New Vestry!
Hello wonderful Nativity people! I'm Alexe van Beuren, new Vestry member, and I will be attempting to take over communication from Sean Kirkpatrick. Big shoes to fill-- hasn't he done the most wonderful job? I am so thankful for his service to our church!
So in future, please send any prayer requests, service changes, announcements, etc to me! I am easy to find at the B.T.C., my cell is 662-473-8069, and my personal email is alexe.pvb@gmail.com.
How is everyone doing out there? Pandemic, historic weather, general anxiety? I thought it would be fun to introduce the new Vestry members, and if the Spirit moves you to chime in, feel free! I will include any replies in our next weekly newsletter!
Without further ado, the new vestry!
Joe York!
I’ve been an Episcopalian since age 5. Before that we went to the Baptist church in Glencoe, Alabama, but for whatever reason my mom decided we’re were going to be Episcopalians and that’s what we did. I was baptized and confirmed at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter in Gadsden, Alabama, where I spent many years as an acolyte and thurifer, which was great fun. I attended St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Auburn, AL, during college. I even lived at the church in an upstairs apartment for several semesters as one of six “church mice” who lived there and cared for the church.
What I love most about our Nativity is how we live into our faith. We truly take to the heart the mantel of being the hands and feet of Christ in our community and we bear that out with the many acts of grace and kindness within our community that begin in the hearts and minds of our compassionate congregants. To me, Nativity calls us to be our best selves, to be servants, and to be active participant in the kingdom of God here in this place. I love that so very much.
Alexe van Beuren!
I grew up sporadically attending a small Episcopalian church in Little Washington, Virginia. My chronically late family would sneak into the balcony and then my sister and I would load our plates at coffee hour and take them to the station wagon in surreptitious shifts. Despite all that, love for the liturgy and ritual of our church was instilled, and by age 12, I was a frequent acolyte most notable for my intermittent fainting spells.
Kagan and I moved as young whippersnappers to Water Valley in 2006. Both our children were born here.
I love the beauty of our church, the strength of our small congregation, and the acts of love and kindness our church has committed in our community. I am proud to be an Episcopalian, especially here in our town at this time.
Kathryn York!
I've been an Episcopalian since 2011.
I've lived in Water Valley since 2015.
My favorite thing about Nativity is its mission to be part of the fabric of our community by being the hands and feet of Christ right here in Water Valley.
James McCormick, Senior Warden!
I moved to Water Valley in the summer of 2019. Juawice had moved here a few months earlier, but I had to finish out the school year at USM in Hattiesburg. We want to live in The Valley because our daughter and son-in-law are here (Hannah McCormick and Ryan Pierce). This is a marvelous community. I have been an Episcopalian since after college. I grew up Lutheran and graduated from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Juawice and I met when we were working at the Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans. We were married at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Hammond, Louisiana.
We have lived in Starkville, Cleveland, and Hattiesburg. I taught Statistics and Data Analytics at MSU, DSU, and USM. I am now retired from teaching. I enjoy taking care of our grandchild, Noa Caroline, every afternoon. Our son, Cullom, lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. We have three dogs and two cats. I stay busy with various renovation and building projects. I am also active in the Water Valley Arts Council. I have served on the Vestry at Resurrection in Starkville and at Trinity in Hattiesburg.
I am thrilled to now be serving as Senior Warden of the Vestry at Church of the Nativity. My favorite thing about Nativity is the people. I look forward to when we can once again gather at the church for worship and fellowship.
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