Lutheran Church of the Nativity, named to honor the birth of the Savior, seeks to glorify Him through an active witness:  Making Christ Known. Nativity concentrates its ministries into Worship, Learn, Care and Give.

The congregation was chartered in 1963 with 60 confirmed members and 22 children. Three years later, Nativity dedicated a building in Arden costing $58,000 on a 3.65-acre knoll. The site on Rt. 25 between Asheville and Hendersonville proved a wise choice. Since 1963, Arden, nestled between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, developed from rural to suburban. Its scenic beauty and mild climate continue to attract new residences and businesses.

Nativity reflects its community, a blend of native North Carolinians and people from throughout the nation. By 1979 the congregation had burned its mortgage and in 1980 sold bonds to raise $353,000 for the second unit, dedicated in 1981. In 2001, Nativity broke ground for a $1,343,000 addition, and in 2002 completed the addition of a fellowship hall and kitchen facilities along with the renovation of the nave. The Luther Seal is incorporated in the skylight at the peak of the nave as a beacon of Nativity's faith and heritage. The congregation burned the mortgage in 2017.

Nativity celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013 with a year-long remembrance of the early history, special worship on Pentecost Sunday and a congregation dinner.

With a dinner, Nativity celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. The youth attended the ELCA National Youth Gathering in 2018, with 14 youth and 4 chaperones attending. A new Allen organ was dedicated in 2019. 

NovusWay's Lutheridge Camp and Conference Center, located nearby, has enriched Nativity with dedicated lay and clergy members, as well as with frequent guest worshippers. 

Before Nativity was chartered, its Lutheran Church Women, one of the pioneer units in the Synod, was organized. The LCW, now the Women of the ELCA, and Nativity Youth serve locally and throughout the Synod. 

Nativity has continuing involvement with the ELCA and the Synod: World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Relief, Lutheran World Relief as well as Lutheran Services Carolina refugee relocation assistance. Through the years, Nativity has several times partnered with the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary to sponsor a Vicar for a year. The congregation has active groups which quilt for Lutheran World Relief, create Prayer Shawls, and have card ministries for members and veterans.

Nativity has shared its facilities with Presbyterian and Seventh Day Adventists missions and welcomes Boy and several Girl Scout troops and other community groups, such as Project Linus, making quilts for hospitalized children, and Alcoholics Anonymous.   As an active member of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, over the years Nativity has been a generous source of volunteers, funds, food, clothing, medical supplies and other services to the needy, the homeless and those in prison.

Nativity continues to be actively involved in community partnerships, including ABCCM, Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry (including starting a garden component), the Welcome Table (area churches serving free breakfast on Saturdays), NovusWay's Lutheridge Camp and Conference Center, the Veterans Restoration Quarters Outreach (serving a monthly meal), and the Transformation Village, which serves homeless women with children. Nativity serves as a blood donation site, an election site, and served as a vaccination clinic site during the pandemic (2020-2022).

The Sunday Faith Formation, Vacation Bible School, and Pre-School and Kindergarten have an impact in evangelism as well as in education.

Through the grace of God, Nativity, as of the end of 2021, has grown to a membership of 533 Baptized members, and looks forward to proclaiming the Good News to many generations to come.

Pastors

1962-1963 Kenneth H. Merck, Mission Developer

                    J. Lewis Thornburg, Vice Pastor, 1963

                    Seminarian Fred Archer, Supply Pastor, 1963

1964-1970 Carroll L. Wessinger

                    Lewis O. Dasher, Vice Pastor, 1970

1971-1973 E. Edward Long

                   Lewis O. Dasher, Vice Pastor, 1973

1974-1989 Ernest W. Ridenhour, named Pastor Emeritus 2005

                   Frank J. Meleschnig, Vice Pastor, 1989

1989-1995 Thomas N. Colley

                     C. Marion Starr, Pastoral Associate, 1991; Interim Pastor, 1995

1996-2017 Mark E. Fitzsimmons

                    John Propst, Pastoral Associate, 2003

2003-2010 Sara R. Ilderton

2006-2007 Amy J. Huacani, Youth/Family/Latino Outreach Pastor

2016-2018 Greggory Hoffman

2016-2018 Rachel Hoffman

                    George Tuttle, Interim Pastor, 2018

2019-2021 Naomi Sease Carriker

                     Austin Propst, Support Pastor, 2020 

2021-          Sean P. Barrett

Vicars

Thomas "Hobby" Outten (2001-2002)

Ingrid Schalk (2011-2012)

Jessica Skinner (2012-2013)

Jared Lee (2013-2014)

Greggory Hoffman (2014-2015)

Ordained Sons and Daughters of Nativity

Stephen Gragg, 1975

Steven Ridenhour, 1982

Kenneth Albright, 1994

Christopher Webb, 1997

Nathan Gragg, 2002

Judy Tavela, 2005

Sarah Bolick-Lang, 2007

Naomi Sease Carriker, 2007

Lauren Tilley Carlson, 2011

Austin Propst, 2011

Christina Auch, 2013

Andrea Bates, 2017

Kyle Bates, 2017

Matthew Canniff-Kesecker

Jesse Canniff-Kuhn 

Youth/Family Ministry

Katie Derrick

Matt Canniff-Kesecker

Michele Grush, 2007-2012

Heather Langen, AIM, 2012-2014