The Episcopal Church of the Nativity The Window Volume 21, Issue 7 July 2015 From the Rector: Three weeks of intense classes, two weddings, a funeral, a bap- tism. Three thousand more miles on the RAV4 from four round trips to Sewanee, old friendships renewed, new ones forged, and as I write this I am on a plane out of Atlanta bound for Salt Lake City and the Triennial General Convention of the Episcopal Church. June has been a month of transition and travel, of new begin- nings, of resurrection. But to be perfectly candid with you, I am dreading the prospect of 10 days worth of legislative sessions, committee meetings, reports, receptions and resolutions which lack the teeth to transform the church or the world. Why on earth, then, did I allow myself to stand for election to this body? Why would I subject myself to 10 days of budget for- mulating, liturgical revisions and all the hoopla that goes along with General Convention? There have been moments when I am not entirely certain. There have been moments when I thought this was a grave error in judgment. It has certainly put additional strain on the staff, on my family and on the parish as a whole. I stood for election because when the body gets together, we are made stronger by our com- mon bonds. I stood for election because of the opportunity for transformation through relation- ship, the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The resolutions, the budget processes, the commit- tee reports and all the hoopla that goes along with General Convention are not the most important thing that we will do in Salt Lake City. We will stand together to worship a God who chose to come and be among us. And just as God chooses to be among us, he calls us to be with one an- other. Now, there will be news reports out of General Convention. There will be issues that may un- settle you. There will be pundits and projections and all manner of reasons for handwringing. What will draw the media attention will be controversy. But this is not the first time that contro- versy has embroiled this gathering. This is not the first time that General Convention has under- taken difficult issues, nor will it be the last. This is the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church and we have not been able to kill her yet. Because we cannot kill the church! Regardless of what we do as a body in our legislative sessions or committee meetings, we will lift our voices in praise and worship, hear the Word of God proclaimed, and we will celebrate the Eucharist reminding us all of what is always primary for us as Christian people. While the world focuses on trouble, what should draw the attention of the people of the church is our unity in Christ. Nothing that happens in Salt Lake City is going to dramatically change the work we are doing with one another at Nativity. Nothing that you hear on the news or see on television should in- form you more about our common life of worship and our common work of ministry than Sunday mornings and the daily worship of the church. Whatever the world believes, whatever the world says about us, does not change who we are. We are the people of Christ. We are His disciples. We are the body of Christ making His life and presence known in the world, and nothing that the world does will overcome that mission in this life, or in the world to come. Peter + From the Curate: My sermon on June 21 included the reminder that we, as Chris- tians, are called to speak Peace in lifes storms and to bring the comfort of Jesus Christs abiding love to those experiencing pain, grief or crisis. The following day the church campus was filled with songs and laughter as children gathered for Vacation Bible School. These sounds of joy and lighthearted fun reminded me that we are to accompany one another through all of lifes experiences. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans chapter 12 that we are to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. As some- one who tends to seek out people who need consoling, I find Pauls words to be a wonderful reminder to not allow myself to become so narrowly focused that I forget that I am also called to share in others joy. Paul tells us that we should Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering and persevere in prayer. In each of these exhortations from Romans 12, Pauls focus is first on joy! Our VBS theme this year was 123 The Holy Trinity. I found talking about the mystery of the Trinity to be another wonderful reminder to keep our hearts and minds open to experiencing the fullness of shared life in community. Each day stories, songs and activities focused on one aspect of the person of God. We are made in Gods image mind, body and spirit. Listening to the children learn about Gods desire for creation, I pondered how our intellects mirror, though imperfectly, this creative impulse and energy. When we are healthy we are seeking to grow and develop each day, broadening our understanding. In our flesh we are a reflection of Jesus, the Word made flesh who dwelt among us, sharing our nature and healing our wounds by reconciling us to God. Jesus bids us to use our hands to serve others. We have been given the gift of a consciousness that af- fords the ability to sympathize and empathize with others. Like the Holy Spirit, we can be moved by Gods love through the impulse of our spirit as we walk with one another through life. We can, by Gods grace, be knit to one another in love. As I write this, members of the congregation are busily preparing for a memorial service. They are mov- ing tables and carrying items from the kitchen to the library and choir room. As they go they are walking on images written in sidewalk chalk leftover from yesterdays VBS fun. The Bridge club that meets in the par- ish hall will arrive close to the same time that others are gathering in another part of the campus for the sched- uled service. There are still props leftover from VBS on the tables in the parish hall, left there so those attend- ing services on Sunday can see them. Some might see dissonance in all this, the quick movement from joy to grief to joy; I see the life God calls us to live together as a community of faith. I see the family of God living life in all the fullness we are meant to experience, together as the one body. So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members of one another. Romans 12:5 Blessings, Mother Linda Suzanne The Church office will be closed Friday, July 3 and Friday July 17. July Lay Ministry Schedule July 5 July 12 July 19 July 26 One Service Altar Guild Volunteer Sched- Didi Cody, Mary Libby Planz, Melissa Regina Taliaferro, Kathy ule Alford, Julana Gholson, Brenda Brown, Suzanne Harrison, Kathi Ortega, Lynda Hanahan, Traci Newton King & Christine Salisbury & Liz & Becky Taylor Scott Floyd Smyth Acolytes Hugh Wheelless, Amber Somma, Mary Grant Hall, Stuart Ibberson, Will Gholson, Eddie Somma & Preston Hall, Will Owen, Sarah Tanton & Sylvia Somma David Clark & Tallulah Mary Blake Evie Saliba Randolph & Zeron Anthony Wittenborn Breakfast No Breakfast David Jackson, Mike Cody, Chris John Welch, Bill Chefs William Holman Cody, Lee Van Mallis, Jeff & Kaz Espy Carroll & Bob Crittenden & Lee Floyd Scott Eucharistic 10 a.m. David 7:30 a.m. 7:30 a.m. John 7:30 a.m. Bill Ministers Deal & Dan Susan Henderson Welch Elliott Johnson 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Collier Espy & George Dennis & David Deal & Stuart Ibberson Harry Hall Elizabeth Welch Flowers Kathie Buntin Gina Medley & Nelda Northcutt Sue Espy & Kathi Traci Newton & Linda Fisher King Greeters Franklin Skinner Web & Melissa Mary Alford Mike & Didi Gholson Cody Lectors 1st Mary 1st Stephanie 1st David Deal; 1st Lee Scott; Alford; 2nd Gibson; 2nd 2nd Karen 2nd Carol Valerie Harris; Johnny Turner; Jackson; POP Rheingans; POP POP Willie POP Jeff Elizabeth Welch Stephanie Fisher Crittenden Gibson Ushers Vestry Lockup Carol Vaughn Elizabeth WelchKathleen Rane Wendell Switzer ~ July 2015 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 Office Closed 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 10 a.m. ± Holy 10 a.m. ± Healing Eucharist Rite II (one Service service 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 7:30 a.m. - Holy 10 a.m. ± Healing Office Closed 6W-RVHSK¶V*XLOG Eucharist Rite I Service 7-10 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - Holy Eucharist Rite II 4 p.m. Outreach visit to the Dothan Rescue Mission 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 7:30 a.m. - Holy 10 a.m. ± Healing 2 p.m. Consecration of Eucharist Rite I Service Russell Kendrick as 10:30 a.m. - Holy Eucharist Rite II bishop. 26 27 28 29 30 31 7:30 a.m. - Holy 10 a.m. ± Healing Eucharist Rite I Service 10:30 a.m. - Holy Eucharist Rite II Unless otherwise noted, Sunday services: Please email items you would like included in the calendar 7:30 a.m. Holy Communion Rite I 8:30 a.m. Breakfast section to [email protected]. 9:15 a.m.