The Window Volume 20, Issue 70 December 1, 2014
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The Episcopal Church of the Nativity The Window Volume 20, Issue 70 December 1, 2014 From the Rector: “Sshhh! Quiet. It’s Advent” read the sign in the hallway. I found it weird to read those words. Certainly, Advent is a season of preparation, of anticipation, of making room in our hearts for the im- pending Nativity of the Lord. Yet, I never really regarded it as a time that was meant for silence. Truthfully, I bristled when I read those words. I’ve never especially liked being shushed. It always feels as though I’m being chastised by a pa- rental figure. I have resisted mightily the urge to tell our children to use their inside voices. But as they grow and the volume level of two toddlers shouting becomes more common at our house, I find myself falling into those same patterns that my parents, and theirs before them, and generations of moms and dads have used. Asking them to hush while others speak has become a regular phrase. I find myself needing some peace in the din. Increasingly, our Christmas season is stretched out before us. By the day the Nativity finally arrives, many of us are almost sick to death of Jingle Bells in the stores, Salvation Army ringers, holiday specials on television, and every other facet of our lives which are penetrated by the Christmas advertising blitz. The noise surrounding this blessed event has grown and grown. I recall fondly a time from my early childhood when stores at least waited until after Thanksgiv- ing to put out Christmas decoration. This year, when I went out shopping for Halloween candy, there were already Christmas displays in multiple stores. Over the years I have found myself becoming more and more of an Advent Grinch, grumbling and complaining about the encroachment of Christ- mas outside of its twelve day season beginning on December 25th. But rather than curse the darkness of the overwhelming drive in our culture to start Christmas in the summer time, this year, I hope to light a candle. In the midst of finalizing the remodeling and then moving into the rectory, Christmas parties, various gift ingatherings, and everything else, I am carving out some intentional time to be quiet. I am making some time to be quiet in the presence of my Father in heaven, so I can tune in to the words he is speaking to his people. I invite you to the same. I pray that in the “busy-ness” of your December that you will join us for worship. Come and hear the stories that make this feast of the church such an extraordinary time. The Old Testament lessons on the Sundays of Advent speak to us of the desire for God to return. The New Testament selections remind us of how to live as though that return were imminent. The Gospel takes us through the ways in which the world was made ready for the coming of the Messiah, the incarnation of our Living God. Each Sunday offers some way to reflect on the annual celebration of the Incarnation of our sav- ior Jesus Christ. Lessons and Carols on December 7th will rehearse the story which we prepare to hear again. If we take our time to prepare, then we can hear the stories as if they were being told for the first time. If we will be quiet and allow the tender voice of God to proclaim the coming of the Lord, then the story of the Nativity can be rich and powerful. If our lives and schedules crowd out our ability to listen intently to the voice of God calling us to “let every heart prepare him room” then we lose the fullness of the joy which comes with this season. May you find the time to prepare to receive the Word made flesh this Christmas. Peter+ ~ December 2014 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 a.m. ± Healing First Wednesday for Service Women Group, 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall 7 7:30 a.m. - Holy 8 9 10 11 12 13 Eucharist Rite I 10 a.m. ± Healing 7-10 a.m. - Saint 10:30 a.m. - Lessons & Service Joseph¶s Guild Carols 11:30 a.m. - Santa for Seniors Ingathering 5:30 p.m. - DRM Visit 14 7:30 a.m. - Holy 15 16 17 18 19 20 Eucharist Rite I 10 a.m. ± Healing 10:30 a.m. - Holy Service Eucharist Rite II 5 p.m. - Angel Tree 6 p.m. ± Vestry Meeting Ingathering, Carol in the Parish Hall Singing and Dinner 21 7:30 a.m. - Holy 22 23 24 25 26 27 Eucharist Rite I Turkeys From Heaven 3 p.m. ± Children¶s 10 a.m. ± Holy 10:30 a.m. - Holy Service Eucharist Rite I Eucharist Rite II 10:30 p.m. ± Festival Mass 3 p.m. ± Greening of the Church 28 7:30 a.m. - Holy 29 30 31 Notes: Unless otherwise noted, Sunday service s: 7:30 a.m. Holy Communion Rite I ± Eucharist Rite I 10 a.m. ± Healing 8:30 a.m. ± Breakfast 10:30 a.m. - Holy Service 9:15 a.m. ± Lectionary Class in the Librar y Eucharist Rite II 9:15 a.m. ± Nativity 101 in the Parish Ha ll 10:30 a.m.± Holy Communion Rite II Please email items you would like included in the calendar section to [email protected]. December Lay Ministry Schedule December 7 December 14 Lessons and Carols Altar Guild: Libby Planz, Melissa Gholson, Brenda Ortega, Lynda Sullivan, Liz Smyth Altar Guild: Didi Cody, Mary Alford, Julana Harrison, Acoloytes: C- Mikey Mason; 1st - Scarlet Van Meter; 2nd Kathi King, Christine Floyd - Abby Mason; GB - Bella Van Meter Acoloytes: Crucifer, Hugh Wheeless Breakfast Chefs: Joe Chambers, Lane Miller and Whit Breakfast Chefs: Johnny Turner and Robert Holman Huskey Eucharistic Ministers: 7:30 a.m. - Susan Henderson Eucharistic Ministers: 7:30 a.m. - Hank Vaughn Flowers: Sue Espy and Lara Kosolapoff-Wright 10:30 a.m. - Stuart Ibberson and Doug Bates Greeters: Mary Alford Flowers: Melinda Kellenberger and Sharon Nichols Ushers: 7:30 a.m. Al Matheny Greeters: Bob Hendrix 10:30 a.m. Doug Preston and Merritt Holman Lectors: 1st - Carol Rheingans, 2nd - Stephanie Gibson, Vestry Lockup: Whit Huskey POP - David Deal Ushers: 7:30 a.m. Charles Allgood 10:30 a.m. Bill Mallis and Charlie Northcutt Vestry Lockup: Gina Medley December 21 December 24 - 3 p.m. Altar Guild: Regina Taliaferro, Kathy Brown, Suzanne Altar Guild: Tammi Holman, Libby Harper, Cathy Orr, Hanahan, Traci Newton, Becky Scott Karen Pittman, Carol Vaughn Acoloytes: C - Will Gholson; 1st - Andrew Gholson; 2nd Acoloytes: C - Preston Hall; 1st - Mary Grant Hall; 2nd - Evie Saliba; GB - Tallulah Randolph - Evie Saliba; GB - TBA; MC - TBA Breakfast Chefs: William Griggs and Mike Owen Eucharistic Ministers: 3:30 p.m. Doug Bates and Eucharistic Ministers: 7:30 a.m. - Bill Elliott Harry Hall 10:30 a.m. - George Dennis and Collier Espy Flowers: Karen Jackson, Gina Medley Flowers: Greening of the Church Greeters: Greeters: Franklin Skinner Lectors: 1st - Lee Scott, 2nd - Valerie Harris, POP - Lectors: 1st - Taylor Flowers, 2nd - Elizabeth Welch, Harry Hall POP - Doug Bates Ushers: 3 p.m. Whit Huskey and Ben Slingluff Ushers: 7:30 a.m. Wendell Switzer Vestry Lockup: Ben Slingluff 10:30 a.m. Kevin Patton and Gary Rheingans Vestry Lockup: Joe Chambers December 24 - 10:30 p.m. December 25 Altar Guild: TBA Christmas Day Acoloytes: T: Andrew Gholson; C: Hugh Wheeless; 1st - Altar Guild: TBA Will Gholson; 2nd: Amber Somma; MC: Eddie Somma; Acoloytes: C: Hank Miller; 1st - Stuart Ibberson; 2nd - GB: Sylvia Somma David Deal; GB - Vella VanMeter; MC - Scarlet Breakfast Chefs: No Breakfast VanMeter Eucharistic Ministers: 10:30 p.m.- Dan Johnson and Breakfast Chefs: No Breakfast Stuart Ibberson 10:30 a.m. - David Deal and Stuart Ibberson Flowers: Flowers: Greeters: Richard and Barbara Seaman Greeters: Charlie and Nelda Northcutt Lectors: 1st -Stephanie Gibson, 2nd - Stuart Ibberson, Lectors: 1st - David Deal, 2nd - Jeff Crittenden, POP - POP - Johnny Turner David Deal Ushers: 10:30 p.m. Web Gholson, Franklin Skinner, Ushers: 10 a.m. Hank Vaughn and John Steensland John Strickland, C.K. Merrill Vestry Lockup: Linda Fisher Vestry Lockup: TBA December 28 Altar Guild: TBA Flowers: Christmas Acoloytes: C: Anthony Wittenborn; 1st - Priscilla Greeters: Debbie Somma Morales; 2nd - Mary Grant Hall; GB - Caroline Orr; MC Lectors: 1st -Carol Rheingans, 2nd - Taylor Flowers, - Preston Hall POP - Valerie Harris Breakfast Chefs: No Breakfast Ushers: 7:30 a.m. Bill Elliott Eucharistic Ministers: 7:30 a.m. - Debra Strickland 10:30 a.m. Lane Miller and Robert Clark 10:30 a.m. - Collier Espy and Doug Bates Vestry Lockup: Charles Allgood New Vestry Members At the Annual Meeting November 23, Nativity elected five new Vestry membes. The new members are, left to right, Johnny Turner, Lane Miller, Eliza- beth Welch, Wendell Switzer, and Jerry Marsella. The newly elected Vestry members are invited to attend the Vestry meeting 6 p.m., December 16 in the Parish Hall. Diocese Convention Delegates Along with voting for new Vestry members during the Annual Meet- ing, Nativty also voted for two lay delegates to the Diocesan Conven- tion slated for Feb. 19-21, 2015, at Trinity Church in Mobile. Our delegates, who will accompany the senior and junior wardens to convetion, are Becky Taylor Scott and Harry Hall. Delegates to the convention will vote for the fifth bishop of the Diocese of the Cen- tral Gulf Coast. Meet The Staff The Rev. Peter Wong Virginia Flowers Nancy Rogers James Slater Rector Childrens and Youth Administrative Sexton Ministry Coordinator Assistant In future issues of the Window, look for articles on the role each plays in the spiritual life of Nativity! Daughters of the King The Nativity chapter of Daughters of the King last month celebrated their 30th anniversary.