Reflections

Reflections

This Sunday, October 23, marks the beginning of two significant seasons in our common life at Nativity.

First, thanks to the marvelous efforts of our treasurer, Kathryn York, and her Budget Committee, we will launch a formal Stewardship Campaign during which time we will be asking members of this special spiritual community to make a financial commitment to the ongoing life, mission and ministry of Nativity.

Over the next three weeks we will be allowing ourselves to dream, “What if…?” as it relates to the possibilities of ministry at the Church of the Nativity. Stewardship Pledge Cards will be mailed out, and will be available at the Church for those who have not yet shared their mailing addresses (Hint, hint….). We will use the following three weeks to consider what might be our appropriate personal financial response to the generosity of our “loving, life-giving, liberating God” (Bishop Curry), known so wonderfully within the Nativity community.

Secondly, on Sunday we will be welcoming, for a season, Tina Frizzell, who has been assigned by Bishop Seage to Nativity as part of her training to become a Vocational Deacon. Tina is a member of St. Peter’s, Oxford, and is enrolled in the A.C. Marble School for the Diaconate. We’ll be talking a lot about what a deacon is and does as Tina works and worships with us over the next several months, but here is a start: The three ordained ministries of the church-bishop, priest, deacon- serve as icons for the work of the church. The bishop speaks to the unity and universality of the church; the priest, to the sacramental nature of the church; and the deacon, to the church’s servant ministry and her commitment to the poor, the weak and outcast.

We welcome Tina into our community for a season, and hope to learn from her, even as she learns from us.

Sunday’s Scriptures- A Few Brief Thoughts

Jeremiah 14:7-10,19-22 The prophet knows his own disobedience. He knows what he deserves, but dares to hope, that in God’s mercy, God will not give him what he deserves. That, too, is our greatest hope.

Psalm 84:1-6 Our soul yearns for union with God, a dwelling place of joy and peace. So why do we so often run away from God’s overtures?

2Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 St. Paul, at the end of his life, writes to Timothy, his beloved protégé, with words that reflect both the challenge of faithfulness and the deep peace that such a life brings: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” What a beautiful thing to be able to say at the end of our lives.

Luke 18:9-14 Those who bring before God their achievements as marks of their deservedness profoundly miss the point. Those who know their own failures and dare to trust in God’s mercies have a glimpse of the Kingdom of God that will forever elude the proud.

Other Matters of Interest

Adult Class Continues- Our Adult Sunday School class, Episcopal Church 101: A Searcher’s Guide to Our Peculiar Way of Life”, began last week, but you are free to join with us at any point in our 5 week journey. For the most part, each class is self contained, and can be appreciated even if you have not participated in previous sessions. We meet 9:15 to 10:00 at the This Is Noteworthy building ( 16 S Main Street).

October 30: Nativity Halloween Fellowship- Next Sunday after worship Robbie Fisher and Beth Mayeaux will host a pot luck luncheon at their home. Our hosts will provide chili, cornbread, muffins and a variety of drinks. S’mores and hot dogs to cook on a grill will be available. Others are welcome to bring side dishes,salads, appetizers and desserts. Costumes are optional!

Directions to Robbie and Beth’s home: From Nativity, go north on Main/Central Street 1/10th of a mile to Market Street and take a left on Market (going west towards Highway 7).

Go 1.1 miles on Market, passing Water Valley High School, then take a right onto Airways Acres Drive. ( This is before you get to Highway 7 and the Airways Acres street sign is missing, but it is the only paved street with houses on the right after the High School.)

Go 1/3 of a mile on Airways Acres where it dead ends into W. Lee Street and take a left onto W. Lee.

Go 1/10th of a mile passing over a small bridge and take a left into the first gravel driveway ( mailbox across the street says #723). This is before Highway 7.

There is an iron gate at the front which automatically opens as you approach.

Beth Cell (601) 717-2365 Robbie Cell (601) 941-1865

See you Sunday!

Peace,

Duncan