ATF,
For me, one of the key problems the church faces is that it continues to try, via it's rubrics and rituals, to not only idealize everything, but also to separate our rituals from real life.  Something akin to a "bubble" is to be created once we enter a church, and in that bubble, we're asked to think of life in the abstract, to pray prayers that somebody else made up, that are "universal" in nature and intent, and that may or may not have anything to do with life outside that bubble for many, if not most, who attend.  

I'm not knocking the concept, but I'm suggesting that to revitalize the church, it's gotta do what Jesus did: come down off the pedestal, and meet people where they REALLY live.  Making New Year's day a Holy Day of OBLIGATION is a great example of missing the boat.  How many Catholics see that as a burden, rather than a celebration?  Maybe a new year's eve party might make more sense and foster a community?

The church has the space: it needs the imagination...