Solemnity of Mary

Community Finances:   

  Expenses: $  330.00

  Outreach: $  60.00

  Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Linda and Barbara

Invitation to pray with Sandra Pratt

The Sophia Inclusive Catholic Community, a virtual faith community started in Northwest New Jersey in 2008, is inviting the members of John Stack Ministries to join us,  Sandra and other friends of Sandra Pratt for a Zoom service of blessings, readings and songs honoring Sandra on Saturday morning, May 13.  The start time has not been finalized.  We will probably begin at 11 am Central time (noon Eastern time).  The service will be about 30 minutes.

We will send the Zoom invitation email to Rosemary with two attachments (the worship guide and Highlights of Sandra Pratt’s Amazing Life) on Wednesday  5/10.  Rosemary will forward that information to the members of John Stack Ministries.

A message from Richard Eshelbrenner

Readings:

2 Samuel  5, 1-3,  They anointed David king of Israel.

 Psalm 122,  Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 Colossians 1, 12-20,  Let us give thanks to the Father.

 Luke, 22, 35-43,   If you are king of the Jews, save yourself.

Special Advent reflection by Deacon Mike:   Download Bible Study by Deacon Mike.10-20-16docx

"Hi," says the beautiful Victoria, "Welcome in."

History of the Christ the King Feast: date, author, reason it was declared

Date: Not during the early church, not during the time when Constantine made Christianity the religion of the Empire, not during the time of Luther & the Reformation, not during the time of Pius IX with the Italian Resorgiamento & his Infallibility statement (1870), but in 1925.  Fairly Recently.

And not to be outdone in hospitality, this cute little girl likewise says,  "Hi, Everybody."

Author: Pius XI, pope 1922-39

Reason(s): at least 2 factors–The Times and Modernism/Secularism

1. The Times:
   1.  End of WW I and build up to WW II   
   2.  Mussolini & Hitler: the same year Pius XI became pope, Mussolini became prime minister.  By 1925 he had become a dictator.  The feast was to counter the dictatorship.
2. Modernism & Secularism:
   1.  Modernism.  Despite being scholarly and pro-scientific methods, Pius XI was suspicious of biblical scholarship which questioned, for example, biblical inerrancy, the nature of bible miracles, the virgin birth, the resurrection, the atonement theory that God demanded his son suffer & die for a single sin by a human.
   2.  Secularism coming out of the Enlightenment said that all people were equal, people should have a say in government as in democracy, and backed the separation of church/state, like proposed by Jefferson. 

Sources: Living with Christ, Nov., 2009; Wikipedia

Even Kevin says, "I may not be a cute little girl, but I still say, 'Welcome!'"

Observations on Samuel:

What: This is a 4 book series, 1 & 2 Samuel & 1 & 2 Kings.  The first two are all about Samuel, the last of the Judges of the tribe, and about Saul and David, the first two kings.

Author: Numerous authors.  Some say even Saul put together some of the parts that pertain to him.

When written: Over a period of even centuries.  However, it seems to have come together in the present form around the Babylonian Captivity, 555 before Christ.

Our selection: David is anointed king.

Sources: Jerusalem Bible, Good News Bible. 

Guess who has herself a nice letter jacket!  Congratulations Kara and Hi, James.

Thanksgiving

When Christ the King Sunday rolls around every year I am always tempted to tell good old stories about my childhood growing up in Christ the King parish here in Dallas.  Suffice it to say Christ the King was one reason why I became a Jesuit instead of a diocesan priest.

Instead of Christ the King, therefore, I would prefer to focus on my most favorite topic, Thanksgiving from my perspective.  Of course, when I ran my idea by Rosemary, I got a “Thanksgiving again. You just talked about it and you will wear everybody out.”  The problem: I don’t think I can ever focus on thanksgiving enough.  And that holds for all of us. 

Offertory, The Ekes, Marlene, Mabel, Bill, and Cindy.

So, hang on Everybody, I want to talk about four special blessing that have given me life and joy this year.  I pass on the Big 4 you know about, the Jesuit experience, East Africa, Marriage, and our community.  Instead, this year it is biking, backpacking, learning, and priesthood.

Because of biking, which in turn I can do because of my two new hips, I have this summer ridden 500 miles across Iowa, ridden 100 miles the last Saturday in August in the Hotter ‘N Hell out of Wichita Falls, circled White Rock Lake with Rosemary  dozens of times, and made some dear friends at the Jewish Community Center where I put in a strenuous workout every week day. 

"Nothing like Grandma's hugs," says Victoria.

Backpacking this past September took us to Idaho and the 7 Devils region, 7 of us, 7 nights, and a great time. 

As a spinoff of this I have also been blessed by our Friday Romeos luncheon at Jason’s Deli.

Muy Buenos Dias and Bienvenidos, Senora Alisia et Senor Jose.

From the first day I entered the Jesuits we were vaccinated with the idea that we never stop learning.  French has been my learning this year and for the last 6 years, since I got my new hips in ’10.  Because of this I have had the opportunity to get to know some really special people in L’Alliance Francaise, the office of which is, you will never guess, at the corner of Central and Royal Lane. 

The final blessing is the privilege of continuing to act as a priest.  Just recently I have been part of two superb weddings, Lisa Anderlick, the daughter of John and Karen, and Scott Simari, the son of John and Michelle.

What do you think, Buddy, am I doing a good job?  You are awake anyway.

Besides weddings, I have had the enormous privilege of walking with some people on their last walk.  John’s mother, Pat.  Jerry Gleason. Curtis Ekes. And Mike Miller.

These are some of my blessing for 2016.  What are yours?

Says Zoe, "Leo, may I go for a ride in your car?"

I heard a nice idea for sitting around the Thanksgiving table.  Each person is invited to thank one other person at the table and to give thanks to or for one person not at the table. 

The Best, Mary, Bethany, and Ray.

Jeremiah 20:  I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; …

Romans 12: … that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and  perfect.

Matthew 16:  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Here are the links for Sunday:

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Stack Ministries meets on Sunday for Mass at 9:30 at The ArtCentre of Plano, 902 E. 16th St, Plano, Texas.

 

 

 

 

JSM Mission-Faith Statement  

      Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.  

      Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.

Malachi 3:  But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.

2 Thessalonians 3:  Rather, w wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us.

Luke 21:  Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.

John and Rosemary will be taking a vacation from 11/16 – 12/1.  John Cade will have Mass on Zoom,  Sunday, 11/20 and Sunday, 11/27.

Beth reading from Malachi

Thanks…     

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Beth & Rob

Gospel,   John Cade

Homily,  John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Richard & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

Rob reading from Paul's letter to the Thessalonians

Readings:  Download 11-13-22- Readings – 33rd Sunday Ord

Homily:  

Brent receives a check for Soul's Harbor

Remember these special people:

For Jan;  For Tom  Quinn who is having back surgery on November 21st;  For Sandra who has been diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma;   For Lambrini, John Cade's wife, who is dealing with cancer and Kaliope, John Cade's Mother-in-law;  For Madeleine, Richard Eshelbrenner's granddaughter;  For Hue; For Jackie;  For John's sister, Kathey recovering from a fall;    For Tom Good;  For a young man, 19 struggling with a brain tumor and cancer;     For Mary Hall's friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie & Jan; 

The Kiss of Peace

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren;     For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's daughter, Joey, with cancer; from Barbara, a little baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation & friends, Annie, a mom of 3 kids and Michael ;    for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

Lynda and Izzy

Birthdays:   John Anderlick 11/14, Diane McMahon Bergan 11/17, Frank Esparza 11/18, Cody Mashburn 11/19,  Ron Ackerman 11/22,  John Cade 11/24, 

Anniversaries:   John & Connie Bresson  11/14,  Barb & Ron Senter 11/25, Frank & Mary Esparza 11/28, John & Michelle Simari 11/29

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $   2,210.00

Outreach: $   135.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Barb & Ron get a cookie for their anniversary

Rosemary's Blessing:  

O God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home,
help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer,
And remembering,
help me to destroy my complacency;
bestir my compassion,
and be concerned enough to help;
By word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.
Amen.

 Samuel F. Pugh

Isaiah 9: For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.

Titus 2:  Beloved: The grace  of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age . . .

Luke 2:  a savior has bee born for you who is Christ the Lord.

Christmas Eve Mass will be celebrated December 24th at 4:00 PM.  There will not be a 9:30 Mass on Sunday morning.