Reflections

Congregational Spotlight: Michael Prager

Spotlight: Michael Prager

I was born in the middle of a bombing raid in England in 1941. (and have been creating chaos ever since) I was baptized and confirmed in the Church of England. I attended several different churches and denominations until I settled as an Anglican, was a member of a Church Council (Vestry) and a church bell ringer for a number of years..

I became a Registered Dental Technician and subsequently graduated as a Registered Nurse. In due course I became a Director of Nursing at a teaching hospital and head of a nurse training school. Later I spent a period working at The Royal College of Nursing in London. Whist working at the RCN I was offered the opportunity of becoming a JP and Magistrate by HM. I accepted and after some training began to undertake the associated duties.

I relocated to Melbourne Australia where I worked in ER and HR at the Royal Melbourne Hospital until I moved to the State Health Department as a Senior Industrial officer and represented the Department as a member of the Nurses and Midwives Conciliation and Arbitration Board: and later in the Federal Industrial Court as an advocate for the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF).

Post the ANF I worked for the political office at the State Parliament as an advisor to one of the senior legislators. During this period, I was elected to the City Council and the position of Deputy Mayor. I was again appointed a JP, followed by an appointment as a Bail Justice.

–I met Brenda at church where I was a Liturgical Minister and she was the Director of Music. We clicked and the rest is history. I remained in these positions until Brenda and I relocated to USA and Oxford.

After retirement I became bored and updated my clinical credentials and worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in OR & ER at my local hospital. for the next 10 years.

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Morning Prayer: Joe York

Lessons:

Jeremiah 2:4-13

Psalm 81:1, 10-16

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Coffee Talk

Set-up: Shannon and Katelyn need help.

Food: Alexe and others who want to contribute

Clean-up: Jack and He needs help.

Sign-up sheet on the center Hall table.

Altar Guild

If you are interested in learning more about the Altar Guild, please contact Liz Reynolds or Kathy Shoalmire.

Community Spotlight

Spotlight: Jacki Kellum

This is a special week for me, I am opening my new arts space Jacki Kellum Studios & School of Arts at 26 South Main in Water Valley, MS, and in doing so, I am celebrating the answer to a prayer.

I moved to Water Valley a bit over two years ago, but it was only recently that I found an arts space. For more than two years, I had knocked on every door in the business district of Water Valley. I had pleaded for a place to hang my art, but nothing worked until it finally did. As usual, that happened when God was ready, and when God was ready, He provided me with an arts space with style. Once again, I am reminded of the scripture:

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Waiting is difficult for me. Invariably, my nearly fatal flaw is my impulsiveness. I want my world to spin on MY time, which is often not God's time. But at some level, I have always realized that while I was waiting for God to work His miracles, He was preparing me to accept the miracles He had in store for me. Before, I was trying to put my cart before my horse, but during my wait, God had a plan.

When I think about God's foresight and planning, I think about the Wee Little Man Zacchaeus who climbed into the tall tree that allowed him to see Jesus, who was passing by. Here is a possible rest of that story: Long before Zacchaeus needed a tall tree to see Jesus, God planted a sycamore, and the world [and ultimately Zacchaeus] waited for it to grow.

Most people do not know this, but God has placed me in one situation after another and through those situations, I have acquired many skills that I plan to offer Water Valley through my new arts space. Many of my programs will be free to the public. I endorse the notion that to whom much is given, much is expected, and for many, many years, God has graced me with many skills and has provided me with opportunities to teach those skills. The Free things I offer to Water Valley will be part of my tithe.

Let's look at some of the ways that God has been preparing me to open my arts space in Water Valley--Let's begin with Church:

I grew up as a Southern Baptist, and that church is where I learned many Bible stories and sweet songs. But while I was in college, I became Episcopalian. I have been affiliated with the Episcopal Church most of my adult life. Since I have lived in several places during that time, I have been part of several different groups of Episcopalians, but it was at the Church of the Nativity that I found my Church Home

At one point in the typical Episcopal service, the congregation is directed to "Pass the Peace" to one's fellow congregants. At many Episcopal churches, this peace-passing is a rather subdued--a rather stiff affair that barely deviates in tone from the rest of the service. At Church of the Nativity, Passing the Peace becomes downright rowdy as congregants jump up out of their pews and greet their friends who might have been sitting in a spot far away from them. At Nativity, Passing the Peace is a time of laughter and hugging and loud salutations across the building. At Nativity, Passing the Peace is a jubilant celebration of friendship, and that universal friendship at Nativity is how many of us have found not only a church but also a community of friends.

Soon after my marriage, God moved my family to Jackson for my now ex-husband to attend medical school. Because of another set of miracles in Jackson, I found the job of teaching art to the young children at St. Andrews Episcopal School. I grew in many ways through that job. First, I learned to love children's art. Second, I learned to love children's books.

I often tell people that I grew up in a cotton patch of a town. The only books that I remember from my childhood are The Little Red Hen and Chicken Little. The St. Andrew's Lower School has a vast library, and while I was teaching there, I read every children's book in that school's collection. Those books changed my life.

Since my time at St. Andrew's, I have become an enthusiast of children's literature, and during much of my adult life, I have worked as a storyteller for children. In thanksgiving for that gift, I am offering a free Story Time on Saturday Mornings at Jacki Kellum Studios, from 9:30 - 10:30. Story Times will begin Saturday, September 6, 2025.

Another miraculous thing happened while I was teaching at St. Andrews. During the Christmas season,  the children and I created the almost life-sized Nativity Scene that covered a large room. The children drew and colored all the characters who were in Bethlehem at the first Christmas, and  I painted the hills and night sky surrounding the City of Bethlehem. Together, the children and I transformed a large room into a child's perception of the Christmas Story. The result was magical. For that effort, Mississippi Magazine featured me in a large article, and I was named National Teacher of the Year. My dream is to one day begin replicating that scene in Water Valley.

Long after I taught at St. Andrews, I translated the Christmas Story into my picture book The Donkey's Song, which was published by Doubleday for Young Readers--a division of Penguin Random House. Everything about that book was a miracle. 

To God be the Glory. Great Things He hath Done." Nativity, Let's Open God's Gifts Together.

Sunday, August 24, 2025 - Rev. Ann Whitaker - will be serving

Lessons 

Jeremiah 1:4-10Psalm 71:1-6Hebrews 12:18-29Luke 13:10-17

Those who serve:

Lectors: Jack, Mary Beth

Altar Guild: Vivian

MC POD: Eddie

Flowers: Katelynn

Refreshments:

Set-up: Shannon

Food: Katelynn and Shannon

Clean-up Jen

Volunteer sign-up sheets are on the center hall table.

Reflections

Reflections for Week of August 4, 2025 from Kathy Shoalmire

I never thought I wanted to serve on the Altar Guild until Duncan asked me if I would in early January. Who says “no” to Duncan? Now, I can’t imagine not serving on the Altar Guild.

We could need a few more who would like to serve so I thought I would share with you what we do. In general, we prepare the Lord’s table in the way of long standing tradition.

First, we make sure that we use the correct colors for the hangings. We are in the green season now (ordinary season) The next season changes to purple which will be for Advent, a solemn season as we await the coming of Christ. Purple is also used during Lent. Following Advent is Christmas when we change to white which is also used at Easter, Baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and some other special days. Red is used for Pentecost, martyr days, and Palm Sunday.

There are several linens of varying sizes used for the Eucharist. The corporal is laid first. Then we have the purificator which covers the chalice and one is stored in the burse which is the square piece that sits on top of the veil. The lavabo towel is used by the LEM for the celebrant to dry their hands. The table to the right of the altar is the credence table which is covered with a credence cloth. All the linens are kept clean and ironed. An interesting tidbit is that we use the purificator and the lavabo towels to wash the chalice, patens, and ciborium after the service. We check carefully for wine stains and remove those. These towels are laid out wet on the counter in the Sacristy and wiped with a white sponge to remove all wrinkles. They dry very crisp and are ready to fold the next week. The linens all have a white embroidered cross on them and have been blessed.

To set the altar, we start with the corporal, then the chalice which we top with the purificator. The paten (plate for the hosts is next and we place the large wafer the priest breaks and eats first). This is topped with the square piece called the pall, then the veil, with the burse on the very top. The Eucharistic candles are checked for sufficient oil supply and are placed exactly the same distance from the edges of the altar. This is done by using the prayer book to set the position. The brass stand which holds the service book is placed to the left of the celebrant and the Gospel is placed on the front of the altar.

We place the ciborium, one for the regular hosts and one for the gluten free, on the credence table which has been covered with the credence cloth. We fill the carafes with wine (Taylor Port) and with water. The handles are turned toward the priest and the crosses on top face the congregation. There is a lavabo bowl for the priest to wash his fingers. There is also a tiny silver spoon in case a communicant should drop their wafer into the chalice.

After the service, we clean the altar and credence table. Any water or wine that has been blessed, is disposed of either by drinking or pouring outside on the grounds. We do not pour blessed wine or water down the drain.

The protective dust covers are replaced on top of the hangings. We wash, dry, and return to the designated spot.

The Altar Guild is also in charge of the flowers and making sure the brass is polished at least twice a year. The coming together for polishing the brass gives us an opportunity to fellowship while doing something needed.

Let Liz Reynolds or me know if you think you might be interested in serving. We will be glad to help you get started.

Kathy Shoalmire

kathybshoal@icloud.com

SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS

Sunday, August 10, 2025 - Rev. Tina Frizzell- service at 10:30 followed by coffee hour.

Readings for Sunday.

Isaiah 1:1, 10-20

Psalm 50:1-8, 23-24

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Luke 12:32-40

Those who serve

LEM: Michael

Lectors: Brenda and Jo Ella

Altar Guild: Liz and Anne

Thank you to all who helped with the Watermelon Carnival.

Announcement

We have completed our focus on the Mission Committee members and would now like to move on to members of Nativity. Who will volunteer to be the focus next week or in the future? I’ll be glad to give you some prompts. Contact me kathybshoal@icloud.com.