Welcome to the Church of the Nativity, Cedarcroft!

The Celebration of New Ministry is the time when the community as a whole
celebrates the covenant they make with their Rector to live into their various
ministries with the support of one another. It is also the opportunity to install their
new Rector.
In this service not only will the Bishop welcome the new Rector, he will also give a
charge to the parish, reminding them of the gifts and responsibilities given them
in Baptism. Hence the service emphasizes the mutual ministry of clergy and
people as they embark on a new ministry together.
While the Episcopal Church, as with all churches rooted in the historic Christian
faith, affirms that the sacrament of Baptism is the ancient and normative entry
point for receiving the sacrament of Holy Eucharist, or communion, we also
believe that anyone who desires to receive the body and blood of our Lord is
always welcome at Gods table. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, we
invite you to explore with us what being baptized means for your life. If you want
to know more, please speak to one of the clergy.
ALL are welcome to receive communion, including children. To receive bread,
place your hands palms-up. To receive wine, assist the minister by guiding the
chalice to your lips. If you do not wish to receive, place your arms across your
chest to receive a blessing. Gluten-free wafers are available. Indicate your request
by extending your hands palms down.

A note from Stewart+

Thank you, friends, for being here for this celebration. I am grateful for the many
gifts you have each given me over the years. I am even more grateful to God for
this amazing Nativity community. Thank you to Bishop Sutton, Scott and Stuart for
guiding us into this ministry. Our wardens and officers Neal, Craig, Margaret and
Betsy have done all in their power to welcome me and make this an incredible
first year of ministry together. Linda and Tony Hollis have energy and wisdom
inspires me daily. Lori, I am honored to have you preach I am delighted to
welcome the Three-Ring Theater group and their director Gloria Krutul. What a
delight to hear your voices in the church! Linda Maguire and my great friend
James Fitzapatrick have combined two amazing choirs along with Daniel
Weatherholt who has travelled all the way from Western Maryland to play tonight.
Thank you to the people at St. Margarets who taught me so much about how to
be a great priest, especially Peter, Sarah, Pat, Ruth, Laura and Tricia. Doug and I
are ecstatic to be back in Baltimore with so many friends who surrounded us with
love at Memorial Church in Bolton Hill. Anne Clewell, the invitation and cover
design is stunning. Stephen Kohlers creative floral design skills astound me. The
reception afterwards will delight all of your senses thanks to Margaret and several
anonymous donors. Finally I thank my best friend, partner in life and ministry, new
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chair of the Nativity Parish Life committee and chef extraordinaire, Doug
Campbell.

The flowers on the altar tonight are given

to the glory of God
and in memory of my grandparents
and in thanksgiving for my parents Jane and David
who taught me what it means to be a priest and pastor.

A SERVICE FOR THE CELEBRATION OF NEW

MINISTRY
PRELUDE
HYMN 525

The Churchs one foundationAurelia

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THE INSTITUTION
The people may be seated. The new Rector and Officers, standing before the
Bishop, say
Bishop Sutton, on behalf of the people of the Church of the Nativity, Cedarcroft,
we present ourselves to you and the gathered church to receive Gods blessing on
our ministry together.
The Officers say to the Bishop
Tonight we welcome Stewart Lucas, who has been chosen to serve as our Rector.
We believe that he is well qualified, and that he has been prayerfully and lawfully
selected.
The Bishop states the purpose of the new ministry
Stewart, the people of the Church of the Nativity have called you to share in the
varied ministries of this parish and diocese. You have been selected in accordance
with the Canons of the Church to serve as pastor, priest and teacher. You also are
expected to share in the councils of the Church.
I charge you to remember the trust that has been put in you and shown by your
election. Stewart, your highest calling as a priest is to love the people of this
congregation and to inspire them to live faithfully in the world Christ calls us to
serve. May you always find your greatest joy in doing so.

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We pray that the Lord our God who has called you to this place and given you the
gifts necessary to accomplish your ministry may always guide, comfort, and
empower you.
The Bishop invites the Members of the Church of the Nativity to stand and then
says
Stewart and dear people of the Church of the Nativity, do you commit yourselves
to the lively proclamation of the gospel through the work of this congregation and
the larger church, laboring together in love and harmony and in mutual respect
for the ministries of all the baptized?
The Rector and Members of the parish respond
We do.
All stand as they are able, and the Bishop addresses the others gathered
Will you who witness this new beginning support and uphold Stewart and the
Nativity community in their ministry together?
People
We will.
Bishop
Let us then pray to the Lord and Giver of life that the Church of God may be
renewed and strengthened for its mission in our day.

LITANY

FOR THE

RENEWAL

OF THE

CHURCH

The third and fourth Rectors lead the prayers.

That the Church may become alive again with the fire of its first charity, fearless
of danger and reckless unto death, in the splendor of that Life which is the light of
the world,
People
Holy Spirit, hear us.
That the Church may be worthy of its liberty, persistent in reform, active in
benevolence, and ever faithful to the Jerusalem which is the mother of us all,
People
Holy Spirit, hear us.
That the old may dream dreams, and the young see visions; that its sons and
daughters may prophesy, bearing eager witness of its beauty to the world,
People
Holy Spirit, hear us.
That all its members, putting self aside, faithful and pure in heart, may seek and
find God, and rejoice in the truth,
People
Holy Spirit, hear us.
That its clergy may be good and wise, strong and courageous, diligent in their
work, and faithful in their witness,
People
Holy Spirit, hear us.
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That its bishops, full of insight and imagination, may venture great things,
exercising stewardship as true leaders of the people,
People
Holy Spirit, hear us.
That its councils and conventions may be keen to go forward, filled with wisdom,
eager to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
People
Holy Spirit, hear us.
That we may forsake other loves which keep us from loving one another; and so,
coming together in friendship, we may find the expansive love of God, which shall
knit us together in one united Church,
People
Holy Spirit, hear us.
And, finally, that the Church, with love recovered in its midst, may teach all to
love one another, and all the nations to dwell together in helpfulness and
friendship, reconciled and redeemed,
People
Holy Spirit, hear us.
Creator, be with us all.
Christ, be with us all.
Holy Spirit, be with us all.
People
Be with us, Holy God, now and evermore.
Bishop
The Lord be with you.
People
And also with you.
Bishop
Let us pray.
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole
Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your
providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see
and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which
had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their
perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our
Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever.
People
Amen.
The people may be seated.

THE WORD OF GOD

THE FIRST LESSON

Micah 4:1-8

In days to come
the mountain of the Lords house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it,
and many nations shall come and say:
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Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig
trees,
and no one shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
For all the peoples walk,
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
for ever and ever.
On that day, says the Lord,
I will assemble the lame
and gather those who have been driven away,
and those whom I have afflicted.
The lame I will make the remnant,
and those who were cast off, a strong nation;
and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion
now and for evermore.
And you, O tower of the flock,
hill of daughter Zion,
to you it shall come,
the former dominion shall come,
the sovereignty of daughter Jerusalem.
Reader
People

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

PSALM 118:1-2, 14-24 (read responsively by half verse) Confitemini Domino

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is
good;
his mercy endures for ever.

14 The LORD is my strength and my

song,
and he has become my
salvation.

2 Let Israel now proclaim,

His mercy endures for ever.

15 There is a sound of exultation and

victory
in the tents of the righteous:
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but he did not hand me over to

death. 19 Open for me the gates of
righteousness;
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the LORD.

16 The right hand of the LORD has

triumphed!
the right hand of the LORD is
exalted!
the right hand of the LORD has
triumphed!

20 This is the gate of the LORD;

he who is righteous may enter.

17 I shall not die, but live,

and declare the works of the
LORD.

21 I will give thanks to you, for you

answered me
and have become my salvation.

18 The LORD has punished me sorely,

22 The same stone which the builders

rejected
has become the chief
cornerstone.
23 This is the LORDS doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 On this day the LORD has acted;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

THE SECOND LESSON

I Corinthians 3:1-11, 16-17

Brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as
people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you
were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of
the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not
of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, I
belong to Paul, and another, I belong to Apollos, are you not merely human?
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe,
as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the
growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but
only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have
a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each.
For we are Gods servants, working together; you are God's field, God.s building.
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a
foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with
care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that
has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.

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Do you not know that you are Gods temple and that Gods Spirit dwells in you? If
anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy that person. For Gods temple is
holy, and you are that temple.
Reader
People

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The people stand as they are able.

HYMN 551

Rise up, ye saints of God!

Festal Song

4. Rise up, ye saints of God!

The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!

THE GOSPEL
Deacon
People

Matthew 7:13-14, 24-25

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is
easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is
narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a
wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the
winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been
founded on rock.

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Deacon
People

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

SERMON

The Reverend Lori M. Lowe

THE INDUCTION
The people remain seated. The Wardens and Rector stand in front of the Bishop
who says,
Good people of Nativity, Cedarcroft, through Baptism you have been adopted into
the community of faith, Gods holy fellowship, the Body of Christ, the Church.
Together with your Rector, you have been called to share in the Churchs mission
to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
As your bishop, I remind you that in Baptism, you are fully empowered and
authorized to exercise ministry in Christs name, with mutual affection and
respect, within this parish, in the Diocese of Maryland, and in the wider
community.
Having covenanted in Baptism to do this work, remember that each of you has
resources and gifts for ministry. Join your Rector, in prayer, in discerning a vision
for this parish, and in calling forth the leadership, resources, and talents to carry
out that vision. As you love and serve Gods people, remember to love, support,
and nourish your Rector, his family, and the members of the staff who serve you
here. May the One who has given you the will to do these things, give you the
grace and power to perform them.
People of the Church of the Nativity, you have reflected on your ministry and
discerned your choice for a new Rector.
Wardens
We have chosen and called Stewart Lucas to be our Rector, and he has accepted.
Bishop
I commend your choice and affirm this call.
The Bishop continues
Holy Scripture records that when God and Gods people enter into a covenant with
each other, God establishes a sign to mark the new relationship. When a priest
and people enter into a new covenant with one another, the exchange of symbolic
gifts is an appropriate way to mark the occasion.
The Bishop presents a vessel of water, saying
Stewart, take this water, and help me baptize in obedience to our Lord. Amen.
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Representatives of the congregation present a Bible, saying

Stewart, accept this Bible, and be among us as one who proclaims the Word.
Amen.
Others present a stole, saying
Stewart receive this stole, and be among us as a pastor and priest. Amen.
Members of the altar guild present the bread and wine, saying
Stewart, take this bread and wine, and be among us to break the bread and bless
the cup. Amen.
Representative clergy of the diocese present the Constitution and Canons of this
Church, saying
Stewart, obey these Canons, and be among us to share in the councils of this
diocese. Amen.
Members of the vestry present keys, saying
Stewart, receive these keys, and let the doors of this place be open to all people.
Amen.
Members of the children and youth ministries present books, saying
Stewart, receive these books and encourage us always to read, mark, learn and
inwardly digest the Word of God. Amen.
Members of the outreach ministries present seeds, saying
Stewart, receive these seeds as sign that the mission of the church is to plant
seeds of hope through the world, caring for Gods creation and making Christ
known in every corner of the earth. Amen.
The Bishop continues
Stewart, let all these be signs of the ministry which is mine and yours and that of
all baptized persons in this place. Amen.
The people stand and the new Rector kneels and says
O Lord my God, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; yet you have
called your servant to stand in your house; and to serve at your altar. To you and
to your service I devote myself, body, soul, and spirit. Fill my memory with the
record of your mighty works; enlighten my understanding with the light of your
Holy Spirit; and may all the desires of my heart and will center in what you would
have me do. Make me an instrument of your salvation for the people entrusted to
my care, and grant that I may faithfully administer your holy Sacraments, and by
my life and teaching set forth your true and living Word. Be always with me in
carrying out the duties of my ministry. In prayer, quicken my devotion; in praises,
heighten my love and gratitude; in preaching, give me readiness of thought and
expression; and grant that, by the clearness and brightness of your holy Word, all
the world may be drawn into your blessed kingdom. All this I ask for the sake of
your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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The members of the congregation say

Almighty God,
we thank you that by the death and resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ
you have overcome sin and brought us to yourself,
and that by the sealing of your Holy Spirit
you have bound us to your service.
Renew in us the covenant you made with us at our Baptism.
Send us forth in the power of that Spirit
to perform the service you set before us;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Bishop then presents the new minister to the congregation, saying
Greet your new Rector.
The family of the new Rector is also presented. The Congregation expresses its
approval. Applause is appropriate.

THE PEACE

The new Rector then says

The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.

THE HOLY COMMUNION

The offering this evening will support the service projects of the Church of the
Nativity.
OFFERTORY ANTHEM

Alleluia! Christ has destroyed death

HYMN 174

Hildebrand

At the Lambs high feast we sing

Salzburg

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The people remain standing as they are able.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Celebrant
People
Celebrant
People
Celebrant
People

Eucharistic Prayer B

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Then the Celebrant proceeds

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to
you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Through Jesus Christ our great
High Priest; in whom we are built up as living stones of a holy temple, that we
might offer before you a sacrifice of praise and prayer which is holy and pleasing
in your sight.

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Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with
all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of
your Name:
Sanctus

Mathias

The Celebrant continues

We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made
known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word
spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your
Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to
be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil,
and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error
into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life. On the night before
he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to
you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat: This is my Body,
which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to
them, and said, Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you
drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.
Therefore, according to his command, O Father,
Celebrant and People

We remember his death,

We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory;
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The Celebrant continues

And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all;
presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine. We pray you,
gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the
Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to
your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified
by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your
Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with the Ever-blessed Virgin
Mary, Joseph and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your
sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the
head of the Church, and the author of our salvation. By him, and with him, and in
him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father,
now and for ever. AMEN.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
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,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

THE BREAKING

OF THE

BREAD

A period of silence is kept.

Celebrant
People

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

PASCHA NOSTRUM

Daw

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THE INVITATION

TO

COMMUNION

ANTHEM

Jesu, Joy of Mans Desiring

J. S. Bach

HYMNS DURING COMMUNION

I come with joy to meet my
Land of Rest

Lord

Leaning on the everlasting arms

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Showalter

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POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER
Celebrant

Let us pray.

Celebrant and People

Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us with the holy food
of the Body and Blood of your Son,
and for uniting us through him
in the fellowship of your Holy Spirit.
We thank you for raising up among us faithful servants
for the ministry of your Word and Sacraments.
We pray that Stewart and the people of Nativity
may be an effective example in word and action,
in love and patience, and in holiness of life.
Grant that we, with them, may serve you now,
and always rejoice in your glory
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Bishop
We have celebrated this new pastoral relationship in the great prayer of the
Church. Stewart, I commend to your love and care the people of the Church of the
Nativity. My brothers and sisters in Christ, I commend to your love and care your
new Rector and colleague Stewart.

THE BLESSING
HYMN 539

Tidings

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DISMISSAL

Deacon
Alleluia, alleluia. Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the
power of the Spirit.
People
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
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POSTLUDE

PARTICIPATING

IN THE

The Right Reverend Eugene T. Sutton

Bishop

SERVICE

The Reverend T. Stewart Lucas

Rector

The Reverend Allen Spicer

The Reverend Tom Carter
Third Rector of The Church of the NativityFourth Rector of The Church of the
Nativity
The Reverend Lori M. Lowe
Rector, St. Pauls Church

The Reverend Linda Hollis

, McHenry, Illinois
Deacon

The Reverend Tony Hollis

Priest Associate
LECTORS
David Neff
Barbara Weldon

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
Sam Dowding
Betty Hoatson

ACOLYTES
Danielle Pearce, Walker Campbell
Clarisse & Chelsea Laoyan,
Michael Eversley, Hayden Holycross

USHERS
Don Hoatson, Harold Hardinger,
Lee Smith, Robin Cox,

FLOWERS
Stephen Kohler

ALTAR GUILD
Lee Smith, Robin Cox,

THE COMBINED CHOIRS OF

ORGANIST
The Church of the Nativity; Linda Maguire, director
St. Margrets Church; James Fitzpatrick, director
Boonsboro, Maryland

Daniel Weatherholt,
St. Mark's Episcopal Church,

The Litany for the Renewal of the Church from The Kingdom, The Power, The Glory (American
edition of the Grey Book). Copyright 1933. Oxford University Press. Found in The Wideness of

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Gods Mercy: Litanies to Enlarge Our Prayer, compiled and adapted by Jeffrey W. Rowthorn.
Copyright 1985, 1995. Morehouse Publishing. Publishers Note: Congregations are granted
permission to reproduce portions of this book, provided that no part of such reproduction is sold or
distributed beyond services held in the local church, and provided that proper credit is given to the
original source
These hymns are reprinted from hymnals by
Church Publishing, Inc. and used by
permission OneLicense.net # A-723837.
The Churchs one foundation
Words:
Samuel John Stone
Music:
Aurelia, Samuel Sebastian Wesley
Rise up, ye saints of God Words: William
Pierson Merrill, alt. Music: Festal Song,
William H. Walter
At the Lambs high feast we sing
Words: Latin,
1632; tr. Robert Campbell, alt.
Music:
Salzburg, melody Jakob Hintze harm. Johann
Sebastian Bach
Holy, holy, holy Lord: Sanctus Music: William Mathias 1976 Oxford University Press.
Pascha nostrum
Words:
Carl P. Daw, Jr. Hope Publishing Company
Music: Sine Nomine, Ralph Vaughan Williams
I come with joy to meet my Lord
Words: Brian A. Wren, alt. 1971 by Hope Publishing
Company.
Music: Land of Rest, American folk melody; adapt. & harm. Annabel
Morris Buchanan
O Zion, haste
Words: Mary Ann Thomson, alt. Music: Tidings, James Walch
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Words: Elisha A. Hoffman Music: Anthony
J. Showalter arr. Carl Haywood
Arr. 1992 Carl Haywood.

Our Parish Story

With tonights Celebration of Ministry, the Reverend T. Stewart Lucas becomes
the fifth rector who, with two vicars, deacons, assistant priests, and interim clergy,
has served the Church of the Nativity, Cedarcroft, since its founding.
The story of the parish begins on February 20, 1910, when services were first held
in private homes in the vicinity of the present church as a missionary effort of the
Reverend Charles A. Hensel, rector of the Church of the Redeemer. Later that
year, Bishop Paret reserved the name, Chapel of the Nativity, for the new mission,
and in 1911 the diocese purchased the land. The present church building was
originally a chapel for summer colony inhabitants of private estates in Garrett
County, located in western Maryland. When they moved away in 1913, W.
McCulloh Brown offered the building to the Bishop, who gave it to Nativity Chapel.
The building was dismantled and shipped 240 miles on Western Maryland flatcar
to Baltimore and then re-erected at a cost of $12,000. Other parishes donated
furnishings, and the first service was held in the still uncompleted church on
Christmas Day 1913. When Hensel left in the latter part of 1921 because of
growing responsibilities as rector of the Church of the Redeemer, the mission had
income of $3,000, debt of $4,500 from construction of the church, and property
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valued at $27,000.
The Reverend Wesley David Adams was appointed vicar on November 1,
1921. The Adams pastorate is the story of the building of the parish house and
the struggle to pay for it. Built in 1923 for $77,000 borrowed on the credit of the
diocese, the parish house was to be paid for by Nativity Mission primarily from
income generated from its four bowling alleys. By 1929, the debt still amounted to
$50,000 when the total income of the mission was $10,000. In 1929, an annual
lawn fete was held as a fundraiser that has evolved into what is now known as the
June Fair. The Great Depression of the 1930s left the mission with reduced income
and a huge debt, with little prospect of paying it off. In January 1937, Adams
disappointedly resigned even though the number of communicants had doubled
during his tenure.
On May 1, 1937, Bishop Helfenstein appointed the Reverend George B. Scriven
as Vicar. An unexpected legacy in 1941 and a grant from the Reconstruction and
Advance Fund of the Episcopal Church in 1946 enabled the diocese to pay off the
remainder of the parish house debt that year. Freedom from debt and growth in
membership enabled Nativity to incorporate as a parish in 1947 with Fr. Scriven as
the first rector. Also in 1947 a non-parish preschool was begun that still uses the
parish house today. With the postwar housing boom and growing number of
worshipers taxing seating capacity, the church building was enlarged and
financed with a loan paid off in 1969. Growth in church membership caused the
addition of a third, family-oriented service.
The Reverend Herman A. diBrandi was called to be Nativitys second rector in
1971. He led the parish through the transition to the new prayer book and
hymnal, incorporated the Holy Eucharist at services, and instituted a program of
home communion. During his pastorate, the church building was air-conditioned, a
new organ was installed, and a library was created in the parish house.
The Reverend C. Allen Spicer came to Nativity as the third rector on February
1, 1984. During his tenure, the Christian education program was overhauled and a
midweek healing service with Bible study was begun. Ecumenical and outreach
programs including many volunteers in Govans Ecumenical Development
Corporation (GEDCO) services to the poor and elderly were developed. Fr. Spicer
was also a member of Diocesan Council,
chairman of the Claggett Board, member
of the Standing Committee and Deputy to
General Convention before retiring.
The Reverend Thomas B. Carter came
to Nativity as the fourth rector on
November 13, 2000. Outreach ministries
included Partners in Care through the
Maryland National Guard to care for
soldiers in need after returning from war.
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The Baltimore Interfaith Hospitality Network (BIHN) was successful in helping

homeless families get back on their feet. The parish relationship with WORLD,
Inc., was strengthened when Fr. Carter led a 2-week mission trip to Liberia. The
project to expand parish offices and install an elevator was a tremendous success
and was paid for in five years. Nativity celebrated its centennial in 2010 with
many special activities throughout the year. Fr. Carter retired on December 31,
POINSETTIAS
2012.
If you would like to place a poinsettia on the
Christmas Altar.in thanksgiving, honor, or
memory of someoneplease fill out the
following form and place it in the offering
plate or mail it to the Church office. Make all
checks payable to The Church of the Nativity,
Cedarcroft and mark it Poinsettias.
Please return this form by
December 16th.
Cost: $15.00 per plant
Number of poinsettias wanted:____________

THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, CEDARCROFT

In Memory Of:

419 Cedarcroft Road

_____________________________________
Baltimore, Maryland 21212
www.nativitycedarcroft.org

_____________________________________

The Rt. Rev. Eugene T. Sutton, Bishop

Neal Baroody, Senior Warden
_____________________________________
The Rev. Heather Cook, Bishop Suffragan-Elect
Craig Hart, Junior Warden
The Rev. T. Stewart Lucas, Rector
Margaret Dowding, Treasurer
In Reese,
Honor Of:
The Rev. Linda Hollis, Deacon
Betsy
Registrar
_____________________________________
The Rev. Anthony Hollis, Priest Associate
Vestry: Michael Eversley, Robin
Cox,
Linda Maguire, Interim Director of Music
Amy_____________________________________
Norwood, Amanda
Cunningham,
_____________________________________
Kerry De Santis, Administrative Assistant
Betsy
Dunn, Barbara Weldon,
Melvina Coleman,
Lee Smith, Betsy Reese
In Thanksgiving For:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Given By:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
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Paid:
Check
#_____________________Date:___________