Reflections

Reflections

This Sunday (March 23) will will be administering the sacrament of Holy Baptism to a tiny infant: Catherine Winifred Dickson. She is the daughter of Virginia Anderson and Andy Dickson,  and we at Nativity have been praying for little “Cat”for months before her birth last November.

It goes without saying that Cat has no choice in this decision to be baptized at  four months of age. That is a decision that was made for her in thanksgiving by her family who loves her dearly. Within our particular spiritual tradition,  the practice of baptizing infants is rooted in our belief that the initiative to establish a relationship with God always begins with God. There is, of course, a need for each of us to respond to that Divine initiative of grace, but it all begins outside of our own particular decision- making processes. God loves first, then we respond.

Another reason we are willing to baptize infants is that we understand this spiritual pilgrimage that each of us now travels, is never a solitary journey. We travel with, and in many cases, are carried by, countless fellow pilgrims. Cat will be carried by her family for a season to experience that love that flows through them from beyond themselves. 

Please know that this unique community of Nativity will play a very important part in this little child’s spiritual life. At a critical point in the baptismal liturgy I will ask those in the congregation on Sunday, “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support this person in her life in Christ?” As the congregations responds affirmatively, it is a promise to be a nurturing and supporting community in word and deed. Sometimes that might mean  being available to the weary parents for conversation or a bite to eat. Sometimes it might mean finding ways to make that little child feel at home at Nativity. Sometimes it might mean holding Virginia, Andy and Cat together in prayer for a season.

It has been said that faith is more often “caught” than “taught”. That takes a community. So may it be with this beloved child of God.

Other Matters of Importance:

Daughters of the King: An Intentional Community of Prayer for Women-

   Interest has been expressed about starting a chapter of the Daughters of the King at Nativity. First begun in an Episcopal Church in New York in 1885, the Daughters of the King (DOK), is now an international Episcopal/ Anglican community of 25,000 members devoted to a discipline of intentional prayer, service and evangelism. Laura Pitre and Margaret Love Denman are currently members of this sisterhood and Laura will be making a brief presentation on Sunday about her experience. There will also be a more extensive discussion of the Daughters of the King on Tuesday, April 15 at  for women who would like more information and conversation about this unique ministry.

Important Dates to Note-

April 13- Palm Sunday (Holy Week begins)

April 17- 6:30 pm: MaundyThursday worship

April 18- 12:00 noon: Liturgy of Good Friday

April 20- Easter Sunday

May 25- Rogation Sunday- following worship we will travel to the home of Vivian McKey for a picnic and a blessing of the fields.

See you Sunday!

Blessings and Peace,

Duncan

Dmgrayiii@gmail.com

(601)2601937

Reflections

THE BISHOP IS COMING! THE BISHOP IS COMING! FEBRUARY 22-23!

The Right Reverend Dorothy Sanders Wells will be making her first visit to Nativity this weekend. She will be our preacher and celebrant this Sunday at the 10:30am worship service. She will also be administering the apostolic rite of confirmation to Tom Kirkpatrick and Virginia Anderson and renewing the baptismal vows of Vivian McKey. It will be a grand celebration of our life within this Episcopal faith tradition and the nurturing of our local fellowship here at Nativity.

 Lunch will follow the worship and thanks to the many of you have volunteered to bring items for the luncheon!

There will be opportunities for conversation with Bishop Wells during the weekend. First, at 6:00pm on Saturday she will be meeting with old and new members of the Mission Committee for dinner at the Salt and Light building to talk about a variety of matters, including the Vicar’s retirement announcement. 

Secondly, Bishop Wells will be meeting with all interested persons on Sunday at 9:15am in the Salt and Light building for general conversation prior to our worship.

This will be a very special weekend for us all as we seek to introduce our new Bishop to this special community of Nativity and Water Valley. Please make plans to be with us!

Church Painting: I’m Sure That You Have Noticed!-

Thanks to the coordination of our Junior Warden, Les Nichols, the entire exterior of the church, including the red doors,  has been repainted in time for the Bishop’s visit. This special “upgrade” was financed by donations from the congregation.  It is now a marvelous sight and adds to the welcoming presence of Nativity. Thanks, Les, and all who contributed!

Mardi Gras Parade: Tuesday, March 4 at 5:30pm (Gather at 5:00)-

As we approach the penitential liturgical season of Lent, Nativity will be hosting its annual contribution to our “serious” preparation. 

The 3rd Annual Mardi Gras parade will be better than ever. Bring your decorated bicycles, wagons and bodies and join us for lots of craziness and fun as we walk down Main Street to This Is Noteworthy for food, drink and music. Lots of beads (for decorations and throwing to spectators) and masks will be available at the start of the parade. Invite your friends and neighbors to the fun!

We will process the “Alleluia” banner, and because we will put away our alleluias from Ash Wednesday until Easter, we will be burying the banner in the church yard shortly after the parade. It will be dug up in time for Easter( Death and Resurrection- get it?). We will be joined this year by other “Krewes”(aka, groups) outside of the Nativity family. Rumor has it that there may also be a King and Queen for this year’s parade. Stay tuned!

This good- natured craziness is all a part of what makes Nativity so special. So, if you don’t want to walk the parade , plan to line the parade route. We’ll shower you with beads!

See you Sunday!

Blessings and Peace,

Duncan

(601)260-1937

Dmgrayiii@gmail.com

Reflections

Reflections-

As I reported last week, this past weekend Les and Jan Nichols and I represented Nativity at the 198th Annual Council of the Diocese of Mississippi. That’s a long time for the Episcopal Church to be operating in Mississippi and a lot has taken place during those 198 years. The theme of this year’s Council was “Telling Our Story”, and Bishop Wells used part of the time of her opening address on Friday night to give examples of the resilient nature of the church in this diocese. These are our stories, she said, and we forget them at our peril. She highlighted Trinity Church in Yazoo City that had endured floods, fires and tornadoes and had been rebuilt four times. She showed videos from the tornado destruction at Chapel of the Cross, Rolling Fork, and the groundbreaking ceremony for the new church. She had considerable footage of the Mississippi Gulf Coast churches following Hurricanes Camille and Katrina. 

Because she hasn’t yet visited Nativity ( she’s coming February 22-23!), she doesn’t yet know the resilience that is part of our story, as well. Fire, tornado and a decision to close the church “for good” in 2003. Then came a remarkable rebirth in 2017 that was able to manage the Covid challenge sufficient to become as healthy as any church in the diocese. It’s enough to make you believe in resurrection, and

it is a remarkable story that we need to keep telling over and over again! 

Telling our individual and collective stories ( to ourselves, mostly, and to others if they will listen!) helps us to realize that we have within us the capacities to deal with whatever life sends us. We’ve been there more than once, as a people and as individuals, and we are made of more resilience and tougher fiber than we are sometimes able to notice.

 We Christians also have a  story that we need to tell again and again and again. In this sacred story there were natural disasters and pain and heartbreak and tragedy arising from human failings, but God was forever present, redeeming and giving hope.  We can never tell that story too many times.

I am grateful for Bishop Wells’ invitation to tell our stories. I hope you will have some time to tell her a bit of yours when she joins us in a couple of weeks.

Other Matters of Importance-

Annual Congregation Meeting : Sunday, February 16 following 10:30 worship-

As per the canons of our church we will be gathering for our annual meeting to elect new Mission Committee members ( nominees thus far: Barbara Phillips, Laura Pitre, and April Hammonds), hear a report on our finances including a 2025 budget which needs to be accepted by the congregation, and discuss a variety of other matters. Please plan to join us!

Bishop Wells Visitation- February 22-23:

    Saturday (22nd)@6:00 pm- Bishop meets with old and new members of the 

                 Mission Committee for dinner, conversation and planning in Salt &Light;

    Sunday (23rd) @9:15am- Bishop meets with congregation for open-ended 

                 conversation;

                              @10:30am-Bishop is celebrant, preacher and will administer 

                 the apostolic rite of confirmation;

                               @ 11:30am- luncheon in honor of Bishop Wells and the newly 

                 confirmed. PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS A SIGN UP SHEET IN THE SALT 

                 AND LIGHT BUILDING FOR THOSE WILLING TO BRING SALADS, SIDE

                 DISHES AND DESSERTS. MEAT AND DRINKS WILL BE PROVIDED.

Church Directory is Now Available!-

 After more than a year in production our Nativity Church directory is available online. Many thanks to Jenni Campbell for her many long hours of work to make this a reality. An instruction sheet that tells how to access the directory will be available in the rear of the church and in the Salt and Light building, beginning this Sunday. Robbie Fisher will be available to take additional photos of individuals  and families to include in the directory on Sunday, February 16 and 23 in the Salt and Light building.

Immigrant Ministry-An Emerging Network:

An emerging network of persons interested in being a constructive force in the confusion and fear of this moment is forming in North Mississippi. If you are interested in knowing about what is going on and how you might be helpful, please consider joining the Vicar and others for a meeting at First United Methodist Church in Oxford ( 102 Dylan Avenue- near mTrade Park) from 1:30-5:00pm on Saturday, February 15. Representatives from El Pueblo, a United Methodist Church initiative that has addressed the needs of the immigrant community in South and Central Mississippi for 20 years, will be meeting with interested persons from our region.

Mardi Gras Parade- March 4 @ 5:00pm!

Join with your Nativity family and other members of our community in this fun-filled event that will parade down Main Street and gather at This Is Noteworthy for great food and fellowship. Bicycles, wagons, and all ages are welcome to join in our craziness as we prepare for the penitential season of Lent.

See you Sunday!

Blessings and Peace,

Duncan

(601)260-1937

Dmgrayiii@gmail.com