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Council Comments

2/28/2016

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Nativity Friday Night Prayer Ministry
This is the 17th year of the Nativity Friday Night Prayer Ministry! It was birthed from the 1999 Holy Thursday all-night prayer vigil. Beverly Stephens, a long-time parish member who passed away in 2014, had the idea to continue a weekly all-night vigil throughout the year. Instead of praying in church, each member would pray at a designated hour in the comfort of their home. You can refer to it as a “prayer chain” that takes place every Friday night starting at 9 PM through 9 AM Saturday morning. It’s been my privilege to coordinate the schedule, and I have been blessed through my phone contacts with parish family members who I call “prayer warriors.”

Prayer is our privilege to have intimate fellowship with God. It’s a time of talking and listening. Often Jesus slipped away to a quiet place to pray and even now sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us (Romans 8:24). This ministry demonstrates “the communion of saints.” We are indeed linked in prayer with those who shared in this ministry and are now in the presence of Jesus – Esther Kuzak, Sr. Judy Singer, Odday McDonough, Mary Grace Johnson, Norma Danforth, Marie Anderson, Hermenia Gabriel, Cecilia Overstreet, Wiley Adams, Shirley Scott, Frank Rivers, Marty Carnaghi, Fr. Jerry Singer, Tom Scamihorn, Irene McGill, John Hardwick, and Beverly Stephens.

At present, there are 22 members committed to pray for one hour weekly. At the end of their hour, a call is made to the next person on the schedule. Not as a reminder, but to signify our agreement in prayer -- “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19). Will you consider joining us? For some this is an invitation to return and to others an offer to try something new. It is a way for us all to continue our Lenten prayer beyond these 40 days. A sign up sheet will be available in Church today and the next two weekends.
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Council Comments

2/21/2016

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Homeless Shelter
The Homeless Shelter weekend takes a lot of planning, preparation and donations. And that’s before we get to the actual weekend itself. Chris and I would like to thank everyone that helped in any way for the Shelter. Year after year, we hear from our visitors how much they appreciate what we do, from the meals and warm place to sleep to the hats and gloves we provide and movies we show. It’s only a weekend and that doesn’t seem like much in the grand scheme but to those that we take in, it’s appreciated more than we realize. God calls us to do good works in His name, not just for the people that are the recipients of those deeds, but so that we can grow closer to Him in the process.

Chris first asked me to help with the Homeless Shelter about 8 years ago. At first thought, I wasn’t sure it was for me. I had minimal experience with the Homeless Shelter up to that point and felt it might be a bit too far outside of my comfort zone. However, my father, who passed away in March of 2007, used to help Chris so with that in mind, I agreed to help. Looking back on that first experience, it was a bit of a wakeup call. At a time when I was feeling sorry for myself, here were people that were just grateful to have a warm place to lay down at night. It gave me the opportunity to realize al the special and great people I still had with me and to appreciate them even more. I like to think this was God’s way of working on me, at a time when I needed His help and guidance the most…a way for me to grow close to Him.

We just wrapped up the Homeless Shelter a couple weekends ago, and unlike last year which saw its share of challenges, this year was less adventurous. We had a great group of helpers (as we always do) and thanks to all the donations received, we were able to provide what we planned for the folks that stayed with us. And they told us how much they appreciated it and how great it is that we do this. We often get this question from the people that stay with us: how often do you do this? It’s hard to admit to them that we only do it once a year but they usually respond that they’re glad we do it all. However, we do welcome any ideas as to what more we could do to help, not necessarily another shelter weekend but perhaps something we could do more often. Lastly, I wanted to send an open invite to everyone, during the Homeless Shelter weekend if you would like to come and sit and visit with our guests, please do. Even if you don’t sign up to be a monitor, the company is more than welcome!
​

For we are His workmanship, created In Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them – Ephesians 2:10
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Pastor’s Pen

2/16/2016

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It’s truly hard to believe that Lent has arrived. I just took down my Christmas tree a week ago! I know Sr. Jolene says that she doesn’t take her tree down until the Feast of the Presentation on Feb 2. I, on the other hand, don’t have such a noble reason. I just like seeing the lights and am too lazy to take the Christmas tree won. Anyway, it feels like we just had Christmas and are looking toward Easter.

We are reminded each year that the three foundational virtues we care called to live out during this season are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I could usually handle the prayer and almsgiving but the fasting has always been the toughest. Because of that fasting clause, Lent has never been my favorite season in the Church calendar. I love to eat! From the time I was a little kid, it has always seem like Lent was a time of deprivation. No meat on Fridays, no sweets, no good stuff (period) was the constant refrain during Lent.

Now that I’m older I still don’t like to be deprived but I see a reason for it. When I fast after I get over my initial discomfort, I start to think about all the people who fast every day of their lives. I think about those for whom fasting is not voluntary but a way of life. I start to think of children who go to bed hungry or parents who go without meals so their children can eat. I think about those who rely of people’s castaway food (dented cans, ripped packages, expired products, etc.) and rarely eat anything that’s fresh. I think about those who have to depend on pantries and suffer the humiliation of having to ask for food themselves and their families. I think of those who wait in Soup Kitchen lines and have the indignity of hearing from someone on the other side of the counter that they cannot get any seconds no matter how hungry they are.

Then I think about how easy my life is and how many choices I have each day in what I will eat. I think about how spoiled I am in not wanting to eat the same meal two days in a row while others eat the same meal of rice and beans every day and are so grateful that they have food. I also think about the other hungers in people’s lives. I think of all those who hunger for just one person to tell them they are loved. I think of those who hunger for meaning and for a reason to get up in the morning. I think of those who hunger for a kind word or just a smile or those who hunger for a future out of poverty. I think about the hungers we all have to be successful, to be esteemed by the people around us, to feel that our lives have meant something to someone.
​

Fasting does help us to do more that lose a few pounds. It helps us to pray more deeply as we realize our physical hunger and our spiritual hungers. It also takes us out of ourselves and our own petty selfishness and opens us to a whole world that hungers for food and meaning and love and compassion. Yes, it’s Lent and it’s time to fast and pray and be generous with our stuff, our time and our love. It’s not easy, this season of Lent, but in this season God calls us to our better selves and to a new freedom. May we not let this season pass us by!
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Member's Minutes

2/7/2016

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Going Deeper Into Lent
From the time we were children, our question for Lent was, “What are you giving up for Lent?” Giving something up for these 40 days helped us enter into the season with a sense of purpose and a greater awareness. As adults, we might want to consider looking at Lent in a deeper way. Sometimes giving up something is where we begin—and end- - our reflections on Lent. It can be tempting so say “I am giving up chocolate” or beer or even all sweets and all alcohol. But without more reflection, it can become simply a way I show God how strong I am.

Lent isn’t simply about us “giving up” something. The real grace is when we recognize that Lent is a season in which God wants to give us something. God wants to help us transform our lives and make us more free as people – not just freer with God, but in the way we live our lives and love our families. It is much easier for us to simply choose something to give up—then we can dismiss Lent! We give it up and exercise our will power for 40 days to prove to ourselves and to God that we can do it. And at the end of Lent we can return to what we gave up.

Each of us can think of something that gets in the way of our being loving and self-sacrificing As I reflect, I might realize that changing a particular way I live is coming to me as a call from God and I don’t have to do it alone. God is moving my heart to reflect on these changes and God will remain faithful and help me to stay open to the grace being offered to me for change. It may be something that I don’t want to change or acknowledge. I don’t think I can change it. But that’s where talking to God can make the difference. I am not doing this along; I am doing it with God.

I asking God for help, we might ponder one of the many healing gospels, like Mark 2:1-12. A group of friends carried a mat with a paralyzed man to Jesus, by lowering him through the roof. The friends on the roof had “broken through” the tiles to lower their friend into the house for healing. Their breakthrough led directly to the healing.

Where do we need a breakthrough? What is the barrier that keeps us from asking for healing? In our own lives, we need to break through our denials, defensiveness and our unwillingness to look at ourselves. Discovering what the barrier is in my life is critical. If we don’t know what the barrier is these weeks of Lent are a great time to reflect upon it. When we identify the barrier, we have made the breakthrough. That’s when Jesus can heal us of it. (Adapted from Creighton University’s Home Page

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Jolene's Jottings

2/1/2016

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“They went their way, and the star which they had seen in the East went before them…” (Matthew 2:9)

Sister Jolene received this at Christmas time and we thought it would be good to share with all.

Dear Friends and Benefactors,

Being in the Middle East and seeing what is happening around us makes it hard to believe that our world is ready to welcome the Lord. The star of Christmas shines on us in our second year of exile to tell us how similar our world is now to the time when Jesus was born. The wandering magi who had lost their way are still there, but they are not only three—there are thousands of them. Herod who wanted to kill the innocents in still there, but he has become many. The Holy Family is still fleeing to escape with their lives, followed by many other families who are immigrating in all directions. And, Rachel is still weeping over here children who were stripped out of her arms, and she is accompanied by her neighbors whose grief just leaves us speechless.

Yet, it is still the star of Christmas that shines to show where the King of peace is born. It is in this world, and no other world where Jesus is born to be with us and for us.

The Lord comes unexpectedly, challenging our mentality and our expectations. He comes in our worn out world, even when the world is not ready for Him. He comes to our aid in times of weakness, pain, violence, and darkness in order to be close to us. He is always there, guiding the wandering people, accompanying those who flee, and wiping the tears of the weeping mothers.

Having confidence in Him and his powerful presence among us, we are to continue and journey with those who are left in Iraq, although nothing is clear about the future. News is not encouraging at all, and people do not have the capacity think anymore. We ask your prayers that God may strengthen our faith, enlighten us and grant us His wisdom to discern in our reality despite all the difficulties and pressures we are living. How much enlightened vision and courage we need!

On this blessed occasion, and confidence that the word of the Lord will prevail, I extend my greetings to all sisters, brethren, friends, benefactors, and organizations who have been accompanying us in our dark night Thank you for being a guiding star that shows us God’s loving care. We believe that His light will tear through the darkness, and He will come down.
​
O Come, Lord Jesus. You are our joy…our peace...and our life.
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