Nativity Newsletter

SUNDAY: DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS - REMEMBER IT'S FALL BACK. Set your clock back one hour.

This coming Sunday, November 3rd, Don Newlin will be with us to lead Morning Prayer. Don provided us with this short bio to introduce himself to those of you who don't know him.

I was born in southern Illinois of a mother born and reared in Calhoun

Co. and a father born in southern Illinois and reared on the prairies of

east-central Illinois. Both were teachers. I graduated from Northwestern

Univ. School of Business and Ole Miss Law School. In between I was in

the Army as an MP stationed in Belgium. I have lived in Bruce since

1975. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents are all buried at

Shiloh Baptist Church west of Big Creek near the Grenada Co. line.

I am retired from the Dept. of Human Services child support program after 25

years during which I covered different counties at different times

including Yalobusha and Tallahatchie counties. My other employments have

included paperboy, savage in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National

Parks, Chicago Transit Authority bus driver, military policeman, night

watchman, low income apt. and senior citizen apt. manager. I grew up in

the Methodist Church, lapsed for a number of wandering years, and joined

The Episcopal Church in 1974 at St. Peter's.

My experiences at St.Peter's include completing Sewanee's Education for Ministry course and

later being a mentor in the program. I am an active LEM and LEV (lay

eucharistic visitor) and officially a Diocesan Worship Leader, do

monthly services at Haven House, monthly visits to Parchman, weekly

visits to Lafayette Co. Detention Center and a Sat. Bible Study there,

and the annual Christmas at Parchman ( Lessons and Carols). Eons ago in

a prior incarnation I was part of a small group that brought Morning

Prayer to Nativity.

I have one son, W.D., who lives in Calhoun Co. raising cattle and growing hay on his mother's inherited farm, and delivering propane for regular income. He is having major heartburn over importing Argentinian beef.

Sunday, November 2nd Morning Prayer with Don Newlin, Diocesan Lay Worship Leader.

Lessons:

Isaiah 1:10-18

Psalm 32:1-8

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12

Luke 19:1-10

Those Who Serve:

LEM: Joe York

Altar Guild: Vivian/Margaret Love

Lectors: Barbara/Alexe

MPOD: Eddie

Prayer Request:

Susan - sister of Les Nichols

Steven

Teresa - friend of Susan Still

Abigail

Beryl - mother of Brenda Prager

Don - brother-in-law of Becky Kelly

Steve - father of Katelynn Dillard

Richard - father of Dawn Denham

Jae - fried of Mary Beth Pulsifer

Barbara - sister of James McCormick

David - father of James McCormick

Betty - aunt of Kathy Shoalmire

Lauren

Kristen - friend of Margaret Love

John and Erin

The Mission Committee

All who serve Nativity

Vicar Exploratory Committee

Coffee Hour - Cake provided, more items needed, bring a dish!

Announcements:

Pledge Cards: this is the last Sunday to pick up pledge cards at the back of the church. After that, they will be mailed. Please turn them in by Sunday, December 7th. FAQ: Who sees my pledge? Only 2 people see your pledge: the treasurer (Eddie Woods) and the chair of the Finance Committee (Robbie Fisher). Why do I need to pledge? Your pledge is helpful in setting a budget for Nativity. Unlike some churches, the budget for Nativity is based on pledges not the other way around.

Save the Date: Sunday, November 16th starting at 9am. Andy Andrews will meet with us prior to the service at 9am at Salt and Light to lead a session titled "First things first: Let's Pray!" Andy is the missioner for the Beloved Community and Congregational Vitality for the Diocese. Andy will lead us in constructing a collect (prayer) to help our dreams match up with God's dream for us! You don't want to miss this opportunity.

ADVENT STUDY: Expecting Emmanuel - Eight Women Who Prepared the Way by Joanna Harader. (available through Amazon for $16.04, with tax). If you are interested in an Advent Study (all are invited) please contact Kathy Shoalmire and let her know of your interest and availability. kathybshoal@gmail.com.

Two surveys:

Congregational Survey - paper form - pick up and turn in at Salt & Light.

Fellowship Survey: Fellowship Survey

Please complete both surveys.

Nativity Newsletter

Nativity Newsletter

Spotlight:

Mike Mitchell began visiting Nativity in 2019 and is grateful to have been called by the Mission Committee in 2025 to help lead our search for the next Vicar.  Mike still technically lives in Oxford but has been making definitive moves towards Water Valley over the past few years.  Mike feels that "Home" is where his family lives and where he feels most comfortable spending time & energy.... By that definition Water Valley is home.

Mike was born in Laguna Beach, California to the former Betty Black of Canton, MS and Lt. Hugh Mitchell of Conehatta, MS.  Growing up an only child of an artist and a USMC aviator helped Mike to be comfortable with strangers, friends and family.  Mike graduated high school from St Andrews in Jackson and thus began his interest and affinity for the Espicopal Church.  After college at Duke, Mike worked in Tampa, Dallas and Simsbury, CT before returning to business school in Philadelphia.  MIke officially joined the church (including a mild slap from the Bishop) at Trinity Church on Rittenhouse Square in 1991.

Mike returned to Mississippi in 1992 to work for the parent company of SkyTel pagers.  Next was two years at a technology startup in Atlanta called Monorail Computer Corporation (doubt you have heard of Monorail PCs... like many tech startups it was a great idea that bloomed and then faded quickly).  Then with some definite divine intervention, Mike returned to Mississiipi in 1997 and helped four professors at Ole Miss grow a software company that served banks and residential property appraisers.  That business was sold in 2016 to a larger company in California and Mike retired from that successor company in 2023.

Today, Mike is the proud dad of Zachary (30 yo), Jeremy (28 yo), Lilli Grace (24 yo), Sylvia (21 yo) and Eliza (14 yo) as well as Buzz the bulldog and Beans the cat. He enjoys working for entrepreneurs and non-profits in and around our community. Mike's maternal grandfather - Floyd Alden Black - was his greatest mentor and taught him that 'to whom much is given... much is expected..."  While Mike may fall short often (as we humans have a tendency to do...) that is his prayer for himself and his family.

Sunday, October 26, 2025

Holy Baptist and Eucharist: Rev. Ann Whitaker

Lessons:

Sirach 35:12-17

or Jeremiah 14:7-10,19-22

Psalm 84:1-6

2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18

Luke 18:9-14

Those who serve:

LEM: Robbie Fisher

Music: Brenda Prager and Katherine Outz

Altar Guild: Kathy Shoalmire and Karen Simard

Lectors: Liz/Tommy

M POD: Barbara Phillips

Coffee Hour/Lunch: no one is signed up. Please bring food to celebrate the baptism of August Jones. Cake will be served!

Announcements:

Pledge Cards are available in the back of the church. If you don't find one with your name, there are blank ones available. Please return by December 1.

Save the Date: Sunday, November 16th starting at 9am. Andy Andrews will meet with us prior to the service at 9am at Salt and Light to lead a session titled "First things first: Let's Pray!" Andy is the missioner for the Beloved Community and Congregational Vitality for the Diocese. Andy will lead us in constructing a collect (prayer) to help our dreams match up with God's dream for us! You don't want to miss this opportunity.

Congregational Survey in preparation for Vicar search: if you received one last week, please return. There is a box in Salt & Light to put them in. If you didn't get one, please ask Mike Mitchell or the Mission Committee Person on Duty (M POD).

Church Family Survey: It is so exciting to think about other opportunities to spend time together with our church family. Please complete the survey at this link: Fellowship Survey

Note: There were several announcements and more details in last week's email. Please check it out if you didn't get a chance to read it.

Nativity Newsletter

Reverend Christopher Powell will be celebrating the Holy Eucharist with us this Sunday, October 19th

Christopher Powell has been an Episcopal priest for almost 40 years. He has served parishes in the Hudson Valley of New York, Vermont, Jackson, Mississippi, and Winnetka, Illinois. He retired to Oxford in 2022 and lives just west of town on 5.5 acres, which necessitates a tractor, which in turn means there are no bad retirement days because each one includes tractor time.

Christopher just finished serving 15 months as Interim Rector of St. Peter’s in Oxford. He has two married, grown sons and three grandchildren.

Those Who Serve

Priest: Christopher Powell

Music: Dianne Falkner

LEM: Robbie 

Altar Guild: Liz/Margaret Love

Lectors: Kathy/Suzy

Coffee Hour: No one signed up. Please bring food and plan to help set-up/clean-up

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PLEASE COMPLETE the Church Family Survey for additional fellowship opportunities. At the request of the Mission Committee, Shannon Adams created a survey regarding opportunities for us to spend more time together as a church family. Please complete the survey - one per household and let us know what you might be interested in. The survey can be accessed at Fellowship Survey

Christmas at Parchman: St. Peter's is once again returning to Parchman for our version of Lessons & Carols on Saturday, December 6. This is an all-day outing, and security clearance is required for all. Even if you have visited Parchman before, you must complete a clearance form. Forms may be downloaded HERE or are available on the bulletin board outside the office. Completed forms are due in the office no later than Friday, October 31. For more information, contact the Rev. Jennifer Southall or Don Newlin. Jennifer: jennifer@stpetersoxford.org - Don: dfnewlin@gmail.com

Pledge Cards: Please pick up your pledge cards in the back of the church or at the Salt & Light Building. They will be mailed if not picked up by November 2. Please return completed pledge cards by December 1.

Andy Andrews, Missioner for Beloved Community and Congregational Vitality for the Diocese, will be leading our Worship on November 16. Prior to the service, 9 am at Salt and Light, Andy will be leading a session titled "First things first: Let's Pray! "

 Our church is in a moment filled with opportunities. We are discerning God's desire for the next steps of our Nativity family. Please join us as the Rev. Andy Andrews leads us through a group process of constructing a collect (Episcopal language for prayer) to help our dreams match up with God's dream for us!

The Rev. Andy Andrews' current role is Missioner for Beloved Community and Congregational Vitality for the Episcopal Church in Mississippi. He serves the Bishop and Diocese as the loudest cheerleader and advocate for amplifying the ministry of renewal, welcome, and belonging. Ordained in 1996, Andrews has led congregations in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi. His passion is creating unlikely partnerships which build collective leadership inspiring Gospel transformation. He holds a DMin from Episcopal Divinity School, an MDiv from Seminary of the Southwest, and a BBA from the University of Mississippi. He is married with three children.

Youth Ministries: Last week the Mission Committee announced the creation of a Youth Ministries fund to implement a number of priorities in which Nativity serves our children and teens in worship and fellowship opportunities. This fund will help to provide formation (Sunday School) opportunities, activities for youth and development of child-friendly spaces, such as the new deck area in the rear of Salt & Light which Jr. Warden James McCormick announced last Sunday.  James is leading this construction project.  

As a part of this we announced a scholarship program for all children and teens "known" to Nativity ("official" family members of Nativity or an established personal connection to Nativity) to attend the diocesan summer camp. Camp Bratton Green, and Diocesan Division of Youth events and Happenings. Parents are responsible for registering their children and for the initial registration fees for Camp Bratton Green. Nativity will pay the entire fee for the Camp experience or youth event directly to the diocese. We will announce in the newsletter when registration is open. It is open for Winter Soltice now (grades 9-12). To register for child or children for camp, please contact Sr. Warden Mary Beth Pulisfer or Robbie Fisher.

For additional information or details on any of the above, speak to Mary Beth Pulsifer: 540-285-0480 or mpulsifer23@gmail.com. 

If you would like to contribute to the Youth Ministries Fund, please designate that on your check or payment made out to the Church of the Nativity.

Photos for Church Directory - Robbie will once again be taking photos for the church directory in the Salt & Light building following the service on. October 19th. Nativity’s Church Directory, assembled and created by Jenni Campbell, is undergoing a few additions and revisions. No need to reserve a spot, just drop in during coffee hour along with anyone else you wish to include in a family photo.  You may also add your own photos to your profile in the directory and edit your profile.

To view and edit the Directory on-line, please visit our church website (nativitywv.org) and click on the “Directory” tab at the top right.  There are directions there on how to log in and access the directory.  For those who prefer a printed copy, we plan to print hard copies of the Directory and make them available after photos are added in October.  

If you are not listed in the Directory and wish to be listed, cannot access the directory, or if you would like to reserve a printed copy of the Directory, please e-mail Robbie at robbiedfisher@gmail.com