John Baker testifies that faithfulness is generational. "My dad was pretty regular [in church attendance]," recalls John. He raised John with lots of church, including nuns at school. But at 17, John left home and did not go back to church until right before he got married. "At 26, my father gave me a copy of the Good News Bible, and I read it everyday, but I still didn't go to church." Then John started praying for some normalcy in his life -- a wife, a house, kids. "I prayed and prayed. Once I finally started letting God take control of my life he gave me a wife and then a couple of months later, a house and, within a year, my son, Jack."

Still, it wasn't until his son was in Religious Education, getting ready for First Communion, that John really came back to church. That was five years ago. "I sat in the back seat after I dropped Jack off at Religious Education. Every week the Pastor's messages would hit me so hard. It was like he was picking me up right out of my seat and carrying me with him. After one message about forgiveness I was in tears. I had to say something to him. After Mass I went up and said, 'You saved my marriage.'"

At that point John knew he was in the right place. "It's an amazing story because from where I came from I could never imagine I would be in church. This was a place where you could wake up and feel something." He invited his neighbors, his friends, and he invited his dad. His dad had stopped going to church and John brought him to Nativity. John serves in the Creative Tech Ministry. His father serves in the All Stars Ministry.

Jack reads his Bible everyday like his father and his grandfather. He prays everyday. He loves church and is extremely attentive. During the Dangerous Church series, when the Pastor told everyone to read the Acts of the Apostles, Jack read Acts. John says, "With my own son I find every opportunity I can to plant a seed. I learned it from my dad and I do it with my son. It's the little planting of little seeds."

The summertime is an important time for ministers to rest. As you know, we drive pretty hard during the school year in order to create amazing environments for adults and kids. In order to bring that intensity to the peak seasons, we want you to rest in the summer. Ministry leaders will intentionally schedule in a big break during the quiet months so that everyone can come back renewed in September, not exhausted! The ministry newsletter will also take a break until August.

Even if you don't feel tired, planned times of rest are vital to healthy ministry. We have a lot in store for Fall 2010 -- including creative new ways to accommodate more guests and extend the irresistible environment throughout all our weekend services. Enjoy the break while you can!

Once a month Nativity supplies one meal for all the guests at Our Daily Bread. During the summer months when we're out of our usual rhythms, don't forget about the hungry. The recipe is so easy that even kids can help.

Your family can pitch in by asking for a recipe and a pan at the Information Desk. Make the Zippy Beef Casserole at home; freeze it and then bring it back to the Information Desk during any of our weekend Masses. We will keep it frozen and then volunteers will deliver all the casseroles to Our Daily Bread on the first Saturday of the month.

This summer we would like to build our staff team from the talent within the volunteer staff. If you are committed to our vision & purpose and feel you would be a good addition to our Pastoral Team, let us know! Contact Maria Folsom-Kovarik, Director of Adult Ministry: mkovarik@churchnativity.org.

We would like to hire a Coordinator of Live Presentation (or "Producer" for the weekend service) and a House Manager for the Hospitality and Facilities Ministries. We will be happy to give you more details about the positions and discussing with you if you'd be a good fit.

Wayne Jung left a bunch of churches before he came to Nativity. His testimony tells a lot about reaching Timonium Tim. "My family loves the place," he said. "Not one time -- not even once -- have my kids ever said they didn't want to go to church." Wayne loves his family, so he is motivated to bring his kids to places they love and that are good for them. By loving Wayne's kids we put him at ease. "Everybody's friendly. Nativity has a different approach: they want people to be there. I felt comfortable; coming into a lot of churches I didn't feel comfortable."

But even if we take the kids out of the equation for a minute, Wayne himself could engage at Nativity. He started out watching the Mass from Café Vista. Coffee in hand, he would listen to the message. "They were talking to me, not down to me. That was the biggest hook: They were talking to me on my level."

It wasn't much longer before Wayne was serving at Nativity. He serves in Kidzone where we love to have men serve. "It's interesting," says Wayne. "The little boys watch me to see if I participate. I not much of a theatrical guy, but when it's time to sing and wave our hands, I notice their eyes on me. The boys look, 'I see what the ladies are teaching me to do and the all the girls are doing it,' but they look to see if I'm doing it." Wayne is helping raise up men who love God and worship in his Church.

FOR NEW MINISTERS
New Minister Orientation This introduction for all new ministers will resume on August 18, 2010.

Access Point All ministers must be members of Church of the Nativity before attending Orientation. The next Access Point session to join the church is Sunday, August 8 at 3:30 PM.

MESSAGE SERIES
Creed A new series that will take a closer look at our statement of belief and what that says about how we live.

CHURCHWIDE EVENTS
Summer Schedule. Starting this weekend, the 4:00pm Sunday Mass is taking a break for the summer. Also Time Travelers will not be held on Saturdays. Both will resume September 11-12, the weekend after Labor Day.