Karen has come up with another fun game to while away the hours until the screenwriters’ strike ends: The “words that should be banned from the bulletin” game:
Just now I was combing the current bulletin of one of our Orlando parishes (the one I call Our Lady of the Building Fund) trying to find a Mass schedule for today, and I was struck by an idea for a new church bulletin game. Let’s play “words or phrases we’d like to ban from church bulletins.”
My number one choice is “our brokenness.”
Someone in her comments added “community” as in “St. Bob’s Catholic Community.” My own parish’s bulletin is pretty much free of jargon, but anything touchy-feely, passive-aggressive sets my nerves to jangling. What words would you like banned from your parish bulletin?
“In our daily lives”.
“… in the Christian tradition …”
“Mission Statement” (if the mission isn’t preaching the Gospel, and baptising all nations in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, its the wrong mission)
“in the spirit of….”
“Commitee”
The “Faith community”
“Grocery certificates are available in the narthex after mass.” That one is also always part of the post-communion announcements. It must be in the latest edition of the Missalae Romanum.
“Time,treasure,and talent.”
“being Church”