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Pastoral Notes

Explore insightful pastoral notes to inspire church leaders and nonprofits. Discover spiritual guidance, fundraising ideas, and community-building tips.

The lord, God is my help

September 13, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 20

The Lord, God is my help

After last week’s readings from Isaiah and St. Mark which focused on the signs of the arrival of the Messiah, this week’s readings...

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Best fundraising Platform for non profits

September 5, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 26

Judged in Love: Reflecting on the Final Weeks of Ordinary Time

  There are two important points here. The first is that God’s justice is always about repair, renewal, and restoration. It’s...

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The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated because it allows the Church, through the experiences of Peter, James, and John, to have a dazzling glimpse of the future as all is fulfilled in Christ. We can only begin to imagine how small and inadequate these apostles must have felt in this moment. Peter feels that he must do something, so he wants to set up “boothes,” or altars, for Moses, Elijah, and Christ. But nothing is needed save for them to “listen to the voice” of the beloved Son of God. It is the Church’s work in our time to offer that same dazzling glimpse of all things transformed and transfigured in Christ. The work of transfiguration begins when we listen to the voice of Christ as He calls us. Our job is to make as many hear His voice as possible! Call to action: Even the story of Christ’s Transfiguration contains a sense of the urgency of mission! We can no longer think of our parishes as sedate and stable places, rather, we must re-envision them as mission stations set in the midst of a hurting and unbelieving world. Pope Francis has asked the Church to conceive of herself as a “field hospital” where the hurting and injured may come for healing and succor. Ask yourself whether, as a skeptical visitor, you would feel welcome in your own parish? What needs to change? What needs to be added? Are you using your GC Smart Tools to reach out as effectively as you can? GiveCentral offers many webinars to help your parish reach out and grow. Look for our upcoming webinars here and sign up today! Pastoral Action Points 1. School will reopen soon! Use your GC Smart Tools to welcome families back to school and back to parish life. Nearly 20% of Catholics active before Covid have not returned to regular attendance at mass or in volunteering for parish activities. This presents a great opportunity for reaching out! 2. The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated in 9 more days. GiveCentral has email templates you can adapt for use in your parish for free. You can find them under Global templates in the New Communications Portal. Connect with GiveCentral Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 20

Embrace Faith and Mission: Transform Your Parish Outreach

The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated because it allows the Church, through the experiences of Peter, James, and...

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The final liturgical weeks of Ordinary Time have us turning to reflect on the final things of life, most notably how we shall be judged. Pope St. John XXIII noted that on the final day we shall be judged in love. This not only reflected the optimistic view of the Holy Father, but was also a theological statement, for God is Love! The first reading today causes us to reflect on the very practical aspects of what that love looks like for us as human beings. Are we fair? Are we generous? Are we forgiving? Are we aware that God hears the voices of those who suffer, especially those who may suffer at the hands of other human beings? The Gospel continues by asking us if we love the Lord our God with our whole mind, heart, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves? Perhaps our first thought about being judged at the end of all history in love brings us a sense of relief, as well it might. But then, the question will go further, “how have we loved our neighbors?” Call to action: Three great acts have traditionally been noted as hallmarks of the Christian life when we are repenting – that is, when we are turning our hearts and minds back to the Lord. They are emphasized more strongly in Lent but apply to the Christian life always. The first is prayer, the second is fasting, and the third is the giving of alms (gifts to the needy). Giving, whether to the Church, to the homeless and poor, or to one’s favorite charities is a hallmark of Christian discipleship. As we thank God for these fall months of harvest and prepare for a new year, let us ask our people (and ourselves) if we are indeed praying, fasting (not just from food), and giving our alms as the faith beckons us. Pastoral Action Points GiveCentral has an amazing set of GC Smart Tools available to help your church grow. Do you know how to use them? Just call or email us at GiveCentral and we will be happy to spend time with you making you a success! Are you doing a fall stewardship drive? Statistics are clear that the greatest amount of giving happens in the final quarter of the year in association with the holidays, and that people are planning their budgets for the new year already. Use your GC Smart Text and GC SmartQR codes to help your people make their gifts quickly, efficiently, and without the donor friction of apps, website logins, etc. Getting ready for Advent? GiveCentral has email templates you can adapt to your parish for free. Just look for them in your New Communications Portal.       Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social!   Toll-free:  833.716.2612   |   Email us at: support@givecentral.org        

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 9

Judged in Love: Reflecting on the Final Things and Our Call to Action

The final liturgical weeks of Ordinary Time have us turning to reflect on the final things of life, most notably how we shall be judged....

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Pastoral Reflection There is an irony in the juxtaposition of the first reading and the gospel. Abraham, who thinks he must “give up” his son (after years of having no heir) is able to keep him, whereas God the Father’s Son will be the one sacrificed for human sin. All these events happen on mountain tops, which are spiritual images for peak experiences. However, what stands out in today’s gospel passage from St. Mark are the words of the Father, “this is my beloved Son, listen to Him.” Listening, by which is meant deep listening, is no easy thing. Our minds are ablaze with our thoughts, our “to do” lists, and, let’s be honest, our own prejudices. We tend to filter everything we hear through the thick haze of our own preoccupations. Yet, if we will settle down, calm down, and turn the inner noise down, we might then be able to “listen to Him.” When we listen to God, we are in the act of being obedient. The word obedient comes from the Latin roots meaning “to listen to.” Someone who is disobedient, therefore, is someone who isn’t listening. They are filtering – as we all tend to do. The disciplines of Lent are meant as a gift to help us de-clutter, to cut the “noise,” and to listen to the Lord deeply. Call to action: At Give Central we keep pressing the point about becoming welcoming parishes. Why? Because if we listen to the numbers only 15 to 18% of Catholics are attending mass or being active in some way in their parishes. We must be obedient to the Lord when he told His disciples to out to all the nations and spread the Good News! Our churches must become sanctuaries of welcome where the brokenhearted can find rest and renewal in Christ. As Easter approaches and many “sometime” Catholics will attend our masses please take advantage of your GC Smart Tools, like GC Smart Text and QR Code to “capture” the contact information from your visitors, then follow up by contacting them and making them feel welcome. Once again, form a welcoming ministry, or ask your youth groups and/or senior citizens group to become welcomers. You can also set up a small kiosk in your entry area with information for visitors and guests. Pastoral Action Points 1. Keep your pews equipped with your parish’s pew cards all through Lent to make engaging and giving easy for your donors! 2. GC Guru is launching soon! This your GC AI assistant! You have questions? GC Guru has the answers! You will soon see the GC Guru upon logging into your admin account. 3. If you have not signed up for SmartGive Elite for Lent & Easter - - now is your chance to signup! Time is running out, click here to sign up! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 10

Listening to God: Embrace Obedience and Welcome in Your Parish

Pastoral Reflection There is an irony in the juxtaposition of the first reading and the gospel. Abraham, who thinks he must “give up”...

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The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated because it allows the Church, through the experiences of Peter, James, and John, to have a dazzling glimpse of the future as all is fulfilled in Christ. We can only begin to imagine how small and inadequate these apostles must have felt in this moment. Peter feels that he must do something, so he wants to set up “boothes,” or altars, for Moses, Elijah, and Christ. But nothing is needed save for them to “listen to the voice” of the beloved Son of God. It is the Church’s work in our time to offer that same dazzling glimpse of all things transformed and transfigured in Christ. The work of transfiguration begins when we listen to the voice of Christ as He calls us. Our job is to make as many hear His voice as possible! Call to action: Even the story of Christ’s Transfiguration contains a sense of the urgency of mission! We can no longer think of our parishes as sedate and stable places, rather, we must re-envision them as mission stations set in the midst of a hurting and unbelieving world. Pope Francis has asked the Church to conceive of herself as a “field hospital” where the hurting and injured may come for healing and succor. Ask yourself whether, as a skeptical visitor, you would feel welcome in your own parish? What needs to change? What needs to be added? Are you using your GC Smart Tools to reach out as effectively as you can? GiveCentral offers many webinars to help your parish reach out and grow. Look for our upcoming webinars here and sign up today! Pastoral Action Points School will reopen soon! Use your GC Smart Tools to welcome families back to school and back to parish life. Nearly 20% of Catholics active before Covid have not returned to regular attendance at mass or in volunteering for parish activities. This presents a great opportunity for reaching out! The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated in 9 more days. GiveCentral has email templates you can adapt for use in your parish for free. You can find them under Global templates in the New Communications Portal. Connect with GiveCentral Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 10

Transfiguration and Mission: Transforming Our Parishes for the World

The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated because it allows the Church, through the experiences of Peter, James, and...

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Pope St. John XXIII was known to tell people that we had a “cheat sheet” for the final judgment; it is found in St. Matthew’s Gospel in the 25th chapter – today's Gospel proclamation. How we should conduct ourselves as Christians is no mystery. Whatever else our faults may be, and whatever our sins in need of reconciliation, we can be charitable and kind to those who hunger and thirst, to those who are sick or imprisoned. (As St. Peter tells us in his epistles, love covers a multitude of sins!) However, the call of Matthew 25 isn’t directed at only the individual Christian! It is directed at the Church, corporately! Another Pope of blessed memory, Benedict XVI, reminded us that the Holy Eucharist finds its fulfillment when the Church goes forth from the Sacred Liturgy and puts love into action in the world! In the first reading today, the prophet Ezechiel tells us what sounds like a job description for the Church. “The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal.” That’s why we need to welcome the lost and strayed back into our churches Call to action: This is a good time to remind your people about their end-of-year giving! Use your GC Smart Tools to send an email or direct mail to your parishioners about end-of-year giving, or to make a commitment for their giving for the coming year of 2024. It’s a best practice to let them know the impact of their giving from this past year and to thank them for their generosity with time, prayer, and financial giving! (Did you know there is research from neuroscience about what’s called “giver’s glow?” More on that later.) Finally, Advent and Christmas are great seasons for welcoming back Catholics who have slipped in their participation, or potential new Catholics who are seekers in faith. Be careful about judging the lapsed! It might be better to be curious about why they’ve been away! Pastoral Action Points Are you ready with new, seasonal pew cards for Advent? You can find free templates for Advent pew cards in our Communication Portal. Not sure how to use it? Contact Teresa at teresa@givecentral.org or Edgar at edgar@givecentral.org Over 85% of Americans, including the elderly, now use smart phones. More Americans use smart phones than computers! Make sure your GiveCentral Smart texting phone number and GC Smart QR Codes are ready to go! Again, you can email Teresa or Edgar for more information or training! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 7

Embracing the Mission: The Transfiguration of the Lord and Parish Renewal

Pope St. John XXIII was known to tell people that we had a “cheat sheet” for the final judgment; it is found in St. Matthew’s Gospel...

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blessings and generosity

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 18

Strengthening Family Bonds: A Call to Peace and Virtue in the New Year

Pastoral Reflection The readings for Sunday call for peace, respect, and the exercise of virtue in family life. While modern family life is...

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From the virtues of a wife in the ancient world to investment strategies in the gospel parable, it looks like the readings are all over the map for this weekend. But they aren’t. There is a consistent theme, and it's about how we should be living until the Day of the Lord. St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they are children of the light and of the day, and so should live with the joys, hopes, and conduct appropriate to being in the light. The first reading describes the virtues of a wife (from an ancient perspective), and the gospel parable describes what we should be doing with what the Lord has given us. I imagine that the writer in Proverbs is a man who appreciates his wife and is writing this reflection as he beholds her from across the room, watching what she does. The gospel parable is from the first part of the twenty-fifth chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel. Next weekend we will read the last part, where the sheep and the goats are divided and judged. In light of that, we can see the urgency of this parable and all the readings of this weekend. We are called, at the end of the day, to appreciation, to recognition of the light we’ve been called to, and to use generously and well the talents we’ve been given. Call to action: If you’ve been doing a stewardship drive this month, the readings for this weekend provide a wonderful opportunity to pull it all together! The call to live spiritually in the light (prayer and sacrifice), the call to give of ourselves virtuously (the image of the good wife), and the call to use and give our talents well and generously (parable of the talents). As we approach Thanksgiving later this week, do we have a spirit of gratitude? A spirit that celebrates joy, feels appreciation for all that we have, and is willing to give generously? It’s time to call your parishioners to Christian joy and generosity. Use your GiveCentral GC Smart Tools, especially your pew cards with your Smart Text number and/or QR Code, allowing them to give joyfully and quickly. Pastoral Action Points GiveCentral has customizable templates for your pew cards! You can find them here. Do you need help using our GC SmartTools? Please email edgar@givecentral.org so you can join an onboarding/re-boarding training where you will learn all about the GC platform and GC SmartTools. Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 8

Live in Light: Gratitude, Stewardship & Generosity Insights

From the virtues of a wife in the ancient world to investment strategies in the gospel parable, it looks like the readings are all over the...

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Wisdom is a divine gift, in fact, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The person who is wise seeks wisdom, while the fool runs from thing to thing. However, in order to obtain wisdom, we need to be focused and prepared. In today’s gospel parable the wise virgins are ready for the wedding feast because they have prepared, they have thought about what is needed, and they have actively sought what they need – in this case, oil for their lamps. The foolish virgins are foolish because they have not prepared and have not actively sought what they need. Every human being comes to a point in life when he or she realizes that life is short and that we want a life of meaning. Sometimes people come to our churches because they are seekers, and they are actively looking for wisdom and meaning, for connection and hope. The good news is that there is still time, though not an infinite amount of it! For those whose souls are like “dry weary lands without water,” and who are seeking the One who is the Truth, who is Wisdom, let them find in our parish communities a welcoming place, a place where He who is Wisdom can be found. Call to action: The readings in the final Sundays of Ordinary Time focus on the last things and the conclusion of history. It reaches a crescendo on the Solemnity of Christ the King – the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Christ the King celebrates looking forward to the time when all things shall be under the headship of Christ. November also marks the beginning of the Holiday Season as people prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. It is also the time when the greatest amount of charitable giving is done for churches and nonprofits. Perhaps your parish is running its annual stewardship campaign, or you are asking your people to consider their Christmas gift to the parish. If you are, use your GiveCentral texting and QR Code capabilities to make things easier for them! Remember, the wise are prepared! Pastoral Action Points Do you have a new staff member that needs to be trained on the GiveCentral platform? If so, contact Teresa to set up training at teresa@givecentral.org Prepare now to welcome new church members and those “once or twice a year” visitors during Advent and Christmas. Do you have a welcoming ministry organized? Also, we have Advent and Christmas pew card templates, email templates, and direct mail templates here available for your use. Contact teresa@givecentral.org for more details! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 14

Living with Gratitude and Generosity: A Call to Stewardship

Wisdom is a divine gift, in fact, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The wise person seeks wisdom, while the fool runs from thing to...

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