Our Commitment to Ministry:

We desire above all to glorify Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and to do the ministry He has called us to do. At Nativity, we are committed to expand our ministry to support our parish family and the surrounding community. We accomplish this through meaningful worship, growing together spiritually through sound doctrine and teaching, and a desire to share Christ with others and to serve through various volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Not-for-profit organizations rely on volunteers. Church of the Nativity is no exception. We thank those energetic humanitarians who give generously of their time to us. Our volunteers serve God and the church, and develop lasting friendships with fellow parishioners. There is a place and ministry for everyone: see the varied list of options below. If you have time to give, contact Deacon Ros or the office and ask how you can serve. Do you have a special ministry that your heart calls you to but you don’t see on our list, let us know!

Pastoral Care (Supporting Each Other in the Love of Christ):

Just as our physical bodies need health and support, so does the body of Christ. Through the ministries of Pastoral Care, we are involved in the support, fellowship, and care of the congregational body. Including:

• Acolytes / Ushers Greeters / Lay Readers
• Audio Visual Team
• Altar Guild
• Choir / Music
• Cleaning Crew: These volunteers from our congregation gather Thursday mornings to clean the church and the administration building. More volunteers are always welcome to make the work go faster. Email Bruce Simington to sign up or for more information.
• Daughters of the King
• Episcopal Church Women of Nativity
• Hospitality
• Men’s Conversation Group: meets every Friday morning at 6:15 a.m. in the church library. Please come and join in the “conversation.”
• Men of Nativity
• Prayer Groups, Prayer Chain & Secret Angel prayers
• Annual Blessing of the Pets

Evangelism (Introducing Christ):

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He left us with a mandate: Go and make disciples. That mandate calls us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, not only in words, but also in actions.

• Study courses (as scheduled)
• Bridging events – these connect us to the community:
  • July 4th Indoor Picnic, Family BBQ night, Fish Fry, Pancake Supper, etc.
  • Stations of the Cross
  • Annual Flower Festival
  • Fall Craft Fair
  • And More…

Christian Formation (Growth in Christ):

We believe it is important to grow in our faith. We learn and grow by studying God’s Word and by supporting each other’s walk with Him. Nativity has several ministries to support our growth and walk with Christ, including:

• Bible Studies:
  • Spirit-Filled Bible Study: Fridays at 10:00 am
• Adult Sunday School: Along with the traditional services, there is adult education every Sunday at 9 am. Throughout the year, special learning experiences are also offered, particularly during Lent. Watch the bulletin for more information.
• Cursillo
• Wednesday Night Study (when scheduled)

Outreach (Assisting Others in the Support of Christ):

We at Church of the Nativity believe in reaching out and helping others.

• School Outreach – We provide backpacks, writing materials, notebooks, hygiene items, and other needed materials for nearby elementary schools. Several of our member participate in The Good News Club, which provides after-school Christian education at local elementary schools.
• Operation Christmas Child – a ministry to put together and pack Christmas boxes that are distributed all over the world. Church of the Nativity also serves as a collection center for the boxes provided by area churches.
• Miles of Pennies in the red basket outside the parish hall, we collect pennies to support Miles of Pennies grants. The grants serve the needs of children around the world, from birth through high school, wherever there is a need for books or written materials of any kind.
• Kairos Prison Ministry
• Food Bank & Food Pantry: Nativity partners with All Faiths Food Bank to feed those who are in need. Last year we collected over 2500 pounds of non-perishable food.  A donation bin is located just inside the Narthax.  Please bring your donations  and All Faiths Food Bank will do the rest.
• Meals on Wheels Daycare: Join others from the church who volunteer at Meals on Wheels Day Care in Bradenton. We are seeking donations of small, fun gifts for bingo winners at the day care; a collection box is in the narthex. Contact Nicki Coffaro (nicki.coffaro@gmail.com) for more information.
• “Sunday Undies” is a project in collaboration with Resurrection House delivering much-needed clothing items to the homeless.
• Food Bank and Food Pantry – supporting and feeding those who are hungry

And…we are always looking for more volunteer opportunities, led by God’s Spirit.