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.