Category: Glad Tidings

Announcement posts

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Glad Tidings

Give, Get, Go! Upgrading the Nave Sound System

Ever wonder what someone is saying at the pulpit while you are sitting in the pew at Nativity? After months of investigating ways to improve the church’s sound system for both the in-person and online Sunday morning experience, we are thrilled to announce that we are beginning an effort to fund the recommended ways to upgrade the church’s sound system.

Our fundraising goal: $11,000. We have already been blessed with $11,000 in funds to support this new sound system, and when combined with other church funds available, we can achieve our goal by raising another $11,000, to match the generous support already provided.

How can you participate? It’s as easy as Give, Get, Go!

GIVE

Our goal is 100% participation from our parishioners, since this upgrade will benefit 100% of our congregation. Every gift helps—no matter the amount. There are several ways to contribute to this effort:

  • To make your donation online, go to the online donations page on our website. (This is the same link as the QR Code on the back of your church bulletin). Please note that you must identify your donation as follows: “Nave Sound System (22724)”.
  • By check: write “Nave Sound System (22724)” on the memo line of your check.
  • By Venmo: write “Nave Sound System (22724)” in the “What’s it for?” field.
  • By PayPal: select “Nave Sound System” in the drop-down box as “the fund you want to donate to”. 

GET

Donate to our silent auction. 100% of the proceeds will go to the new sound system. These can include services, restaurant gift cards, tickets to sporting events, weekend home access, etc. We will collect auction items at the church (on August 15 and September 15) and then create an online auction site for bidding.

GO

After making your donation, please plan to join us on Saturday, October 14 for a fun night of fundraising and fellowship as we conclude the silent auction and celebrate our new sound system with a wine and cheese gathering. 

Our planning committee will need more help to make this effort a smashing success. We will have different volunteer opportunities to help us make this a success, such as (1) collecting donations for the auction, (2) packaging donated items for the auction, (3) contributing food/drinks for the October 14 event, and (4) helping with setup on the day of the event. 

We will announce the kickoff of this effort at both church services on Sunday, June 4. After the 10:30 am service, we will have a Sunset Slush Truck. As we move forward, we will have additional updates and testimonials from members of the congregation who are excited about this project. Please stay tuned for updates as we get closer to the dates referenced above.

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Glad Tidings Uncategorized

Lent Question: What is LEVAS?

In this post, Bradley answers a question from our Lent Question Box:

“What does LEVAS mean? We have been singing a lot of hymns that are from LEVAS lately.”

This is a great question! And — unlike some of the questions Stephanie and Phillip have been taking! — it’s not that complicated. (Phew!)

We have indeed been singing quite a few hymns from something called “LEVAS”. If you look carefully at a bulletin from February, you’ll find something like this:

Sequence Hymn: LEVAS II 221. This little light of mine

The Hymnal 1982 is the main and official hymnal of The Episcopal Church, but there are also supplements to the hymnal. The two most popular ones are Wonder, Love, and Praise, and Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African-American Hymnal — known simply as “LEVAS II” or “LEVAS” for short.

You’ll notice that we began using this supplement a lot in February — and with that month being Black History Month, that was no coincidence.

Why is LEVAS important? Why was it commissioned, and why do we use it? I hope that this might be self-evident to most. The Hymnal 1982 is wonderful. However, it is markedly Anglo- and Euro-centric.

Canon 24, Section 1 states, “It shall be the duty of every Minister to see that music is used as an offering for the glory of God and as a help to the people in their worship… In fulfilling this responsibility the Minister shall seek assistance from persons skilled in music. Together they shall see that music is appropriate to the context in which it is used.”

While this article was no doubt referring to following good liturgical practice in accordance with The Book of Common Prayer when it mentions “the context in which it is used”, I would argue that this should stretch further. The context which we find ourselves in is one where white supremacy is embedded into mainstream American culture, its institutions, and its politics. We are in desperate need of voices of people of color, and all other marginalized groups.

LEVAS is an attempt to provide balance in our worship. Yes, we are Episcopalian and of the Anglican heritage. As much as I love Bach, Parry, Stanford, and Howells, being Anglican doesn’t mean only singing that repertoire and worshiping in one way. The Episcopal Church is diverse, and our worship should reflect that.

We have sung from LEVAS — and will continue to sing from LEVAS — because the “context” we are in needs to change.

— Bradley

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From the Clergy Glad Tidings

Lent Question: Literal Faith

We received the following question in our Lenten Question Box, which Rev. Phillip answers below:

“I have been a Christian most of my life. But over the years I’ve had a harder and harder time reconciling a loving God with the horrors that were and continue to be enacted in the name of Jesus — be it historical violence like the Crusades / Inquisitions, or the present-day anti-LGBTQIA and white supremacy gospel of hate preached by ‘Christian fundamentalists’. I’ve also come to a point where I don’t believe literally in a lot of the historical claims of the Bible, like the Immaculate Conception. In an increasingly polarized religious landscape, where liberal and progressive Christian voices are dwindling, I don’t know if there is a place for me anymore. What would you say to someone like me? Do I need literal faith to be a Christian? How do I reconcile all of this?”

“Do I need literal faith to be a Christian?” My short answer is no, you do not need literal faith to be a Christian. This is another wonderful question because it invites us to think about our lives of faith. I would argue that most of us have asked this question, or one similar to it, at some point in our lives. We’ve probably also asked a host of other questions, too: Why does the Bible contradict itself? What if the Resurrection didn’t really happen? Was the whole world really covered by a flood? I absolutely love it when I hear the faithful (I’m using that word intentionally here) ask these questions. I love it because asking those questions is in and of itself an act of faith. Our faith isn’t meant to be static; Faith is meant to be a living, breathing, ever-changing, and ever-growing relationship with God. As someone who works with relationships day in and day out as a therapist, I can assure you that questions are healthy. Questions are indicative of curiosity, wonder, and care for those we ask questions of. Questions show that we want to know more. When asked of scripture, questions help us to grow closer to one another and to God.

“What would you say to someone like me?” I’d say that you are asking the right questions! Our Episcopal practices are rooted in asking questions to better understand God. I invite you to read about The Three Legged Stool. In our particular branch of Christianity, we hold scripture, tradition, and reason together. We acknowledge that each of these alone isn’t enough. But, held together, they inform one another and help us to better understand God and our lives of faith. Scripture is our primary source of understanding God, especially through the life of Jesus. But, because God can’t be contained in the words of the Bible, we need our lived experiences and the lived experiences of those before us for better understanding. Each Sunday we say the words of the Nicene Creed together. These words have formed Christians throughout history, and they have given us a foundation upon which we can build our own lives of faith — through shared language and understanding. We are undoubtedly informed by those who have gone before us each time we say those words together. In addition, we have our own lived experiences. We have reason, our own understanding, which has been given to us as a gift from God. Through our lived experience and understanding, we can better build on the tradition of our faith and more fully understand scripture. Given that each of us have different lived experiences, our understanding, although similar, will generally differ in some ways when we answer questions about God and our faith. Which brings me to the final question that was shared for us to answer.

“How do I reconcile all of this?” We do this through the via media. None of us is an expert on God — only God can understand Godself fully. Sadly, Christians throughout history have surely tried to claim exclusive expertise about God. But God is so much greater than anything we can fully comprehend, even with our Three Legged Stool. That’s why we need one another. That’s why we need the Church. Together, we are offered an opportunity to share our experiences and understandings of God and to hear the experiences and understandings of others. Together, we get a fuller understanding of God.

As the greater question in this post points out, literalism has done great harm to many of God’s beloved people. Even though that harm has been done in the name of God, it is not of God. I say this because it has not demonstrated love. As our Presiding Bishop Curry reminds us often, “if it’s not about love, it’s not about God.” As one body, we the Church, can live into being God’s Kingdom of beloved questioners and demonstrate God’s love to all those harmed by the Church. Together, we can welcome in all who have questions and all those curious to know God more fully. And, we can keep asking the questions that strengthen our lives of faith as we learn from one another.

— Rev. Phillip

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Glad Tidings Uncategorized

Fellowship at Nativity

Starbucks coffee and the best chocolate chip banana bread — Did you miss it? Hot chocolate and Girl Scout Cookies — Did you get a Thin Mint before they were gone?

You may have noticed that we have started having refreshments and fellowship in the Narthex after services. If you haven’t stopped on your way out after the service, please help yourself to some refreshments, and make a connection with someone new or catch up with someone you haven’t seen in a while.

If you like having our after-service fellowship, then I could use some volunteers to help organize it. It is very straightforward: it involves making coffee (very easy), and washing the coffee pots (also easy!).

This Sunday, March 5, I will be in Estill House making coffee at 10 am. If you are interested in seeing how easy it is, then come on over! I will also be in the Narthex after the 10:30 service if you would like to find out more or let me know that you’re interested. Individuals, couples, and families (including your children) might like to give it a try.

Email Sheila Knapp

— Sheila Knapp

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Glad Tidings Social Justice Uncategorized

Social Justice BHM 2023 Update

Nativity’s Social Justice Committee shares the following announcements, events and recommended resources to the Nativity community as we continue our pursuit of racial justice and reconciliation.

Lists of Events

Below are links to information about the many events honoring Black History Month that are happening in the Triangle.

Featured Events

Best of Enemies

BEST OF ENEMIES, A Justice Theater Project Production

Umstead Park UCC, 8208 Brownleigh Drive, Raleigh, NC 27617

Cost/Ticket Information: $23 Adults. $20 Senior 60+, $20 Military, $18 Groups 10+, $5 Students and Educators. Tickets can be purchased online. (Note: Ages14 and up for adult language and content.)

When: Various weekend dates in February. If interested, purchase tickets soon as tickets are selling fast and some dates are already sold out.

Description: THE BEST OF ENEMIES by Osha Gray Davidson is a true story of the unlikely relationship between two low-income community activists, Ann Atwater, an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, a local Ku Klux Klan leader. The story takes place in Durham, North Carolina, during the turbulent 1960s and 70’s when the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak. After having several public racially-charged confrontations and developing an intense disdain for each other, in the racially charged summer of 1971, Atwater and Ellis came together to co-chair a community summit on the desegregation of public schools in Durham, N.C. The ensuing debate and battle soon lead to surprising revelations forever changing both of their lives. In Durham and throughout the United States, Ellis and Atwater exemplify how blacks and whites can overcome centuries of racial barriers by focusing on their commonalities and humanity. Through this process, they gradually learn to see this in each other and develop an understanding of the class structure in the South that oppresses both of them as they move from THE BEST OF ENEMIES to friends.

We Build This

We Built This: Profiles of Black Architects and Builders in North Carolina

Where: Oak View County Park (Farm History Center), 4028 Carya Dr., Raleigh, NC 27610

Cost: Free, no registration required.

What: This traveling exhibit, presented by Preservation North Carolina, highlights the stories of those who constructed and designed many of North Carolina’s most treasured historic sites. Spanning more than three centuries, We Built This provides more than two dozen personal profiles and historic context on key topics including slavery and Reconstruction; the founding of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Black churches; Jim Crow and segregation; and the rise of Black politicians and professionals.

When: Running now through March 27th, stop by the Farm History Center at Historic Oak View County Park any time during building hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday).

Oberlin Village Guided Walking Tour

Oberlin Village Guided Walking Tour

Where: 1023 Oberlin Rd., Wilson Temple UMC, Raleigh, NC 27605

Cost/Registration: Free, but registration is required by completing this contact form.

What/When: Walking tours of Oberlin Village, an antebellum village of freedmen, are available the third Saturday of each month at 1:30 pm October through April. (Time changes to 10 am May through September.) This 1 to 1½-hour tour includes the Oberlin cemetery, historical structures and the Latta Park Historic Park.

Triangle Friends of African American Arts 

Please explore the Triangle Friends of African American Arts website for many African American theater productions in the Triangle: 

Recommended Resources

The Diocese of NC’s Racial Reconciliation and Social Justice website is updated regularly with social justice resources recommended by the Diocese of NC.

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Glad Tidings Uncategorized

Senior Luncheon Update

The News

We are going back to our pre-Covid method of operations— dining out in a restaurant each month! Watch your email for more information. 

About Senior Luncheon

If you became a part of our Nativity family during the plague years, when Senior Luncheons could not be held, let us introduce you to a group that gets together for lunch after the 10:30 service on the third Sunday of each month, September through May. Our next luncheon is scheduled for February 19.

To get on the mailing list, Email Cheryl Waechter. You’ll get an email each month with the details of that month’s venue. If you’d like to join us that month, simply respond to that email deadline. If you can’t make it, there’s no need to respond. There is always next month!

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Glad Tidings

Chanting the Psalms

This Epiphany, we have reintroduced the appointed psalm into our Sunday lectionary readings. A wonderful tradition of the Anglican heritage is that of Anglican Chant, which is the practice of chanting the psalms. In contrast to Gregorian Chant (which is what most people think of when they think of “chant”), Anglican Chant feels a little more like hymn-singing, with its more familiar, balanced phrase lengths and harmonic movement.

At Nativity, we don’t have a long-standing tradition of Anglican Chant. However, chanting is not as difficult as many think. Last week — the First Sunday after the Epiphany — we recited the psalm antiphonally. This Sunday, we will chant the psalm using what’s known as Simplified Anglican Chant. Simplified Chant is a good introduction to the tradition of Anglican Chant, for a couple reasons:

  • the chants are much shorter (usually half the length of full Anglican Chant)
  • the chants are in unison, with everyone singing the same melody (unlike Anglican Chant, which is in four parts)

Our plan, as we reintroduce this practice into our liturgy, is to alternate reading and singing the psalm weekly.

Here are a few pointers (pun intended) to ease the transition into chanting.

What do the symbols mean?

The psalms are “pointed”, which means that certain symbols are used to tell you when to change note. There are two main symbols in the text that we need to know to get started: the asterisk (*), and the slash (/).

The slash tells you when to change note. Most of the text is sung on what’s called the “chanting” note. These notes are white, or not colored in. The word(s) after the slash — usually only one or two syllables — are sung on the “moving” note. This is a black note, or a note that is colored in.

The asterisk indicates the half-way point of the verse. In the simplified chants, there is a “double bar line” in the music. This is important, because on odd-numbered verse psalms, we have to end with the second half of the tune. (The complete tune takes two verses of text to sing, so this ensures that we end the chanting with the end of the tune.)

Putting it all together, here is how the first two verses of Sunday’s psalm are realized:

It’s all about the text

Even though many Gregorian and Anglican chants have beautiful melodies, the text is really where the focus is. It’s quite possible to chant an entire passage on one note, and that is actually frequently done in some circles. (If you came to Evensong with the Raleigh Convocation Choir in December, you would have heard or participated in reciting the Apostles’ Creed in unison on one note.)

With the text being the central focus, it’s important to remember the natural rhythms of speech. It’s very easy to fall into the trap of chanting the same way you sing a hymn. But the text should dictate the rhythm and tempo (speed) of the chant — much as if you were speaking it.

— Bradley Burgess

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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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Children and Youth Glad Tidings Social Justice

Social Justice at Nativity