Reminder for Sunday, December 16, 2018, 3rd Advent

Revelation 7:  "Amen, Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever.  Amen."

1 John:  Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:  When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  He began to teach them saying:…

Charlie, Tom, Cody and Jan

John Stack Ministries now meets at: 

The ArtCentre of Plano

902 E. 16th St, Plano

Please use the Haggard Park side entrance.  Latecomers please use the 16th Street entrance.

Wisdom 9:  Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?

Philemon 9:  … but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord.

Luke 14:  In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

Very Important Please Read

John Stack and Rosemary are still Covid positive.  Even if they turn negative by Friday, it is probably better for all concerned that we do not come together for Mass on Sunday.  Therefore there will not be a live Mass at the Art Centre on Sunday.  Mass will be on Zoom at the link below.

Also Important

Starting Sunday, September 11th, we will be meeting at:

Art Centre of Plano

902 E. 16th St, Plano

Please use the Haggard Park side entrance.

Amos 8:  The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done!

1 Timothy 2:  For there is one God.  There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all. 

Luke 16:  The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; 

Sunrise at White Rock Lake

Important Please Read

John Stack and Rosemary are Covid free.  Hallelujah!!!  Therefore there will be a live Mass at the ArtCentre on Sunday.  Mass will also be on Zoom at the link below. 

Starting Sunday, September 18th, we will be meeting at:

ArtCentre of Plano

902 E. 16th St, Plano

Please use the Haggard Park side entrance.

Here are the links for Sunday:

For Zoom   ( the video conference, same as last week )

 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7428208829?pwd=VERncTBxaWdkaFpkTUZKL3RROW81UT09

 

 

 

 

 

 

Readings:

Isaiah  58, 7-10,  Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless.

Psalm 112,  The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.

1 Corinthians 2,  13-16,  I came to you in weakness and fear.

Matthew  5, 13-16, You are the light of the world.

Harper says, "I am so happy to be back. Time for cupcakes yet?"

Isaiah reminders, again—

 Author: This is Isaiah #3, the composer of chapters 56-66.  Isaiah #3 lives after the Israelites have returned to the ruined city of Jerusalem.  It is a very depressing experience after the exuberance of being allowed to depart from slavery in Babylon.  Like returning to your shattered home after a tornado, hurricane, or forest fire.

 Date:  Ca. 555 before Christ, the composition.  The Jewish people of Jerusalem are home again.

Subject:  A great day will come for you Jews.  You will be a bright light at dawn and your wound will be healed (of your defeat and slavery), if you take care of your neighbor, providing food, clothing, and shelter.  The corporal works of mercy.

Sienna says, "Welcome, Everybody."

Do-ers and Be-ers

I would like to propose this morning that all the world is divided into two groups.  Group one is the doers.  Group two is the beers.  I know, a bunch of you guys are ready to sign up for the beers.  Me, too.  I’ll get you in cheap if you are nice to me.  I know, dream on.

I would further suggest that both of these types of persons are okay.  In fact, both are lights to the world.  The readings today say that you are a light to the world if you feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless.  Excellent, I buy that.  We try to do that as a community.

Brookyn sharing her charm with everyone.

In fact, I have an example of a person who wants to remain nameless because she is embarrassed.  However, if you marry a priest, all bets are off.  No respect, no refuge.

This nameless person and her girl friend, Barbara, take Meals on Wheels to about a dozen poor people in North Dallas every Thursday.  Heat, cold, or snow, as was the case last week, they bring food to these people, some of whom are home bound.   They know each person by name and there is a mutual caring love.

Erin, Momma to Sienna and Brooklyn, waits to receive her Cupcake of The Week about 3 weeks late.

They are doing what Isaiah and Matthew are exhorting us to do.  And they are lights to my world.

The second group brings light to our world just by their being here, by their very presence.   Three examples of what I mean.

Monday evenings Rosemary & I go dancing at the Farmers’ Branch Senior Center.  Last Monday there were about 50 pairs of people, despite the cold and crazy weather.  The folks are mostly singles with a few couple mixed in  These people are lights.  They are lights to me just by being there.

Zoe sharing her charm with everyone.

There is even one lady who comes all the time.  She is blind.  I hope to dance with her one evening.  She is a light perhaps to the whole room.

Secondly, last week Rosemary & I were honored to have the chance to coordinate  the wedding at TCU of a charming couple.   Just their presence, their joy and their enchantment were lights to me and to a large group of people in that chapel.

Georgie preparing to suit up.

Yesterday I sat down with another couple, in fact, our Rebecca Senter and her fiancé Rob Scott.  We are planning their April wedding.  I am so touched just by their presence.   

Finally, look around this community.  You have to go no further than to Leo and Cowboy Cole, Emma and Zoe, Buddy and Tori, Chloe and Charlotte, to say nothing of Harper and Sienna and Brooklyn when they are here.  Lights to the world?  Absolutely.  Totally, lights to me.

So what makes for a light to the world?  Two things, not just one.  First of all, obviously, we are invited and challenged to care for our neighbor.  Excellent.

Leo says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in."

However, I would include people just as they are.  You, I, all of us are lights.  How so?  Ever come away from an encounter with a person feeling happier, more peaceful, even delighted?  The light has struck.

So how does it feel to be a light just by being here? 

And again, who gives you light?

Emma, The Thinker, seriously at work here.  Remember the sculpture?

 Mass:  Coffee & Donuts, Juice & Home Made Muffins on the house.

Place: Vines High School on 15th between Custer & Independence.  Time: 9:30

Readings: Job 7, 1-7; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 9, 16-23; Mark 1, 29-39. 

Community Bulletin Board: 

True?     We seldom think of what we have, but always think of what we miss.

February 8, This Sunday: Winter Brunch & Birthday celebrations.  Covered Dish.

Picture 1:  Tom Gleason

Picture 2:  Ekes & Witteks

Picture 3:  Nikki & Keith expecting

Picture 4: John & Connie Doherty

See you this Sunday, February 8.

 J.S.   (214-783-0443)

 
Mass:   Coffee, donuts, & specials on the house.  

Time: 9:30;  Stack Celebrating 

Place:  Vines High School, 15th between Custer & Independence, south side

 
   
  
 Readings: Zephaniah 2, 3-3, 12-13; Psalm 146, Blessed are the Poor in Spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs; 1 Corinthians 1, 26-31; Matthew 5, 1-12 

 
 
 
 Community Bulletin Board: 

 1.  Next brunch: Feb. 13, the Sunday after Super Bowl.

    
Picture 1:   Music, Wendy, Shonda, Ray, & Jon        

Picture 2:   Tony Welcoming Sienna & family               

Picture 3:   Sienna is ready

Picture 4:   Blessing the water      

Picture 5:   Sienna with her cypress tree         

Church Happenings:

1.   Beatification of J.P. II, some thoughts, National Catholic Reporter, 1-27-11: Download Beatification 1-28-11  

2.   Some thoughts on America, Corpus, 1-24-11: Download AMERICA 1-28-11

True?  

How simple and frugal a thing is happiness: a glass of wine, a roasted chestnut, a wretched little brazier, the sound of the sea . . . . All that is required to feel that here and now happiness is a simple, frugal heart.

 NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS   

Picture 6:   Payton & Erin 

Picture 7:   Hue & Linda & Fred  

 See you Sunday, January 30, 2011

 J.S.   (214-783-0443)