When it comes to parish ministry, there is a high degree of burnout among people in ministry and we know that more and more parishioners are opting out as well. There are many contributing factors but one of them is the seemingly monotonous routine of it all. Sunday is always coming, and that never changes. […]
Category: What’s new at Nativity
When it comes to staffing at the parish (and probably everywhere else) it is hopefully a work in progress but always a work in transition. Here at Nativity, this summer has brought a few transitions and more than a few additions to our staff. Most of it comes as a blessing to our parish and […]
I am a big believer in summer projects around the parish. With the schedule a little lighter and a little less going on it’s the perfect opportunity to clean things up and clean things out. If we’re going to do any repairs, replacements, or construction, summertime is definitely the time to do it. I also […]
After two years of COVID everybody is really ready for a return to normal, which may or may not come our way in 2022. Regardless of the circumstances in our community, however restrictive the state and county mandates, and mindful of the very real fears of many parishioners, we intend to march into the new […]
It has been a unique and, frankly, strange year that now comes to a close. And while the restrictions we faced this year were certainly less strict than those experienced in 2020, they certainly were challenging. Mandates and masks, pro-vaxers v. anti-vaxers created confusion and conflict. And from a staff point of view, there was […]
Rebuilt has always been about sharing our real-time experiences in a real-life parish. Now that we are solidly into our fall semester here at Nativity, it seems like a good time for an update on what’s new and what’s next. If I had to identify one central theme of this update it would be that […]
Influence is force. It is compelling force, effecting actions and behaviors, opinions and thinking of others and, eventually, the outcomes they experience. Regardless of anyone’s religious beliefs, Jesus of Nazareth has been the dominant influence on the history of Western Culture for almost twenty centuries. In some ways, our biggest challenge actually comes in appreciating […]
If then my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, I will hear them from heaven and heal the land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 Last week, I began our new message series for the new year by highlighting the value in differentiating between our circle of concern and our sphere of […]
Back in October, when it still seemed like an open question, we made the difficult decision to not host our usual Christmas Eve celebration at the Maryland State Fairgrounds. It was a decision we didn’t take lightly. Christmas Eve at the Fairgrounds has become a defining part of who we are as a parish. But […]
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, […]
