Frank L. Abbott Jr., 76, of Greenwood died suddenly Thursday at his residence. Visitation will be at 2 p.m. today at The Episcopal Church of The Nativity in Greenwood with memorial services following at 3 p.m. The Rev. Peter Gray will officiate. Greenwood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The Choir Corner: Epiphany, Lent and Easter
David Williamson, Choirmaster and Organist
Looking at Hymn 135, “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise” one notices that this is a seasonal hymn addressing the themes of this Epiphany season. The repetition of "manifest" reminds us of the manifestation of Christ to all, not just the descendants of Israel. It covers the Baptism of Christ and the Transfiguration, which are the focus of the first and last Sundays after Epiphany. The wedding at Cana is also alluded to for those years with a longer Epiphany in which we hear in the lectionary Jesus’ first miracle. The tune name is "Salzburg," harmonized by Bach, representing some of the best hymnody in the German/Dutch/Swiss Protestant tradition.
Contrasting to this is Hymn 448, "O Love how deep, how broad, how high," which is used extensively in both the Lenten and Easter seasons, and usually several times in the Season after Pentecost. The allusion to the Love of God is obvious in the title, and regardless of the season, it sometimes is the most cohesive choice for coordinating with the Collect, Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle and Gospel of a given Sunday. The Tune is "Deus tuorum militum," alluding to the original Latin text, "O God of your soldiers." It is French in origin, written just after the death of Bach, and represents the "new school" of Roman Catholic hymnody that emerged as a result of the Counter Reformation.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Loosen your belts, put on your dancing shoes, and join us for one more celebration before we begin Lent! Nativity’s annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper begins at 5:30pm, Tuesday, February 13. Join us for pancakes, sausage, Mardi Gras beads, and the last Alleluias of Epiphany before we begin the fast on Ash Wednesday.
A Note from Peter (February 2018)
Time and Talent Surveys
New Service Opportunity for 5th-8th Grade Youth
For the Spring of 2018, we are creating a new service opportunity for our 5th-8th grade youth on Sunday mornings at 9:30am. Instead of Sunday School, these members of our church will be invited to assist with our youngest Godly Play classroom. As our 3k-5k Godly Play teachers can attest, we have lots of energy to manage in that room! Before assisting, youth will be invited to attend a brief training with our Godly Play teachers so that they can understand the particular format of the program and how they can be helpful. After attending the training, these youth will be scheduled as helpers just as adult teachers are. Our hope is that their participation will continue to nurture a spirit of service in our youth while also exposing them to the rich biblical teaching of Godly Play.
Annual Council of the Episcopal Church in Mississippi
Annual Parish Meeting
Please plan on being present for the 2018 annual parish meeting Sunday, January 14 after the 10:30 service. We’ll have a potluck meal together, hear from leadership on the state of the parish, elect new vestry members, and take a look at the first annual report of the Nativity Permanent Endowment. Additionally, the parish will be asked to approve one minor revision to the existing policies and guidelines of the endowment. Contact Peter if you would like more information on that revision.
