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Council Comments

6/26/2016

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​LOOKING BACK
For the past two years, I have been privileged to serve as the president of our parish council. During this time, I have been lucky enough to avoid the task of writing an article for the Nativity News. Now that my term on the parish council is ending, my luck has run out and Ann has coerced me into writing this article. My time on the parish council was enlightening and enjoyable. Serving on the council gave me the opportunity to work with many members of our parish who are devoted to serving our Nativity family and our neighboring community. I want to thank all of the council members who have worked so hard for the benefit of the parish during the past two years and I like to welcome the new council members who will be starting their terms on the parish council. Thank you also to those members of our parish who submitted their names, but were not selected for the council.

There are many benefits to serving on the parish council, but the most important benefit is the opportunity to work with Sister Jolene and Brother Ray. To experience the wisdom, dedication, and humility of these outstanding people is a tremendous gift. In his speech at World Youth Day, Pope Francis said “The life of Jesus is a life for others. It is a life of service.” Sister Jolene and Brother Ray are truly living a life of service and we are blessed to have them with us at Nativity. From the example they set, we can learn that there is joy in service.

All of us have the ability to serve. Our parish provides numerous opportunities to serve by sharing our time and talent. No matter how much time we have to give, or what our talent may be, there is a way for us to serve. We have many dedicated parishioners serving o parish commissions, but our commissions can always use more volunteers. As we learned at our recent parish retreat, we all need to serve our parish to ensure that Nativity continues to be a thriving parish and a valuable asset to the community. Working with one of our commissions – Christian Service, Education, Evangelization, Social, Stewardship, Worship or Youth—is one way to help our parish and experience the joy of service. If you have question about how you can serve, talk to one of our parish council members.

Pope Francis said it best: “Go, do not be afraid and serve. If you follow these three ideas, you will experience that the one who evangelizes is evangelized, the one who transmits the joy of faith receives joy .”

Mark Miller

Kroger Community Rewards— If you shop at Kroger, you can prove a benefit to the parish by registering your Kroger card and selecting Nativity as you designated charity. Kroger will donate a percentage of every dollar you spend on groceries to Nativity. Designating Nativity as your charity will not affect your Kroger fuel points and it will cost you nothing. You can register your Kroger card at your Kroger store or on line at: www.kroger.com/topic/kroger-community-rewards-3. Please note that if you previously registered, you may need to renew your registration on the web site or at your Kroger store. Please check the bottom of your Kroger receipt to confirm that your card is registered to Nativity.
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Pastor's Pen

6/19/2016

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Happy Father’s Day
At the Funeral and Vigil service for Richard Kelly this past week, I heard over and over how important he was in so many children’s lives.  He was the father they didn’t have who escorted them to the father/daughter dance.  He was  the mentor who made them feel they could do anything.  He was the one who took time for them and was never too busy to stop and listen.   He was the one who remembered to do the small things that meant so much. He was at the games and at the plays and at any other events that were important to the children.  It was hard to believe that one person could have that much influence over so many lives.  Yet, he did and he would be the first to say it was no big deal.  He was just doing what a father is supposed to do.  What if we all had a spark of his enthusiasm and generosity to be fathers, mentors and leaders to our children?  What a world we would  have if we all took this responsibility seriously!  To all those fathers who have worked tirelessly for your own children and those who were like your own children, we thank you.  For all those who took the time to mentor a child and give them the hope that they can achieve anything, we thank you.  For all those fathers who have worked so hard to be good fathers and still, for whatever reasons, your children go down paths, you wish they hadn’t, we thank you.  Fatherhood is not just biological,.  It’s about the heart and the ability to love another who looks up to you.  Happy Fathers Day to our fathers and all those who have been like fathers to us! 


A Father’s Day Prayer
We give our thanks, Creator God, for the fathers in our lives.
Fatherhood does not come with a manual,
and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail.
We ask for Your blessings for them all – and forgiveness where it is needed.
This Father’s Day we remember the many sacrifices fathers make for their children and families, and the ways – both big and small – they lift children to achieve dreams thought beyond reach.
So too, we remember all those who have helped fill the void when fathers pass early or are absent – grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, pastors and coaches – and the women of our families.
For those who are fathers, we ask for wisdom and humility in the face of the task of parenting. Give them the strength to do well by their children and by You.
In Your Holy name, O God, we pray. Amen.”
 
May our Heavenly Father bless all earthly fathers today and every day.
Their influence as teachers and role models should never be underestimated.
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Joni's Reflection

6/12/2016

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ELEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
Gospel: Luke 7:36-50    The Woman Who Crashed the Party
 
“Simon, the Pharisee, threw a dinner for Jesus and other invited guests.”  Was there ever a party or game you wanted to attend but you didn’t get an invitation?  How did that make you feel?  Often a special group of popular people is invited and others are left out.
                 
Jesus flips the script and shows us that God’s invitation is not exclusive.  A sinful woman crashes the dinner because she yearned for God’s forgiveness and needed to come to Jesus. Her need to be reconciled to God was greater than her fear of derision. She left the party with Jesus’ assurance:  “Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you: go in peace.”  The story is told so that we may emulate the zeal of this woman.  We sometimes do not go to God because we feel unworthy.  No matter how people regard us, we must remember that God considers us worthy to be on God’s guest list!  And God never lets us leave his presence without giving us all we need to love and serve God and our fellow human beings.  Make those you come in contact with, realize God’s love for them.”  The African American Catholic Youth Bible page 1539
 
For the past few days I have been praying with this scripture and remembering important childhood memories, “life lessons” I call them.  My grandparents were people of great faith, hope, love, wisdom, courage and peace. I’m sure that it is one of the reasons that my favorite mantra is “Amazing Peace.”  One lesson from my grandfather was that when you encounter another person for a conversation always look that individual directly into their eyes, regardless of who they are.  This was important for him as a southern black man, as it reminded him and others that; “just as I am in the image of God, so are you too.”  To give dignity to another and to forgive another who has wronged you can be overwhelming but that is what we are called to do.  Everyone was always invited to my grandfather’s table for dinner; just as all of us are invited to the table of the Lord.
 
Lessons from my grandmother were taught to me up until she left this earth at age 98.  My grandmother’s name was “Irene,” and “Irene means peace and she truly lived her life as a woman of peace and forgiveness. There is a wonderful spiritual that my grandmother used to sing in the choir, called “Come to Jesus,” here are just a few of the lyrics:  “Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus, right now, right now, he will save you, he will save you right now…”  Just as the woman who came with faith and courage as an uninvited guest to see Jesus, we too, can come to Jesus with opens hearts knowing that we can be healed and forgiven of our sins.
 
Amazing Peace….
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Pastor's Pen

6/5/2016

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Sr. Joan Chittister told a story at one of the anniversary celebrations of Pax Christi. I may have shared this story but I really like it. She goes on to tell them about this teacher and his students. There was a teacher who wanted to teach his students the meaning of risk and so he told them this story. There were laborers who would work in fields in Asia. They took flights to get to these remote fields. The flights were long and boring and so the men decided to play cards. It was decided by the laborers that the man who lost the card game would be thrown out of the plane without a parachute. The students were astounded and said, “that’s a terrible thing to do.” The teacher said, “I suppose but it sure made the game more interesting.” Joan Chittister’s point was that you never live so fully as when you gamble with your life. To win the game of our life, we will have to risk it all and not hold back. She went on to say to the Pax Christi group that they could stop at this momentous occasion (I think it was a 25th anniversary) and rest with the goodness of all their work or they could risk continuing on the journey and see where God would take them.

​It’s the same with our parish. I think Nativity could stop now and be proud of all that has been accomplished through this parish and not move any further and no one would fault us OR we can get up and risk everything and see where God takes us. Just in case you don’t know, I’m for risking it all and seeing where God takes us. I don’t think our mission is just to keep ourselves from being closed. If that’s all we want, then I’m jumping out of the plane now! I think we have a deeper mission than just being a community of friends who love Nativity. I think we are called to be open with a compassionate presence to this neighborhood. This is the neighborhood where God has put us. The folks in this neighborhood are waiting to teach us what it means to have faith when you’ve got nothing else. They are here to show us the face of Christ in his wounds and in his glory. They are here to show us how to be in relationship with people we thought we had nothing in common with. They are here to minister to us!

​
I ask that you come on June 11th and pray with us. God has more in store for Nativity if we’re open to the Spirit. Let’s allow the Spirit to blow through this parish and bring new life to all of us. See you on the 11th and bring your courage with you!
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