Evangelization

A Simple Plan for Your Fall Stewardship Program

As we approach Thanksgiving many parishes undertake their annual stewardship campaign, to invite giving to the parish in the coming year. It’s a good time of year to do it, ahead of the holidays, but close enough to the new year. And it has to be done, as even the most disciplined and dedicated givers can become […]

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Leadership

Keep Your Politics to Yourself

They say in polite conversation to never discuss politics or religion. In my profession, I find it pretty difficult to stay away from the topic of religion. However, I have found it necessary to stay far away from the topic of politics, at least here in church. In fact, I do not talk politics in […]

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What's new at Nativity

Christmas Comes to You

This year we’ve reimagined just about everything our church does, from the way we worship to the way we work. The disruption has created many problems, but our team has been there with creative solutions, many of which will become permanent even after Covid fades away. But the most daunting challenge of reinvention comes now, […]

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Uncategorized

The Coming War Against Online Church

Everyone is excited about the prospect of getting back to church. Here at Nativity, we are reintroducing live streaming this weekend and inviting our staff to join us physically for Mass. If all goes well, we can begin welcoming back parishioners after a few more weeks of testing of our safety measures. But we do […]

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Evangelization | Making Church Matter

A “Mobile-First’ Church

In a recent homily, Pope Francis offered a caution for parishes turning to digital means of communication to do ministry.  He said clearly that a church which exclusively operates online, without physical presence and celebration of the sacraments, would be at risk of becoming individualistic, insular, and detached from a living faith. This caution comes […]

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Evangelization | Leadership

Never Waste a Crisis

Sudden crises have a way of clarifying long-running debates.  The essential nature of whatever is at stake tends to become obvious when we are forced to confront it without the haze of extraneous distractions or details.  This moment in time is no different.  As the current outbreak of the COVID-19 virus sweeps across the country, […]

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Discipleship | What's new at Nativity

Ashes To-Go

A church here in our community (not pictured above) advertises “Ashes To-Go,” a drive-thru exercise in minimalism when it comes to approaching Lent. I am not criticizing our neighbors in the least, they are observing the season according to their own custom. I just won’t be emulating them. Lent is an ancient tradition observed throughout […]

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Communication | Evangelization | Scripture

Habits

We just started a new series for this new year about something that shapes a huge portion of our behavior and identity – though we don’t always know it.  Our habits operate below the surface, quietly automating our lives, sometimes unbeknownst to us. It’s an especially timely series, given the multitude of resolutions we make […]

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