Nativity Newsletter

Spotlight

Jack Barry

by Sally Lott McLellan

November 23, 2025

I first met Jack when I was a newbie at Nativity. He was elbow-deep in soap suds washing dishes after the weekly “after church” fellowship hour at the Salt & Light building. I asked if I could help and he said, “Nah, this is kinda my job.” Even though we all pitch in with clearing away and cleaning up, I now know that Jack is the primo dishwasher. And since we use real plates, real glasses and cups and real silverware there’s always a lot to wash, dry and put away! He is humble and devoted to his contribution to the Nativity family. And I should mention that he’s really a funny guy.

Jack has been in Water Valley for three years and says it was through the grace of the mother of us all that he landed here. He didn’t know anyone here, but his sister Jane, who he says is his godmother and Real Life Fairy Godmother, found lodging for him at The Blu-Buck Mercantile. (He declares that was largely due to Jane being smitten by Kagan Coughlin’s dimples.) It was Alexe van Beuren who invited him to Nativity. “I discovered a joyful weekly

celebration of the Lord at the darling little church and I committed to the loving community,” despite Vedanta (a branch of Hinduism) as his chosen sect. He now regards himself as a religious bigamist.

Soon after moving here, he began meeting “one bright, interesting, kind, funny person after another” and that continues, he said. “I fell for Water Valley through and through, and through (again) grace in abundance, I found a fine job as a bankruptcy paralegal (sticking it to the man on behalf of the destitute on a daily basis).” He rented a home from Joe York and was rescued by Katie, a red heeler mix, who Jack claims is the sweetest dog in town.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky where his background was in journalism, broadcasting, and horse racing, Jack went through a period of unhappiness that contrived to destroy his life. But now we have the great joy to call him ours and he says he is grateful for the opportunity to wash our weekly after-party dishes at the building he calls the SNL. “I ask the Nativity community to please accept my thanks for welcoming me. Onward and upward with the

hearts!”

Editor's note: To know Jack better, feel free to work alongside him in the kitchen. He always needs someone to dry and put away.

Those Who Serve:

Celebrant: Rev. Ann Whitaker

Music: Brenda/Katherine

Altar Guild: Vivian/Anne

LEM: Laura

MPOD: Mary Beth

Coffee Hour: everyone

Lessons: Christ the King

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Psalm 46

Colossians 1:11-20

Luke 23:33-43

Announcements

Advent Book Study begins next Sunday at 9:00. We will start at 9:15 am in the Salt & Light Building. The book is Expecting Emmanuel: Eight Women Who Prepared the Way by Joanna Harader. This is for everyone! All are invited. Please read the Introduction and the stories of Tamar & Rahab. Margaret Love Denman will be leading us in our study of Tamar and Rahab. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kathy Shoalmire at (662) 801-6695.

Pledge Cards please turn them in by December 1st. You can place them in the offering plate or mail them in. The Finance Committee needs them to set the budget for 2026.

The Reynolds (Tommy & Liz) Christmas Party: is December 11th at Fountain Square. Please Save the Date. Food & Entertainment will be provided.

Volunteers Needed - December 12th - We will be offering the Salt & Light porch and building as a gathering spot for the Water Valley Christmas parade. Volunteers needed for serving the hot chocolate. Details to follow.

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.