Nativity Notes
In Memoriam
Edith Hoyt
Edith Amanda Hoyt died September 23, 2000. She was born November 28,
1912, in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and came to Sarasota in 1937 from Massachusetts. She was
a nurse and a farmer. She and her late husband, Harold, owned Hoyt Groves in Sarasota.
Survivors include a daughter, Betsey London-Fish of Sarasota; five grandchildren; and nine
great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held Tuesday morning, September 26, at Church
of the Nativity. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida or to a
favorite charity.
Dr. (Emmett J.) Sonny Cox
Dr. (Emmett J.) Sonny Cox, son of Otto and Frances Cox, members of the
Church of the Nativity, died September 18, 2000 in Bluffton, SC. He was born September 16,
1946 in Charleston, WV. He retired in May 2000 from a radiology practice in Maryland. In
addition to his parents, he is survived by a sister, Mary Rohrig of Middlebourne, WV, a
niece and a nephew. A Memorial Service was held Tuesday afternoon, September 26, at Church
of the Nativity.
Women's Bible Study Report
Susan Bradshaw
Since joining the Women's Bible Study I have learned about the mighty
power of prayer. This sweet group of ladies have requested prayer for friends, family and
neighbors weekly from the group and the results have been amazing.
For example, after 3 months of drought, we prayed together for rain and
the first drops hit my windshield on the way home that night. Our prayers have resulted in
tumors disappearing, family conflicts being healed, employment issues being resolved,
marital conflicts being overcome, surgery recoveries being accelerated
One further example, was a members daughter-in-law, a Filipino, was sent
back to her home land due to a problem with immigrations. Although she was married to an
American and pregnant, she was told that it would take at least six months for the paper
work to come through and that she would have to have her baby in the Philippines. We
prayed for her and her paper work came through last week and her exit interview is this
week making the time about one month instead of six.
Praise God for the answered prayers in the church of the Nativity.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Jim and Margaret Murphy of Sarasota celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary September 1.
They were married Sept. 1, 1950 in St. Petersburg and have lived in
Sarasota for 38 years.
They are the parents of James G. Murphy of Milton, Patricia M. Lang of
Sarasota, Daniel D. Murphy of Brevard, N.C., and Thomas M. Murphy of Port Charlotte. The
couple has six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
They celebrated with a family dinner at the Olive Garden and an open
house. Jim is retired from General Telephone Company, and both are active members at
Nativity. They also served as volunteers at the Mustard Seed Thrift Shop.
I thought it good to show the signs and wonders
that the high God hath wrought for me. DANIEL 4:3
One of my favorite pastimes when I’m driving around town is to
read the message boards outside churches. I shuttle my kids to and from school to piano
lessons, dancing and Little League, so I have some favorite signs along my routes that I
always watch for. Sometimes the message is welcoming: come home. all is forgiven.
Sometimes it’s inspiring: the way to get ahead is to get started. Often the message
is humorous: we are open between Easter and Christmas.
One afternoon, in the middle of a particularly rushed and stressful
day, I passed one of the signs, and a question suddenly occurred to me: What does the sign
outside my door say today? I remember that morning. The sign my children saw might have
read cranky today, steer clear. Not a very welcoming message. To the other moms I
hurriedly passed by at Maria's school in the afternoon, the sign said, sorry, too busy for
you today. try again tomorrow. There was no inspiration or laughter there either.
A church with signs like those wouldn't attract many members. Yet
I’d never thought much about how my relationship with my family, friends and
acquaintances are affected when the message I send out is less than welcoming and
seriously lacking in joy. So I’m working on my personal message board every day now,
and it's a challenge especially on those less-than-great days. But at least I'm trying to
post a message out front that says, You are welcome anytime. I don’t always succeed,
but I'm sure it's an effort that pleases God. How do I know? Just the other day I drove by
a church with this message you’re looking for a sign from god, this is it!
Heavenly Father, Your signs of love are all around me. Show me how to
reflect that love in the signs I show others, and may then see You in me.
gina bridgeman
This was submitted by Irene Wernick for your enjoyment. We still need
sign boards for Tidings.
Our Winners Dinners are in full swing. Those of you who do not have a
group, check with Deb Teahan, the vestry member whose commission covers this fine
activity.
Many members went somewhere during the summer. but are glad to be home.
Some folks, like Dick and Inge Gerhart, found the traffic was horrendous.
Some like Antonio Roby went abroad, spending a week in London, England.
A native of England. she lived in London for a while before moving to the United States.
Deborah Young has started FOCUS, a special training ministry that
started the end of September, and will continue through May and will last two years at
Saint Boniface. "I'm really excited about this," she said. "I'm thrilled.
For the past 12 or 13 years, I felt that I had a calling to a ministry." In addition,
she has started a hospice training course.
Congratulations to Father Jim who was elected to the Diocesan Council
during the Manasota-Venice Deanery's convocation at St. David's in Englewood on Sept. 1.
Adult Sunday School was supposed to start September 17, but had to be
delayed when folks arrived at church to find no power, no lights and no phone. Liz Stoner
opened the window blinds and we had our candlelight service early this year.
