Category: From the Clergy

Blog Posts from our Clergy members

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Episco101

Episco101: What you need to know about the Episcopal Church (but maybe didn’t know where to ask)

This Lent, you are invited to bring your questions about being an Episcopalian, and the clergy are going to do their best to answer. Perhaps you have questions like…

  • Why do some people make the sign of the cross during the service and others don’t?
  • What is that motion Deacon David used to make when he announced the Gospel?
  • What is that light above the box on the wall beside the altar?
  • Does the Episcopal Church do a “First Communion” ceremony?

There will be a wooden box in the Narthex for you to place all your questions. Phillip and I will take them and offer answers either in a blog post or a short video each week during Lent. 

Then, on March 26, the Fifth Sunday of Lent, we will hold an open forum after the 10:30 service for any and all questions that have not yet been addressed or asked. 

— The Rev. Stephanie Allen

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From the Clergy Uncategorized

Opening the Book of Common Prayer

Book of Common Prayer

When you are sitting in the pews of the Church of the Nativity, you might be asked to turn to a page of the Book of Common Prayer. And when you pull the book out of the book holder and open the book, you notice that the pages are yellow in a certain section of the book. As you move to open the book, the book pages automatically fall open to a certain page, most likely page 355: The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two. Generations of hands have been opening these books, and turning to that section so that the book knows where you need to go.

And chances are, after a while, you don’t need to open the book to page 355, because the rhythm of the opening of the service is inscribed in your brain:

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

And now because you know it by heart, you have noticed the people around you saying “And blessed be GOD’S kingdom…” and so you start saying it too, because the idea of God being confined to one gender has opened up your ideas about God, and you are experiencing the Book of Common Prayer being just that – a book that the people of God use to express their prayers to a God they know in their own language.

And you do need to turn to the page with the Gloria (356) or if you are attending 10:30, you don’t need to because you are singing it and it turns out that singing helps you memorize texts and those tunes and those words get deep into your soul so that one day you find yourself singing it to yourself when your soul needed to feel the presence and reminder of God, “For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord…”

And after a season or two of turning to page 361, or page 367, for Eucharistic prayers A or B, you start to recognize which prayer, and again, your soul remembers those words, “Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.” And you notice you don’t need to scramble for the book after communion and can join the rhythm of “Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members…” and later in the day in the grocery store line as you feel guilty for all that you didn’t accomplish during the week or weekend, those same words come into your mind and you remember what it feels like to be graciously accepted.

The words of the Book of Common Prayer are soulful words spoken by generation after generation. When we reach for the prayer book, we are joining with Episcopalians and Anglicans around the world who might not agree on every theological tenant, but we do agree that these words can still express our soul’s deep longing for a living experience of God.

And yes, we can read those words in a printed pamphlet just as well, and we will use the printed bulletin during certain seasons of the church year because our tradition holds a wealth of other prayers to say new things to our souls. But there is something important in opening the book, holding the weight in your hands, flipping through and noticing the abundance of other prayers found there, not just what we do on Sunday morning. When our children play with the books and read those prayers because the sermon is going on a bit too long, they are joining generations of children who have sat in pews in Episcopal churches doing the same, feeding those growing souls with the words they need, helping the language of the prayer book become their language too.

Is it confusing the first few times you use the book? Yep. Is it awkward to balance a prayer book, hymnal, and bulletin? Absolutely. Will it feel that way forever? No. These next few Sundays, I encourage you, when you hear, “Our service begins on page 355,” take a moment to feel the weight of the book in your hands, notice the yellowed pages, and allow the words to sink into your soul. Be grounded and present in that moment, and may you feel God there with you.

— Rev. Stephanie

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From the Clergy Glad Tidings

New Lay Associate position

From Rev. Stephanie:

I am delighted to announce Bradley Burgess will step in to the newly created role “Lay Associate for Music, Communications, and Administration.” This will combine the role of Organist/Choirmaster with the role of Parish Coordinator, with a special emphasis on the communications aspect of the coordinator position.

This will be a full time position for Bradley, and he will spend at least half of his time in the church office. The office will be open Monday through Thursday, 9:30am until 2:00pm.

In addition to being a talented musician and musical director, Bradley brings unique skills to this new role. As an organist, he understands the details of liturgy in creating the weekly bulletin. As a self-described tech enthusiast, he brings new eyes to our digital communications and will strengthen our communications. As a full time staff member, he will be able to collaborate with the communications team and connect the talents and skills within that team. If you have worked with him in the music program, you know he is highly organized and detailed oriented.

Most importantly for the person who fills this role, he is kind, gracious, and has an excellent sense of humor. He understands the ethos of the Church of the Nativity and has acclimated to our church’s culture with ease. I am excited to work with Bradley in this new role, and I look forward to utilizing this new staffing configuration to serve the Nativity community. 

Peace,
Stephanie+

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From the Clergy Glad Tidings

Thank You! from David

David at the altar

From The Rev. Dr. David Lynch:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. . . . (Ecclesiastes 3:1). I give thanks for the season and the time that you dear friends have allowed me to serve as your Deacon. I have learned so very much from all of you as we have grown together spiritually. But the time has come for me to hand over both the responsibilities and the personal rewards of regular service at the altar and pastoral care to other capable persons.

Thank you for your many generous kind words, spoken and written. And thank you especially for the tremendous support you demonstrated last Sunday in the worship services and that delicious potluck meal. My tears were tears of joy. I felt surrounded by your love.

I give special thanks for the privilege of working with the Reverend Stephanie Allen, who is exceptionally gifted in all the roles expected of a priest: pastor, preacher, administrator, counselor, visionary leader. She has been a true mentor to me, both professionally and spiritually. I count her as a dear friend.

The Church of the Nativity understands and models God’s beloved community, setting high standards for all of us. I look forward to continued association with you as a loyal member of the congregation. My prayers will always be with you.

With a grateful heart,
David

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Church Bulletin From the Clergy Glad Tidings Outreach Social Justice

Nativity Stewardship 2023

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From the Clergy

What Do We Tell Our Children?

What do we tell our children when they hear the news of 19 children dead? What do we say when they ask us if they are safe? What do we DO to make sure they are safe?
My heart is heavy this week, as I know yours is as well. How do we tell our children that we adults, the ones tasked with keeping them safe, that we failed them this week as we have failed them too many times before?
What do we do with our heavy hearts, our anxious bodies, our incandescent rage?
And what do we tell our children?

First, off, we as adults need to spend a little time processing our own feelings. Journal, go for a run, call a friend, cry, scream into a pillow. Do what you need to do to let some of the emotion out. You can share some of your feelings with your kid, especially if they are older, but don’t lay
that emotion on them. Open wounds stink, and they need you to be present for their feelings.

Second, be honest. We failed. Grown-ups don’t always get it right. We are human, and we don’t always make good and wise decisions. We have decided as a society that the rights of a few loud voices are more important than our children’s lives, and it is clearly time for a new decision.

Third, remind them that God is still here. God is with us in our pain, in our sadness, in our rage. God gives us the gift of righteous anger – just read the psalms for some great examples.

Finally, look together at the groups who are out there doing the work, and decide as a family what you want to do to take action.

Actually, one more thing. I would remind us, the readers of this newsletter, that as Episcopalians, our prayer MUST lead to action. We don’t simply offer us prayers and then hope for the best. At the end of our worship every Sunday we are SENT OUT to do the work that God
has given us to do. We have been tasked with keeping our children safe. We have serious work to do.

Also, as Episcopalians, we can hold several potentially conflicting ideas together. We do it in the prayer book all.the.time. We can hold the nuances of having gun ownership in our Constitution AND we can work for tighter gun regulations so that our world is safer for us and our children.

On Sunday, May 29, we will offer three different prayers:
A prayer for those being ordained (for Phillip), from the Book of Common Prayer.
A prayer for those who have lost their lives in military service, from the supplemental Enriching Our Worship materials.
A prayer from the Sisters of Mercy called “Let the shooting end.”

While it may seem that these three prayers do not go together, for Episcopalians, they do. We can celebrate the hope that is found in the order and rhythm of the Book of Common Prayer, we can pray for those who have died to offer protection for us all, and we can pray for a better
future where we are all safe from the threat of gun violence.

Moms Demand Action
Bishops Against Gun Violence

Every town for Gun Safety

North Carolina Council of Churches
Vigil and Community Call to Action for Uvalde, TX Victims
Thursday, May 26, 5:30 p.m.
Bicentennial Plaza
1 E Edenton Street, Raleigh

We lead the world with 288 school shootings since 2009. This is unconscionable and it is high time our elected officials do something about this. Stand with people of faith and conscience today for a press and vigil event to remember those killed and injured in Uvalde, Texas. Click here to RSVP.

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From the Clergy

The Rev. Stephanie Allen’s Easter Sunday Sermon

To view and listen to the Rev. Stephanie Allen’s Easter Sunday sermon, click the play button below.

Stephanie’s Sermon on Easter Sunday 2022
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From the Clergy

Pre-Worship Prayers – Anglican Rosary (Epiphany)

Cross/God Symbol:

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the  Holy Spirit, Amen.

Invitatory Bead:

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Cruciform Bead 1:

Blessed Savior, we come to you in wonder, and lay our hearts before You: 

fill them with wisdom and courage that we may love You boldly and show forth your glory in our lives.

We pray for Clergy and Lay Ministers serving today

Set 1 Week Beads: Name 7 ministers/leaders

Cruciform Bead 2:

May we persevere in reflecting your light, Lord Jesus, in all we do and say,

by embodying compassion and integrity, resisting the forces of evil and injustice, and serving each other and You in humility and hope.

May both our words and our silences be ever aligned with building true justice and peace, O Holy One.

We pray for those among us

Set 2 Week Beads: Name 7 of those gathered for worship

Cruciform Bead 3:

May we ever be mindful as the Body of Christ in the world, bearing your name

as a sign of our devotion to your gospel, Blessed Jesus, that we stand with the lost and forgotten as You did, and never acquiesce to fear, exploitation, or hatred. 

We pray for those who need an extra measure of Christ’s presence

Set 3 Week Beads: Name 7 on our prayer list

Cruciform Bead 4:

May we remember that we are the children of your Light, O God, and called to holiness and love.

We pray for the work you are calling us into

Set 4 Week Beads: Name 7 events, tasks, or other work on our hearts

Final Cruciform Bead:

May we be forces for healing and reconciliation, and embrace each other in charity and empathy in the name of Our Shepherd and King.

Lord, we ask for your blessing and your grace, and ask your peace and light to rest upon those whose needs we lift before You.

Amen.

Invitatory Bead:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Cross/God Symbol:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

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From the Clergy

Consider the Rainbow

Last Saturday, Marilyn and I watched the beautiful, poignant funeral of Prince Philip in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle from start to finish.

It struck me, a few days before the annual observance of Earth Day, how evident Philip’s lifelong dedication to conservation of our planet was.  When the World Wildlife Fund was begun in 1961, he was a founding member and served as president of its British Appeal until 1996.  His lifelong passion for the welfare of God’s creation was reflected in the scriptures and liturgy which he chose for his funeral.

After the choir sang the Navy Hymn, the first lesson was from Ecclesiasticus 43 (the Wisdom of Sirach, in the Apocrypha of our Bibles). Consider the beauty of these verses:

Look at the rainbow and praise its Maker; it shines with a supreme beauty, rounding the sky with its gleaming arc, a bow bent by the hands of the Most High. His command speeds the snow storm and sends the swift lightning to execute his sentence. To that end the storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly out like birds. By his mighty power the clouds are piled up and the hailstones broken small. The crash of his thunder makes the earth writhe, and, when he appears, an earthquake shakes the hills. At his will the south wind blows, the squall from the north and the hurricane. He scatters the snow-flakes like birds alighting; they settle like a swarm of locusts. The eye is dazzled by their beautiful whiteness, and as they fall the mind is entranced. He spreads frost on the earth like salt, and icicles form like pointed stakes. A cold blast from the north, and ice grows hard on the water, settling on every pool, as though the water were putting on a breastplate. He consumes the hills, scorches the wilderness, and withers the grass like fire. Cloudy weather quickly puts all to rights, and dew brings welcome relief after heat. By the power of his thought he tamed the deep and planted it with islands. Those who sail the sea tell stories of its dangers, which astonish all who hear them; in it are strange and wonderful creatures, all kinds of living things and huge sea-monsters. By his own action he achieves his end, and by his word all things are held together.

Music which he requested for the service included two works which he had commissioned:  Benjamin Britten’s Jubilate Deo (Psalm 100) and William Lovelady’s setting of Psalm 104, that magnificent hymn to Creation.

It seemed appropriate that this beautiful service should take place just a few days before the annual observance of Earth Day. As we rejoice in the beauty of this Spring season, may we always be mindful of the need to respect and continue to care for this marvelous gift.

I invite you to enjoy William Lovelady’s setting of Psalm 104, as it was sung at Prince Philip’s service:

Blessings to you all, dear friends.

David

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From the Clergy

Easter in the Communion of Saints

There is a reason why many churches begin their Easter Vigil service outside in their columbarium, or memorial garden, or church cemetery. It hearkens back to the ancient Christian practice of worshipping in the catacombs, celebrating resurrection in the midst of the dead as a reminder that death is not the end. The light of Christ: Thanks be to God.

It is often easy to see signs of resurrected life in the signs and wonders of spring in the western hemisphere. The budding trees, the flowers emerging from bulbs planted in the fall. But wait, even those signs harken back to images of death. Trees must lose their leaves before they can bud. We have watched them bare all winter. Bulbs must be planted in the fall, as leaves fall, harvest is gathered, and growth lies dormant, waiting in stillness. All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

This Easter in particular, I feel like I am celebrating new life while in the midst of the communion of saints. I have never experienced Easter in this way before. Somehow, imagining the communion of saints, all those who have gone on before, either in the year 2020, the first few months of 2021, or hundreds, thousands, years before that – I can picture them, gathering around us, surrounding us as we slowly creep out of a pandemic, as we try to imagine what new life will look like post-vaccine, as we wait in hope to no longer be afraid. And one was a doctor and one was a priest and one was slain by a fierce wild beast.

They surround us. They support us. They pray for us. We have a funny “both/and” with our idea of saints in the Episcopal Church. On the one hand, we believe that there were exemplary Christians who lived lives of great faithfulness that we can emulate and celebrate. On the other hand, we call every baptized person who has died a saint in the communion of saints. Which is correct? Well… both. Our lives are lived, our faith has ups and downs, but God is merciful and just and does not leave or reject us. Sunday School teacher: What do you think Jesus did when he went down to hell for those three days? The child: He was looking for his friend Judas, of course.

There is a mural inside the Episcopal Church of St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco. It is a mural of dancing saints. And it is all the saints in every shape, form, color, age. And they dance around the church. And when worship is over, the congregation joins hands, and dances out of the church, a reminder that that they are surrounded always by the communion of saints, and they themselves are saints going out into the world as disciples to share God’s love. This Easter, may you join the dance and feel surrounded by the love of all the saints. Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

You can watch a video of the Dancing Saints and read more about it here.