November 21st

Dear Friends,

This weekend we close out the liturgical calendar of 2021, as we prepare to inaugurate a new liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent next weekend. This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The title of this is a not-so-subtle reminder that despite any appearances to the contrary, it is Jesus Christ who is running the show. The immense power and strength and glory of the Risen Lord is not shoved in anyone’s face… at least not yet. But at the End of Time (the technical term for this =  the Parousia) there will be no question as who Who is in charge. The first Sunday of each new liturgical year inaugurates the formal period of preparation for the celebration of the Incarnation of the Son of God (Christmas). Each liturgical year ends by celebrating the absolute and universal triumph of the One who was born in obscurity, died in infamy, rose from the dead in glory, and ascended to the Father in majesty.  

Thanksgiving Day is this coming Thursday! We will have Mass at 9 in the morning. Since we had this Mass at Nativity last year, this year we will gather at Saint Gabriel church. Though Thanksgiving is a secular holiday, its theme is religious and many people find meaning in starting the long holiday weekend by joining with fellow Catholics in a prayer that focuses on giving thanks. Please join us!

With Advent starting next weekend, we are reminded that Christmas is weeks away. Until we have some folks able to re-group and organize a formal “Giving Tree,” through which we can assemble Christmas gifts for individuals, we will take a different route. Just as we did last year, I am inviting parishioners to purchase gift cards for clothing stores, restaurants, toy stores, etc. that we can than package and give to a local organization to hand out to the poor that they serve. You can drop these cards into the offertory basket at Mass, or at the Nativity Parish Center or the St Gabriel rectory. We’ll wrap this up the weekend of December 12th, so that I can deliver the cards on December 13th.

Finally, the next batch of parish giving envelopes should be hitting mailboxes this week. As you will see, our Stewardship Envelopes have a new look. We have incorporated our new parish logo into the design and have provided boxes on the Building Fund, the School Support and the 50-50/Split-the-Pot envelopes with which you can designate Nativity of Our Lord or Saint Gabriel. Our regular stewardship offerings go towards general operations of the parish (as do the 50-50/Spit-the-Pot proceeds). 

May your week reflect the encounter with Christ We experienced at Mass today!