SCHOLA
This is a select, ten-voice choir that leads the liturgies of Good Friday, Easter Vigil, some Holy Days and other special times of the year. The Schola sings a capella much of the time. An audition and strong musical skills are needed.

ALTAR SERVER
Boys and girls from the fifth grade on and all adult men and women may participate in this liturgical ministry by assisting the priest as Altar Servers. Special training sessions are required, and ministry is scheduled on a rotating basis.

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION (EMHC)
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist the priest in distributing Holy Communion to the members of the assembly during Mass.  Ministers are required to be living witness to Catholic teachings.  This ministry is by invitation of the Pastor, but you may express your desire to serve.  Diocesan and parish training are both required for this ministry and ongoing formation is necessary to maintain certification.

HONOR FAMILY
As a special part of the weekend celebration of the Eucharist at Nativity Church, families and individuals are invited to participate by bringing the gifts to the Altar during the Preparation of the Gifts at Mass. This is an opportunity for your family to become a more active part of the Nativity spiritual community.

LECTOR
Parish members who enjoy public speaking assist with community worship by proclaiming the Word of God during weekly Masses. This ministry is a sign of God's presence in our world. After attending a training session, Lectors assist the Nativity spiritual family by studying and practicing their readings, and proclaiming the Word of God at their scheduled Mass.

MINISTER OF HOSPITALITY
Along with the responsibility of gathering our gifts to God during the Eucharistic Celebration, these ministers have the pleasure and the opportunity to greet and share fellowship with our spiritual family as they enter church for Mass each week.

PLANT CARE/MAINTENANCE
The primary responsibility of these ministers is to maintain the plants in church and enhance the interior of church.  Special care and attention is given to plants at the main and side altars, the sanctuary and the greenery located at the Church entrances.  If you have a green thumb & a few hours a week, come and help beautify our Church. 

SACRISTAN - CLEANER
The Sacristans care for the sacred vessels and vestments of our worship and are of vital support to our Liturgy.  Sacristans are scheduled on a rotating basis to work in the Sacristy and clean, polish and ready the vessels for liturgy. 

SACRISTAN - SET UP
The responsibility of these people is to ensure that all objects and persons necessary to celebrate Eucharist are present and in place before the start of weekend Masses. This ministry allows the presider the quiet time he needs before Mass to prepare himself mentally, emotionally and spiritually for the liturgy he will celebrate.

WASH/IRON ALTAR LINENS
The ongoing needs of washing and ironing sacred linen, as well as the needs of special liturgical events, are part of this important ministry. This ministry is done at home on a rotating basis.

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Word

ADULT FAITH FORMATION
Growing in faith is a life-long process.  All adults at Nativity are encouraged to make a commitment of their time by choosing from the variety of enrichment activities offered.  Adult Education opportunities are offered on Sunday mornings, Sunday evening and Monday mornings.  Bible Study classes are also offered.  Please watch the Bulletin for more details.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CATECHISTS/AIDES
The Nativity Religious Education Program addresses the need of our children from three years old through graduating seniors. Many teacher and teacher aide opportunities are available in the Religious Education program at every grade level.

FOCCUS COUPLES for MARRIAGE PREPARATION
Participation in this ministry is by invitation of the Pastor.  You meet with engaged couples and help evaluate and discuss the results of the Communication Survey that has been administered for marriage preparation.  Training is necessary for this ministry and a desire to work with young couples is an advantage.

INFANT BAPTISM PREPARATION
This is a parent-to-parent ministry, in which couples conduct the pre-Baptism classes.  By sharing from their own experience of Christian parenting, they focus on the commitment parents make at Baptism to “raise their child in the practice of the faith.”

PARISH LIBRARY
Our Parish Library, located in the Parish Center, is open on Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 11:30 AM.  Volunteers are needed to shelve, check in and out, organize, and catalog books.  We also have more than 200 video materials for all age groups. 

R.C.I.A. [Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults]
Inviting and welcoming potential new members into our Church is the responsibility of all the baptized.  Volunteers are needed to serve on the RCIA Team as well as sponsors, who represent the community in walking the conversion journey with an individual candidate.  Volunteers are Christian Witnesses who are willing to share their own faith journey.  Training is provided.

SUMMER BIBLE SCHOOL
Summer Vacation Bible School is an opportunity for younger children, grades Kindergarten to 8th grade, to get to know Jesus and the Catholic faith. The week-long themed summer program is a special celebration and many volunteers are needed to help with lessons, crafts, music, and snacks.

YOUTH MINISTRY
This ministry is for Nativity’s Youth, Grades 6 through 12.  It provides a Christian environment that nurtures and strengthens the moral, spiritual and faith development of our youth.  Through various opportunities and activities, our youth build community in a positive, caring environment.

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Community Support

BAKING COOKIES & CAKES
Parishioners who enjoy baking can help provide baked cookies or cakes for Religious Education functions, fund raisers, and many other special occasions throughout the year. Baking volunteers will be contacted by phone when these events occur.  

BLOOD BANK ASSISTANT
Nativity Church supports the Central Florida Blood Bank by facilitating blood drives after the Sunday Masses 3-4 times a year.  Volunteer time is needed at each of the Sunday morning blood drives welcoming the donors and assisting the Blood Bank team.

CRAFTS GROUP
Nativity parish members who have creativity and a love of crafts are called upon to join this fun-filled group. The Crafts group meets on Tuesday mornings throughout the year, creating the wonderful crafts to stock the Crafts Booth at the annual Fall Festival in November. The Fall Festival Craft Booth has historically been very successful, and represents a significant percentage of the net profit at the Fall Festival.

COFFEE & DONUT MINISTRY
Volunteers for the Coffee & Donut ministry have the responsibility of serving coffee and donuts after Sunday Masses. These "Coffee and Donut" gatherings encourage Christian fellowship within our church community.

FUNERAL LUNCHES
As a special service to bereaved family members, Nativity offers a simple meal after a funeral mass, or a lunch tray for the home.  You may assist in serving the meal or by donating a covered dish.  This service extends compassion to a grieving family of our Parish community in their time of sorrow.

NEWCOMER GATHERING
After newcomers are first welcomed into the parish, they are invited to a Newcomer Gathering.  By helping to plan and prepare these gatherings, ministers extend a warm greeting to new members of the Nativity Family.  What better way to make someone feel welcome than to share food, fellowship, and fun!

NEWCOMER WELCOMING
The Newcomer Welcoming Committee involves follow-up contact with new members of Nativity parish. On the first Sunday of each month, members of the Parish Council register new families and warmly welcome them into our parish. Newcomer Welcoming members later arrange a telephone call to new parishioners where a more personal welcome is extended and information and questions about the parish are discussed. Being a member of the Welcoming Committee is a wonderful way to greet new families and build friendships at the same time.

RELIGIOUS ARTICLES STORE
Volunteers are needed to staff the Religious Articles Store after the weekend masses on a rotating schedule. Our sales ministry involves an initial training session with periodic stock review meetings. The store not only provides religious articles and gifts, but offers a great opportunity to meet and greet the church community.

VIDEO CAMERA OPERATOR
Nativity's video recorder system allows us to record services in the church.  This ministry requires some background in video and knowledge of recording equipment.  Our Sunday 9:00 AM Mass is videotaped each week and is distributed to our shut-ins and Nursing Homes so we may continue to be present to this part of our Parish.

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Faith Formation

Faith Formation is provided for all registered members of Nativity Parish.  This program is designed to fulfill the Church’s responsibility to our youth population as they grow in faith and become full, active members of the parish.  Pre-registration is held in the Spring at a discount.  Classes begin August and end in May.        

PRE-SCHOOL - 3 AND 4 YEAR OLD CHILDREN
Classes for Preschoolers meet from 8:50 to 10:00 am on Sunday mornings.  Catechists and Aides who enjoy working with young children are invited to initiate these children on their spiritual journey.

Grades Kindergarten - 3
Classes for grades Kindergarten through Third meet from 10:10 to 11:15 AM on Sunday mornings between the 9:00 and 11:30 AM Masses. 

Grades 4-9
Faith Formation is provided for grades Four through Nine from 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM on Sunday or Monday evenings.

HIGH SCHOOL
A high school program is offered for Tenth through Twelfth grade students.  These classes concentrate on faith enrichment in a group setting.  Our High School Youth meet on Sunday evenings from 6:15 to 7:30 PM in the Youth Room.

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Service

BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY
The Bereavement Ministry consoles and guides families during the funeral process—-and beyond.  With care and sensitivity, the bereavement ministry helps the family move through the stages of the grieving process.  They keep in touch with the family throughout the ensuing year, expressing the care of the Nativity Community.  Arrangements with professional grief counselors are available.

COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
Feeding the needy at the Coalition for the Homeless in downtown Orlando is a very fulfilling ministry. This group has a commitment to procure, prepare, and serve the evening meal to about 500 homeless men and women approximately four times a year. Many hands are needed and families are encouraged to participate!

FOOD PANTRY MAINTENANCE
Our parish has a food pantry that is stocked with dry and canned goods for emergency help for the needy. The Knights of Columbus, Council #5357, are one source of supplies and Nativity parishioners are asked to donate food and personal items the first and third weekends of every month. Volunteers are needed to organize the items in the pantry, and to prepare bags of food for the needy in our community.

HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS
Holiday Food Baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas are an important part of Nativity's continuous sharing within our Parish and the local community.  This ministry allows members of Nativity Parish to contribute to the giving spirit.  Whether it is a gift of time to put the baskets together,  delivering baskets to the recipients, a donation of food items to add to a basket, a ready-made basket, or a monetary donation, everyone in the Parish can share the "gift of giving" at these special times of the year.

HOSPICE
Hospice of Central Florida (VITAS) is an organization dedicated to caring for patients and families facing terminal illness. Volunteers are a vital resource to the Hospice program, offering a wide range of skills, depending on their individual talents and desires. Volunteers are needed in the areas of Home Patient/Family Care, Bereavement Support, Office Support, Communications, and Thrift/Gift Shop workers. Training is provided.

MINISTRY TO THE SICK
Many people in our parish family are limited in their ability to participate in the ongoing life of the church due to age or illness. It is vitally important that these people know of our continuing love and care.  The total time commitment is dependent on the particular needs of the person being visited.  Specific times of visitation are arranged by the volunteer and the person to be visited. 

ART PROJECTS
This ministry is ideal for those who have God-given gifts in the area of art, sketching, and design. Many of the ministries and committees in the parish are in need of these skills to communicate events and services throughout the parish.

BULLETIN STUFFING
Helping hands are needed to stuff the weekend bulletins with informational fliers.  Volunteers for this ministry are needed periodically on Friday mornings throughout the year.

OFFICE VOLUNTEER
several times throughout the year the office staff needs help with large mail-outs and special office projects. This is a ministry of action; many hands making light work.

RECEPTIONIST SUBSTITUTE
The Receptionist position is a vital link between our parishioners and the church office. There are times due to vacation, illness, or an office meeting when there is a need for someone to fill in as the church receptionist. Primary duties are answering the telephone, greeting visitors and light office work. We also ask volunteer time of parishioners on Fridays in the Parish Office.  Training is provided and small tasks are available to keep you busy throughout the day. 

PATHWAYS TO CARE
This 40-bed not-for-profit Respite Center is dedicated to providing short-term recuperative care for the poor, medically underserved adults who require a supportive environment in order to recuperate from an acute medical illness or injury.  This facility, located in Casselberry, is an assisted living facility licensed by the State of Florida that will provide respite care to residents under the direction of their primary care provider.  This facility was founded by an interfaith group of local leaders and volunteers are needed to help achieve the goal of greater health, self-sufficiency and housing stability for the residents.   

PRAYER MINISTRY
The Prayer Ministry recognizes the power of prayer and praise to God.  Participants receive a list of petitions for prayer from the coordinator each month and these ministers pray for and pass along these petitions on the telephone prayer chain.  This ministry of prayer is appropriate for all Nativity Parishioners, especially those who are unable to physically participate in other ministries of action.

PRISON MINISTRY
Matthew 25:36 "I was in prison and you visited me." The objective and goal of the Jail and Prison Ministry is to minister to the spiritual needs of the person incarcerated and bring a message of faith, hope, and reconciliation to all affected by the tragedy of crime. We provide that opportunity to receive religious instruction, liturgy, and the sacraments. Lay persons share their talents that God had given to each of us.

RESPECT LIFE/SOCIAL JUSTICE
This ministry has a fourfold focus: As advocates, (1) to encourage full participation of persons with disabilities in the life of the church;  (2)  to assess needs of the elderly and act as a resource for older parishioners and their families; (3) to promote the sanctity of human life through education and legislative advocacy in the parish community; (4) to enable the parish community to form itself in the Social Teaching of the Church and act on this teaching through service, advocacy, and community development.  Ministers respond to the needs of the parish in one or more of these areas, and are involved in diocesan and parish programs and projects.

SANFORD CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER
The Sanford Crisis Pregnancy Center exists to offer women alternatives to abortion through counseling and Christian educational resources. Training is required to help equip you to serve the teens/women in need of this sensitive counseling and the other services that are offered. Support is also given to the new mothers and babies the Center has counseled.

SHARING CENTER VOLUNTEER
The Christian Sharing Center is located at 600 N. Highway 17-92 in Longwood. The hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. The center is supported by many churches in the area. Nativity donates all the food collected during February, May and August to the pantry shelves at the Sharing Center. Clean, usable clothing, toilet articles, paper goods, eggs, and powdered milk are appreciated at the Center.  New volunteers and monetary donations are always needed. 

SISTER DIOCESE SUPPORT
The Diocese of Orlando Mission office was established to allow persons from different cultures and experiences to mutually discover the riches of each others’ worth, dignity, and God-given potential.  Participants in the Mission Office’s international projects deepen work that provides for immediate needs and are committed to long-term solutions and developments of the communities.  Our Sister Diocese is in San Juan de la Maguana, located on the west side of the Dominican Republic.  Our Dominican brothers and sisters live in substandard living conditions, yet they are wealthy in faith, love, hope and generosity.  Current Mission projects include the Dreambuilders Housing Mission, a vitamin and nutrition project, water projects, surgical and medical missions, and a library and education project.  Trips are usually one to two weeks.  Contact the Mission Office at 407-246-4894 for more information. 

FAMILY CARE MINISTRY
Volunteers for this ministry assist with the needs of families that surface during a crisis.  The group will provide meals to a family who has a member in the hospital and respond to the unique needs of the family members with “tender loving care.”

CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATES
The Victims of Crime and Violence Ministry provides confidential and compassionate assistance to anyone who has been a victim of crime or violence.  We continually gather information on resources that victims may need for their recovery.  The initial training is through the Diocesan Criminal Justice Office, and then outside speakers are invited to our meetings for additional training on a continuing basis.  This ministry is from the heart and the soul.  We are very committed to helping others recover from their ordeal physically, emotionally and spiritually.

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