the kids have not eaten since before noon, and dinner may be an hour (or longer) away. I hope you are inspired to help. There is a donations link on the
website, and boxes are in the Narthex and the Estill House foyer for school supply donations. Thank you for your kindness and willingness to help; your generosity is helping create a brighter (literally & figuratively) future for all.

Matt Chytka

Categories
Glad Tidings

Women of the Bible

Jo Dykes

I am so excited to be teaching/facilitating a new adult education class this fall on (selected) Women of the Bible!   Let me introduce both myself, and the class, to you. My name is Jo Dykes and I joined Church of the Nativity a little over a year before we were all quarantined by Covid, so I still, regretfully, have not met so many of you, and am really looking forward to doing so. A lifelong Presbyterian, I often visited Nativity with my son David and his family, Jill, Abby and Emmy before I moved here, and was so impressed by the friendliness and easy acceptance I felt. And of course, I loved Stephanie’s sermons.  So it was a forgone conclusion, when I moved from Martinsville, Va., that I would also become part of the Nativity family.

Always active in First Presbyterian in Martinsville, I have missed (as all of you have) the fellowship and working together for the past two years while we were on “lockdown”.  So when things started returning to normal, it seemed normal to me to volunteer to teach an adult “Sunday School” class.  Because of the recent surge of cases, the continuing emergence of variants, and the need to be ever vigilant,  I’m afraid the “new normal” is going to include living our lives the best we can: masked, sanitizing and distancing when necessary, but pushing on the best we can. So we decided to “push on” with this class. For the months of September through November, we will meet in Corlett Hall from 9:30 to 10:15 am each Sunday.  (Believe me, I know that is early!  But it seemed the best time to make the class available to members of both worship services….and won’t it be fun to see those people we don’t always see, because we meet at different times?) I will try and make it worth your time to get there, and we will be meeting the most amazing women! Wonderful women, beautiful, deceitful, kind, flawed, brave, loving, conflicted, evil, caring, intelligent, ambitious, wise, destructive, strong women. (Just like women we all know.)

I have taught this class twice before, both times at First Presbyterian in Martinsville , with a 30 year gap in between, and I am so excited to be teaching it again.  Just as reading the Bible seems to satisfy our explicit needs at every age, so reacquainting myself with these women, at different ages has changed my perceptions and views of them. And I am not alone.  I was interested to discover as I began to study the new literature, that just as society and culture has changed, so has the literature. I laughed out loud when I read that Queen Vashti, (of Esther fame), who was seen as stubborn, selfish and disrespectful, when I first met her in my teen age years, is now viewed as strong, independent and freedom loving. (Discussion, anyone?)

In the first two months we will be studying the women of the Old Testament in chronological order, following the rise of the Israelites, from Eve to Esther. And No. We can’t study all 315  women in three months. I have selected some of the most well known, as well as some you may not know,  to study. I will be including a list here in the coming weeks, and if I have left out someone you really want to know more about, I’m open to change. We will try and cover 2-3 women each week. Again, if that seems too ambitious, we will re-evaluate. In November, we will begin our study of the New Testament, and I want to skip straight to the women of Jesus’s ministry, both before his death and after it. Then we will go back to the beginning, and meet the young girl who became the mother of our Lord, Mary, the Madonna, who was with Him through His crucifixion. And that will lead us into Advent.

I will be telling you more in the coming weeks.  I am so excited about this study and hope you, both women AND men, will plan to come to “Sunday School” this fall.

Question of the week:  There are many stories of fathers and sons in the Bible, but only two (that I can find) of Mothers and daughters. Can you
name them? (Hint:   One of them is a good big sister.  The other was the heroine of a best selling book in the 1990’s that was a “must read” for book clubs across the nation.      (Answer in next week’s Glad Tidings)

Categories
Peace Library Reviews Social Justice

Chrysanthemum (Peace Library Review)

by Kevin Henkes
review by Carol Smith

As children get ready for school, some for the very first time, this book, Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes, is a great discussion starter for families, K-3 children and teachers.

Chrysanthemum is the name given to a little girl mouse at her birth. Her parents thought it was the perfect name for their new baby. As Chrysanthemum grew, she too, loved her name. She loved the way it sounded and looked written out on paper.

She was looking forward to the day she would start kindergarten. That feeling soon changed when she was confronted with teasing and unkind remarks about her name were made by her classmates. From the length of the name, and the fact that it was a flower, to other unkind words, it made Chrysanthemum feel horrible. She wanted a shorter name and a different name. She no longer loved her name …. until the class met the new music teacher. The students loved this teacher and were surprised to learn that she also had a flower name. This discovery made things change for Chrysanthemum, and school life became much more enjoyable.

Discussion Possibilities
Talk about respect for others and how unkind teasing can hurt other people’s feelings. Discuss that when we appreciate others, everyone feels accepted and happier.
Point out that we are all different, but we all bring special ideas and uniqueness to a classroom. There is no need to tease or hurt others because of how they may look, sound, or act differently.
Help your child think of ways they could respond if a classmate is being teased. What can they do or say, and then what would they do next to help that friend.?

Scriptural Reflection
Read the following scripture with your child, with emphasis on the bold section. Discuss how God loves all people and asks that we do the same.

Romans 12:10-16
New International Version
10  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  11  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  12  Be joyful in
hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  13  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  15  Rejoice with those who
rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  16  Live in harmony with one another. Do not beproud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. [a]  Do not be conceited.

Activities
Cut a large paper heart for your child from thinner paper. Reread the book again having your child crumple part of the heart each time Chrysanthemum’s feelings are hurt by something mean the students say or do. At the end of the story, when the heart is completely crumpled, have your child try to smooth out the wrinkles. Note how the heart looks now. Suggest it is like when someone says something mean or hurts another’s feeling and it hurts his or her heart, meaning it makes that person
feel sad.
Make paper tube binoculars. Decorate them and label them “respect seekers.” Have your child use them to watch for acts or words that show respect for others. Use them around home, while watching TV, reading another book, or in the neighborhood.

Categories
Children and Youth

Rite II Formation Calendar

Below is the schedule for our Rite II class this year. Following the dates are documents that explain what is covered in each of the curriculum tools we will use – Re:form, Echo, Animate Bible Sessions, and Current.

Rite-2-2022-23-schedule-ScheduleDownload

Current_2021_Youth_OverviewDownload
AnimateBibleSessionsDownload
ScopeAndSequenceDownload

reform_ScopeSequenceDownload
Categories
Glad Tidings

We welcome the Rev. Stephanie Yancy

The Rev. Stephanie Yancy was ordained deacon in 2006 and to the priesthood in 2007 in the Diocese of Maryland. She is a graduate of Cornell University and of The General Seminary of the Episcopal Church. After serving churches in Maryland for several years, Stephanie moved to North Carolina in 2013 to be the interim rector at St. Luke’s in Durham when Bishop Anne Hodges-Copple left St. Luke’s to become Bishop Suffragan.

After her interim role at St. Luke’s ended Stephanie accepted a call to become vicar of St. Titus’ in 2015. She retired as rector of St. Titus’ earlier this year.

Stephanie and her husband, Spike, live in Durham. They have two adult children and a 13 year-old grandson, all of whom live in the Atlanta area. 

The Rev. Stephanie Yancy will be with Nativity during Stephanie Allen’s sabbatical. She will start on August 21.

Categories
Children and Youth

Rite Stuff Formation Calendar

Below is the schedule for our Rite Stuff class this year. Following the dates are documents that explain what is covered in each of the curriculum tools we will use – Re:form, Echo, Animate Bible Sessions, and Current.

Rite-Stuff-2022-23-ScheduleDownload
Current_2021_Youth_Overview-1Download
reform_ScopeSequence-1Download
AnimateBibleSessions-1Download
ScopeAndSequence-1Download
Categories
Children and Youth

Fixers Formation Calendar

Download

Below is the schedule for our Fixers class this year. Following the dates are documents that explain what is covered in each of the curriculum tools we will use – Re:form, Echo, Animate Bible Sessions, and Current.

Fixers-2022-23-Schedule-ScheduleDownload
ScopeAndSequence-2Download
reform_ScopeSequence-2Download
Current_2021_Youth_Overview-3Download
AnimateBibleSessions-2Download
Categories
Peace Library Reviews Social Justice

Blue Sky White Stars (Peace Library Review)

by Sarvinder Naberhaus
review by Beth Crow

The month of July reminds us of our country’s birthday, marked with family picnics, fireworks, trips to some of our national landmarks and of course beautiful displays of our nation’s flag, Old Glory or as some may refer to it, the Star-Spangled Banner.

Through the full-page, magnificent illustrations and the rhythmic patterns of words, Blue Sky White Stars is the excellent picture book to engage young readers and their families as they travel across our country from East to West, from bright blue massive oceans to the breath-taking views of the grand canyon. As the threads of the flag have been woven together, imagines of the multitudes of diverse individuals as well as symbolic moments in our history flow between the colorful portrayals of our nations’ treasures.

Suggested Topic Questions

Take your child(ren) on a deeper journey exploring the richness and beauty of our nation. Ask your child(ren) to describe the environment of your community, of our state, with beach front and mountains on either side. Perhaps they may want to draw a picture.

Then discuss the different kinds of people who live in North Carolina, in the United States.

Go Deeper

Talk with you child(ren) about the history of our country and how so many different types of people came to the United States. This will require honest discussions about Native Americans, African Americans, Chinese, Japanese and Hispanics.

Faith Reflection.

Read the following scripture with your child(ren) 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Ask them what they believe God is telling us in this scripture.

Additional notes about author

As Naberhaus has said, “I hope this work will always remind us that our ever-evolving country was forged by — and for — people from all walks of life and every background, and that our future as a nation hinges on Abraham Lincoln’s enduring admonition that ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand.’” [https://www.hbook.com/story/blue-sky-white-stars]

Click here to read more About this Book.

Categories
Outreach Social Justice

A Letter to Parents

Dear Nativity Parents,
As the coordinator of Nativity’s Peace Library, I want to personally reach out to you about this new ministry we have begun at Nativity, especially for your children. These books have been selected to focus on Nativity’s core values of welcome and inclusion and to celebrate diversity among God’s people. Many of these are award-winning books that have been highly recommended by Quail Ridge Books. It is our hope to provide our young people and their families with tools to help them better understand
our history and our diversity as we seek to continue God’s call for us to love one another.
If you have not seen our website with a listing of all our current books, please click here. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
As we prepare future programming and usage of this library, we would greatly appreciate your input.
• Would you be interested in writing some of the monthly book reviews? (This involves a brief review of the book with three-five questions; a format for writing these would be sent to you.)
• The Peace Library Team has been asked to lead a book reading and possible activity once a month during Sunday School time. Would you be interested in helping with this?

Would your child or youth be interested in providing their own review of any of these books? It can be typed, handwritten, a drawing or even a video. We have a few questions we can provide as prompts.
• We are looking at possible parish outings relating to some of the books, such as a trip to the Greensboro International Civil Rights Museum. Do you have other ideas for activities around the sharing of these books? These could include backyard reading gatherings, art projects, etc.

Please email Beth Crow at nativitypeacelibrary@gmail.com to respond to any or all the questions above. If you have any other comments or questions about the Peace Library, please feel free to share these as well.

Sincerely,

Beth Crow, Peace Library Coordinator
Peace Library Team: Anne Krouse, Pat McQueen, Carol Smith, Stephanie Sumner, and Lillis Ward