FROM GRETCHEN’S PEN Sometimes I stare at a blank page and don’t know what to write. Sometimes I sit beside another person and don’t know what to say. Sometimes I read some news article and

don’t know what to think. Sometimes I sit in the pews and don’t know what to pray. In all those times, I have found that silence actually is ok. Letting go of my need to “know” -

to know what to write or know what to say or think or pray - to let go of the knowing and live into the unknown, sometimes that is the best thing I can do. To let go of the words and live into the silence, many times that is exactly what I need. We live in a world of

words and of a desire for certainty. It is hard to give up either, but I am convinced that at times we must give up both. We must give up speaking in order to listen. We must give up the idea that we “know” in order to learn new. Jesus invites us to “go away by a de-

serted place and pray” and this is partly what Lent is about; it is about “giving up in order to gain.” Giving up the idea that prayer is always something I know how to do, and learn-

ing to simply invite God to be with me in ways I cannot even imagine. Giving up always needing to speak my needs to God, learning that God knows my needs far better than I do. Giving up the need to offer quick words of comfort to another and instead learning to sit

with them in their own pain and sorrow and let it be. Silence, entering into the silence that is deep listening and “being with” is an important part of our Lenten learning. The

choir sings an anthem every so often that has the words “I believe in God even when God is silent.” I wonder how often God is silent because God is listening to us? Are we willing to be silent and listen to God? This month we are deeply into Lent. We will end the

month in Holy Week, the most sacred week of our year. In that week we enter deeply into the silence, and learn to hear the quiet. We learn to let go of the need for words and cer-tainty, and hold onto the only thing that in the end matters at all - holding on to the Love

which is God. May you this month embrace the silence and live into the Divine Love.

SUMMER SEMINARIANS

This summer, Nativity will be blessed to have two seminarians join us in our work. The seminarians are both students at the School of Theology at the University of the South. They will be here as part of an evangelism immersion experience, working with the parish

on normal parish ministries as well as working in the community and parish with evangel-ism. This is a fabulous opportunity for our parish and I am incredibly grateful to the ves-

try for agreeing to the financial support needed for the seminarians to be here. There will be more about this in the coming months.

CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY Volume 2015, Issue 3

THE MESSENGER

Gretchen

Page 2 Volume 2015, Issue 3

N A T I V I T Y ’S O U T R E A C H : FAMILY PROMISE As part of the transition that we will be experiencing when our Deacon, Anita Rognas, moves to Montana, we need to talk about the planning and organizing of, and our general participation in, Family Promise. There will

be a meeting for all who are interested on Sunday March 8th at 12 noon in the Library.

FOOD PANTRY The food pantry continues to be open each Tuesday morning and concurrently with Satur-day Suppers. We always need food donations and volunteers.

SATURDAY SUPPER We had 65 guests on January 24th and, on February 14th, Maxine Hubbell fixed chicken noodle soup and ham and beans over rice for 59 guests. Harold Crook will be cooking tur-

keys, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, peas, home-made bread, and pineapple upside down cake on February 28th. A big thank you to Mike Reidle, for doing a complete inven-tory of our Saturday Supper supplies, and to all who are volunteering to bring this meal

and food pantry to our community. ~ Rosemary Daubert, Saturday Supper Coordinator

SNAKE RIVER CLINIC The next delivery of finger-food, for approximately 15 workers at the clinic, will be Tues-day, March 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).

MARCH EVENTS MEN’S BREAKFAST

Hi Nativity Men! There will be a men's breakfast at Church of the Nativity on Saturday, March 14th, 9-10:30 AM. To increase diges-tion, Dr. Leif Hoffman (Assistant Professor of Political Science,

LCSC) will give a 30 minute talk about local politics, followed by an opportunity for questions. The breakfast will be in the undercroft, since a rummage sale

will be going on in the church hall (the undercroft is down the stairs on the SE corner of the church). It would help me to plan for food preparation if I had a rough idea of how many will be attending; so, if you please, call me at (208) 791-5333 or email me

at hdcrook@gmail.com. - Harold

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATION There are lots of activities and changes occurring at Nativity. In order to make sure that all members of the parish are fully informed and have a chance to ask questions about the parish, there will be a time of open congregational conversation on Sunday, March 15th at

5:30 p.m. in the parish hall. A light soup supper will be offered for this conversation time.

GATHERING DAY The gathering of the Southeast region of the Diocese will take place on Saturday, March

21st, here at Nativity from 9:30-3:30. This meeting will be a great one to attend, with teaching and discussion on Anglican Identity, parish mission and vision work, evangelism

and sharing our story. All are invited to be at the meeting and the vestry is expected to be there. Lunch is provided. Please speak to Gretchen if you have any questions.

Page 3 Page 3 Volume 2015, Issue 3

THE NATIVITY STORY: NATIVITY LOOKS TO THE 20TH CENTURY The turn of the century witnessed Lewiston growing, despite the fact

that the territorial capitol had been moved (some say “stolen”) south to Boise. By 1890, Idaho Territory had become the State of Idaho. The

city of Lewiston was expanding eastward and John Vollmer had helped Nativity to build out at 11th and F Streets instead of downtown between 4th/5th and D Streets. Then, in 1919-20, the sanctuary was moved up

to Normal Hill. Nativity’s priest Rev. David J. W. Somerville, 1904 - 1929, born in Ireland, taught at the Normal School, on Normal Hill, during his tenure at Nativity.

The national economic Panic of 1893, caused in part by the shaky financing of the rail-

roads, affected banking and the money supply nationally. In Lewiston, Nativity parishion-ers John Vollmer, William F Kettenbach, and J. D. Kester, among other entrepreneurs, saw an opportunity to speculate on local land and on the Camas Prairie1.

Lewiston remained a mining and commercial center and became a farming and logging

center after the opening of the Nez Perce Reservation land for settlement. For Lewiston to develop, there was a need for improved transportation to get timber and agricultural com-modities to market. In the 1890’s, Lewiston began building a railroad depot but, when it

was completed in 1895, there was still no train servicing the town. The depot was referred to as “the only railroad station in the country without a railroad.” The Camas Prairie Rail Road finally came into the city in 1898 and the line to Grangeville was completed in 1910.

John Vollmer took advantage of the train going up to the Prairie. He platted a town and

named it after himself, Ilo Vollmer, which is today’s Craigmont. He speculated on prairie and timber lands between Mason and Cottonwood Buttes. My father, Elmer Jungert, bought his farm and timber near Cottonwood Butte from John Vollmer in the second dec-

ade of the century. On a personal level, Lewiston families suffered from the rampant diseases of the late 19th

and early 20th centuries. Many of the gifts to Nativity Episcopal Church were given in memory of young children who died of these diseases. Mrs. Henriette Gustafson compiled

a catalog of gifts. The list appears on pages 25–28 of the Centennial Booklet.2 Last month, we cited the Nativity Window, the Kester windows, and the McConkey window. In addition, there is the Ann D. Jacobs window. Ann was the mother of Maj. Adolph Krout-

inger, a soldier who fought in the Nez Perce Indian War. The Wiggin Window was given in memory of two young sons, Albert and Charles. Lott Wiggin was one of Lewiston’s pio-

neers. The Butler window was given later. Nativity literally grew along with Lewiston in the 20th century, from that “Sheltered by a

Tree” site near the Clearwater, to 4th/5th Street, and finally building at 11th and F Street, to our present site at 8th and 8th. Nativity parishioners carried our symbolic Celtic cross along to its several locations. Note the cross in the Vollmer drawing on the next page.

Story continued on page 4

Page 4 Page 4 Volume 2015, Issue 3

THE NATIVITY STORY: continued

Photos and drawings shown from left to right: the 1894 photograph - shows no cross, but the 1894 drawing by Norman Vollmer does show a cross on the bell tower. The Centennial

photo of 1973 shows the cross as it is today, and today’s cross is visible from the street and from our secret garden. What is our Celtic Cross’ significance for us today? Legend tells us that the Celtic cross represents a circle (the sun) imposed on a Latin cross. The

Celtic tradition is one of the three foundations of our Episcopal Church - the others, Ro-man Catholicism and the Reformation. Both John D. McConkey (serving from 1881 to

1899) and D.W. J. Somerville (serving from 1904 to 1929) came to the United States from Ireland with Anglican backgrounds. “Celtic spirituality is deeply incarnational.”3 Both priests served here on the edge of the world, just as 5th century St. Patrick brought an in-

carnational Christianity to Ireland.4 Reverends McConkey and Sommerville must have seen Lewiston, Warren, and Mount Idaho as the edge of the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Coming: A look at the women of Nativity and their Episcopal hospitality to feed the body,

mind and spirit in the early years. End notes:

1 Branting, Steven D. Lost Lewiston Idaho, pp 76-78. There is an interesting story about land speculation by Kettenbach and Kester in Branting’s chapter titled ‘The Forest for the

Trees.’

2 Boren, Charles P. and Campbell, Thomas The Centennial Booklet, pp 25—28

3 DeWaal, Esther Every Earthly Blessing, p. 15 Praying is not separated from singing or working or any other aspect of life. Because of the way in which they saw their world they were ready to accept, enjoy, transform whatever lay at hand.

4 Cahill, Thomas. “Good News from Far Off “The First Missionary” How the Irish Saved Civilization Chapter IV. pp 101-119 Works cited:

Boren, Charles P. and Thomas W. Campbell. “The Mists of History.” The Centennial Book-let 1983

Branting, Steven Lost Lewiston Idaho History Press Charleston, SC 2014

Cahill, Thomas How The Irish Saved Civilization Anchor Doubleday New York 1995

DeWaal Esther Every Earthly Blessing: Rediscovering the Celtic Tradition Morehouse Pub-lishing reprinted 1999

~ Deloris Jungert Davisson and Margaret A. Cole, 2015

Page 5 Volume 2015, Issue 3

Barb Campbell 2nd

Nora Abbott 2nd

John Church 2nd

Bill Johnson 5th

Keegan Schmidt 6th

Joe Lillard 6th

Mavis Ohms 25th

CHANCEL GUILD

We had 8 present at our February 2nd meeting. Refreshments were groundhog-shaped cookies and ice cream with toppings. Nancy Rosch led devotions with readings from the

Upper Room devotional. Pat Johnson reported that we have $1,427.24 in our treas-ury. Caryl Mackey reported that she sent a card to Barb Campbell. She will be sending one to Sue Johnson, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. Valentine’s Day cards were

passed for signing for Joanne McCormack and Georgene Blakkolb. They are members of our guild, who are unable to make it to our meetings. Pat Johnson solicited soups for the

Lenten soup and study. We celebrated Pat Johnson’s birthday with prayer and song. Our next meeting is March 2nd, with Caryl Mackey and Raydene Willows as hosts.

MUSIC NOTES All good things must come to an end, and it is with great regret that we must announce

that Judy Croskey has decided that the time has come for her to retire. Judy will be with us through June 15th, and then will enter into the life of retirement. We will miss her! Judy has been part of this parish for 8 years and has contributed more than we can possi-

bly list for our music and worship. We will certainly be celebrating her time among us, but for now simply enjoy the music that Judy provides during the next several months.

B I RT H DA Y S I N MA RC H

Happy birthday!

Page 6 Volume 2015, Issue 3

MARCH 2015

WEEKLY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Sunday: Eucharist - 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Bible Study - 9:00 a.m. Study Hour - 12:00 p.m.

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

Tuesday: Book/DVD Study - 9:00 a.m. DVD Study - 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday: Eucharist - 7:00 a.m.

Thursday: Knitting Group - 10:00 AM

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2

Chancel Guild

3 Food pantry

open 8:45 am -

12 pm

4

Vestry meeting

5 11:45am Lenten Soup & Supper

Study

6 7

8 Food Basket

Sunday, Compline

7:00 pm

9

10 Snake

River Clinic

meal delivery

Food

Pantry

8:45-12 pm

11

12 11:45am Lenten

Soup & Supper

Study

13 14 Saturday Supper

4–5:30 pm, Food pantry

Open

15 Cong. Conv.

5:30, Compline

7:00 pm

16 17 Food

Pantry 8:45 am -

12 pm

18 19 11:45am Lenten

Soup & Supper

Study

20

21

Regional Gathering

Day

22

Compline 7:00 pm

23

24 Food pantry

open 8:45 am -

12 pm

25

Salvation Army Soup

Kitchen

26

27 28 Choir

9-10:30,

Saturday

Supper

4–5:30 pm,

Food pantry

29 PALM

SUNDAY Compline

7:00 pm

30

Evening prayer

7:00 pm

31

Evening prayer

7:00 pm

April 1 Vestry

5:30 pm, Tenebrae

7:00 pm

April 2

Maundy Thursday

7:00 pm

April 3

Good Friday

7:00 pm

April 4

Easter Vigil

7:00 pm

Page 7

SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR MARCH

Volume 2015, Issue 3

DATE March 1 Lent 2

March 8 Lent 3

March 15 Lent 4

March 22 Lent 5

March 29 Palm Sunday

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

Ushers Jerry Pierce Don and Maxine

Hubbell

Neal and Peggy

Flowers

John Willows Don and Maxine

Hubbell

LEM John Willows Jess Stone Pete Ruppel Maxine Hubbell Jerry Pierce

Lector Anne Rhoads Jerry Pierce Frances Hedrick Margaret Cole John Willows

POP Peggy Flowers Maxine Hubbell Anne Rhoads Pete Ruppel Margaret Cole

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

Greeters Nancy and Ray

Rosch

Rosemary Daubert

Keegan and Liam

Schmidt

Phyl Lacy Nancy and Ray

Rosch

Ushers Bill Caradine

Bill Fitzgerald

Ray Rosch Phyl Lacy

Rosemary

Daubert

Bill Caradine

Bill Fitzgerald

LEM Jerry Pierce Phyl Lacy Jerry Pierce John Willows Phyl Lacy

Lectors Pat Johnson

Ray Rosch

Rosemary

Daubert

Harold Crook

Fran Caradine

Thomas Pearson

Toni Pierce

Ray Rosch

Rosemary

Daubert

Harold Crook

POP Nancy Rosch Mary Lou

Gregory

Nancy Rosch Fran Caradine Toni Pierce

Altar Guild

Johnette Moore

Maxine Hubbell

Pat Chase

Pat Johnson

Roberta Coats

Caryl Mackey

Rosemary

Daubert

Karen Turner

Karen Parkman

Susan Pearson

Debbie Riedle

Fran Caradine

Johnette Moore

Maxine

Hubbell

Pat Chase

Coffee Hour

Harold Crook Need help! Johnette and

Richard Moore Need help! Rachel and Aidan

Walsh

Volume 2015, Issue 3 Page 8

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE MARCH 29 – APRIL 5 Palm Sunday, March 29

Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:30 A.M.

Monday, March 30

Evening Prayer 7:00 P.M.

Tuesday, March 31 Evening Prayer 7:00 P.M.

Wednesday, April 2 Tenebrae 7:00 P.M.

Maundy Thursday, April 2

Commemoration of the First Eucharist and the Maundy 7:00 P.M.

Good Friday, April 3 Proper liturgy of Good Friday 7:00 P.M.

Holy Saturday, April 4

Easter Vigil 7:00 P.M.

Easter Sunday, April 5 Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:30 A.M.

DURING LENT LENTEN SOUP AND STUDY PROGRAM The Normal Hill Churches’ Lenten Soup & Study Program continues this month, on Thurs-days. Lunch starts at 11:45 a.m., and the study program at 12:15 p.m. This year our

program is “the Passion of the Christ.” Please join us this Lent for soup and study!

COMPLINE Will be sung on Sundays at 7:00 p.m. throughout Lent.

LENTEN MEDITATIONS Sign up to receive daily Lenten mediations, via email, from the Episcopal Relief & Develop-ment organization at this site:

https://www.episcopalrelief.org/church-in-action/church-campaigns/lent

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE

NATIVITY 731 8th Street Lewiston, Idaho 83501 Office: 208-743-9121 office@nativitylewiston.com Rector: 208-746-0268 rector@nativitylewiston.com

Volume 2015, Issue 3 Page 9

FIND US ON THE WEB!

www.nativitylewiston.com

Episcopal Church of the Nativity

us on Facebook!

CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY

Wardens/Vestry Rector Rev’d. Gretchen Rehberg Vestry Diana Hughes, Sr. Warden Harold Crook, Jr. Warden Pat Johnson, Treasurer Dick McMillen, Clerk Ted Creason Harold Crook Rosemary Daubert Debi Fitzgerald Diana Hughes Richard Moore Cathlin Stewart

FROM THE ALTAR GUILD There are no flowers on the altar during Lent.

Our thanks to those who have donated sanctuary candles.

March 1 - Given by Rose Mortensen in thanksgiving for

grandchildren.

March 8 - Open

March 15 - Given by Fran Caradine in thanksgiving for fam-

ily.

March 22 - Given by Mavis & Dick Ohms in thanksgiving for

Mavis’s birthday.

March 29 - Given by Mary Lou Gregory in memory of Ila M.

Thomsen.