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Council Comments

7/31/2016

1 Comment

 
Day of Retreat Summary

On August 6
th we will meet from nine to noon here at Nativity to continue the dialogue about our future direction and mission as parish. Because some parishioners were not able to attend the June 11th retreat and because we can all profit from refreshing our memories, we are presenting a 2nd week of excerpts from Jesse Cox’s remarks from that day. We look forward to hearing again from Jesse on August 6th and to having much more conversation with each other.

Jesus tells us in scripture that, “Nothing is impossible for God.” This scripture turns us away from just our own power, abilities, intellect and creativity. When we allow God to ‘fuel’ our plans, we are plugged into a source that is limitless! We are asked as people of faith to center our lives in Christ and build our plans on the strong foundation of God’s Word and teaching.


As he concludes his great sermon on the mount, Jesus tells this story about two builders. One builds on a secure foundation, while the other sets his house on a foundation that is weak and vulnerable. This story clarifies a twofold requirement for all who wish to follow Jesus: first we are to hear and understand his teaching, and second we are to let that teaching move us to action. As we take up the subject of a renewed theological vision, it is not merely an intellectual exercise. What we come to understand makes a difference in the way we live.
Transformational action is the result of transformational thinking.

In what ways can my thinking be challenged so that my actions reflect better the transformation/conversion Jesus invites us all to experience?


​The grace of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot sustain you!
1 Comment

Council Coments

7/24/2016

1 Comment

 
DAY OF RETREAT SUMMARY


On June 11th, many members of the parish were able to spend time with each other for a Day of Retreat under the guidance of Jesse Cox, Director of Campus Ministry at Marygrove College.  For the next three weeks we are going to reprint highlights from his talks in order that we can all be “on the same page” when we meet for a follow-up mini retreat in August 6 from  9:00am to Noon, here at Nativity.   The title of Jesse’s first talk was: “Thankful for What Was and Hopeful for What Will Be…..”
 
 …..The symbol of the SANKOFA is of a bird facing forward while looking back.  The Sankofa is an African symbol and it literally means "it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot".  Today I want to invite you to plant your feet firmly toward the future yet reach back and cherish the past, using the lessons of what was to inform and create a future filled with hope!
 
…..Today is about transitions, transformation, and thanksgiving: thanksgiving for what was, transformation as a result of what is, embracing the transitions that both disorient us and redirect our lives. 
 
…..In our own lives of faith, we are called to be liberated and be the liberating presence of God.  Moses had to undergo a transformation and conversion-several times before he was ready to, reluctantly, accept the call to free the enslaved Hebrews from Egypt.  So too are we called to constant transformation and conversion, it’s the process through which God pries us loose from the places where we take refuge.  God places us in the midst of the world so that we can be a living reminder that God’s presence is available to all.
 
…..Jeremiah 29:11  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
     Today finds us at a crossroads....a place of opportunity.....
     What opportunity is God inviting you to accept, what path is being opened before you?
 
…..“If you always do what you’ve always done, then you’ll always get what you always got.  In       order to get what you never got, you’ve got to do what you’ve never done!”
 
…..Today, the scripture ask us to focus on our call, our mission, the invitation from God to be Good News, God's healing, a friend and neighbor, companion for the journey, models of forgiveness.  
…..When we pray the Our Father, we are asking that God give us the grace to give to those we minister to and among, what they need in that particular moment.  Effective prayer is letting God get the last word in!
…..During our day of prayer....let’s put our guards down and open our hearts, so that we hear clearly God's call to embrace more deeply our faith, to live it passionately and to share it indiscriminately.
             
…..So for a few minutes I want you to take some time and reflect on the grace and blessings in your life that you are thankful for, I want you to reflect upon how you respond to those blessings and what that requires and finally, what transformation must happen in you if you embrace the call you have received from God?
1 Comment

Joni's Reflection

7/17/2016

0 Comments

 
ONE THEME of today’s readings is hospitality. Hospitality is a very important element of life in the Middle East. This is not surprising, given the hostile terrain of large stretches of waterless desert and hot sun. Such hospitality for us has become a victim of modern urban living. We only open our doors to our own family or people we know well. Our houses are constantly locked, even when we are home. There are peepholes, cameras, alarms. Strangers can no longer be trusted. One wonders if this is a step forward in our so-called civilized, cultured, developed and sophisticated society?

I think about this often as I ask myself who is my neighbor? Are they just the people who live next door to me? Or do I truly try to see everyone that is part of the fabric of our global community as my neighbor. I believe that as we grow older we begin to lose some of the innocence of seeing the image of Christ in everyone we meet. This is a challenge if we profess to be Christians, because to be a Christian means to be the face of Christ and to see the face of Christ in others.

I live on a dead end street that leads into the park. My oldest grandson, who is still innocent and not shy, loves to say hello to people who walk down our block. Over the years he has come to know a few of their names by asking his Papa to ask these strangers “what is your name?” Because of his view of the world that does not fully yet understand the definition of race; he only sees the image of the person walking. I would love for that innocence to remain but in reality I know that there will be some changes.

Years ago, I had the pleasure of knowing a gentleman by the name of Mr.Sadowski. I was an AmeriCorps volunteer that was helping churches to care for the seniors in their parishes. Mr.Sadowski was ninety-nine when we met and his grandchildren where planning for the hope of his one-hundredth birthday. Mr. Sadowski had other things on his mind that he thought were more important than his anticipated birthday.

Mr. Sadowski wanted to share his message of love, peace, joy and the gift of hospitality. He did this through the warm embrace that you received as you walked through his front door and then the offering of whatever food or drinks that he had on hand. After all of the busyness stopped, the storytelling began and the listening was hypnotic. He shared how he had walked across Eastern Europe during World War I as a young boy. He walked in the dead of winter all alone because his family had been killed. His eyes would light up and fill with tears as he remembered the strangers who were kind along the way from Europe and his final destination, America.
​

His prayer and message to all those he could meet was to, “See the world in all of its diversity as a bouquet of flowers. He would say every flower is beautiful, but when they come together, oh how beautiful.” Mr. Sadowski died shortly after celebrating one-hundred years on this earth. I am both humbled and honored to have known him. His message is one of many; that give me hope, for the difficult times that we are experiencing right now in our nation and world. Thank God for the gifts of faith, hope, and love. Our future can improve, this is the message in the readings today as we need both Mary’s and Martha’s. ‘What this World Needs Now is Love’, is the song that you will hear our children sing today at Mass. The words are not difficult to learn, it is the message that we need to work on. Please join us following Mass for lemonade, cookies and a bouquet of stories.
0 Comments

Council Coments

7/13/2016

2 Comments

 
Nativity of Our Lord - Class of “66”
50th Reunion


The Class of “66” is organizing a 50 Year Class Reunion and would like to extend the invitation to the classes of ‘64, ‘65 & ‘67. 

Make your “checks” payable to:
Frank Teodecki
8825 Grace St.
Shelby Twp., Mi. 48317

Your tickets  must be purchased  by  August 15th, 2016, and will be available at the door.

WHEN:        SATURDAY, OCTBER 8TH, 2016, (7:00pm)
WHERE:      VILLA PENNA BANQUET& RESTAURANT
                 43985 HAYES RD., STERLING HGTS, MI.
TICKETS:    $60 PER PERSON or $120.00 PER COUPLE 
INCLUDES:  DJ, SIT DOWN DINNER & OPEN BAR 

Come Celebrate!!!
2 Comments

Jolene's Jottings

7/6/2016

1 Comment

 
As I am writing this I am putting in my second last day of being part of the Nativity staff, and by the time you read this, I will be enjoying my first days of retirement. I am sure there will be lots of adjusting for me and probably for you too, but I am ready to embrace it with enthusiasm.

I have all these things on my “To Do” list that need attention but have been put on the shelf for months until I have free time, like clearing out the rest of Father Singer’s things, cleaning out lots of file cabinets that have over 30 years of accumulation, cleaning out the attic and sorting what needs to be saved and what needs to be dumped, and doing the same with corners of the basement. The there are the more fun things living giving the three dogs a much needed bath, taking care of the garden and the Father Singer Memorial Park and getting the Gazebo we have been planning for over a year, and make a dress for my niece’s wedding in Atlanta on August 13. (That means I will not be here for our Parish Picnic this year. I regret that but life often demands tough choices.)

My important message today is to say thank you to each of you for making my 50 years at Nativity years of real joy and happiness. I do not believe there is a place in the world that I could have been happier. You have indeed been a love filled community for me, always there when I needed anything, a helping hand, a bit of advice, a calming spirit when I was frazzled, or doing the many things you do on committees, or for parish activities or programs, often without even being asked. As I leave, I just ask that you never lose that spirit. Keep Nativity’s light shining for the community. That can only happen if each of you does what God calls you to do whenever God calls.

As I look back at Mr. Kelly’s life and the celebration of his life three weeks ago, I see a perfect example of what we are and can always be. The celebration showed that we are a loving, caring community; a community that Mr. Kelly helped to form. If one person, Mr. Kelly, could touch the lives of so many people of all ages and backgrounds, so deeply, in so many different ways, each of us can do likewise. It was also a reminder that as many of those who were parish pillars over the years and are now gone home to their eternal reward, others need to step up and take over. Many of our elders who are still here are tired and in need of someone else stepping up and taking on the responsibilities. We saw an example of that at the Mother’s Day breakfast and need to see more occasions like that. Pick up where they left off or do your own thing.

It is easy to say, “I could not do that. I do not know what to do, or how to do it.” If you get an idea, share it with someone. Start with the staff. Share it with others you think would share your passion and help it to become a reality.
​
Together we can keep Nativity’s light shinning. It will require each and every one of you, but I know you can and will do it.
1 Comment

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