Good morning, Nativity!

We go through life focused on productivity. We must be productive at work. Even when at play, we expect to be productive. Heck, many of us wear watches that monitor our sleep to see how productive that is! Did I sleep enough? Did I get enough deep sleep? How much REM did I accumulate? Everything circles around productivity.

Many tasks in life appear to be unproductive. Although they are necessary, we rush through those unproductive tasks. We feel compelled to get back to that which is productive. We highlight our output, our productivity. Especially in the short term. And we limit, push to the side, and undervalue those things that appear unproductive.

How then do we treat prayer and worship?

“If we must categorize human activity, then none is more important for a human being than worship, an inefficient and unproductive activity if there ever was one.” (Under the Bright Wings, Peter Harris, 34)

Fr. Harris makes two good points. The first is about how important worship is and the second concerns how worship is among the most unproductive of things that we engage in. I would argue that prayer, too, falls into this area of perceived unproductivity.

We tend to put the things of the earth above eternal things, because we focus on short-term gains here on earth. Earthly treasures, which “moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Mat 6:19, ESV), take precedence over prayer and worship.

How often do we rush through prayer and worship to get back to those things that the world considers productive? Or fun? I will admit that I occasionally fall into that trap. Pray or write my sermon? Worship or figure out what to say in this week’s Nativity Now? Well, the answer is simple! I cannot prepare a sermon or write a Nativity Now without first praying and worshipping. Honestly, we should do nothing without first praying and worshipping.

Jesus would retreat to His desolate place to recharge before doing His Father’s work. He would prepare himself mentally, physically, and spiritually before engaging in the productive and visible parts of His ministry, the healing and teaching. To prepare, He retreated from distraction and talked to His Father. Some might look at this as selfish and unproductive. Why was Jesus not spending that time healing and teaching? Could He not have reached more people if He had skipped the whole prayer and worship thing? Without recharge, the spiritual well from which Jesus drew, the same spiritual well from which we draw, would have run dry and His ministry would have floundered.

Lent is a meditative, contemplative season. A time to slow down and focus on worship and prayer. A time of renewal and re-commitment. Press into that. “Waste” a bit more time in prayer and worship this Lent. It is never too late to add in a devotion, prayer routine, or meditation. It might slow down productivity on earthly treasures, but it will reap eternal dividends that do not rust or decay.

In the Peace and Love of Christ,
Fr. Tim⁺
(941.321.6376; tmac_84@yahoo.com)

Good morning, Nativity!

I am writing this on Monday morning, the first Monday of Lent. I have just come off an emotional, roller coaster weekend that included preaching at my mom’s funeral and participating in the Bishop Smith memorial and dedication at the Diocesan offices. The love of Christ and the presence of the Holy Ghost (remember we are in Rite One) were thick in all of it. In all honesty, I had nothing left in the tank at services last Sunday; but thanks to the Holy Ghost’s presence and guidance, I made it through. Time with family and friends. Prayers, cards and messages from you all. All of that helped to share the Love of Christ with me. When I needed it most. Thank you and God Bless!

Last Sunday’s readings were on the three temptations of Christ (Luke 4:1-13). The focus of my sermon last Sunday was on the number 40, temptation and sin, and Satan awaiting an “opportune time”. There was more in that Sunday reading from Luke than I could have touched on. The scripture from Hebrews during today’s Morning Prayer provided an avenue to explore the Gospel reading from Luke just a bit more:

“Therefore Jesus had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

(Heb 2:17–18, ESV)

Tempted as we are tempted. Suffered as we suffer. Died as we will die. That is our God. He knows us because He lived as one of us. He knows temptation because Satan tempted Him through his Son, Jesus. He knows suffering, for Jesus mourned the death of Lazarus and Jesus underwent the Passion, more suffering than any of us will ever endure. Jesus knew death through His death on the cross. God, through Jesus Christ His Son, knows what it is like to be human.

God did not do any of this because He had to do it. He freely chose to do it. He did it because He loves us, unconditionally. He created us. We fell into sin. He sent His “only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made there, by his one oblation of himself once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world” (Eucharistic Prayer 1, BCP 334). After Jesus ascended, God sent us the Holy Ghost to guide and comfort us in our human condition because God understood our human condition. God did not have to do any of this; He did it out of love, perfect, unconditional love.

God knows what it means to be human. Tempted as we are tempted. Suffered as we suffer. Died as we will die. Oh yeah, and the very best part: resurrected as we will be resurrected. That is our God. No other “deity” has ever or would ever do any of that. And all God asks in return is that we believe in Him, that we have faith in Him, that we love Him and our neighbor. That is a rather good deal I would say.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Collect for Palm Sunday; BCP, 168)

In the Peace and Love of Christ,
Fr. Tim⁺
(941.321.6376; tmac_84@yahoo.com)

From Father Tim

Good Morning, Nativity!

Today we are going to talk about Christian fellowship. Mainly because it leads into my announcement of “Dinners with your Priest”.

It is next to impossible to do Christianity in a vacuum; we cannot do it alone. Yes, Jesus would frequently retreat to a desolate place. He did this so that he could talk to His Father, align himself with God, before reentering fellowship with His apostles, disciples, and followers — the sheep of his hand. He had to know His sheep to be the good shepherd. And to know one’s sheep one must be amongst them, in fellowship with them.

There have always been ascetical practices where one removes oneself from all distractions. The Desert Fathers, such as St. Anthony of Egypt, lived lives as hermits often for many years. But even the desert fathers attracted followers and ended up as teachers of other hermits. And their lifestyles and practices eventually led to Christian monasticism, lives of authority and prayer lived in community, in fellowship.

One of Jesus’ last acts before His arrest and crucifixion was to eat a meal with his apostles. In that meal he shared food and beverages with them. He taught them. He listened to them. He even served them, washing his apostle’s feet. That is how important fellowship was to Jesus!

Being in fellowship with our Christian Brothers and Sisters is crucial. There are many opportunities at our church for fellowship: celebrations like our 4th of July cookout, coffee hours, Christian education, spaghetti dinners, morning and evening prayers, etc. We can find more ways if there is interest: pizza and movie nights, game days, football watching parties. The opportunities are endless.

A fellowship opportunity that I am introducing this fall is “Dinners with your Priest.” I will never get to know all of you in the brief moments after a service or in a group setting like a coffee hour. Some people may be able to do that, but I cannot. And in all honesty, there is little that I enjoy more than a delicious meal that ends with everyone sitting and talking around the dining room table. It is how we get to now each other. It is how we find commonality, how we experience different viewpoints and interests. It is how we build relationships and friendships. It is how and where we can safely share our journeys with Christ, so that we can be bolder in sharing them with the rest of the world.

As if that is not enough, at your baptism you made a promise to be in Christian fellowship when you replied, “I will, with God’s help” to the celebrant asking you, “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?” (BCP 417). So read the announcement about “Dinners with your Priest” that comes later in this email. Sign up for a night. I am quite sure it will not disappoint.

In the Peace and Love of Christ.
Fr. Timtmac_84@yahoo.com
941-321-6376

FROM DEACON ROS Dear Nativity Family, It’s that time again! I am preparing to go to Lowell Correctional Institute for the Kairos ministry. The team and I will be in Lowell October 1 – 4. I ask for you to start praying now for women’s (and officer’s) hearts to be open to the gospel message of Jesus. Please pray for the team to fulfill the task at hand and that God will receive all of the glory. I will start collecting donations and names for the prayer chain this Sunday. Thank you for prayers and support for this important ministry. In His Service, Deacon Ros

This Week August 18, 2024 13th Sunday After Pentecost 8:00am Holy Eucharist (no music)10:15 Holy Eucharist (with music) Fr. Tim MacDonald Deacon Ros Hall

REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE: This Sunday, August 18, we will be returning to our normal Sunday morning schedule…………..8:00am no music, 10:15am with music.

DINNERS WITH YOUR PRIEST As I announced last Sunday, I plan to have “dinner parties” at my house through the fall and into the new year with 6-12 guests at a time. This is a good opportunity to get to know each other. A priest must know his people to pastor them well. And I want to pastor well. There are sign-up sheets on the One Stop Sign Up board. The proposed dates are: – Friday, 9/13/2024, 5:30 – 8:30pm – Friday, 9/27/2024, 5:30 – 8:30pm – Friday, 11/8/2024, 5:30 – 8:30pm – Friday, 11/22/2024, 5:30 – 8:30pm – Friday, 12/13/2024, 5:30 – 8:30pm – Friday, 1/17/2025, 5:30 – 8:30pm – Friday, 1/31/2025, 5:30 – 8:30pm I do not yet know the menus for each date because I tend to shop the weekly sales flyers. A few ideas of what might be served, however, are: – Beef Tenderloin, Baked Potato, Asparagus – Churrasca con Chanchito (Chilean Grilled Pork Tenderloin), blackbeans, and rice – London Broil, Oven Roasted Potatoes, Grilled Squash/Zucchini – Cedar Planked Salmon, Rice Pilaf, Green Beans – Shrimp, Steak, and Squash Skewers, Rice I will accommodate special dietary needs (e.g., gluten free, shrimp/seafood allergies); just write that down on the sign-up sheet. I will also do my best to cook to the doneness (rare to well done) preferences of each guest. For now, I would like to keep this to those attending Nativity and their significant others/family. Later, however, I can see expanding this with you all inviting friends from outside of the church; food and fellowship is a wonderful evangelism tool!

WEDNESDAY SERVICE: On Wednesday, August 14, we will be returning to Holy Eucharist and Healing Service at 10:00am.

BASEBALL ANYONE? MON (Men of Nativity) is organizing a visit to Lecom Park for a Marauder’s baseball game on Tuesday, August 27, at 6:30pm. Everyone is invited!! Sign up at the One Stop Sign Up board. If needed, carpooling can be arranged, meet at church at 6:00pm. If driving there yourself, parking is at Maintenance Too Paper Co. across the street from the Stadium. More details to follow.

JUNE CAROL HINES: For those “old timers” in our congregation who remember June Carol Hines, she passed into the arms of our Lord on July 20. Funeral service for her will be at Church of the Holy Spirit in Osprey on August 28 at 10:00am.

STUDY GROUP: Sunday morning study group has resumed in the Library after the 9:15am service. There are still more Screwtape Letters to digest!

DAILY OFFICE: Morning and Evening Prayer are now being offered in the church. Morning Prayer at 8:30am Mon-Thurs; Evening Prayer at 4:00pm Mon-Thurs.

FRIDAY BIBLE STUDY: There will be NO Bible Study on Fridays during the month of August. It will resume on September 7. In September we will be using the study guide “Fascinating Bible Studies on Every Parable” by Dr. William Marty. If you would like more information, please email Judy Haywood at: judyhay@aol.com.

ESTATE PLANNING: Have you remembered Nativity in your Will or your Estate plans? Our Endowment Committee is happy to assist. Please call the Parish Office to make a connection.

Good Morning, Nativity!

I am going to try to get my mini sermon out of the way in the Nativity Now posting rather than at the Sunday Service. I just cannot leave David’s story alone. I hope that my mini sermons from the previous two weeks fit together. David clearly did evil. David clearly broke multiple commandments. David’s integrity was in admitting his fault, his truly evil behavior, and repenting when called out by the prophet Nathan. Despite his brokenness he was still a man of God and a man of integrity. He turned back to God. And God still loved him.

Honestly, that should give all of us hope!

But here is the thing. David’s sin could not go unpunished. David repented and God, ever merciful, forgave him, saying to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” (2 Sam 12:13 ESV). David did not escape punishment; God told him through Nathan, “now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me” (2 Sam 12:10 ESV). David scorned God, despite God having given him blessings in abundance. David’s focus was on the temporal, a woman, and he did evil things. Through Nathan, God warned David that he would suffer for his sins: “Thus says the LORD, ‘behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house.’ ” (2 Sam 12:11 ESV).

In this Sunday’s Old Testament reading we get just a small taste of the evil that befell David because of his sin; really this Sunday’s reading culminates a series of calamities that impacted David’s family. From within David’s “own house” rebellion arose. Absalom, his third son, revolted against him and tried to seize the throne by force. In the war that followed, David pleaded with his generals to have mercy on Absalom. Absalom, however, was killed. And David once again lamented — this time he lamented the loss of his son.

Sin leaves a mark. Sin has cascading side effects. The effects may not appear for years, or even decades. And the impacts of sin can carry over to multiple generations: “visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:7 ESV). Even after repentance, the impacts linger, for through sin, we despise God and set terrible things into motion.

The best course of action is to avoid sin. But we live in a fallen world, and we will sin. The next best thing is to repent of our sin immediately. Do not let sin cascade as David did. Do not wait to be called out for sinning by a friend as David did. Taking inventory each night before shutting down and asking for God’s forgiveness where we have fallen short is a wonderful routine. And we should ask God to strengthen us so that patterns of sin can be broken.

I am going to end this Nativity Now with a paragraph from “An Exhortation” (BCP 317) that is sometimes used during the Penitential Order (Rite 1). It nicely summarizes and expands upon the above.

Examine your lives and conduct by the rule of God’s commandments, that you may perceive wherein you have offended in what you have done or left undone, whether in thought, word, or deed. And acknowledge your sins before Almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life, being ready to make restitution for all injuries and wrongs done by you to others; and also being ready to forgive those who have offended you, in order that you yourselves may be forgiven. And then, being reconciled with one another, come to the banquet of that most heavenly Food.

That is so beautiful. And it even ties into the Bread of Life discourse (heavenly food) from my sermons the last several weeks!

In the Peace and Love of Christ.

Deacon Tim

tmac_84@yahoo.com

941-321-6376

Good Morning, Nativity!

The Gospel reading this Sunday is Mark 6:1-13. Mark’s Gospel is all about brevity and immediacy. Leading up to Chapter 6, the ministry of Jesus was still a very new thing. Jesus had done some healings, most notably the double healing we read about last Sunday (the hemorrhaging woman and the daughter of Jairus); he had challenged the religious authorities; he had taught the people using his favorite medium — the parable; and he had demonstrated his authority over nature. Jesus had been recognized as a man of God and a man of power, as the synagogue leader Jairus admitted when he fell at the feet of Jesus to beg for his help (Mark 5:22). But Jesus had not yet been revealed as the Messiah; that happens in Chapter 8 when Jesus asks, “But who do you say that I am?” and Peter answers, “You are the Christ.” (Mark 8:29, ESV)

In this Sunday’s reading, Jesus returned to his hometown. He preached in the synagogue and astounded those listening. And yet, despite being astounded, they doubted him. They knew him and they knew his family. Familiarity had led to a lack of faith: “How are such mighty works done by his hands?” (Mark 6:2, ESV) “His hands”, can you not just feel the disgust, doubt, and maybe fear dripping from those words! Because of this lack of faith in his hometown, Jesus “could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.” (Mark 6:5 ESV)

Many readers would point to the lack of faith as the important thing in this passage. I would suggest instead that we focus on the pockets of faith that must have persisted in his hometown. For there must have been faith among and/or surrounding those few who were healed. Pockets of faith, such as that, can change the atmosphere within a community and can go forth into other communities to spread the good news, as happens in the subsequent scripture passage. (Mark 6:7-13)

I would like to end with a prayer of faith for this pocket of Christ’s faithful at Nativity:

Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God: Keep your church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

(The Collect for the Confession of St. Peter, celebrated on January 18; BCP 238)

In the Peace and Love of Christ.
Deacon Tim
tmac_84@yahoo.com
941-321-6376

THIS WEEK

July 7, 2024
7th Sunday After Pentecost
9:15am Holy Eucharist (with music)

Bishop Michael Garrison
Deacon Tim MacDonald

4th OF JULY CELEBRATION: REMINDER!! Come one, come all to our 4th of July cookout. Where: Parish Hall; Time: 3:00pm for fun and games, 5:30 for hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, dessert. When you may ask? Tomorrow, the 4th of July, of course! :-)))

VESTRY: July’s Vestry meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 9, at 7:00pm, in the Library.

A NIGHT OF WORSHIP: Healing and Praise night will be held at Church of the Holy Spirit in Osprey on July 5 at 7:00pm. If you are interested, please speak to Deacon Tim for more information.

DAILY OFFICE:

A new addition to our week here at Nativity. Morning and Evening Prayer are now being offered. Morning Prayer at 8:30am Mon-Thurs; Evening Prayer at 4:00pm Mon-Thurs.

CURSILLO ULTREYA: On Saturday, July 20, a Cursillo Ultreya will be held at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Lakewood Ranch from 10:00am to 3:00pm. See Deacon Tim for details.

PARISH DIRECTORY: The Parish Directory has been updated. You can pick up a copy on the Baptismal Font in the Church. If your listing is wrong or missing information such as date of birth/anniversary, etc, or if you are not in it at all, please call me in the office Mon-Thurs 9am – 2pm. Thank you.

SERVICE SCHEDULE CHANGES: Deacon Tim’s ordination is not until August 10 so we will be having supply priests for the month of July and August 4. Accordingly we will have only one service at 9:15 for all of those dates. Deacon Tim has requested a 9:15am service for August 11 so his first service with us will be with our whole community together. Again, mark your calendars so you don’t show up either early or late for service or miss Deacon Tim’s first service with us. :-))))))

FRIDAY BIBLE STUDY: There will be NO Bible Study tomorrow, Friday, July 5. We will start again on July 12. If you would like more information, please email Judy Haywood at: judyhay@aol.com.

ESTATE PLANNING: Have you remembered Nativity in your Will or your Estate plans? Our Endowment Committee is happy to assist. Please call the Parish Office to make a connection.