St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Beacon Harbor

On Sunday, March 17th, our youth group will meet for lunch after the 10:30 service. Following lunch, they'll head out and put together a St. Patrick's Day celebration their friends at Beacon Harbor.

Last month, we had a huge turnout for the Mardi Gras celebration - so much that we were over capacity for the space.

This month, Beacon Harbor has asked that we bring just EYC members and designated adult volunteers. For this reason, the scheduled parade has been canceled.

In the future, we look forward to hosting our Beacon Harbor friends at our space where we have more room!

Youth Mission Opportunities

As followers of Christ, we are called to go out into the world and serve. So, EYC is looking to find opportunities to do just that, including a few mission trips. Well, maybe one mission trip and one local mission to show that mission can take place here at home and away. Just like the idea that our neighbors are those who live next door and in the next state.

Here soon, we will look for mission opportunities here in Greenwood. With the help of Brantley Snipes, EYC will find a project that would be beneficial to our neighbors in Greenwood. We are also looking to join a Diocesan mission trip to help our neighbors in Florida with Hurricane relief. This trip, most likely, will take place in late July. Wherever we look, we should be able to find a way to serve.

Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper

On Tuesday, March 5 at 5:30pm, we’ll finish off the celebratory season of Epiphany with a beloved Nativity tradition and one last party. We’ll have crafts for the kids, pancakes and sausage for all ages, and Carnival music on the speakers. As we begin to wind down, Peter will lead a short Mardi Gras parade into the church as we bury our Alleluias for the season of Lent. We’ll bring them back out at Easter!

Christmas Pageant Rehearsals and Performance

Nativity’s annual Christmas pageant is Sunday, December 9 at 5pm. As we approach the big day, all the components of this tradition are rapidly coming together with final rehearsals. Read on to see which part applies to you and your little ones:

EYC (6th-12th Grade): After our normal 5pm dinner, we will have a dress rehearsal at 5:30pm during our regular youth group time Sunday, December 2. Peter will be present this evening as we put the finishing touches on the program. Sunday, December 9, we will have another run-through at 3pm with an early dinner in between that practice and the performance itself.

Youth Choir (4K-5th Grade): Our young singers are sounding really great, and there are a lot of them this year! They will rehearse with David, Cyndi, and Beverly on December 2nd and 9th following the 10:30 service and lunch. On the evening of the pageant, youth choir should arrive by 4:30pm to get fitted for robes.

Littlest Angels (2-4 years): If your pre-schooler walker is ready to join the heavenly host, you can help them get comfortable with the role by participating in the dress rehearsal at 5:30pm on Sunday, December 2. Parents will help get the kids into costume and then help Julia Harris and Nancy Johnson usher them down the aisle when their cue comes.

Episcopal Church Women: As always, the ladies of Nativity will put on a reception following the performance. If you are bringing cookies or some other snack, please have them to the church by 4:30pm on the 9th.

Halloween Carnival, Chili Cookoff and Honoring Steve Iwanski

Mark your calendars for October 24 at 5:30 pm, and start testing recipes for this great annual event! It’s been a few years since anyone was able to knock Josh Fair off the winner’s pedestal. Maybe this year it will be you! While the adults taste chili and cast their votes, kids from 5th grade on down are treated to a Halloween carnival put on by our 6th-12th grade youth group.

This year’s event will also be an opportunity for us to honor and give thanks for Steve Iwanski, who has served as Nativity’s youth minister for more than four years now. Steve and Sarah aren’t going anywhere, of course, but this season of ministry for Steve is now coming to a close. 

In recent months, Steve has been helping Phillip Parker make the transition as our clergy associate for youth ministry. Join us not only to enjoy fellowship, to compete, but most especially, to show our appreciation to Steve for all that he has meant to us and to our kids these last four years.

Youth Group Update

The EYC had a great September as we participated in several outreach activities. These included our first trip to Beacon Harbor and the Greenwood Canned Food Drive. When we were not participating in outreach, we were taking time to reflect on “who God has called us to be.”

We are taking time over the next several weeks to ask the question, “who am I?” We have started by looking at our relationships with each other, with our friends, and with our families. We have spent time exploring our “likes” and “dislikes” and our “hopes.” We will continue this exploration of “who am I?” over the next several weeks by exploring our Christian identity.

The EYC will help with the Blessing of the Animals on October 7th. Please bring a pet and enjoy this fun-filled, Spirit-led service. We have heard that we could have pet pigs here to be blessed! After the Pet Blessing, EYC will stay to enjoy a meal and game.

EYC will host a Halloween themed party for Beacon Harbor on October 21. Our September visit meant so much to the residents of Beacon Harbor that we are still hearing from them about it. To say that they are excited about the Halloween Party would be an understatement! The plan is to have cupcakes, candy corn, and punch while we listen and dance Halloween themed music. We will also decorate pumpkins and make paper Halloween masks. This should be a wonderful time as we continue to nurture these relationships.

Youth Group

All Nativity youth and friends grades 6-12 are invited to our first Sunday evening gathering of the new school year on Sunday, August 19. Join us for dinner at 5 pm and programming with Phillip, Brantley, and others at 5:30 pm. We'll play games, we'll get to know more about Phillip and how he found his way to Nativity, and we'll close with prayer as always. The EYC is always in need of adults willing to provide dinner. If you can help feed our youth, sign up for a spot on the sheet in the church kitchen.

1-Day Youth Mission Trip

Nativity youth grades 6-12 will join the youth of St. James' Episcopal Church for a day of outreach work at Delta Streets Academy. We'll gather at 8:45am in the Nativity parking lot and then Phillip Parker and Steve Iwanski will travel with the kids over to the new Delta Streets location downtown and help staff, students, and families prepare the new building for the new school year. The day concludes with worship. Bring a little money for lunch downtown.

Nativity Easter Egg Hunt and Ice Cream Social

Saturday, March 30, our youth group will hide eggs all over Nativity for the benefit of our
pre-school and elementary aged children. And, because candy isn't enough sugar, we'll also
be feeding them ice cream! With toppings! But before we do all this, we'll need to recover our “Alleluia!” banner so that our celebration of the resurrection can begin! The fun begins at 3pm. EYC kids check with Steve on when to report to make preparations.

New Service Opportunity for 5th-8th Grade Youth

For the Spring of 2018, we are creating a new service opportunity for our 5th-8th grade youth on Sunday mornings at 9:30am. Instead of Sunday School, these members of our church will be invited to assist with our youngest Godly Play classroom. As our 3k-5k Godly Play teachers can attest, we have lots of energy to manage in that room! Before assisting, youth will be invited to attend a brief training with our Godly Play teachers so that they can understand the particular format of the program and how they can be helpful. After attending the training, these youth will be scheduled as helpers just as adult teachers are. Our hope is that their participation will continue to nurture a spirit of service in our youth while also exposing them to the rich biblical teaching of Godly Play.