BULLETIN DEADLINE: NOON WEDNESDAY E-mail: nativity.bulletin@hotmail. com

The Catholic Church of the Nativity 5955 St. Elmo Road Bartlett, TN 38135

Parish Office Hours: Mon—Fri 8:30am to 5:00pm Phone 901-382-2504 Emergency Phone 901-603-3364

Parochial Administrator Father Robert Szczechura, STL robert.szczechura@cc.cdom.org Parochial Vicar: Fr. Cosmas Mabu cosmas.mabu@nativity.cdom.org Deacons: Frank Larker frank.larker@nativity.cdom.org Chris Frame chris.frame@nativity.cdom.org David Rosenthal, PhD david.rosenthal@nativity.cdom.org Administrative Assistant:: Angie 0’Neill angie.oneill@nativity.cdom.org

Director of Music Scott Elsholz, DM scott.elsholz@nativity.cdom.org Director of Religious Education Theresa Krier theresah.krier@nativity.cdom.org Director – Youth Ministry: Stephen Peyton stephen.peyton@nativity.cdom.org Co-Directors Hispanic Ministry Lyz Candia and Lillian Luciano clyzcan@yahoo.com, 901-607-5982 Bookkeeper: nativity.accounting@nativity.cdom.org

Mass Schedules Daily Monday - Saturday 8:00 a.m. Weekend Saturday Vigil 5:00 p.m. Sunday 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m Spanish 5:00 pm Filipino First Sunday of Each Month (Tagalog/English) 12:30 p.m. Holy Days As Announced

Sacraments Reconciliation — Saturday 3:30p.m. to 4:30pm Sunday 9:30am to 10:00am or by appointment.. Baptism — by appointment; please contact the parish office Marriage — Contact the parish office at least six months before the wedding

Fourth Sunday of Lent March 11, 2018

March 10 & 11, 2018

Please Pray for Our Sick

Erlinda Amaba Vinnie Ariemmo Bill Brigrance Tina Burton Nancy & Carey Casad Bill Coburn Donna Condy Joan Cunningham Sally Gyout Emilie Harris Catherine Johnson Carl Lamberth Louis J. Lenti Ed List Annie Longoria Paul Baker Miller Fr. Mike Morgera Julia Moseley Shirley Odom June Patton A.J. Perk Fr. Robert Ponticello Karen Raney Maria Robertson Jim Shaw Sam Sudduth Mary Terrell Melissa Frame Vannucci Joyce R. West Barbara Williams Bob Williams Jack Lee Windley III Ann Wingate

If you or a family member are hospitalized, please notify the Parish office. Notify the office to ADD or REMOVE someone’s name from the list.

† From Death to New Life May Those We have Loved & Lost Rest in Peace

Tammy Salinas

Mass Intentions

8:00am — Weekdays Requested By Mon 12th Evelyn Hyde + George & Eileen Kuehl Tue 13th Betty Campos + The Morning Group Wed 14th Vitaly Knoop + Jerry & Donna Lampen Thur 15th Ernie Lubiani + Pat Fitzgerald Fri 16th Betty Campos + The Morning Group 8:00am Saturday 10th Lawrence Burton + Angie O’Neill 17th Walter Scheuerman + Ike & Cathy Skaggs 5:00pm Saturday 10th Martha & Willis Chamblis + The Schwill Family 17th Parishioners 8:00am — Sunday 11th Parishioners 18th Betty Campos The Morning Group 10:30am — Sunday 11th Ernie Lubiani + Judy & Bob Burchfield 17th Ernie Lubiani + Helen & Don Heehs

Lance Corporal Mark Earnest; Senior Airman Christopher Dill; Pvt. John David Dill; A1C Ryan C. Marlin; AO1 Andrew E. Hopson; Commander Derek A. Vestal, Pvt. Maria Witges, Captain Luke Sauber (USMC), Lieutenant Colonel Christopher J. Martindale U.S. Army, Richard A. Martin, Jr., BM1, (USCG) Captain Tami Kerns (US Army-Afghanistan) Captain Kevin Kerns (US Army-Hawaii) Captain Nicholas Burton. SSG. Carol Hopson

Pray for Our Troops READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 65:17-21; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-13b; Jn 4:43-54 Tuesday: Ez 47:1-9, 12; Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; Jn 5:1-16 Wednesday: Is 49:8-15; Ps 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18; Jn 5:17-30 Thursday: Ex 32:7-14; Ps 106:19-23; Jn 5:31-47 Friday: Wis 2:1a, 12-22; Ps 34:17-21, 23; Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Saturday: Jer 11:18-20; Ps 7:2-3, 9bc-12; Jn 7:40-53 Sunday: Jer 31:31-34; Ps 51:3-4, 12-15; Heb 5:7-9; Jn 12:20-33 Alternate readings (Year A): Ez 37:12-14; Ps 130:1-8; Rom 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45 [3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45]

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Lent; Second Scrutiny; Daylight Saving Time begins; Girl Scouting Sunday Friday: Abstinence Saturday: Saint Patrick

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Year B of the Lectionary has the Letter to the Ephesians today. Ephe-sus, today in Turkey, was in the first century a great Greek city, the center for the worship of Diana, the goddess of the hunt. It was a vast city even by modern standards, having nearly half a million people in the time of Paul. Yet that was a time of economic recession and moral decay. No wonder Saint Paul stayed here the longest. It gave him an enormous and religiously curious audience. His preaching stirred up the artisans who depended on the pilgrims who came to honor (and buy mementos of) seventeen gods and goddesses enshrined in the city’s temples. You can still see the open-air theater where Paul’s homily triggered a riot. Paul did have success here, and many conversions among Jews and Gentiles. They seem to have strug-gled with hope, perhaps because of their suffering from economic woes and isolation. Some old traditions say that the Apostle John lived out his days here, and that the Blessed Mother was cared for by him. There’s no biblical basis for this, but it is certain that a small house just outside the city has been treas-ured by Christians and Muslims for centuries as the last dwelling of Mary. Long ago, the harbor silted up and the city was nearly abandoned, becom-ing a small village. As is so often the case, that accident of history pre-served the ancient city, so that archeologists have been very successful in revealing ancient Christian sites. One such site is the Church of Mary, probably the first church to be dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and the site of the Council of Ephesus in 431. Today, a visit to Ephesus is one of the most rewarding journeys for any pilgrim. —Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

SOUP & SALAD FRIDAYS As part of our Lenten observance we will be having Stations of the Cross each Friday at 6:30pm, followed immediately after with a Soup & Salad Supper (In observance of Lent no dessert shall be served). Meals are being provided by volunteers from our different Ministries each week. Donations for the meals will be given to Operation Rice Bowl. All are welcome! Please sign-up on the sheet provided on the table in the Narthex so there will be enough Soup & Salad for everyone. Thanks!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR—March 23rd On the last Friday of Lent we will be offering special poetic and musical mediations on the fourteen Stations of the Cross. Each station will be accompanied by a sacred poem by the French poet Paul Claudel, after which Dr. Scott Elsholz will perform a musical medita-tion on that poem. This program will include organ, vocal, and flute music of a variety of composers, with a special emphasis on the works of J.S. Bach. The program is free with light refreshments after the program.

LENT ADORATION

Thursdays

5pm to 7pm

March 15th and 22nd

SPANISH - STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Sundays 6:00pm to 7:00pm

March 11th and 18th

LENTEN PENANCE is a joint penance with the Church of the Nativity and St. Ann (Bartlett). It will be held at the Church of the Nativity on March 15th starting at 7:00pm.

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CLASSES BY FR.ROBERT Will be held on Tuesdays, March 13th and 20th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. The subject is “The Passion of Jesus Christ according to St. John.”

From the Desk of Father Robert - A Lenten Tradition: Veiling the Statues and Cross for Passiontide Temporarily veiling the crosses and religious images in the penitential color of Lent is a beautiful custom that helps us to reflect on the deeper theological meaning of the liturgical season. In covering the religious images during the height of Lent, all attention is centered on the Passion and death of Christ. This is why the only images NOT to be covered are the Stations of the Cross. This old custom of veiling religious images is a way of focusing on the penitential aspect of this liturgical season. It re-minds us in a visual way that our faith in all its glory is made possible only through the work of Christ in his suffering and death on the cross. When we cover or remove these holy and sacred images that we are so accustomed to, we are starkly confronted and reminded in a poignant way of all that Christ has won for us.

CHRISM MASS at the Cathedral on

Tuesday, March 24th at 7:00pm

March 10 & 11,2018

Nativity Ministries

Music Ministry

Come be a part of our thriving music ministry and help Nativity to make a joyful noise! There are many

opportunities for involvement. Interested in singing or ringing?

Talk to Scott Elsholz after Mass or email at scott.elsholz@nativity.cdom.org. ALL are welcome!

Tuesdays: Resurrection Choir Rehearsal times 10-11 am Wednesdays: Children’s Choir (grades 2-9) 5-5:45 pm Bell Choir 6-7 pm Cantor Practice 7-7:30 pm Adult Choir Practice 7:30-9 pm Music 101—for those interested in learning more about how to read music. The class will meet once to twice a month on Tuesdays from 10-11 am. Contact Scott at scott.elsholz@nativity.cdom.org or at the church office for more details.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Sundays: ages 3 yrs to 12 yrs, Confirmation 1 and 2 ; Contact Theresa Krier, PRE Director theresah.krier@nativity.cdom.org. Class times are posted on the Web site: nativitybartlett.org/calendar/ Cub Scouts Troop 258:Cub Scouts meet on most Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30pm either at the church or on adventures. Contact Mark Owens to register at markfowens@att.net or 901-827-1262. CYO 9-12 Grade Sundays from 6-8 pm Stephen Peyton, youth director stephen.peyton@nativity.cdom.org Fishers of Men: Saturdays, 8:30-9:30am Former Day Chapel Hands for God Puppet Productions: Most Sundays, 12-1 pm: For 5th-8th grade Puppeteers in Training; Contact John Walton 901-568-0910 or email nativitycats@aol.com. For updates go to: www.facebook.com/groups/830749576971608/ Helping Hands Ministry Knitting Group: meet the 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 9 am in the Narthex. They help the homeless and Birthright babies Holy Family Ministry: for information contact David Rosenthal, PhD at david.rosenthal@nativity.cdom.org Knights of Columbus Council 14041: most 4th Thursdays at 6:30pm in Stelling Hall; contact Gerry Fitzgerald at (901) 319-7385 or gfitzgerald65@bellsouth.net Liturgical Ministries: for information or questions regarding training or scheduling contact Jim Lippy 388-6515 or 371-6269 or the Church Office 901-382-2504 Men’s Club: Breakfast Meeting 1st Sat. of each Month 9 am Prison Ministry: for information contact Shellie Teems, 901-230-0074 Parish Outreach Food for the Sick: Contact Susan Hanna at 385-8277 or savhan@aol.com for information. Sewing Group: Most Sundays, 1-4 in Stelling Hall or the old Day Chapel; Sewing Albs for the Altar Servers & MCs. Bring your sewing machine, serger or your desire to cut or iron! Stay as long as you can. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month: Meet at church at 8 am for carpooling: Contact John Walton, 901-568-0910 for info. TOPS - Take off the Pounds Sensibly: meet Mondays at 4:15-5:00pm for weigh-in; 5-6pm meetings in Stelling Hall. Women’s Guild: meets the 4th Tuesday at 7 pm the months of January, March, May, September and November.

RCIA CLASSES

Meet Wednesdays from 6:00pm to 7:30pm

in the portable

They will be brought into the Church fully at Easter: Catechumens: Pamila Bingham - Connie Cooper & Hunter Wiginton Candidates: Brian Bingham - Carolyn Cook - Terry Gianaroli - Lorena Monge Cynthia Rodriguez - Christopher Cary Bawcum - Addison Jade Bawcum - Lindsay Kortenber, Ed List & Cash Murphy Confirmandi: Luke Stevens & Jesus Vela

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Diocese Information

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

Scripture says about married people that “Two shall live as one”. How often do you find yourselves living as two? A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend can help you get back to basics in this complicated day and age. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is 1-3 June 2018 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Retreat Center in Stanton, TN. For more information or to apply, visit our website at wwme-section10.org/memphis or contact us at 901-409-4570.

Midweek Themed Retreat This year Our lady Queen of Peace is offering the weekend retreat “Christ’s Farewell Gift” during the week! (March 13-15) If your weekends are overbooked or you have a flexible work schedule or just like the idea of a midweek retreat join us for this special opportunity. The retreat will begin with dinner at 6:30 on Tuesday evening and conclude with Mass and lunch Thursday, March15. The suggested offering is $200 per person for single occupancy or $170 per person for double occupancy, other options of one overnight $100 or a full day$80 are also available. You may register on line at olqpretreats.com or email debbie.voyles@olqp.cdom.org or call 731-548-2500

Adoremus: An evening of music, reflection, prayer and con-fession for 20s/30s.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest...” Join young adults from all over to pray and worship together in the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus! Wednesday, March 14, at 7 PM at St. Peter Catholic Church in Memphis. Keep up with the event on Facebook. Search for ADOREMUS MEMPHIS in Events. This is a ministry of the Office of Campus and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Memphis.

St. Benedict High School invites all 7th graders to Preview Day, Fri, March 23, 12:45-2:30pm. Come see what all the excitement is about and learn about high school life at

SBA. The 7th grade Pre-High School Placement Test also offered on Sat., March 24 from 8:30-11:45am – a test-run getting you ready for next year! Registration deadline for both events is March 21. Register at sbaeagles.org/visitsba

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Thursday, March 15, 2018

St Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church

Menu: Reuben Sandwich Plate $7.00

Supper: Irish Stew Plate $8.00

Serving times Lunch: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Supper: 4:00 to 6:00 pm

Take-outs Available for Reuben Sandwich Plates Please call 731-968-6393 to place your orders.

895 North Broad Street

Lexington, Tennessee 38351

March – Human Trafficking is one of the great human rights challenges of this century.. Millions of men, women, and children are enslaved and treated as commodities – bought, sold, shared, abused and discarded. Ending SLAVERY is EVERYONE’S WORK. U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking. sistersagainsttrafficking.org.

Marzo: la trata de personas es uno de los grandes desafíos de derechos humanos de este siglo. Millones de hombres, mujeres y niños son esclavizados y tratados como productos básicos: comprados, vendidos, compartidos, maltratados y descartados. Poner fin a la esclavitud es el TRABAJO DE TODOS. Hermanas católicas de los Estados Unidos contra la trata de personas. sistersagainsttrafficking.org.

Pope Francis March 2018 Prayer intention Formation in the Spiritual Discernment That the Church may appreciate the urgency of formation in spiritual discernment, both on the personal and communitarian levels.

When: Sunday - March 18th Time: NOON

Hosted by the Puppet Ministry

Mother/Daughter Program for 10-12 year olds Sunday, March 25, 2018 2:00pm to 5:00pm St. Benedict at Auburndale H S Auditorium 8250 Varnavas Drive Cordova, TN Register on-line at www.cdom.org at least 6 days in advance. NO registrations can be accepted at the door. For more information call the Office of Pastoral Life Ministries 373-1237.

March 10 & 11,2018

Nativity Information

Parishioners the Youth Minis-try needs your assistance. They are in need of plastic eggs and individual wrapped candy for the Easter Egg Hunt after 10:30am Mass on Easter Sunday. Deadline is March 26th.

Take off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS)

Do you need to lose a few pounds? If so come and join our TOPS chapter. We meet in Stelling Hall on Mondays

with “weigh-in” from 4:15 to 5:00pm. Meetings are from 5:00-6:00pm. See you there!

Our Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference is an active and viable part of the Bartlett/Raleigh community. The need for assistance is great, please donate to this worthwhile organization at anytime throughout the year by going to the webpage and donating through our Online Giving option and selecting the St. Vincent de Paul button. If you so choose, you can help offset the processing fees by selecting that option as well. Thank you for your continued and generous support of Nativity's St. Vincent de Paul Conference.

Save a date! We shall have the photographers at Nativity for our new parish directory on the following dates and times.

April 7th & 21st from 10am to 5pm

April 16th thru 20th from 2pm to 9pm

ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS!!! Did you know that the Diocese of Memphis has campus ministries that serve you? If you attend University of Tennessee at Martin, University of Memphis, Rhodes College or Christian Brothers University, there is a “Catholic Home” for you! Check out our website for moe information and get involved! www.memphisccm.org

Easter Lily Sale

The Women’s Guild is selling Easter Lilies for $10.00 each the weekends

of March 10th/11th and 17th/18th. Lilies will be available for pick up Palm Sunday weekend March 24th/25th. They can purchased for home or for church, as memorials or honorariums. There will be Guild members in the Narthex to assist you.

Soup Kitchen Information On February 20th, 6 volunteers from Nativity fed 191. The next Soup Kitchen is March 20th. Volunteers meet at 8 am at Nativity on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday (new schedule) of each month. If you would like to volunteer, there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in Baker Hall. If you want more information, please call John Walton 901-568-0910.

St. Patrick’s Day Trivia Night: The OLS Youth Group is hosting a trivia night on St. Pat-rick’s Day, Saturday, March 17. Doors open at 5:30 and play will begin at 6:45. The cost is $90.00 per table with up to six players. Additional players are $15.00 each. The theme is “Everything Irish” and there will be a prizes for the best decorated table, the best-dressed lep-rechaun, and the best-dressed colleen. Hot dogs, nachos, chips, and soft drinks will be avail-able for purchase. BYOB. There will be door-prizes and prizes for two rounds of “Heads or Tails.” The first place, second place and last place teams will each will receive a prize. Call 901.353.1530 to reserve your team’s table.

2 Corinthians 9:7: Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Online Giving: To set up a recurring giving schedule, visit us online at www.nativitybartlett.org, locate the Online Giving but-ton and set up your recurring giving schedule. The first time you give, you will select a password that will enable you to log in at any time and make changes to your giving or view your complete online giving his-tory for Online Giving

Fourth Sunday of Lent

11th 8 & 10:30am Easter Lily Sale 8am - 9am NO PRE Noon Puppet Practice 1:00pm Sewing Albs 6:00pm Spanish Stations of the Cross 12th 4:30pm TOPS 13th 5:30pm Boy Scouts 6:30pm Fr Robert’s Class 14th 9:00am Canon Law Conference 5:00pm Children's’ Choir Practice 6:00pm Bell Choir Practice 6:00pm Novena to Our Lady 6:00pm RCIA 7:00pm Cantor Practice 7:30pm Adult Choir Practice 15th 9:00am Helping Hands 5;00pm Lenten Adoration 7:00pm Joint Penance Service 16th 6:30pm Stations of the Cross 7:00pm Soup & Salad 17th 8:30am Fishers of Men 5:00pm Easter Lily Sale 18th 8 & 10:30am Easter Lily Sale 8am - 9am NO PRE Noon Italian Dinner Puppet Ministry 1:00pm Sewing Albs 6:00pm Spanish Stations of the Cross 19th 4:30pm TOPS 20th 10:00am Resurrection Choir 6:00pm Boy Scouts 6:30pm Fr Robert’s Class 7:00pm SVDP 21st 5:00pm Children's’ Choir Practice 6:00pm Bell Choir Practice 6:00pm Novena to Our Lady 6:00pm RCIA 7:00pm Cantor Practice 7:30pm Adult Choir Practice 22nd 5:00pm Lenten Adoration 6:30pm Knights of Columbus 23rd 6:00pm Musical Meditation on Stations of the Cross 7:30pm Soup & Salad

Offerings for February, 2018

Regular collections: Cor Unum: 4th week $8,162 $3,801 Month to Date: Regular Collection $34,355 (Budget $39,633) Cor Unum $13,091 (Budget $15,000)

ANNOUCEMENTS TO BE MADE AT MASS BY FATHER NEED TO BE SENT TO ANGIE O’NEILL BY NOON Thurs.

2nd Collection Next Week March 18th - Cor Unum

Scheduling Events at the Church

Our parish is very busy and we receive many requests to use meeting spaces and the church grounds. Please contact Deacon Frank Larker at 382-2504 to schedule your event. All requests should be scheduled as far in advance as possible. Those who use our facility are responsible for setup and clean-up. You must notify the office if your event is cancelled or if you need to reschedule. You cannot reschedule an event WITHOUT contacting the office. Rescheduling your event without contact-ing the office leads to conflicts with others who went through the proper channel to schedule their event. So, please be consider-ate. Thank You!

Bulletin Information

To View the Bulletin online go to https://www.facebook.com/nativitybartlett/ or to https://www.nativitybartlett.org .

Go to nativitybartlett.org/calendar/ for scheduled present/future events.

HAS SOMETHING CHANGED????

Keep your Information Current If your phone number, work number, cell number, address, e-mail address, or name changes, please notify the office 382-2504. Thank-you! Become a member it is FREE. You can view e-books, movies,

audio books, audio bible, testimonies, inspiring talks and video studies to enhance your knowledge of the teachings of the Catholic Church. To set-up an account go to formed.org. then follow the instructions. Nativity's code is MV3JPX (all caps).