Be Joyful! Pray ALWAYS! Give Thanks!
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Volume 21, Issue 11
Inside:
A Inc. Observer Inc. Osprey Observer from Osprey Publication from Free Publication A Free
November 2017
Nativity’s 48th Annual Novemberfest Returns With Crowd Favorites And New Entertainment, Midway, Music & More
By Amanda Boston
See Ad On Page
23
In Everything, Give Thanks 1 Thes 5:18
With smiles and thumbs up, these children are enjoying the perks of Midway’s unlimited ride armbands.
Novemberfest is back for its forty-eighth year of fun and family festivities. The timehonored event takes place from Wednesday, November 15 through Sunday, November 19 at the Nativity Catholic Church. Every year Novemberfest draws close to 40,000 people as it transforms the parish grounds into a carnival-like atmosphere featuring Midway rides, games, tents of tasty treats and family-friendly entertainment. Nativity Catholic School’s new principal, Mary Myers, reflected on the school’s largest fundraiser. “I am so impressed by the fellowship and shared responsibility that the school and parish have demonstrated together in appreciation and support for our community’s youth initiatives, which are the main benefactors of our Novemberfest event,” said Myers.
Novemberfest is open Wednesday and Thursday from 4-10 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m.-12 Midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 Midnight and Sunday from 12 Noon to 8 p.m. As always, the admission, parking and entertainment are all free. Brand-new to this year’s entertainment is ‘Battle of the Bands.’ On Wednesday night beginning at 7 p.m., several youth groups will perform on Center Stage to compete for the title of best band. Then on Thursday night at 8 p.m., the band ‘Twist’ will debut as it joins this year’s musical acts. Nativity is pleased to announce the return of the crowd favorite ‘Soul Circus
Cowboys.’ The country rock band will perform as Friday night’s headliner at 8 p.m. On Saturday night, the Plant City country singer Daniel Sprouse will take Center Stage at 8:30 p.m. The merriment continues with Midway’s unlimited ride armbands, which are available for purchase at the event for $23 or online at $19. For deeper savings, you can purchase the unlimited ride armbands for $17 and food tickets for $9 from the Nativity Catholic School. Myers also announced, “Customary to our event, Novemberfest will honor all our first responders, police and firefighters on Thursday night and our military and Nativity Alumni on Sunday night by providing special discounts on armbands that provide free rides all day.” The church is located at 705 E. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon. To purchase tickets and ride armbands, visit www.nativitycatholicchurch.org/novemberfest.
Operation Christmas Child Ships Shoeboxes Filled With Love To Children Around The World
By Amanda Boston
Pastor Richard Retires Page 9
Holiday Guide Pages 10-14
Columns: GraceNotes
Page 8
Hooked On Books
Page 16
Faith & Footprints
Page 20
Newswire
Page 22
This Christmas RiverStone Church in you can demonstrate Gibsonton, Horizon God’s love to children Christian Church in suffering in povertyValrico, Bell Shoals stricken places with a Baptist at Apollo Beach, shoebox and some Shiloh Baptist Church in help from Operation Plant City and First Christmas Child Baptist Church of Dover. (OCC). Jennifer Griest is a Since 1993, OCC Riverview resident and has distributed more the team leader for the than 146 million giftdrop-off location at Last year, volunteers from RiverStone During National Collection Week, roughly filled shoeboxes to RiverStone Church. The 5,000 drop-off locations will be open to Church collected shoeboxes and prayed for children throughout homeschooling mom of the children who would be receiving them. collect shoeboxes. the world. OCC is a four has been packing Next, you can print ministry of Samaritan's Purse, an internaboxes with her children for eight years. a mailing label from the OCC website, but tional relief and evangelism organization Griest explained that she loves how a simbe sure to include in the shoebox a $9 led by Franklin Graham. ple shoebox carries a message far beyond donation to cover the shipping cost. If you How does OCC work? You start with a would like to track your shoebox to its des- the tangible items included. standard size cardboard shoebox or store- tination, you can donate the $9 shipping “At the shoebox distribution events bought plastic shoebox. Next, determine around the world, the children hear the cost online and print out a pre-paid mailing whether the shoebox is intended for a boy label with barcode tracking. gospel presented and are given a copy of or girl and choose an age category: 2-4 the Greatest Gift Gospel storybook that Lastly, take your shoebox to the nearyears old, 5-9 years old or 10-14 years shares the message of salvation," said est drop-off location during OCC’s National old. Griest. Collection Week—Monday, November 13 Then pack the box with the appropriShe continued, “Living in a first world through Monday, November 20. Drop-off ate gender and age-related items such as country, we see more wealth than poverty times vary with each location. For specific school supplies, toys and hygiene items. and these children truly have nothing. The drop-off hours of operation, visit You may also include a personal note and https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operacontents of this box may cost us a few photo. A list of suggested gifts, as well as lattes, but it could be all they ever receive.” tion-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/. prohibited items, can be found at OCC's For information on OCC, visit This year several churches in the website www.samaritanspurse.org/occ or contact Greater Brandon Area are collection sites: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/occ. occinfo@samaritan.org. The Chapel at FishHawk in Lithia,