Church of the Nativity
Eva Warren is a preschool teacher at North Raleigh United Methodist Church and has been in the early childhood education field for the last 17 years. She graduated from NC State, is a mom to four boys aged 10–16, and a dog mom of two.
She spends her free time reading, and taking walks outside and playing games with her boys.
Welcome, Eva!
The Vestry met Tuesday evening, November 28, to begin interviewing candidates for the Interim Rector position. The Search Committee Chair, Beth Crow, and the Junior Warden, Bill Sena, are reviewing Vestry members’ input on possible members for the Search Committee. The Vestry will vote on the final list at their next Vestry meeting on December 12.
I was born and raised in the Montreal, Canada area. We were raised in the Anglican church, St. Barnabas, where all of us McKinnons served either in the choir or as crucifers, as well as youth groups. I earned a B.A.SC in industrial engineering and then went to work for a large telecommunications manufacturer. They transferred me to North Carolina, where I met my beautiful wife Becky; we have been married for 44 years and counting. My career took me around the world as my responsibilities increased in our global operations. I retired early and became a financial consultant, then retired again ten years later.
We have 2 children who live in the Nashville, TN area where we had lived for several years before moving a few more times with stops in Montreal; Raleigh; Sao Paulo, Brasil; and back to Raleigh. We travel to Nashville regularly to visit our children, grandchildren, and an increasing number of greats. Becky and I have been members at the Church of Nativity for the past 19 years, and Becky was confirmed in our church by Bishop Curry in 2012. I have served as treasurer at Nativity and continue to be involved in several ministries.
— Dave McKinnon
The Vestry voted through email this past week and elected Beth Crow to serve as Chair of the Search Committee. Since Beth is currently serving as Senior Warden, the Diocese recommends that the Junior Warden, Bill Sena, work with the newly elected Chair to select the remaining members of the Search Committee. The Vestry will then vote on the proposed committee members at their December 12 meeting. We have also begun to schedule interviews for an Interim Rector. We will keep you updated as we learn more. In the meantime, the Vestry wishes you a happy Thanksgiving week!
Hannah Harris grew up at Nativity, after joining with her family in the mid-1990’s. She served as a pre-school Sunday School teacher while in high school, then took a brief break from Nativity while she was away from Raleigh during college and just after graduation. When she returned to Raleigh, she returned as a Sunday School teacher and volunteered in that capacity until March 2020. Outside of Nativity, Hannah is very involved with her sorority and currently serves as a Province Director for Georgia and South Carolina. Professionally, Hannah works in Training and Development, specializing in e-learning.
During our November 14 Vestry meeting, the Vestry reviewed the list of Search Committee candidates with the intention of selecting a Chair. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, a quorum was not present, so the vote had to be delayed. The Vestry will vote by email over the next week and the name of the Chair will be announced once that process is complete. After the Chair is selected, s/he will meet with the Senior Warden to discern the names of those to serve on the Search Committee. A proposed Search Committee will then be formed and presented to the Vestry for final approval. The hope is to have the Search Committee established by mid-December. It is not too late to be considered as a candidate for the Search Committee. If interested, please contact Beth Crow no later than November 21. Email Beth Crow
The Vestry is also working to schedule interviews in the first week of December for the Interim Rector position. We will have more information to share after our December 12 Vestry Meeting.
by Ailsa Tessier
Our Flower Guild will be working on some new ideas to decorate the church for Christmas this year. Instead of purchasing ready-made garlands, we’d like to make our own from magnolia leaves. (After all, we’re in the South, and nothing is more Southern than magnolia!)
To that end, we ask that you let us know if you have a particular type of magnolia in your yard — we want to use the variety that has smaller leaves with the lovely velvety chocolate brown undersides. We will need a lot of these to make this project work, but with a bit of hands-on work we’ll save quite a bit of money. If we are able to source enough leaves and branches, we might do wreaths as well. We would be glad to come to your location and cut judiciously from your tree(s) during the week after Thanksgiving. If you have this type of magnolia available and are willing to donate it, we’d be most grateful. Please let Ailsa Tessier know if you can help. Email Ailsa Tessier
Nativity’s first week during this transitional period went very smoothly. We had good attendance for both services this Sunday, November 5, including two baptisms. It was also heart-warming to see and hear a larger-than-usual choir, including one of the youngest members ever: Zuzu Booth.
The Senior and Junior Wardens are working on the presentation for Nativity’s Annual Meeting which will be held this Sunday, November 12, from 9:30–10:15 am in the Nave. We also will be voting in five new Vestry members at this time, in addition to recognizing those whose terms are ending. We hope to see you there!
The Vestry is currently waiting for the Diocese to send a list of possible interim rectors; we will keep you updated as we learn more. On Tuesday, November 14, the Vestry will be selecting the Chair of the Search Committee. The Senior Warden and Chair will then meet to prayerfully discern the 8–10 parishioners they will recommend to the Vestry to serve on the committee. The goal is to have the Search Committee formed by mid-December. If you would like to be considered, or nominate someone for the Search Committee, please let the Vestry know by submitting your or your nominee’s name to Beth Crow, Senior Warden, no later than Monday, November 13. Email Senior Warden
While choosing leadership for a church is similar to secular search processes in some ways, it is also vastly different. It is a spiritual process. It is a prime time for renewal in the congregation. It is a time when new leadership comes forth and new connections are made with the bishop and the wider diocesan community. It is also a time to review and restate the hopes and dreams of the parish.
Gary Gleason
The process for calling a new rector is an important time and should be carried out prayerfully and with due care. We fully trust that God is at work and will help us discern a new rector for Nativity.
Traditional Transition Process & Formation of Search Committee
Nativity’s Vestry is charged with the responsibility for the call of our new rector. As previously mentioned, the Vestry met in mid-October with Bishop Sam Rodman and Canon Catherine Massey. The Vestry has discerned, with their guidance, that Nativity will conduct a Traditional Transition search in choosing our new rector. As part of this process, the Vestry will call a Search Committee and delegate portions of the search process to them. While it is the Vestry’s responsibility to call the next rector, the Search Committee will carry out the search. Ideally, this committee will be comprised of 8–10 parishioners, where approximately a third of those will be current Vestry members.
The Vestry is currently seeking nominations of parishioners who wish to be considered for the Search Committee. The goal is to have the committee formed by mid-December. We are looking for members who feel called to — and have sufficient time, energy and resources to commit to — this work. The committee’s main tasks will be (1) conducting, with parishioners’ help, a self-assessment of Nativity, (2) putting together a written community portfolio (e.g., Nativity’s demographics, compensation, history, challenges, and vision for the future), (3) conducting discernment conversations with various priests, and (4) discerning one candidate to present to the Vestry. The Search Committee will work closely with the Diocese in this work.
Serving on the Search Committee is an incredible way to serve Nativity. However, it will require a large time commitment from each member. We ask that individuals pray about their decision before they put their or others’ names up for consideration. If you would like to be considered, or nominate someone for the Search Committee, please let the Vestry know by submitting your or your nominee’s name to Beth Crow, Senior Warden (mary.crow@me.com), no later than Monday, November 13.
Please be assured that there will be an opportunity for all Parishioners’ voices to be heard, even if they are not serving on the Search Committee.
Interim Rector
Nativity has clergy scheduled for Sunday worship through the end of December. The Vestry will work with the Diocese to call an Interim Rector who will serve until a new Rector is called. The Diocese has already heard from several clergy interested in possibly serving Nativity in this role.
Frequent, Open and Transparent Communication & Parishioners’ Questions
The Vestry will communicate openly and regularly about the transition process. We will have a weekly update in Glad Tidings which will also then be posted on the Clergy Transition page on Nativity’s Website. We also invite parishioners to submit any questions they may have about the process to the Vestry using this Google Form.
Last Sunday, October 29, Stephanie delivered her last sermon as Rector of Nativity, receiving a standing ovation from the congregation. During the service, Stephanie led us through the Ending a Pastoral Relationship and Leave-taking from a Congregation liturgy, at which time she returned to the Vestry such items as the church keys, the parish register book and the Eucharist Elements.
Following the 10:30 service, all gathered in Corlett Hall for a celebration which included a delicious lunch and special presentations by Nativity’s choir and Vestry.
Thank you to all who joined us! We appreciate those who helped with the setup and cleanup, and to all who contributed food and drinks. The Vestry would like to especially thank Kathy Nessanbaum and her friend Katherine Johnston for their coordination of the event. A special thank you also to Cheryl Waechter for the delicious celebration cake and Jo Dykes for the beautiful table decorations. Thank you to Sarah O’Connor for putting together the memory book for Stephanie and the congregants who submitted letters and photos for the book. Thank you to Stephanie Sumner for the slide show celebrating Stephanie’s 12 years with us, which can be viewed below. Thank you to Ilia Scrivano for writing the beautiful song honoring Stephanie; and, Bradley Burgess and the choir for sharing it with us. The celebration would not have been successful without the help of everyone above and we are very thankful!
We will always be incredibly grateful for Stephanie’s loving service to Nativity and, while she may no longer be present with us as our Rector, her words and spirit will remain with us. Remember, as Stephanie always liked to remind us, “We are one in whom Christ delights and dwells. We live in the strong and unshakable kingdom of God. The kingdom is not in trouble. And neither are you.”