Category: From the Vestry

On Wednesday, April 3, the Search Committee will meet and discuss the next steps in the search process with Canon Catherine Massey. Please continue to spread the word to interested candidates that our Parish Portfolio has been posted and we are receiving names through April 28, 2024.   

Next Steps: 

• April 3, 2024: Search Committee meets with Canon Massey to review next steps in search process. 
• April 28, 2024: Last day to receive names of interested priests. 
• Late Spring/Early Summer: Search Committee conducts discernment conversations with priests. 

Communication 

Need more details about the search process? More information can be found on Nativity’s Clergy Transition Page.  Have a question for the Search Committee? Please ask it here. 

Please continue to spread the word to potential candidates that our Parish Portfolio has been posted and we are receiving names through April 28, 2024.   

Next Steps: 

• April 3, 2024: Search Committee meets with Canon Massey to review next steps in search process. 
• April 28, 2024: Last day to receive names of interested priests. 
• Late Spring/Early Summer: Search Committee conducts discernment conversations with priests. 

Communication 

Need more details about the search process? More information can be found on Nativity’s Clergy Transition Page.  Have a question for the Search Committee? Please ask it here. 

The Parish Profile has been finalized and posted! Last week, the Search Committee presented the final portfolio for Vestry approval.  We then submitted the portfolio to the diocese and, on Monday, March 11, the portfolio was posted. We will be receiving names through Sunday, April 28. 

The committee also wanted to share the word cloud below which represents the themes that emerged when we answered the question: What makes a good sermon? 

Next Steps: 

• April 3, 2024: Search Committee meets with Canon Massey to review next steps in search process. 
• April 28, 2024: Last day to receive names of interested priests. 
• Late Spring/Early Summer: Search Committee conducts discernment conversations with priests. 

Communication 

Need more details about the search process? More information can be found on Nativity’s Clergy Transition Page.  Have a question for the Search Committee? Please ask it here. 

The Search Committee finalized the initial draft of the Parish Portfolio last week and shared it with the Vestry. After the Vestry provided comments, we reviewed them during our March 6, 2024 meeting. Currently, we are actively revising the document, and upon completion, we will submit it to the Vestry for approval. 

The committee wanted to share the word cloud below which represents the themes that emerged when we answered the question: What would, to you, be Nativity’s three most exciting, energizing and spirit-filled accomplishments over the next three years? 

Next Steps: 

• The Search Committee will complete the Parish Portfolio.  
• The Search Committee will present the Parish Portfolio to the Vestry for review and approval. The goal date for completion and approval is mid-March 2024. 
• The Parish Portfolio will be posted to the Diocese’s website and Nativity’s website. The goal is to have the portfolio posted in April 2024. 

Communication 

Need more details about the search process? More information can be found on Nativity’s Clergy Transition Page.  Have a question for the Search Committee? Please ask it here. 

The Search Committee met on February 22, 2024 to continue their work on the Parish Portfolio. We are making great progress and are close to completion. Our next step will be to present it to the Vestry. Once we receive the Vestry’s comments, we will finalize the Parish Portfolio for their final approval. 

The committee wanted to share the word cloud below which represents words parishioners used to respond to the following: Look back over your entire life . . . recall a time when you most appreciated the ministry of a priest. What was happening? What did you appreciate? 

Next Steps: 

• The Search Committee will complete the Parish Portfolio.  
• The Search Committee will present the Parish Portfolio to the Vestry for review and approval. The goal date for completion and approval is mid-March 2024. 

• The Parish Portfolio will be posted to the Diocese’s website and Nativity’s website. The goal is to have the portfolio posted in April 2024. 

Communication 

Need more details about the search process? More information can be found on Nativity’s Clergy Transition Page.  Have a question for the Search Committee? Please ask it here. 

The Search Committee met on February 15, 2024 to continue their work on the Parish Portfolio. The committee will continue to meet weekly until its completion. The committee also updated the Vestry on its work during the Vestry’s meeting on February 20. 

The committee wanted to share the word cloud below which represents the most popular words parishioners used to respond to the following statement: Name the three things you value most about Nativity’s congregation. 

Next Steps: 

• The Search Committee will complete the Parish Portfolio.  
• The Search Committee will present the Parish Portfolio to the Vestry for review and approval. The goal date for completion and approval is mid-March 2024. 

• The Parish Portfolio will be posted to the Diocese’s website and Nativity’s website. The goal is to have the portfolio posted in April 2024. 

Communication 

Need more details about the search process? More information can be found on Nativity’s Clergy Transition Page.  Have a question for the Search Committee? Please ask it here. 

The Search Committee met on February 7, 2024 to begin their work on the Parish Portfolio. During the preparation process, the committee thought it would be fun to share word clouds generated from the questions posed to the congregation during the February 4 congregational meeting. The word cloud below represents the most popular words Nativity used to answer the question: Remember a moment that was a high point, when you felt Nativity was doing God’s work and fulfilling its mission… What was happening? 

Next Steps: 

• The Search Committee will complete the Parish Portfolio.  
• The Search Committee will present the Parish Portfolio to the Vestry for review and approval. The goal date for completion and approval is mid-March 2024. 
• The Parish Portfolio will be posted to the Diocese’s website and Nativity’s website. The goal is to have the portfolio posted in April 2024. 

Communication 

Need more details about the search process? More information can be found on Nativity’s Clergy Transition Page.  Have a question for the Search Committee? Please ask it here. 

On Sunday, February 4, Nativity had a productive and well-attended congregational meeting to collect important and needed information for the preparation of our Parish Portfolio. We also heard from many who were unable to attend via a questionnaire that was sent out after the meeting concluded. The Search Committee is so grateful to all who participated in this process. We very much value your input! 

The Search Committee collected and compiled all the responses generated from the meeting and the questionnaire. We then met on Wednesday, February 7, to review the data received and begin preparing the Parish Portfolio.  

Next Steps: 

• The Search Committee will complete the Parish Portfolio.  
• The Search Committee will present the Parish Portfolio to the Vestry for review and approval. The goal date for completion and approval is mid-March 2024. 
• The Parish Portfolio will be posted to the Diocese’s website and Nativity’s website. The goal is to have the portfolio posted in April 2024. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to fill out this form.

The Search Committee met with Canon Catherine Massey of the Diocese on January 18 to discuss the next steps in the transition process. The immediate next step — and perhaps the most important — is determining what qualities our parishioners would like to see in our new Rector. We would like to ask for your help by attending a special congregational meeting at Nativity at 10:30 am on February 4. Please note we will have only one service that day at 9 am with the congregational meeting being held directly after the service in Corlett Hall.  

The meeting will be facilitated by Canon Massey who is walking alongside Nativity in our search process. We will use the information from our meeting to complete a Parish Portfolio which is a picture of ourselves, what we hope to become, and most importantly the kind of rector we will call. Once completed, the Parish Portfolio will be made available to interested rectors on the Diocese’s website and also will be posted on Nativity’s website.   

We encourage everyone to attend this meeting if they are able. However, if you are unable to attend, we will send out a survey immediately following with the same questions to ensure everyone has an opportunity to have their voices heard. This survey can also be used by attending parishioners who may have additional thoughts they wish to share after the meeting concludes.  

Please RSVP using this Google Form to let us know if you will be coming to the congregational meeting. Bagels and drinks will be provided. 

Please know that the Search Committee very much values and needs your input to successfully complete the search. Please help us by attending this important meeting and/or by completing the online survey that will be sent immediately following. Thank you in advance for being part of this exciting time at Nativity!  

Next Steps: 

• The Search Committee will write and complete the Parish Portfolio. Our goal date for completion is mid-March, 2024. 
• The Parish Portfolio will be posted to the Diocese’s website and Nativity’s website. Our goal is to have the portfolio posted in April, 2024. 

This is your Vestry’s final update for 2023 and my last as your Senior Warden. Beginning January 1, George Douglas will be Nativity’s Senior Warden, and Dave McKinnon the Junior Warden. I know I speak for Bill Sena, the 2022–23 Junior Warden, and Anne Krouse, the other Vestry member rotating off the end of this year, when I say what a privilege it has been to serve you and the Nativity community as wardens and vestry members. Thank you for your support and trust in us.

The Vestry would also like to extend a huge thank you to our wonderful staff who have worked extraordinarily hard since October 29. We are especially grateful for their providing the beautiful services throughout the week leading up to Christmas — starting with the Service of Lament and ending with the Advent IV Service and three Christmas Eve services on December 24. The choir as usually, set the atmosphere for Christmas Eve, and the amazing duet by Helen Moses and Jo-Mari Burgess was breath-taking. 

January 1 also marks the beginning of The Rev. Stephanie Yancy and The Rev. Dr. Cathy Deats’ service as Co-interim Rectors. We are in good hands with the leadership of the Vestry and of these two wonderful and dedicated priests. In their letter to the Vestry, they stated that Rev. Stephanie will work 3/4 time and Rev. Cathy 1/4 time. Stephanie will be in the office at least two days during the week and most Sundays; Cathy will be in the office one day per week and preach one Sunday a month. Rev. Stephanie will cover the other Sundays, along with Rev. Phillip. Others within the congregation will still have opportunities to preach, as has been our practice. Rev. Stephanie plans to attend all vestry meetings, pastoral support meetings, and staff meetings, while Rev. Cathy plans to attend all staff meetings and pastoral support meetings. Both will make themselves available for other meetings and any pastoral needs of the congregation.

A very important part of their ministry is to lead us through the tasks recommended for congregations experiencing a change in leadership. Those tasks include exploring our history and its effect on who we are today, creating opportunities for new leadership within the congregation, and exploring possible new directions in ministry. The goal is to prepare the Nativity congregation to welcome a new Rector and to thrive as we work alongside the person God is preparing to lead us.

— Beth Crow, Senior Warden