As regular readers know, I do not comment on politics here in this blog, nor do I do so in church. I think I am entirely consistent in this policy, and quite genuine. You may guess my views, but it would only be a guess; no clues, no winks or nods going on here. That […]
It’s a season of growth and change at Nativity, which is exactly where we believe God wants us to be. We see the growth of our new church building day by day, as foundations are poured and walls are raised. Walking around the future lobby truly gives you the sense of what the space will […]
Rebuilt tells the story of what happened to us, what we learned, and what we now know about growing a healthy parish. It is all about the twin exercises of discipleship and evangelization, or what we have come to call awakening the faithful, while also, and at the same time, reaching the lost- oh, and […]
This week’s blog is an update on our building project and campaign here at Nativity. Most of what has been going on is difficult to appreciate, because you can’t see it. In fact, quite a lot of work has been done on site work, especially as regards meeting requirements for storm water management and sediment […]
It’s been a while since I’ve shared a post about what’s new here at Nativity, but not for a lack of topics. So much is new and exciting around here, it’s hard to know where to start. Here’s the run down, in no particular order. #1. New Invitations and Initiatives This fall we’re looking to […]
At any church or organization that experiences long-term growth and health, you’ll usually find at least one thing in common: Great leadership at every level. Leadership doesn’t just happen at the top- it reaches down through the ranks. Every member or minister contributes something valuable. What characterizes these leaders and how can you begin to […]
Blessed John Henry Newman once wrote, “In a higher world it is otherwise, but here below to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.” Down below, where churches have ministries to run, people to manage, and buildings to operate, one of the most difficult, yet transformative, parts of life […]
This weekend at Nativity we’re hosting our annual Small Groups Launch, when we make a parish wide push to get parishioners who have been hesitating into a group. Here are just five of the reasons why small groups matter to any church. Small Groups Are an Easy Way to Start Rebuilding Plenty of studies indicate […]
Even the most powerful, life-changing message can fail to get off the ground if it’s poorly communicated. Taking some time to evaluate what communication tools and strategies your church is currently using and to what effect is well worth the effort and can avert a lot of frustration and disappointment. Here are five areas Nativity […]
This Sunday our parish celebrates our annual Kick-Off Weekend. While the Church’s liturgical year runs from Advent to Advent, most families plan their year, especially if kids are involved, from September to June. So we make this weekend- the weekend after Labor Day- a special celebration each year. Nothing is different liturgically, of course (it’s […]
