We welcome donations for our Christmas Celebration. The donations will be used for Christmas greens, poinsettias, trimmings, and outdoor lighting.
The Global Mission Outreach Team thanks the Nativity community for supporting the Days for Girls (female hygiene kits) project. Over $1,100 was raised for support of DFG kits, 80 kits were produced (value over $800) and over $500 of materials were donated. The event culminated with a group of 37 volunteers who helped make components of the kits. Nancy and Steve Laible will personally deliver DFG kits to school girls in Bangladesh during their mission trip to the LAMB project in Bangladesh during the month of October, 2018. Thrivent Financial provided ‘Action Team’ support for the sewing event.
On September 9, members of our Nativity Community participated in God’s Work Our Hands projects. 15 volunteers painted and cleaned at Rezek House (2-year transitional living program for homeless youth ages 16-21). Volunteers reported that it was a great way to experience God’s work as they prepared a new apartment for a mother and child to move into the following week.
The second project included donating approximately $1700 in household goods and filling 16 laundry baskets that go to families in the FISH (Families in Safe Hands) program as they transition from homelessness to apartments.
Thank you for your generosity and commitment of time and energy to make this day a success!
Nativity made a big impression with over 100 people participating in the St Anthony Village Fest Parade. Nativity’s strength in numbers communicated a COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY and caring for community.
Nativity’s values of caring for neighbor were on display as our group moved through the parade route surrounded by Nativity’s community outreach flags. As I handed out a bookmark, the woman turned it over and commented, “Does your church do all these things?” Yes I answered and so much more.
THANK YOU TO the many who helped communicate a powerful message of compassion to the community; walkers, riders, donating candy, prepping and serving food, giving rides, drivers, passing out candy and bookmarks, carrying the outreach flags and having fun in the process.
Thank you for giving of yourself.
-Pastor Glenn
Nativity Lutheran Church is in the process of redesigning our green space. We want to expand our vegetable gardens to grow more produce for Little Kitchen Food Shelf and transition our hillsides to pollinator gardens.
Our hillsides pose several challenges:
In researching our landscaping challenges, we have found an innovative solution to our problem that will allow us to demonstrate responsible stewardship, expand our outreach and provide a learning opportunity for the youth and adults within our community. Experts in land management are turning to goat grazing to help manage sensitive landscape. Over the past few years, there have been an increasing number of park and watershed managers who are turning to goats to help control buckthorn and other invasive species.
We are bringing in goats to graze our hillsides and serve as a model of responsible stewardship.
We plan to host learning events to provide an opportunity for local preschools and scouting groups. We feel this will be an ideal opportunity to help teach our children about:
We will hire Goat Dispatch, a family-owned business that provides goats for temporary grazing. The goats will be coming in August and will be with use for 10-14 days.
Stay tuned for updates and an event schedule.
An event every month that begins at 10:45am on day Second of the month, repeating until February 10, 2019
Join a volunteer team that cleans and replaces used coffee cups. This volunteer should be available from 10:45am to 12:00pm on Sundays. This service is important because it contributes to making Nativity a warm and welcoming environment for worshipers. This opportunity also reflects environmental st...
Find out more »An event every month that begins at 10:45am on day Second of the month, repeating until February 10, 2019
Join a volunteer team that cleans and replaces used coffee cups. This volunteer should be available from 10:45am to 12:00pm on Sundays. This service is important because it contributes to making Nativity a warm and welcoming environment for worshipers. This opportunity also reflects environmental st...
Find out more »An event every month that begins at 10:45am on day Fourth of the month, repeating indefinitely
Join a volunteer team that cleans and replaces used coffee cups. This volunteer should be available from 10:45am to 12:00pm on Sundays. This service is important because it contributes to making Nativity a warm and welcoming environment for worshipers. This opportunity also reflects environmental s...
Find out more »
Over the past 5 years members of our Nativity Community have very generously contributed to Lutheran Social Service Metro Homeless Youth programs through our fundraising efforts such as Rockin Out Team Homelessness, Where Love Can Grow in, and our Teen Art Exhibit. The result was accumulated funds of over $20,000. To add to this, a couple months ago John Hensel and his sister, Jean, came forward and asked to make a sizeable contribution to Metro Homeless Youth.
Karen Weiberg and Gail Bergsven, leaders of the Nativity Homelessness Outreach Team and liaisons to LSS Metro Homeless Youth, met with Jen Fairbourne, Director of the LSS Metro Homeless Youth Programs and made a decision to contribute the majority of our funds to the following programs:
Thank you Nativity for caring about our youth at risk. You have made a difference in the lives of many young people.
Nativity Garden Vision
Our vision for Nativity front entry: We see a front entry experience that is welcoming, safe, and easily accessible to everyone; where nature spills into the street creating a lovely backdrop for people to celebrate, gather, linger, play, laugh and sit while enjoying nature in each season; with inspiring and interactive lighting and artistic features in a space that reflects a noticeable and dynamic presence that stewards God’s creation and embodies our commitment to love courageously.
You Can Help – Sign up to…
Phase 1: concept and garden design – engaged landscape architect, moved many perennials
Phase 2: transition garden space surrounding the front entrance, including Peace Pole
Phase 3: transition hillside extending to north parking lot and boulevard
There are many ways you can help…
Sponsor an item:
Volunteer to help:
The new garden will feature:
On June 20 we had a great group of people join us at Nativity to help assemble DRAGONFLY PROJECT PACKETS. This event was sponsored by a Thrivent Action Team. The DRAGONFLY PROJECT is a mission partner with our Nativity Community Outreach, Care and Support Team.
If you are interested in getting involved with the DRAGONFLY PROJECT or one of our other Outreach Teams contact Gail Bergsven, Director of Community Partnerships: 651-329-4446 or ggantz1@aol.com
Nativity supports the Little Kitchen and NEED food. People from the Hunger Outreach Team are looking for fresh produce to give out to food pantry clients. People that visit food shelves love fresh produce as they often find it hard to buy on their limited budget. We are thankful to the Nativity community garden for the fresh produce donated to Little Kitchen. To expand donations please consider donating fresh produce from your home garden, CSA fresh produce, or any produce you might pick up at a grocery store.
A basket will be set out by the welcome desk marked as fresh produce for food shelves and will be picked up regularly and taken to food shelf by Nativity volunteers. Thank you for your donations.
If questions please contact Grace Gee at gracegee50@gmail.com or 218-348-3381.
“Dear Scholarship Committee,
I’m writing to express my deep gratitude for the scholarships you have given me, not only this year, but throughout all four years of my college education. The financial assistance you have provided has granted me access many transformative experiences at St Olaf, allowing me to develop the skills I need to be successful in my chosen profession as well as encouraging me to learn and grow as a person. Thank you for your continuing generosity as I head into my senior year!”-Sincerely,Noah Livingston
Dear Nativity Scholarship Committee,
“I am writing to express muy sincere gratitude for your generous scholarship. The financial assistance which you have provided will allow me to focus on my education, and pursue the career of my dreams.The Augsburg community has inspired me to pursue a BA degree in Theater, and bring my acting career to life. My passion for acting began in high school when I performed in class plays and musicals. I enjoyed performing in front of a large audience, and sensed that I had a meaningful talent to share with the world. My education at Augsburg University will improve my acting ability to succeed in this highly competitive field.This scholarship is truly a blessing! I want to set an example about the importance of a college degree, and why it is essentially a precursor to a fulfilling life. The road to success is never straight, but I’m willing to take the journey with the Lord as my guide.Thank you for your generosity and support!”Sincerely,Marcus Papasodora
Show Us Some Love!