Reflections

Reflections

I have been thinking a lot these last two weeks about the life and legacy of Pope Francis. His death stirred deep emotions in people, both within and outside the Roman Catholic Church. Much has been made of his simplicity of life and his particular attention to those on the margins of society. I was particularly touched by his willingness to see Vice President Vance on the day before his death. The pope had been particularly critical of Vance on several matters, and had rebuffed Vance’s overture of a papal visit only days before. But then, facing his own death, he chose to make an overture to one with whom he was in deep disagreement. Such grace was stunning.

For several years I have been moved by his efforts to turn the Roman Catholic Church outward, focusing more on the needs of the world with less emphasis on doctrinal purity. The image he used of the church was a field hospital serving the wounded, rather than a fortress protecting the strong. I am sure Jesus was pleased.

In these past few days,  as I thought of Pope Francis, I was reminded of one of the  great leaders of our church in the 20th century, Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple. It was Temple  who first said that “the church  is the only institution that exists primarily for those outside of its membership”.

Pope Francis and Archbishop Temple remind us over and again that gathering for worship is not simply about me, and cannot be seen as an end to itself. Rather, gathering for word and sacrament within a nurturing community is more truly understood as a means of refreshment and renewal so that we can more fully serve the world in Jesus’s name.

Other Matters of Importance:

Compassion Ministry/Packing Food Boxes May 19-

On Monday, May 19 @ 6:00 pm we will gather at the Compassion Ministry site at 1301 Highway 7 North to pack food boxes for distribution to local families in need. If you can join us, please sign the sheet in the rear of the church. This will help in our planning.

Nativity’s Second Rogation Sunday Celebration and Blessing of the Fields-

May 25, immediately following worship, we will travel to the home of Vivian McKey and her family for a pot luck lunch and the traditional Blessing of the Fields. The address is 3313 CR 90, just south of Water Valley. Rogation Sunday is deeply rooted in our Church of England rural agricultural roots, and it serves as a great opportunity for us to gather together outdoors on a lovely (we hope)spring day to nurture the ties that bind us together. 

Reminder: For those who have received the Daughters of the King discernment 

workbooks, we will begin meeting this Wednesday, May 7 at 5:00pm. We will finish at 6:00. We will be working on the first two units of study.

Clergy Schedule- This Sunday, May 4, the Rev. Ann Whitaker will be our celebrant and preacher, as well as lead Bible Study prior to worship. The Vicar will be serving on staff of a Division of Youth Retreat Weekend. And so, in my absence, on that Star Wars Day, “May the Fourth be with you.” I know. It’s painful, but I couldn’t help myself.

Blessings and Peace,

Duncan

Dmgrayiii@gmail.com

(601)260-1937

Reflections

Reflections

Easter Sunday was a wonderful moment in the life of Nativity. More than 80 folks, including lots of visitors-young and old-jammed into our little church to remember and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. The wonderfully chaotic way in which chairs were brought over from the Salt and Light building, and folks moved around in the seats and pews to make way for others in this overflow moment, was a marvelous thing to behold. Loud noises from little people made for a wonderful angelic chorus from all the saints. Alexe and Kagan’s traditional hosting of a pot luck lunch at their home was a very special conclusion to this remarkable day for this amazing congregation. Alleluia! He is risen, indeed!

And then, a remarkable thing happens in the life of the church. On the heels of all of this excitement and joy, the Gospel reading for the Sunday after Easter gives us Thomas, in all his uncertainty, saying to his companions that unless he sees and touches the scars of Jesus he cannot believe that Jesus is alive. Just when we have been lifted up by the great joy, indeed certainty, of Easter, we are reminded that there is, within our our souls, that nagging doubt that it all may just be an illusion. It is in these moments that we all get in touch with our Missouri roots, and say, like Thomas, “Show me!”

I am going to preach on this reality on Sunday, so I won’t reflect much more in this newsletter. But, it is important to note that Jesus does come to Thomas and give to him what he needs. So, too, he comes to us, but maybe not quite in the way that we had anticipated.

Other Matters of Importance

Dates to Remember:

    May 19- At 6:00pm we will gather at the Compassion Food Ministry distribution center at 1301 Highway 7 North to pack boxes of food for distribution to families in need during that week. This is a joint project of churches in Water Valley and we will be sharing that day with our Methodist Church neighbors. There is a sign up sheet in the rear of the church that will help us in our planning.

    May 25- Rogation Sunday/ Blessing of the Fields. After worship we will gather at the home of Vivian McKey ( 3263 CR 90) and family for a pot luck lunch and the traditional blessing of the fields, which will include the commercial flower gardens of Vivian’s daughter, Kris. Rogation ( from the Latin, “rogare”, meaning “to ask”, in this case for blessing) Sundays have their origin in the rural parishes in our spiritual ancestor, the Church of England. On this particular Sunday the congregation would process into the fields just outside church forthe traditional blessing of the fields, that included prayers for an abundant harvest.

              We first did this Rogation celebration/ picnic at the home of Jenni Campbell, and it was lots of fun! Additional details will follow, but mark your calendars now!

Forward Day by Day Booklets-

        There is a limited supply of Forward Day by Day booklets available in the rear of the church for those who wish to use these daily devotional resources rom the Episcopal Church. Please know that these same devotional booklets have been made available to residents of our local jail, so that as you pray these daily, you will be in prayerful communion with those that Jesus asked us to be particularly mindful of. They are free of charge and cover the months of May, June and July. If there is a need, we will order additional copies.

Service Bulletins to be Discontinued-

       After 4+ years of writing and publishing the Sunday worship bulletins, James McCormick has asked to be able to step down from this responsibility. Thus, for the time being, the only handouts we will have for worship will be the scripture readings insert. Going forward, the Daughters of the King will be coordinating the prayer list that James has been putting in the bulletins.

       If you are willing to assume a role in the publishing of the church worship bulletin, please see James or the Vicar. James will be glad to train any interested person(s).

     Thank you, James, for your faithful and, mostly, unseen, work over these many years!

New Doors on the Blessing Box-

     The doors on the Blessing Box outside of the Church had, over time, lost their facade. . As you recall, the original structure had been built by Clyde Robinson, but the doors, in particular, were in need of repair. Our heartfelt thanks to Marty Pitre for repairing the doors and giving them a Nativity-like image. If you haven’t yet noticed them, take a look, and give Marty a high five for work well done!

See you Sunday!

Blessings and Peace,

Duncan

dmgrayiii@gmail.com

(601)260-1937

Reflections

Reflections

This Sunday,  the Christian Church throughout the world embarks on a journey with Jesus from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem where the crowds shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”;to an upper room where he washes feet in the context of an intimate and poignant meal; to a stark cross on Golgotha’s hill where he is killed; to an empty tomb on Sunday morning.

If we allow ourselves to pay attention within our soul, we will notice that this journey is one with which we are personally very familiar. It is about our own excitement and hope that is too often crushed by life. It is about our own efforts to gather family and friends around us in painful moments; our sorrow when all of our best efforts seem to find nothing but disappointment and failure. And,  it is about that hope that comes from beyond our selves that cannot be attributed simply to an improved attitude. 

This journey of Holy Week that we take through Palm Sunday, Maundy (Holy) Thursday, Good Friday and Easter, will take us deep into the darker parts of our soul where misunderstanding, self-righteousness, denial, betrayal and other maladies of the human heart reside. It will take spiritual courage to take this journey as we come face to face with our own silent shouts of “Crucify him! Crucify him!”,  that reflect our own desire to keep a safe distance from Jesus, especially when discipleship might mean facing pain, anger or persecution.

The incredibly good news of Easter morning  is not simply about death giving way to life. Compost piles gives us that lesson. No, the hope that is ours and birthed at Easter,  is that when we and the whole world, time and time again, have done our absolute worst, God refuses to give our death-dealing ways the last word. God forever takes our worst ( as well as our best) and opens tombs and surprises us with life beyond our wildest imaginations.

Easter morning is not easily seen from Good Friday, but that is why the journey of faith requires courage and stamina. The path of Holy Week can seem so very long, at times, but we dare to take one step at a time until we come face to face with a miracle.

Come travel with your Nativity faith community this week. We so need each other on the journey.

Other Matters of Importance:

Daughters of the King Introduction Session- Tuesday, April 15 @5:00pm

There will be an introductory session this Tuesday in the Salt and Light building for those women who may be interested in being part of the formation of a Daughters of the King chapter at Nativity. DOK is an international Anglican/Episcopal sisterhood whose members are committed to a discipline of prayer, service and evangelism. Laura Pitre and Margaret-Love Denman have been members of the Daughters in other congregations and will be facilitating the development of Nativity’s chapter.

Congregation Vitality Assessment Survey for Nativity-

A survey is being sent to some members of Nativity by the Rev. Elizabeth Malphurs, the consultant for the Mission Committee’s planning retreat on May 10. If you receive an invitation to take the survey, please complete it by April 17. The survey results will be a very important tool in the work that the Mission Committee will be doing in its retreat as it prepares for the retirement of the Vicar.

See you Sunday!

Blessings and Peace,

Duncan

Dmgrayiii@gmail.com

(601)260-1937