Nativity Newsletter

Lay Worship Leader, Don Newlin, will be back with us again this Sunday for Morning Prayer. Please join us at 10:30.

Those Who Serve:

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Morning. Prayer: Don Newlin

Music: Brenda/Katherine

Altar Guild: Karen

Crucifer: Tom

Lectors: Kathy/Eddie

MC POD Eddie

Lessons:

• Isaiah 42:1-9

• Acts 10:34-43

• Matthew 3:13-17

• Psalm 29

Announcements:

After worship on February 8, (and before coffee hour) we will hold our canonically required Annual Meeting to elect new Mission Committee members, review our annual budget and to vote on a new church “Constitution” which is akin to by laws for our mission church.  This document has been approved by the Diocesan Office and the Mission Committee and must be voted on by the full membership of the church.  

If you would like to review the proposed Constitution in advance of the meeting, it is available at this link:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VcnS9mCV3_sA-PMSEMvkbssfuyXerlqa/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=100529201357357906141&rtpof=true&sd=true

You may also request a copy of the proposed Constitution by e-mailing the church at nativitywatervalley@gmail.com

Save the Date: Sunday, January 25 at 9:15 a.m. Jack Barry will lead a discussion on Hinduism and the parallels he has observed with Christianity.

Lenten Book Study: begins Saturday, February 21 at 9:00 a.m. The book is Prone to Wander by Joanna Harader. Order your book now. It is arranged as daily devotionals with probing questions for each day.

Nativity Newsletter

A Message from the Senior Warden

First, I thank you for the opportunity to serve as your senior warden these past several months.

I have learned so much and grown in my relationships with our church members. It is hard to

express in words my gratitude for your support, guidance, encouragement, patience and grace,

but please know that it is in my heart.

I want to provide you with an update on our planned schedule for the upcoming 6 months (and

possibly beyond). On the first Sunday of each month, our beloved Rev. Ann Whitaker will be

with us; on the third Sunday of each month Rev. Christopher Powell, who most of us are familiar

through his past service as a supply priest, will be celebrating with us; and beginning in

February, Deacon Tina Frizzel, who is well-known to us all, will lead us in worship one Sunday

each month. The administrative team (Kathy Shoalmire, Robbie Fisher and I) will

continue to work on filling other Sundays with supply priests and Lay Worship Leaders. Our

own Michael Prager has also agreed to continue filling in when needed. Thank you, Michael.

As for progress in the search for our next Vicar, The Vicar Exploratory Committee (chaired by

Mike Mitchell) is currently creating a Congregational Profile, based on the surveys you

completed and other input from the congregation. This will become the basis for a “job

description” that will be posted on the Diocesan website and other social media. We hope to

have this posted by the end of this year. After this posting, applications will be received and

reviewed by the VEC. Although this review is, at least initially, a confidential process, know that

our search is based on the input we receive from the congregation. Please continue to share

your thoughts, questions, hopes, ideas and prayers with Mike and/or other members of the

Committee.

Our understanding from Canon Meade is that this can be a rather lengthy process, typically 6

months to a year or more. It is also a process that should not be rushed, as we want to find the

best fit for Nativity. We face some challenges: there is a serious shortage of priests in the

Mississippi Diocese (and in general), and small churches like ours are faced with financial

constraints (the Diocese does not contribute to the salary for our Vicar, it is the responsibility of

Nativity through our budget). That being said, we all know that Nativity has much to offer: a

vibrant and expanding congregation, a beautiful and “quirky” small town community, solid

management and stable finances. We want to be certain that our next Vicar is as excited to be

here as we are to have him or her with us. Although, along with you all, I am eager to see who

God will send to us, I do not worry about the process, as I become more aware each day that

Nativity is so much more than its Vicar. We are a community/family with an incredibly generous

heart and a mighty, mighty spirit.

In Peace,

Mary Beth Pulsifer

Those Who Serve: December 21 - 4th Sunday of Advent

Deacon Tina Frizzell

Altar Guild: Jackie

LEM: James

Lectors: Barbara/Suzy

MC POD: Barbara

Lessons:

• Isaiah 7:10-16

• Romans 1:1-7

• Matthew 1:18-25

• Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18

  
  

Announcements:

Christmas Eve Service: 5:30 pm - Rev. Ann Whitaker will be the celebrant. Reception to follow at Jacki Kellum's Studio 32 S. Main. Special Music begins at 5:15 p.m.

Nativity Newsletter

Sunday, December 7 - 2nd Sunday of Advent

Those Who Serve

Morning Prayer - Michael Prager

Music - Brenda and Katherine

Altar Guild - Kathy/Karen

Lectors - Kathy/Sean

LEM - Joe

MC POD - Barbara

Lessons for Sunday

Isaiah 11:1-10

Romans 15:4-13

Matthew 3:1-12

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

Announcements:

Welcome to Townes Henry Coodey Pierce!

Born Tuesday November 25th at 10:31 am at Baptist Memorial Hospital Oxford after only 20 minutes of pushing, almost a month early. He was ready! Mom and baby are doing very well. Townes is welcomed by his parents Ryan Pierce and Hannah McCormick, his big sister Noa Caroline, big brother Homer. His criminal accomplices will be his grandparents, James and Juawice McCormick.

Shannon has organized a mealtrain Hannah and Ryan! This is the Meal Train for Meal Train® for Hannah McCormick and Ryan Pierce: https://mealtrain.com/0drqo5

Advent Book Study - meets this Sunday, December 7 at 9:15 in the Salt & Light Building and we will be discussing Ruth. Note: We will meet Saturday, December 13 at 9:15 in light of Andy Andrew's gathering with us at 9:15 on Sunday, December 14th. All invited to the book study. Even if you don't have the book, come and see if it's something you would like to take part in.

Online Church Directory - can be accessed by following the steps listed on the church website: https://www.nativitywv.org/directory

You may edit your own profile and add or change your photo.

If you have difficulties navigating or reading an on-line directory, please contact Robbie Fisher about requesting a printed booklet version: robbiedfisher@gmail.com

Poinsettias for Christmas Eve service. If you would like to donate to the Altar Guild Flower fund, there are envelopes in the back of the pew for you to designate if your donation is in honor of or memory of someone. The recommended contribution is $35. Make checks payable to Nativity and on the memo line designate Flower Guild.

Tommy and Liz Reynolds Nativity Christmas Party - December 11th at Fountain Square. Cocktails and champagne at 6pm - eat at 6:30pm. Food and music provided. All are invited. Bring a guest. Let Liz know how many are coming. Text her at (662) 473-6044. All are invited. If you have ever been to Nativity or want to come or might want to come, you are invited. Just let Liz know.

Volunteers Needed - December 12th at 5:45 pm.- We will be offering the Salt & Light porch and building as a gathering spot for the Water Valley Christmas parade. The parade begins at 6pm on the south end of town.

Save the Date - What a blessing it was to be with Rev. Andy Andrews at both the 9:15 meeting and to celebrate the Holy Eucharist with him. If you missed either or both, you are in luck. He will be back with us on December 14th. We will gather around 9-9:15 and pick up where we left off.

Families Anonymous - Announcing the formation of a new Families Anonymous group in Water Valley, which will meet at the Salt & Light Building. Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for family members and friends of individuals with substance abuse and related behavioral issues. The Water Valley group is the first affiliate in the state of Mississippi of this national organization. First meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026, with subsequent meetings to follow every other week at the same place and same time. For more information, see: https://familiesanonymous.org/ Confidential inquiries may be directed to: famanonwv@gmail.com

From Brenda Prager:

Christmas Eve is fast approaching! Any singers or musicians who would like to offer their talents with some Christmas items at our pre-service program immediately before the Christmas Eve service, please contact Brenda Prager by email or phone (brendaprager@gmail.com; 662 816 6092). Please include the name of your song and approximate length so that I can organize the program.

Christmas Eve Service: Rev. Ann Whitaker will be celebrating the Christmas Eve Service with us at 5:30 pm on December 24th (Christmas Eve). Church-wide reception following at the studios of Jacki Kellum at 32 South Main Street. Bring a treat to share if you can. The important thing is to just come!

Save the Date - January 6th - Sally Lott McLellan will be reading from her memoir, Intersections - Seeking Self at Parchman Prison. The memoir is about teaching writing at Parchman Prison. This is a part of the Hubert Creekmore Literary Society Reading Series at Bozarts Gallery. It begins at 6:45pm.