“God’s Work. Our Hands.” is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our Neighbor…Courageously. This weekend will offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in every act of service, flows freely from our confidence in God’s grace.
Here’s your guide to the 2022 “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Weekend activities at Nativity!
Join us at Nativity for the full lineup of service projects, donation drives, ministry fair activities.
Can’t be there in person? Hop on Facebook Live Sunday morning for highlights, interviews, and fellowship! You can also make donations online at NativityChurch.org/GIVE. You work every day to make your community a better place. Let us continue doing this work together!
DONATION DRIVES
We’re also organizing two donation drives. All in-kind donations can be brought to the church during weekend worship hours.
THE DRAWER Donation Drive
NOTE: We’ve received very few donations so far and would love to be able to collect more this weekend!
Support kids going back to school in our community who are without warm socks and clean underwear. We ask that donations of socks and underwear (all sizes/ages for boys and girls) are new and in their original packaging. To donate online, go to NativityChurch.org/Give (add The Drawer in the memo).
Justice Library Book Drive
We’re excited to begin a Community Advocacy Library at Nativity for ALL AGES! Books are the best tools we have to answer our big-hearted questions. They help inform us, teach us, and spur conversation. Become an Advocacy Book Sponsor, and we will add your or your family’s name inside the book! Below you will find a list of subjects we’re looking for. Please drop off gently used or new books. See a list of subjects we’re looking for HERE, or go online and purchase from our “Nativity Justice Library” Amazon Wish List.
SERVICE PROJECTS
Join us for a variety of service projects in the Commons area following Sunday worship hours.
- Children’s activities + BINGO cards and prizes!
- Packing event for The Drawer donation drive—Room 218
- Card-making for The Dragonfly Project
- Ministry Fair activities
- RIC T-shirts for purchase
- Help at Safe House, Sunday, 9:00-11:30 am: We’ll clean inside the LSS Safe House shelter to support teens who are experiencing homelessness. For those interested, we’ll carpool that day, leaving Nativity at 8:30 am and returning by 12:00 pm, when we’ll enjoy Shobi’s food truck. Contact Gail Bergsven at ggantz1@aol.com, (651) 329-4446.
FOOD TRUCK
This year we’re excited to host the Shobi’s Table Food Truck for brunch on Sunday. Shobi’s Table is a ministry in the St. Paul Area Synod that believes in community-building centered around a table where everyone has access to real, nutritious food – no matter what they can pay.
Meals are $12/person and include egg bake, breakfast potatoes, baked goods, fruit, plus coffee and tea. Payment (cash, card or Venmo) will be taken directly through Shobi’s Table and will help support their continuing ministry to those experiencing homelessness.
NATIVITY MINISTRY FAIR
We invite you to explore Nativity’s Faith Formation and Outreach Ministries! Learn more about the good these groups are doing and how you can get involved.
Children and Youth Faith Formation
Nativity partners with parents to nurture faith by encouraging children to love God and love our neighbor. This fall Nativity will offer music ministries, plus both in-person and online classes for ages:
- Birth-Kindergarten,
- Grades 1-4, and
- Grades 5-6 (Club 56).
Adult Faith Formation
At Nativity, we welcome people wherever they are in their experience of God. We draw closer to God through a variety of ways, including:
- Studying God’s Word through Bible studies,
- Learning how God enters our lives through book studies,
- Participating in vital aging enrichment, and
- Joining in other spiritual growth group opportunities.
OUTREACH MINISTRIES
Nativity Lutheran Church is called by God to love courageously, give generously and proclaim the Gospel through our actions. We believe our personal journeys of faith are challenged and strengthened by responding to the world’s needs and by committing ourselves to making a positive impact in the world. Nativity has seven outreach ministries with a common theme or social concern.
Racial Equity & Justice
The REJM mission is to listen, educate, and advocate in order to recognize and eliminate racism in institutions of society, including our church, community, and country. We envision racial equity and justice for all God’s children.
Hunger & Food
The Hunger Community Outreach groups respond to the reality that many people are unable to acquire sufficient food to meet basic nutritional needs. These ministries increase awareness of hunger and food security in our community.
Environment & Sustainability
These ministries promote local initiatives and community actions that support ecological sustainability. These efforts demonstrate our Biblical call to “Care for Creation.”
Mental Health
We respond to the reality that people in our community are facing personal grief and mental health challenges. These ministries promote awareness of local resources and offer both educational programming and group support.
Homelessness & Housing
These ministries recognize and respond to the reality that many people are unable to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing. The groups increase awareness and organize action events.
Community Outreach
Community Outreach organizes events that bring people together in fellowship, service, education, and fun, including MLK Day, VillageFest Parade, Luther Park Camp programs, the Neighborhood Extravaganza, and more.
Global Outreach
Global Outreach recognizes the need to alleviate human suffering in the world and connects the Nativity community to global service opportunities related to health, literacy, and agriculture.
