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

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