Nativity is more than just church!
Here people discover God’s grace, know the joy of His acceptance and experience the peace of His forgiveness. Together, we grow in our trust in Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, and friend. Together, we offer the Good News of God’s love to the world in which we live.
Our Mission
Nativity is a hospitable* congregation sent by Jesus Christ to be disciples** who will make a difference by bringing God’s love, hope, joy and peace to the world.
Love: Amazing Grace, unconditional love that communicates there is nothing we can do that will make God love us more and there is nothing we can do that will make God love us less.
Hope: Energy for living.
Joy:The experience of allowing God to direct our lives, surrendering our will to God’s will. It is the emotion we experience when we desire to please someone we love. Lyricists often refer to it as “Sweet Surrender.”
Peace: Contentment.
* Hospitable refers to an environment that is accepting and is safe physically, emotionally and spiritually.
** A disciple is a person who wants to be more like Jesus.
Our Core Values
As a community of faith we value:
- Spiritual Growth (becoming more like Jesus Christ).
- Hospitality (an environment of spiritual, emotional and physical safety).
- Innovation and excellence.
- Community (small groups that grow).
- Personal integrity(our words and deeds demonstrate trust, honesty, respect, wellness, accountability, inclusivity, diversity, shared ministry, small groups that multiply, and faith applied to life).
Our Vision
Nativity fosters a community of disciples who are passionate about their spirituality.
Our Core Scripture
Gospel of Matthew 22:37-40
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Gospel of Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Nativity Pastors
Senior Pastor Glenn Seefeldt
I came to Nativity in March of 1981. My wife, Cheryl, and I live in St. Anthony Village where we raised two daughters, Kristin and Elizabeth. We share our empty nest with a long-haired dachshund named Willy.
I was raised in rural Wisconsin about 45 miles north of Milwaukee near Kewaskum, where dairy farms dotted the landscape. After graduating from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, Cheryl and I married and moved to St. Louis, Missouri where I attended Christ Seminary – Seminex. Internship (student pastor) brought us to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Minneap[olis, Minnesota where we fell in love with the state and its people.
Nativity Lutheran Church, St. Anthony Village, MN called me to serve as assistant to Pastor Gerald Hoffman in March of 1981 and was ordained in February of 1982 becoming an Associate Pastor. On February 1, 2000, Nativity called me to serve as senior pastor.
I love serving my Lord Jesus and His church. The world and its people need what God has to offer and I feel privileged and humbled with the task of bringing it to the world. Nativity is an energetic, innovative community with a heart for service.
My wife and I love to walk and enjoy the outdoors and gardening together. Cheryl worked as a registered nurse for many years but is now following her passion for cooking and works as a culinary consultant.
Pastor Dan Doerrer
Dan Doerrer has served Nativity as an associate pastor since July of 2010. Dan and his wife Lynn and their two children, Molly and Joe, live in Shoreview, MN and have been members of Nativity since 2001. Dan came to Nativity from DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis where he served as a Theology Instructor and Theatre Arts Coordinator. Dan has also served in churches as Director of Youth and Family Faith Formation, Director of Adult Faith Formation and Director of Youth Ministry and Confirmation. Dan received his Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota-Winona, Master of Divinity from St. Paul Seminary and School of Divinity, University of St. Thomas, and Master of Arts in Psychology St. Mary’s University of Minnesota-Minneapolis.
Dan grew up in Maplewood, and graduated from Hill-Murray High School. He spent summers while in high school and college filing and answering phones at his family’s insurance agency. After seminary, he worked full-time as a sales agent.
Dan performed in plays and musicals in college and enjoys attending productions with his family. He loves baseball and is an avid Twins fan. Besides baseball and drama, Dan also enjoys working on landscaping or painting projects, and running to and from the Home Depot in Blaine.
Pastor Justin Dittrich
I joined the staff at Nativity February 1, 2011 and was ordained into ministry February 26, 2011. My wife, Brenda, and son Isaac live in Northeast Minneapolis with our dog Cassie. I have never lived outside of Minneapolis proper. While growing up in the Uptown area, going to Augsburg College and Luther Seminary in St. Paul I lived in Northeast. I love the culture and parks in our small part of the map.
From 1998, before my time at Nativity, I had been serving as a professional Youth and Family Ministry Director in various contexts around this great metropolitan area. I love ministry with youth and their families; particularly confirmation, mission and service work and other relational ministries. I enjoy playing guitar, leading worship and providing care for all who come in the Name of Jesus. As hobbies I enjoy, fishing, soccer, biking and writing and recording music.
The ministry of our Lord Jesus and His church are dear to my heart. The world is in deep need of the grace of God and I am honored, humbled and energized with the task of being the gospel to all who have ears to listen. Nativity is a powerful place that is not afraid to innovate for the sake of the good news we find in Jesus Christ.