Link Announcement for Pentecost Sunday Sunday, May 31, 2020

Rosemary's Blessing:

…and life is still a constant surprise to me.  We never know what will happen next, what we will see, and what  important person will come into our life, or what important person we will lose.  Life is change, constant change, and unless we are lucky enough to find comedy in it, change is nearly always drama, if not tragedy.  But after everything, and even when the skies turn scarlet and threatening, I still believe that if we are lucky enough to be alive, we must give thanks for the miracle of every moment of every day, no matter how flawed.  And we must have faith in God, and in the Universe, and in a better tomorrow even if that faith is not always deserved.

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

Rosemary missed our celebration this morning because Aviana had gotten sick overnight and Rosemary took her to our vet.  Both are okay now.

 

Thanks to the Team

Music, Shonda & Ben

Readers, Hue & Brent, Deacon Mike, & Buddy, the candle blessing

Eucharistic Prayer, John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers, Mike & Ben & Becky

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

 

Community Finances, May 17, 2020

Expenses: $350.00

Outreach:  $xxx  (often for Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.)

Thanks, Everybody.  Your generosity is humbling.

I am both humbled and proud to announce that we put together two of our monthly contributions to Souls Harbor, i.e., $2000 & $1500, and donated them on the Giving Tuesday recently.  Yes, the amount was matched.  Thanks again, Everybody.

 

A Special Gift:

The Ask Dr. B. Good radio show can be located on 1160 am at 8 am Sundays. Why should you listen? Everyone needs to understand what is happening in public education, especially right now during COVID. Public education must become something different than what it’s been for the last 100 years. Stay up and stay tuned to what’s happening in public education! 

 

 

 

Readings:

Acts of the Apostles, 8, 5-8, 14-17,  They laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 66, Let all earth cry out to God with joy.  (Beautiful Psalm)

1 Peter  3, 15-18, Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.

John 14, 15-21, I will  not leave you orphans. 

 

 

 

Reading 1

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles

         Going down to Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah.  When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God’s action, they hung on his every word.  Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day.  The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way.  And what joy in the city!

        When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God’s Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit.  Up to this point they had been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on them.  Then the apostles laid their hands on them, and they did receive the Holy Spirit.

Our word for today.

 

 

The cheese factory.

 

 

Reading 2

A Reading from the First Letter of Peter     

Sisters and brothers: Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention before Christ, your Master.  Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks, why you’re living the way you are, and always do it with the utmost courtesy.  Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick.  They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, than to be punished for doing bad.  That’s what Christ did: he went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.

Our word for today

 

 

 

The Lord be with you.       A Reading from the Gospel of John     

Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you.  I will talk to the Father, and he will provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you.  This Friend is the Spirit of Truth.  The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t even know what to look for.  But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will be in you!  I will not leave you orphaned.  I’m coming back.  In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me, because I am alive and you are about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.    

The Good News of John

 

 

Please Remember these special people:

For all the medical personnel struggling to treat the tsunami of sick people, in particular, locally, Cindy's staff at Presby, Dallas and at Frisco Presby, the mother of Harper and Betsy, Kendle, working in labor & delivery;  ;  For Frank having hernia surgery this week;  For Joe Hogan with cancer,  For Loretta's aunt Alicia;   For Ryan, Rosemary's nephew, who had surgery; For Bill Hammond,    For Sydney;  & For Sir Charlie;  Shonda's mom;   For Gilberto:  for Michelle;  For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free.;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;    For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini; 

 

Birthdays:  Sr. Mary Troy, 87, Rick Froebe, Debbie Ekes

 

Ezekiel 33:  Thus says the Lord: You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.

Romans 13: Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love on another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Matthew 18:  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

 

Peace

 

THE CUPCAKE!!   Here I thought I would get to raz John & Connie for eating the cupcake I entrusted to them to take on the plane to visit Bill Hammond in Pagosa Springs.   I knew they would waste no time in eating it.  Wrong.  I got snookered!

 

 

Readings:

Deuteronomy  30, 10-14, If  only you would heed the voice of the Lord.

Psalm 69,  Turn to the Lord in your need and you will live

Colossians 1, 15-20,  Christ is the first born of all creation.

Luke 10, 27-37, What must I do to inherit eternal life

 

Welcome home from teaching in Beirut, Lebanon, Our Dearest Celeste.   Nice to have your daughter home, Filipita.

 

 

The Good Samaritan

This morning I would like to talk about two subjects, being a good Samaritan and and an old Red Sox fan who thought he was going to hell.

When Rosemary & I return to Northwood Park from riding the White Rock Creek trail, we get on west bound Royal Lane and usually catch the red light at Central.  Almost always, summer or winter, at the base of the light is a guy & sometimes a woman, frequently young, holding a sign asking for help.  I find this uncomfortable, especially is they come over to my window, me in air conditioned comfort.

 

 

They are home, Folks, Buddy, Tori, Zoe, and Georgie.  It is so much more fun when you all are here.

 

 

The problem is that I know they can get aid, food, and shelter at numerous places in downtown Dallas, especially like The Bridge.  In the company of a girl from Hockaday, a next door neighbor I have served dinner at the Bridge numerous times.   And you know what I am told often?  Don’t give handouts to those begging at stop lights.  I know, the word is that some don’t like sleeping in dormitories.

 

 

Patricia, too, says Welcome Home!

 

So how do I handle m discomfort?  First, I can help at The Bridge and I was donating platelets at Carter Blood once a month until I got rejected for low iron.  But equally important for me is the support I give and our community gives to the Food Pantry and, the best of all, Souls Harbor.  Brent & his team are doing it, not just with food and shelter, but also with guidance, education, and AA programs.  Souls Harbor is a harbor for me & my guilt.

 

Thanks, Connie, for your pix.

 

The summer of 69 or 70 I spent 3 months working as an intern priest chaplain.  I loved it.  One afternoon I walked into a room of a Red Sox fan.  Despite that he was a really good guy,probably younger than I am now, like in his early 70”s.  He had the Boston lingo.  And I teased him about it.

After a visit or two the old guy let me know that he knew he was dying,  it was coming fairly soon, and he was okay about it.  Kids?  None.  Wife?  Yep.  Still alive?  Nope.   Next, I do not know how it happened.  Maybe I said, “Well you will see your wife pretty soon.”   His response was that he was going to hell. 

What??  I almost croaked.

 

Says Sir Charlie, "John, see this note?  It is a special message, John, from the Pope to you.

 

Turns out he married once when he was like 19.  It lasted a while, then they separated.  A few years later he met his second wife and they had a happy 40 or more years together, until she died fairly recently.

You know what doubly blew me away.  He was peaceful about his imagined fate.  He loved his real wife.

 

 

Leo, you are growing up to be one great Kid.

 

Well, you know what I said to him.  Even 30 or more years ago I knew that there was no hell.  It was a concept created by the Jewish elders to keep the troops in line.  And we inherited it.

Can you believe it?   There is no hell, no conditional love.

 

 

The Best Music with Shonda, Ben, & David.

 

 

 
Mass:   Coffee, donuts, & specials on the house Sunday, not Christmas Eve  

Time: 4:00,  Stack & Tony Celebrating 

Time: 9:30,  Sunday, Tony Celebrating

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

 
  
 
Readings: 

Christmas Eve: Isaiah 9, 1-6; Psalm 96, Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord; Titus 2, 11-14; Luke 2, 1-14

Sunday, 12-26-10, Holy Family: Sirach 3, 2-14; Psalm 128, Blessed are Those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways; Colossians 3, 12-21; Matthew 2, 13-23 

 
 
 

Community Bulletin Board: 

Christmas Eve Mass: 4:00, Friday 

Decorations for the stage, welcome! 

 
     

Need a Taxi during the holidays:  our man, Rick Turner, the best, Jackie Johnson's husband, 214-707-6536

  
  
 

Picture 1:   Leo preparing to be Jesus

Picture 2:   Sean Kless with his mommy, Christine

Picture 3:   Cara Kless with her daddy, Ed 

Picture 4:   Communion prep

Picture 5:    Wendy, Shonda, & Ray 

Picture 6:    Rosemary preparing for the last blessing

 Video:          Rosemary's blessing & final hymn

   
   

 

 

True?  

 But my heart is not weary.
It's light and it's free.
I've got nothing but affection for all those who've sailed with me.

— Bob Dylan  

 

See you Christmas Eve & Sunday, 12-26-10

 J.S.   (214-783-0443)

  

 

 

 

 

 

"Welcome in, Everybody," say Emma & her mom, Beth.

 

Readings:  

 Deuteronomy 4, 32-34, 39-40,   The Lord is God in the heavens above.

Psalm 33,   Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

 Romans 8, 14-17,   Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  (??)

 Matthew 28, 16-20,   Go and make disciples of all nations.   

 

 

 

Who let this critter in?  Are there things living in that garden?

 

 

Deuteronomy observations:

What:  This work is the 5th and last book of the Pentateuch/Torah.  The first 4 books are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, & Numbers.  Deuteronomy has basically 3 speeches delivered by Moses before the people enter the promised land.  He reviews all they have endured the past 40 years and how Yahweh has shown his care and power to save them.

Author: Moses may have spoken some of the ideas in the speeches, but others have put the work together.  In fact, in chapter 34 the death of Moses is described.  Someone other than Moses probably covered this episode.

 

 

 

 

Welcome Home, Sophia, so nice to see you.

 

 

Date: 700 years before Christ.

Our Selection: the end of the first speech.  Moses is reminding the people of how Yahweh cared for them and why they must honor him for this as their one and only god.

 

 

 

Kevin & Ben, the candle team of the week.

 

 

Best line in all the readings?  Blessed the people the lord has chosen to be his own.

That's us.  Therefore, NO FEAR!

 

 

 

In Memory of Frank Hart

Last Sunday evening I attended a Rosary at Christ the King for my old coach, Boy Scout Master, and friend, Frank Hart.  Monday morning we had a Mass.  In honor of Frank and the Trinity I want to relate 3 moving aspects of Frank’s celebration.

First, Christ the King, a place that witnessed my growing up.  I have not been in the Church in over 15 years, when I did weddings there as a Jesuit.  It felt like coming home a bit and two unique memories hit me.

 

 

 

 

The Offertory team, Bernadette & Gil, Ray & Claire.

 

Right off the bat, where the podium is is where a good friend of mine, Jimmy Gannon, broke my left leg at football practice.  I had never spoken from that podium until that Rosary.  Frank did it.

Next, my dad attended 7:00 A.M. Mass daily.  I knew his pew.   I returned to Dallas to teach at Jesuit after never getting home for 7 years.   3 other Jesuits on their way to Jesuit, El Paso, & myself drove all night.  I arrived at 7:00 and rather than going home I had the guys drop me at Christ the King.  He was there.

 

 

 

The main aisle, Christ the King, podium on the left.

 

The second aspect of the event that touched me was the large number of fellow kids like me who showed up, especially classmates of Frank, jr.   As Don Zimmerman, another classmate of Frank and pastor of Christ the King said, “It was like a reunion of ex-Jesuit students.”  A big one, too.   A tribute, also, to Frank.jr.

The third aspect to the whole celebration was remembering how Frank had touched me into new life and new self-confidence.   Hang on.  You might have heard me talk about this, but it is relevant to all of us.

 

 

 

The main altar, Christ the King.

 

It was the summer after my 6^th year at Christ the King and I signed up to go to a week at Boy Scout camp on Lake Texoma.

Before we even left town some 8th graders let me know that they were going to initiate me.   They scared the poo out of me and as soon as I arrived at Texoma I played sick and came home.

I was humiliated.  I was so ashamed. 

 

 

 

 

A young Frank Hart. 

 

A year goes by and Frank has been hired by Christ the King to coach and be Scout Master.  Texoma again.  “No thanks,” I say.  My dad is now an unofficial assistant to Frank and he tells me he is going up to spend one night at Texoma as a helper to Frank.  “Want to come?” 

I knew I was in a bad place.  So I said I would go and return with him.

 

 

 

Mickey & Frank.

 

I’ll never forget the night we arrived.  It was dark.  Frank was sitting on his cot in the two person, short walled, canvas, Army surplus tent, a Coleman lantern hanging from the ceiling.  Frank did not even get up, but he greeted me with such a sincerely warm and non-judgmental simplicity that I turned a corner in my growing up.  I stayed for the rest of the week.

 

 

 

 

Bill Deor's comic charicture of Frank, the disciplinarian at Christ the King.

 

Who has touched you?

 

 

 

 

Rest in Peace, Dearest Frank and Dearest Mickey.

Community Finances:   

  Expenses: $   805.00

  Outreach: $  

 

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.

Mother Teresa