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Volume 23, Issue 11
A Free Publication from Osprey Observer Inc.
November 2019
Celebrate Five Decades Filled With Festival Fun, Food & Fanfair At Nativity Novemberfest, Nov. 21-24
By Amanda Boston
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Nativity Catholic’s too bad that I was usualNovemberfest will celebrate ly late to church to find five decades of festival fun someone already parked when it returns from there.” Thursday, November 21 to The fest will take Sunday, November 24. place on the church Following the Florida State grounds on Thursday Fair and Strawberry from 4-10 p.m., Friday Festival, Novemberfest is from 4 p.m.-12 Midnight, the third largest annual carSaturday from 11 a.m. to nival in Hillsborough 12 Midnight and Sunday County. from 12 Noon to 10 p.m. More than just a timeThis year’s Alumni Day honored tradition, will be held on Sunday Novemberfest is Nativity’s along with Appreciation largest fundraiser supportSharon Evans, Susan Davis and Sherry Stewart selling advanced Day for the military, law armbands for students outside of church garage in 1989. ing its school and faith forenforcement and first mation program. The family-fun responders. attracts about 100,000 people each Admission, parking and year and is put on by its parish volentertainment are all free. unteers. Crowd favorite Soul Circus Sherry Stewart, a longtime Cowboy will perform Friday at parishioner of Nativity, has been 8:30 p.m. The country rock to make it larger scale by adding carhelping with Novemberfest for 40 band’s lead singer, Billy McKnight, is nival rides.” years. Stewart volunteers as the food an alumnus of Nativity Catholic Richard Boot, a Brandon resident, chairman managing the 15 different School. Also back this year is Classix, is credited for naming Novemberfest. vendors in the food tent. who will take ‘Center Stage’ on The late Monsignor Lara, Nativity’s “Years ago, my boys were going Saturday at 8:30 p.m. priest at the time, commissioned the to school here, and I wanted to get Paying homage to parishioners to come up with a name involved and contribute to my parish,” Novemberfest’s 50th anniversary, for the festival. explained Stewart. “We (Nativity) midway rides will include the Zipper, Boot said, "My name, used to have a festival twice a year, which recently celebrated 50 years. Novemberfest, was picked, and I got one in the spring and one in the fall, Unlimited ride armbands are $23 durfree parking in front of the church for but in the mid-80s, we switched to six months." He jokingly added, “It’s Continued on Page 19 one big festival because we wanted
Pastors Invited To Movie Screening With Kevin Sorbo
By Amanda Boston
Special Event
Columns: Grace Notes:
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All Pro Pastors presents a special date night for pastors and their spouses featuring dinner and a private screening of the new film, Miracle in East Texas. Actors and film producers Kevin and Sam Sorbo will be in attendance for a meet and greet and photo opportunity. The special date night is coming to both Tampa and Lakeland. Pastors can either attend the premiere on Thursday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Mission Hill Church in Tampa or on Friday, November 8 at 6:30 p.m. at New Life Assembly of God in Lakeland. With limited seating, the event is expected to sell out. Tickets are $25 per couple and are available for purchase at www.allpropastors.org under the Events tab. Actor Kevin Sorbo is best known for his role as Hercules in the 1990s television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. More recently, he played the atheist professor in the Christian film God’s Not Dead (2014). Miracle in East Texas was directed by Kevin Sorbo and was inspired by true events. Described as a romantic Christian comedy, the film is set in the West during the Depression Era. Kevin Sorbo portrays Doc Boyd, a shifty
swindler taking advantage of well-to-do widows. His character is in cahoots with conman Dad Everett, played by John Ratzenberger, known for his role as Cliff in the television series Cheers. Sam Sorbo gives life to the character Flora May Simms, a widow who
encounters the dubious pair. “We’re (All Pro Pastors) just happy, as a ministry, to invite pastors and spouses for a fun date night with a dinner and a movie,” said Paul Pickern, founder of All Pro Pastors. “This ministry has been blessed by God to bring pastors together to help align the Kingdom.” Pickern, a Plant City resident and pastor, officially founded All Pro Pastors in 2009. The international ministry is dedicated to caring for pastors through encouragement and prayer. Pastors throughout the world gather weekly at ‘Champion Tables’ where they can ‘take off the pastor title’ and relate with others walking similar paths. Pickern concluded, “God said early on, ‘save the shepherds’ and by the grace of God that’s what we’ve been doing. With these different events, we want to be a blessing, but we also want these events to have some substance to it. Kevin and Sam’s movie is well done with Jesus all through it—where you can get the gospel and still have a good laugh.” For more information, visit the All Pro Pastors’ website. More details on Miracle in East Texas can found at www.miracleineasttexas.com.