FROM GRETCHEN’S PEN

This is a hard newsletter article to write, for this will be my last newsletter article as the rector of our parish. Eleven years ago this month I arrived, and now it is time for me to

leave. It won't be a full "goodbye" since Nativity and I will still have a relationship, but it will be different. I won't be here day to day. Instead, after a time of transition, discern-

ment and call, you will have a new rector. That new rector will bring their own gifts and skills and passions and will form a new relationship with you all. That is good, it is proper, it is necessary. I am quite confident that your new rector will be someone who will

be able to work with all of you and provide the leadership for helping move confidently into the future. Over my time here I have buried more people than I wanted to, married a

number, baptized folks, sponsored people for confirmation, and been invited into your lives in ways that have blessed me beyond telling. I have had my own faith strengthened by parishioners here. I have been challenged, stretched, supported. I have had times of

joy and times of sorrow. I have found a home here. I hope that in some way I have been able to bless you as much as you have blessed me. I know that I will always carry Nativity in my heart. Perhaps the hardest thing I will do is to leave, and yet it will be necessary for

me to leave, and to let your new rector truly become your rector. I might be leaving to be-come your bishop, but that is different, it is not the same relationship and it can't be.

One of the first things I saw when I arrived eleven years ago was a couple of signs, one on the water fountain in the east hallway, one on the west door to the parish hall. The signs

said "do not use, broken." At the time I thought that those signs represented in many ways the self-image of Nativity. From my time of discernment I did not think Nativity was

"broken" but I was aware that many here did. Those signs no longer represent this parish. This parish is such a good place, full of people who care for each other, people who serve our community in ways that go beyond our side, people who show up for worship, speak

to learn more about the faith, play well together. This parish is truly a place where God is worshiped, people are fed, lives are changed. I hope that you will claim that truth and know it deep within yourselves.

I am incredibly grateful to have been the rector here. I cannot begin to say thank you

enough to all of you for the gift you have been. You will always be in my prayers. My last Sunday as your rector will be on the 8th. We will celebrate together, we will laugh and perhaps cry together, and we will bless each other, and that

will be good. I hope that you will be able to be there, but if not, please know how much I love you all.

The Episcopal Church of the Nativ i ty Volume 2017, Issue 1

THE MESSENGER

Gretchen

Page 2 Volume 2017, Issue 1

N A T I V I T Y ’S OU T R E A C H

FOOD PANTRY Thank you to everyone who helps with our food pantry, from picking up food at the Food Bank or Winco, stocking shelves, staffing the pantry and bringing food, it is all needed help and

much appreciated, especially by those who need the food.

SATURDAY SUPPER On December 10th Peggy and Neal Flowers and their team served fewer community mem-

bers than usual, probably due to snow conditions and Christmas activities. The team enjoyed the time to be able personally to talk to guests! Rick and Leslie Smith will be new

team leaders; Peggy and Neal will remain part of the team. The team approach is working great, now we are looking for a list of folks who are willing to be identified substitutes that team leaders can call on if they run into a need for helpers. Please see the signup sheet in

the parish hall or speak to Rosemary Daubert if you can do this—thanks!

SNAKE RIVER CLINIC The next delivery of finger-food, for approximately 15 workers at the clinic, will be Tues-day, January 10th. If you would like to assist with this ministry, please find the sign-up

sheet on the table in the parish hall and/or speak with Susan Pearson (743-4158).

SALVATION ARMY SOUP KITCHEN We will be helping to prepare, serve and clean up from the meal at the Salva-

tion Army Soup Kitchen, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, January 27. If you would like to join us in serving others, please call Pat Johnson at 758-

1360.

SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE—DICK AND SHERRI MCMILLEN

Dick here – through my work I have the privilege of vol-

unteering for a variety of activities including Advisory Board of the Salvation Army and Board of Directors of

Opportunities Unlimited. In past years I have been ac-tive in the Valley Boys and Girls Club, Chamber of Com-merce, and City Council. In her capacity of director of

Page 3 Page 3 Volume 2017, Issue 1

Community Action Agency and director of the YWCA Sherri always maintained the vision

of helping others in countless ways. Currently she is a volunteer at St. Joseph. At Nativ-ity she is a team leader for Saturday supper and we both like to take advantage of the op-

portunities that the church offers both for study and volunteer. I have been on the Ves-try several times and I would be remiss in not mentioning how much of an honor it is to be the Senior Warden especially in this time of change. Thank you.

MEN AND WOMEN’S GROUPS

CHANCEL GUILD Gifts were exchanged and Christmas cookies devoured, at our December meeting. Toni

Pierce played the guitar and we sang Christmas songs. Thank you to Debbie Riedle and Karen Parkman, for hosting. Christmas gifting was discussed and passed. Maxine Hub-

bell and Fran Caradine reported on the transition committee and the January 8th pot-luck. Our next meeting will be on the second Monday in January, the 9th. Marcu John-

son and Caryl Mackey will host.

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Men’s breakfast group returns the 2nd Saturday of January, the 10th. All men are invited

to participate, gathering at 9 am on Saturday.

THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

The annual parish meeting of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity will be held on Sunday, January 29 after the 10:30 service following a potluck lunch All are invited and requested to attend. Vestry members and delegates to diocesan convention will be elected at this

meeting. The deadline for reports for the annual meeting journal is Friday, January 13th.

Please email reports into the office if possible.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS We are seeking and receiving nominations for vestry and diocesan convention delegates. If you would like to nominate someone (including yourself) for either position please call the

office, at 743-9121. Diocesan convention representative obligations include one Saturday meeting in the fall and preparing for, attending and reporting back from Diocesan conven-tion the third weekend of October. Vestry obligations include two Saturday meetings each

year, one overnight retreat, and 11 monthly meetings. Both require that those who serve

are active and participate in the life of the parish.

Page 4 Page 4 Volume 2017, Issue 1

CHOIR CORNER

Happy New Year! The choir will resume on January 1, 2017! Even though January 8th is the second Sunday, it will be Gretchen’s last Sunday, so the choir will sing for the service

that day.

The Inland Northwest Handbell Workshop will be March 24 & 25, 2017 at Lewiston First United Methodist Church. Brian Tervo, founder of the Emerald City Ringers, a community

handbell choir in Seattle, WA, will be the clinician. We need to register before February 6th

in order to get the discounted rate, so please let Sarah know if you would like to attend.

If you are interested in singing the Mozart Requiem with the Palouse Choral Society and

Lewis-Clark State College Choirs in April, please let Sarah know. You could join the LCSC

choir for rehearsals on Tuesday nights from 6.30-8.30pm beginning January 17, 2017.

Gretchen’s ordination will be Saturday, March 18, 2017. Please stay tuned for information

regarding choir participation in the service.

THANKS TO THE CHOIR, ANNAMARIE, AND SARAH FOR OUR GLORIOUS MUSIC THIS CHRISTMAS!

TRANSITION NEWS

Thanks to all those who took the time to complete the CAT survey! The following ques-tions will be posted in the parish hall sometime holiday week, and will remain there until the profile committee members meet with fellow parishioners after services, beginning

January 15th.

1. What about your experience at Nativity inspires and satisfies you? And how?

2. What do you like about Nativity? What are Nativity's successes?

3. What are Nativity's challenges? Where is there room for improvement?

4. What are your hopes for Nativity's future?

5. What do you believe are the most important tasks/ministries of the next Priest?

(Those deemed priority during conversation with Robin include preaching, pastoral

care, leadership, teaching, liturgy, formation for all, and administration.)

Please consider these questions and feel free to give your feedback on the question sheets

in the parish hall, from the last week of December through January 15th, when we begin to discuss them together. If you would like to give feedback directly to a committee mem-ber, please contact Karen Schmidt, Nancy Rosch, Maggie Pierce, Rick Smith, or John Wil-

lows. More information to come, once we receive our CAT results.

Mary Heusinkveld 1st

Caryl Mackey 10th

Roberta Coats 13th

Gladys Huffman 17th

Richard Moore 17th

Charissa Graham 18th

Janet White 21st

Marsha Creason 27th

Debi Fitzgerald 30th

B I RT H DA Y S I N J A N UA RY

Page 5 Volume 2016, Issue 1

THE ALTAR GUILD

Our thanks to those who have donated

sanctuary candles.

Jan. 8 given by Gretchen in thanksgiving for

Nativity

Our thanks to those who have donated

flowers for the altar.

Jan. 8 given by Gretchen in thanksgiving for

Nativity

Currently we have only one week of flowers

and candled signed for. The 2017 signup sheets are out—please sign up not only for flow-

ers and candles but also coffee hour etc. Thanks!

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED FOR OUR

CRHISTMAS POINSETTIAS Joe and Merrily Lillard, Darrel and Rosemary Daubert, Tom and Karen Parkman in memory

of Jean Parkman, Dick and Mavis Ohms in thanksgiving for Gretchen and her faithful ser-

vice at The Church of the Nativity, Pat Johnson in memory of Lee Johnson, Marcu Johnson,

Phyl Lacy, Diane and Steve Kottkey in memory of Jean & Wally Crandall (Diana’s parents)

Muriel & Henry Kottkey & Bob Kottkey (Steve’s parents and brother), Karen Riddle in mem-

ory of Ray Riddle, Susan Gray in memory of her mother, Gretchen Rehberg in memory of

Wallace Rehberg, Annamarie Pearson in thanksgiving for her family,

Page 6 Volume 2017, Issue 1

JANUARY 2017

WEEKLY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Sunday: Eucharist - 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Bible Study/choir practice - 9:00 a.m.

Monday - Friday: Noon Day Prayer - 12:15 p.m.

Tuesday: Book Study - 9:00 a.m.

Food pantry open 8:45-noon.

Wednesday: Eucharist/M.P. - 7:00 a.m.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

The Holy Name

2

3 4

Vestry 6 pm

5 6 7

8

Gretchen’s last

Sunday!

9

Chancel Guild 1pm

10

Clinic food de-livery

11 12

13 14 men’s breakfast

Saturday Sup-per/Food Pantry

15

16 17

18

19

20 21

22

23

24 25

Salvation Army soup kitchen

26 27 28

Saturday Sup-per/Food Pantry

29

Annual Parish meeting

30

31

Page 7

SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY

Volume 2017, Issue 1

DATE Jan 1

Jan 8

Jan 15 Jan 22 Jan 29

Annual

meeting

8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM

Ushers Jerry Pierce No 8 am Don and Maxine

Hubbell John Willows No 8 am

EM Pete Ruppel go to the

10:30 John Willows Jess Stone Sleep in and

attend the

Lector John Willows Gretchen’s

Margaret Cole Frances Hedrick 10:30 service

and

POP Peggy Flowers Last Sunday Anne Rhoads Pete Ruppel Annual

meeting

10:30 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM

Greet-ers

Phyl Lacy and

Marcu John-

Rosemary

Daubert

Keegan and

Liam Schmidt

Nancy and Ray

Rosch

Don, Maxine

Hubbell

Ushers Noel Abbott

Rosemary

Daubert

Ray Rosch

and Caryl

Mackey

Marsha Creason

and Phyl Lacy

Bill and Debi

Fitzgerald

Cary Mackey

and Ray

Rosch

EM Mary Lou Gru-

ber Phyl Lacy Marcu Johnson Caryl Mackey Jerry Pierce

Lectors Pat Johnson

Ray Rosch

Madison Winn

Liam Schmidt

Harold Crook

Fran Caradine

Alicia Case

Ray Rosch

Toni Pierce

Marcu John-

son

POP Fran Caradine Mary Lou

Gregory Nancy Rosch Rosemary

Daubert

Mary Lou

Gregory

Altar

Guild

Johnette

Moore

Maxine Hub-

bell

Fran Caradine

Pat Johnson

Roberta Coats

Marilyn Harris

Marcu Johnson

Caryl Mackey

Rosemary-Daubert

Merrily Lillard

Karen Parkman

Susan Pearson

Debbie Riedle

Charissa Gra-

ham

Johnette

Moore

Maxine Hub-bell

Fran Carad-ine

Coffee Hour

Rose and Pat Potluck lunch Need help! Need help! Potluck

lunch

EPISCOPAL

CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY

731 8th Street

Lewiston, Idaho 83501

Office: 208-743-9121

office@nativitylewiston.com

Rectory 208-746-0268

Volume 2017, Issue 1 Page 8

Episcopal Church of the Nativity

us on Facebook!

FIND US ON THE WEB! CHURCH OF THE

NATIVITY

Wardens/Vestry

Rector

Rev’d. Gretchen Rehberg

Vestry

Dick McMillen, Sr. Warden

Joe Lillard, Jr. Warden

Pat Johnson, Treasurer

Rosemary Daubert, Clerk

Mary Lou Gruber

Richard Moore

Rose Mortensen

John Willows

Madison-Rose Winn

Gretchen’s last Sunday will be January 8th.

She will be off to new bishop orientation the following weekend, and then moving to Spo-

kane to start working for the Diocese when

she returns.

We will celebrate with one service only at 10:30 and have a potluck lunch to follow. Please

come!