Nativity Blog Archives

Save the date for Vacation Bible School, July 19 – 23! We’re excited to partner once again with North Raleigh Presbyterian Church for a great week of faith and fun. VBS will be held on their campus this year. Mark your calendars now and watch for the theme and registration details coming soon. We look forward to another wonderful week together!

Children from our littlest ones through 5th grade are invited to an Easter Egg Hunt immediately following the 10:30 am service on Easter Sunday morning. Please have your child bring a basket and meet in front of the Narthex after worship. Wait for Jeremy’s signal before the hunt begins under the big oak tree. We look forward to seeing you there.

Do you love fresh produce, supporting local farmers, and Saturday mornings? We’re seeking a volunteer to coordinate our Black Farmers CSA deliveries (April–October). This partnership provides pesticide-free produce while supporting African-American farmers with reliable income; helping grow lasting legacies and right historic inequities. Responsibilities include communicating with farmers about seasonal details, updating Nativity members about pick-ups, and coordinating Saturday drop-offs (either attending or organizing SignUp Genius volunteers). Interested? Let us… Read more: Volunteer Coordinator Needed for Black Farmers CSA

Shhh… our annual Easter special mission is underway! Our high-school youth will have the eggs prefilled and ready, but we need a cheerful crew to hide them before the 10:30 service begins on Easter morning. We’re also looking for one kind-hearted coordinator to guide the fun. After the service, a few helpers are also needed to assist little hunters, bag up the candy, and collect the eggs for next year.… Read more: Volunteers needed for Easter Egg Team

Be part of our team on Saturday, March 28 at Olde Poole Place as we partner with Habitat for Humanity! We need 15 volunteers to work on the house and helpers to provide lunch for 40 people. No experience is needed – core volunteers will guide us. Youth 16+ may participate with a parent. It’s a wonderful opportunity for learning, fellowship, and building beloved community. You can register here, just… Read more: Habitat for Humanity Build Day on Saturday, March 28

Happy March, Seniors! We’re gathering for our March Senior Luncheon on Sunday, March 15, 12 pm, at The Piper’s Tavern (8304 Falls of Neuse Rd., Raleigh 27615). David and Ellen Nason are our gracious hosts. Please give them a call or send an email to let them know you’re coming so we can plan accordingly. We look forward to good food and great fellowship!

Lent calls us to center our lives on Christ. As Nativity looks toward the next 40 years, how do we keep Jesus as the ONE THING? Join us March 4, March 11 and March 18 (on Zoom at 7 pm) and March 25 (in-person potluck) for prayerful, forward-looking conversation. We’ll celebrate our past, explore the future of the Episcopal Church with Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers on March 18, and gather… Read more: Wednesdays in Lent: The Next 40 Years

By Ailsa Tessier If you need some quiet or meditative time in any season, I invite you to reflect and meditate on all the works of art here at Nativity. Let’s look at some of the art we are fortunate to enjoy in our parish. Probably the most prominent art we see are the many lovely works created by former parishioner Doug Smith. Doug designed and created our altar, the… Read more: Invitation to reflect and meditate on all the works of art at Nativity

From June 16 – 21, our high school students will travel to Richmond and Williamsburg, VA for a week-long pilgrimage into the story of The Episcopal Church. We’ll step into the moments when our Church wrestled with big questions, shaped its identity, and found new direction. We’ll worship together, serve alongside local communities, have a lot of fun, and make memories that last. This is more than a history trip;… Read more: Registration Open for Youth Pilgrimage 2026: Roots & Renewal

Join us in Corlett Hall on Sunday, March 22, following the 10:30 service, for an intergenerational postcard-writing event in support of Advocacy Day 2026. Nativity members of all ages are invited to write, draw, and share their voices on issues that matter most, including Climate Care, Affordable Housing, and Gun Violence, an urgent concern voiced by our youth. Snacks, art supplies, and postcards will be provided. Your handwritten message or… Read more: Together We Speak: Advocacy Day Postcards – Sunday, March 22, following the 10:30 service

Spring is almost here, and that means it’s time for our Church of the Nativity Spring Workday! Join us on Saturday, March 14 from 9 am–2 pm as we care for our church home together. We’ll be working on projects inside and out including gardening, regular maintenance, cleaning, organizing, and more. There’s something for every skill level, and many hands make light (and joyful!) work. Come for part of the… Read more: Buildings and Grounds Spring Workday – Saturday, March 14 from 9 am – 2 pm

Join us for our next Stand Up, Speak Out gathering on Sunday, February 22, following the 10:30 service. As we begin the season of Lent, we’ll take time to touch base, reconnect, and look ahead to the many meaningful opportunities coming up. There’s a lot on the horizon, and we’d love for you to be part of the conversation. Bring a snack to share and come ready for thoughtful discussion… Read more: Stand Up Speak Out (SUSO) Meeting

The youth, working alongside Randy Smith, will assemble Blessing Bags for the homeless during Lent this year. These bags will be available for pickup on Palm Sunday, March 29, after each service, so that you can share them during Holy Week. If you would like to contribute, items can be purchased through our Amazon Wishlist. We provide this for convenience, but you are absolutely welcome to purchase items elsewhere as… Read more: Holy Week Blessing Bags

What hopes and dreams do you have for Nativity? Share a message with future members by writing on the special acid-free paper in the Narthex using the pens provided. Your note will be placed in our time capsule and opened 40 years from now! The display will remain in the Narthex through the end of February. Watch for details about the Time Capsule burial after the Lenten season. And don’t… Read more: Talk to the Future

Looking to make new connections or reconnect at Church of the Nativity? Foyer groups are a fun way to share a meal and good conversation in a relaxed setting. Groups of 4-5 gather monthly and cook, host, or order in! Families are welcome to join through Family Foyer if there’s enough interest. Email Gail Till to sign up. Group assignments will be shared the last week of February.

StoryBuilders is a devising summer theater camp for rising 3rd–9th graders, offered in partnership by Nativity and The Justice Theatre Project. The two-week camp runs the weeks of July 27 and August 3. Campers work in age-based groups to create an original stage performance inspired by texts from Nativity’s Peace Library, developing characters and scenes with guidance from teaching artists. The cost is $285 per week, and scholarships are available.… Read more: StoryBuilders Theatre Camp

Delve into Hell Bent by Brian Recker during our Lenten book study, as we explore Christian spirituality, community, and the nature of God’s love. The group will meet Tuesdays, February 24–March 24, from 1–2 pm in the Estill House Conference Room, just following the Lenten Tuesday Eucharist. The study will be offered in a hybrid format, with a Zoom option available. Please register to indicate your preference and to receive… Read more: Hell Bent Lenten Book Study

Episcopal 101 is a three-week Sunday-morning class for newcomers, visitors, seekers, and anyone who wants to learn more about what it means to be an Episcopalian, covering our history, beliefs, and practices. The class meets Sundays, February 22–March 8, from 9:30–10:20 am, in the Estill House Conference Room and will be led by The Rev. Grey Maggiano. Please register to indicate your interest and help with planning.

Lent Madness is a Lenten devotion that invites participants to learn about the saints through a fun, tournament-style bracket. Brackets will be available in the Narthex beginning Sunday, February 8, or you can print your own. Voting at Nativity begins Monday, February 23, with 10 e-mail ballots across the season of Lent to determine Nativity’s choice for the Golden Halo. If you want even more fun, take part in the… Read more: Get Ready for Lent Madness!

Lenten devotionals are now available for pick up in the Narthex. Choose from four titles: Pick up yours today!

Nativity has been invited to once again participate in the Annual Friendship Iftar Dinner at the Divan Center (1076 W Chatham St, Cary, NC 27513) on Thursday, February 26, at 6 pm. This special evening is an opportunity to share in the spirit of Ramadan, enjoy a meal with our neighbors, and celebrate unity in diversity. Space is limited, so please register soon. Join us as we gather to learn… Read more: Ramadan Friendship Dinner

Have you ever rung handbells? Our handbell choir has one or two openings, and we’d love to welcome new ringers. If you have any experience with handbells or are comfortable reading music, you might be a great fit for our group. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings and have a lot of fun making music together. Interested or curious to learn more? Please reach out to Ailsa Tessier by email or… Read more: Handbell Ringers Wanted

Abukloi The mission of the Abukloi Foundation is to develop a new generation of peaceful leaders in South Sudan through excellence in education and economic and community development. Read more: https://www.abukloi.org/ Episcopal Farmworker Ministry Serves agricultural workers (chiefly crop field workers and meat processing plant workers) and their families across Eastern rural NC. Read more: https://www.efwm.org/ Episcopal Relief and Development Partners with faith and community leaders to advance lasting change… Read more: 2025 Day Of Giving

Church and money. Talking about it makes many of us uncomfortable, but the fact remains that the church as we know it requires more than prayers to function. Gail Christensen shared her reasons why giving to the church is as important to our spiritual lives as it is to the church’s finances. Skin in the game: A term coined by renowned investor Warren Buffett to refer to the situation in… Read more: Stewardship Moment: Skin in the Game

But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24). He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.   And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy  and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8). Do your little of bit of good where you are; it’s these little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world (Archbishop Desmond Tutu). I… Read more: Justice for All God’s Creation

As clergy, there is one question I dislike perhaps more than any other. It is not “Are you allowed to swear?” or “You can be a priest and be married?” or even “What’s it like to only work one day a week?” The question that is the hardest for me to answer is “So what do I call you?”  Because the honest answer is – I don’t know. Father Grey, Reverend Grey, Pastor… Read more: What’s in a Name? (Or a Title?)

George Black is currently an Ordinand for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church. He holds a Master’s of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary, with aspirations of serving as a full-time prison and school chaplain. He will be helping out part time at Church of the Nativity serving as Curate. Most recently, George served as a Venture Manager of Collab, a community-centered accelerator for Connecticut entrepreneurs and project builders. Before Collab,… Read more: Welcoming George Black to Church of the Nativity

After a thorough search process, it is my pleasure to announce we have called our next Organist and Choirmaster, Christian Schoen, to serve at Nativity.  We had many qualified candidates, and it was a difficult decision but ultimately Christian’s deep connection to the Episcopal Church, his passion for involving children in worship and music, and his excellent track record in the Church made him a perfect fit for Nativity.   He… Read more: Announcing our new Organist and Choirmaster

Join us on Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 11 am – 3 pm for Springfest! Meet new neighbors, join in on activities and games for everyone, and enjoy free food. This is a great opportunity to meet and grow as a community.Help us spread the word and don’t forget to add it to your calendar.Looking forward to seeing you at the Church grounds to enjoy the warmer season!

SUNDAY MORNING CLASS, 9:30 – 10:20 am May 4 – June 15 Come and meet the remarkable women of the New Testament—those who followed Jesus, were healed by him, supported his ministry, and helped spread the good news. Some names are familiar: Mary the mother of Jesus, Elizabeth, Mary Magdalene, Martha and Mary of Bethany. Others, like Joanna, Prisca, Susanna, and Eunice, may be less known—but all played meaningful roles… Read more: Adult Formation: Women of the New Testament

Church of the Nativity seeks an Organist/Choirmaster who appreciates the full breadth and depth of musical expression within the Episcopal Church. Our successful music program is rooted in The Hymnal 1982, but we seek to expand our musical expression using newer resources such as the LEVAS II hymnal, Wonder, Love and Praise, and Voices Found. We also will prioritize applicants who have familiarity with new composers, and who are comfortable… Read more: Organist / Choirmaster Job Description

Where Every Child is a Star: A Summer Theater Camp Rooted in Story, Justice, and Creativity This summer, something special is taking shape at the intersection of imagination and community. The Justice Theater Project, in partnership with Church of the Nativity, is now accepting registrations for its 2025 Youth Summer Theater Camp, a weeklong theatrical journey for students entering grades 3 through 9. From August 4–8, children won’t just learn… Read more: Youth Summer Theater Camp

Easter lilies have been used for many centuries as symbols of purity and immortality. The lily’s growth cycle from a bulb in the ground to a tall and stately white flower parallels Jesus’s death and resurrection, with the trumpet shape of the flower reminding us that Jesus has risen. At Easter they are often placed in Memorial Gardens and given as gifts to represent purity, renewal and the hope of… Read more: Easter Lilies in the Memorial Garden

And when they arrive before the Cross the daylight is already growing bright. There the passage from the Gospel is read where the Lord is brought before Pilate, with everything that is written concerning that which Pilate spoke to the Lord or to the Jews; the whole is read.And afterwards the bishop addresses the people, comforting them for that they have toiled all night and are about to toil during… Read more: Holy Week Reflection

One of the definitions of the word pastoral’ is “…the work and concern of the shepherd for his sheep.” At Nativity, pastoral care is concern for parishioners and their lives in good times and hard times. Our pastoral care team comprises The Rev. Grey Maggiano, George Douglas, Megan Douglas, Viola Baldwin, Jo Dykes, and Ailsa Tessier, as equal partners in this work. When someone experiences a loss or requests prayers,… Read more: Pastoral Care at Nativity

In January, the 2025 Vestry met to do some team building and strategic brainstorming for the direction of The Church of the Nativity. One of the items we identified was a desire to provide more opportunities for our parish community to connect with and support our surrounding community in a more personal and hands-on way.  If you were present for Grey’s sermon on January 26  (and, if you weren’t, you… Read more: Friends & Family Day

by Lillis Ward and Beth Crow The Church of the Nativity identifies itself as a community that cares for each other and for the larger society. This was so well demonstrated during this year’s Week and Day of Giving. The spirit of the season could be felt throughout Estill House this past Sunday through the conversations with outreach representatives, the amazement over the many beautiful homemade items, and of course… Read more: Week & Day of Giving a Resounding Success

by Lillis Ward and Beth Crow Mark your calendar for December 8 — that is our annual Day of Giving event. It will be held in Corlett Hall beginning at 9:15 am and lasting until around 12:30 pm. We have 15 nonprofit groups in Raleigh planning to be present with displays. The week of December 1–8 is our Week of Giving, introducing all these ministries with directions for making donations.… Read more: Day of Giving is almost here!

Since 2021, Nativity’s Chatty Yarn group has been participating in the “Foster Care to Success,”  Red Scarf project which supports young adult students after they have aged out of the foster care system. This year’s crop of 29 beautiful, unique, red scarves, blessed by Grey, will be sent out this month. Twice a year, Foster Care to Success sends out, in their Care Packages Program, boxes of goodies to students… Read more: Chatty Yarns Red Scarves

Presenting the candidates for the 2025 Vestry. We will vote on these candidates during the annual meeting November 17 at 9:30 am in the Nave.

Fall has arrived  which means planning for this year’s Week/Day of Giving has begun. Week/Day of Giving is an annual event at our church during which parishioners can learn about some of the many ministries supported by members of the church and the Outreach Team.  It also provides an opportunity for members of the church to contribute to these organizations. This year’s online Week of Giving starts on December 1… Read more: Day of Giving 2024

by Perry Suk If you’re like me, the beginning of fall brings to mind colorful leaves, cozy sweaters, and Church of the Nativity’s Annual Meeting! This year, the meeting will be held on November 17, which is less than two months away. Right now is a great time to begin a personal discernment about becoming a Vestry member, as applicants will be elected at the annual meeting. This is a… Read more: Invitation to Join the Vestry

by Becky Christian “When your worlds begin to collide it’s a sign that you’re going down the right path.” That’s how Rector Grey Maggiano explained his call to the ministry, which came after his experiences as varied as leading an international effort Afghanistan for the U.S. Department of State, gaining over ten years’ experience working with Latino congregations in Miami, and speaking about the moral responsibility around climate change, reparations… Read more: Interview with Grey

Are you concerned about your child’s screen time? Do you wonder how social media, video games, or online content might be affecting their development? If you’re the parent of a K-8th grader, this free workshop is for you! North Raleigh Presbyterian Church and Church of the Nativity are partnering to host a ScreenStrong Workshop on Monday, October 21, from 6 pm to 8 pm, designed to help you confidently navigate… Read more: ScreenStrong Workshop: Kids’ Brains & Screens

You are invited to embark on a unique pilgrimage through Scotland and England in 2025 as we explore early Celtic Christianity and the lives of three major saints Aidan, Bede, and Cuthbert, along with other influential saints and figures who shaped the early church in England. Organized in collaboration with EF Go Ahead Tours, this journey combines spiritual exploration, historical insights, and the stunning beauty of the British Isles. Our… Read more: Pilgrimage 2025: The ABCs of Celtic Christianity

Nativity has a long history of  handbell choirs – we’ve been playing for  more than 25 years. Though you haven’t seen us lately, we’ve missed our beloved bells. Since Covid, the ringers have been on hiatus and have struggled to regroup since the pandemic ended. We will soon begin again! During September we will be recruiting new members to join our current ringers. Handbell ringing experience is not required, but… Read more: Handbells are Back

by The Rev. Stephanie Yancy and The Rev. Dr. Cathy Deats Dear Nativity Friends, It’s been so much fun to be with you these past eight months as your interim co-rectors. We have watched as you continued to be church without missing a beat. Your always meaningful worship and faithful service to the community have inspired us. Your openness to new things has made it easy for us to fit in… Read more: Farewell Letter from our Co-interim Rectors

Are your housing costs affordable? In January this year, the US Department of Housing & Urban Development defined affordable housing as housing costs, including utilities, that do not exceed 30% of an occupant’s gross income. Currently, over 56,000 working households in Wake County cannot afford housing. This crisis affects long-time residents, firefighters, teachers, and police officers. Historic Black neighborhoods are particularly hard-hit by gentrification and displacement. For instance, downtown Raleigh… Read more: ONE Wake: Affordable Housing Petition

by Viola Baldwin One of Church of the Nativity’s ministries is working at the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle once a month. We gather in the warehouse and pack approximately 100 bags with a menu established by the staff of the Food Shuttle. We then deliver the bags to three sites by going door to door in a senior living facility. The residents are very appreciative of the food and the deliverer—we… Read more: Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Volunteers Needed

Cuyler O’Connor, Deacon at El Buen Pastor, has reached out to Nativity to ask for help in collecting school supplies for their children in Durham. Please consider contributing to this effort. Collection boxes can be found in the Narthex as well as in Estill House through August 8th. If a digital option is better for you, you can place an order through Amazon Wish List: El Buen Pastor School Supplies .  Needed… Read more: School Supplies Collection for El Buen Pastor