Reminder for Sunday, March 19, 2017, 3rd Lent, A cycle

 Readings:

Deuternomy 26, 4-10,  He brought us out of Egypt.

Psalm 91,  Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.

Romans 10, 8-13, The same Lord is Lord of all.

Luke 4, 1-13, Jesus was led into the desert for 40 days.

 Deuteronomy 

The scene: The Israelites have escaped from Egypt and have been wandering in the desert for years.  They are just about to enter The Land.  They are assembled.  Moses is addressing them and reminding them of all Yahweh has done for them over the years of wandering.   

In our chapter he is telling them that when they have settled in their new land, where he will not accompany them, they must take a basket full of a portion of their first harvest, present it to the rabbi, and offer it as a sacrifice of thanksgiving.   

Who & When: Though about Moses, Deuteronomy is a compilation of numerous sources.  Guess when: post Babylonian Captivity, say 555.  Easy to remember.

Romans

Paul writes to the Romans that all people, Gentiles as well as Jews, are invited to be part of the Christ event.

  Beware of Great Expectations: observations on a new pope

I must confess that Monday morning when I first heard of Benedict’s retirement, I was excited.  “We might get a new man who is progressive and less authoritarian,” I thought.  With a little reflection I have two observations I would like to share with you from my perspective and experience.  Both fall under the Beware of Great Expectations heading.

1. Beware of expecting a progressive pope.  The college of cardinals has been carefully screened to include only very conservative, corporate, follow the leader type men.  They will likely vote their kindred.
2. Beware of the idea that a 3^rd world man would be great.  Two Africans are mentioned, one I know, Cardinal Arinze from Nigeria.  I attended his "coronation" in ’76 or ’77. 

One observation about him and many Africans is that in being converted they really bought into traditional Catholicism.  I knew a Tanzanian bishop who prohibited drums at liturgies because he thought they were pagan. 

Moreover, the custom of the African tribe demands that a big man make a big impression, not the idea of being a servant or last.

 

Leo ready to dance. Check the video.

Have a Happy Lent?

Looking forward to Lent this year?  I confess that I was not.  Maybe it has come too quickly after Christmas this year.  However, I know I mildly dreaded it until.  Until we had our Ash Wednesday Mass at Marlene’s house.  Something happened there, some grace of being at home.  I felt peaceful about it all.

So what are we going to do about this Lent?  Three observations.

1.  As a community you all will be invited on several occasions.  We will have a food drive next Sunday and a general pick up by Soul’s Harbor’s truck another Sunday.  One Sunday we will have one of our penitential rites, probably the Sunday just before Palm Sunday. 

        2.    I am going to invite you most Sundays to have a happy Lent.  It is Spring Training time.  Instead of focusing on the negativity  and the bad, focus on getting back in shape, from taking a daily walk to riding your bike around The Lake, White Rock.  Pass out compliments, like I mentioned last week.

          3.  I am also going to kick off a special project.  For years before I moved out of Jesuit I had a men’s group in the evening maybe two Tuesday a month.  It was both fun and profound.  I did not have furniture enough for all who came.  So I would take all the furniture out and I lay cushions all along the walls of the small office I had.  Everybody sat on the floor. 

I want to start a new group, a lunch group.  All you guys here are invited.  Tentatively, it will be Fridays, 1:00, Jason’s Deli here at Collin Creek Mall on Central.  It won’t be every week usually, mostly when I can come.  I’ll send out a note to everyone.  2 guys, 20 guys, who knows? 

  

Why am I doing this now?  Good Lenten Penance!  Lenten penance with Stack.  Get you to heaven quicker.  Actually, it is because I miss you guys.  I may see everybody Sundays, but I don’t get to find out how it is going.  It will be great fun.

You women can rejoice that the old guy is out of the house for a while each week.   

So, what are you going to do to have a happy Lent?

 

 

 

YIPPEE, WE GOT THE INTERNET!

 

Welcome this Sunday: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made. 

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community  & John Cade  &  Stack  

Place: Legacy Charter School,  601 Accent Drive, Plano, TX 75075

 

 

6107 Tulip Lane & helpers.  Early morning.

 

 

Readings:

2 Maccabees 7, 1-2, 9-14,   It happened that 7 brothers with their mother were arrested

Psalm 17,  Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.

2 Thessalonians 2, 16-3, 5  May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God

Luke 20, 27-38,  If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child…

 

 

Activities:  

ROMEO MEET: Friday, November 8, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.   

 

JULIETS,  November 8, 12;30,  Amoretto's Italian, Suite 734, 101 W. Spring Creek Pkwy, (& Central). 

Reserve with Marilyn, 972-809-6049

 

 

Meyerson Christmas show, December 6, Friday, 7:30.  Let Rosemary know if you want to join the gang.  $35 per ticket.

 

 

 

True?

 

An appeaser  is one who feeds the crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.

Winston Churchill

 

 

What's up in Ye Old Catholic Church?  Like…

Catholic Money https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/editorial-money-shapes-us-catholic-narrative!, NCR, 

 

 

Like a war zone.

 

See you Sunday, J.S.

214-783-0443

 

 

 

 

Tom, Mike, & John, our community to the rescue

 

JSM Mission-Faith Statement: 

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

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

 

 

 

 

Mike, the tree surgeon.

 

Mike Carrell's Homily.

 

Readings: Our first reading from Sirach includes the social doctrine of the Church; however, it is yet to be put into practice: ‘The Lord is a God of justice who has no favorites!’   In our reading from Second Timothy Paul gives glory to God for allowing him to bring Christ to the Gentiles.

 

Homily: Our Mass began today with the lighting of the candles by Tori and Zoe [maybe Leo, too]. It was accompanied with a reading given by Buddy from Matthew, who reminds each of us to become a Light of the World; like a city built on a hill top.

 

We then joined together, in a penitential rite, following the example of the humble man in the gospel who asks the Lord to shown him mercy.

 

Recall that the Liturgy of the Word today placed us in a synagogue with two men; the one who was arrogant spent his time bragging to God about how holy he was. This Pharisee journeyed home empty.

 

The humble tax collector chose to open his heart to receive the power of the Holy Spirit; he left the synagogue filled with grace.

 

As we begin our Liturgy of the Eucharist, we celebrate another tradition.  It is an anointing with blessed oil for the sick and the elderly and for those, filled with grace, who prayerfully, journey with them.

 

 

John's brief description of The Sunday Night.

 

It started at 15 minutes before 10:00 P.M. Sunday night.  Aviana & I were already asleep.  Ro woke us up, saying a big storm was coming , and,  in fact, that the wind had already smashed in the bay window in the living room.

We put on our bike helmets, Ro & Aviana scooted into the hall closet.  I was standing with my right hand on the closet door handle, planning to squeeze in, when suddenly CRASH!  Then, quiet.

 

 

Neighboring House.

 

People began coming out of their houses & checking on their neighbors.  Rosemary especially went yelling for Joyce Scott, our 91 year old neighbor just across the street.  Her daughter from San Antonio was in the house with her, along with the daughter’s husband, just out of the hospital.

Joyce’s house was almost demolished and no response was coming out.  The cops were all over, so she told one.  He found them alive and shaken in their hall closet.   They could not get out, so the cop got them out.

 

 

It began to pour, a neighbor couple begged a place to spend the night, and we all went to sleep after putting out about 20 containers to catch ceiling drips.

Then began one of the most touching & humbling days I’ve had in a while.

 

Our friend Chris Phipps was walking Tulip Lane toward our house when two young dads about 35, plus their 3 sons each yelled to Chris, “Know anybody who really needs help?”  “Yes, that house on the corner,” said Chris.

Those dads & their sons, along with others who just walked up, pitched in and worked like beavers. Into the afternoon.  All our trophy trees were stripped of their branches.   They ended up  piled all around the house.

About 9:00 John Bresson & Doug LeBlanc with two of his buddies all showed up with a chain saw.  And did they go to work!  Slowly the branches got pulled away from the house, cut up, and piled on the edge of the property. 

 

Gym, St. Mark's Boys School

 

All of our trophies have been stripped of their branches and look naked.  They will all have to come down.  The house now is covered with a few enormous blue tarps held down with 1 by 4’s nailed down.

People continue to come looking to help.  Kids walk the streets handing out water, sandwiches, and cookies.  Central Market, which got hammered, has supplied free breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for all workers and home owners from food wagons. 

The goodness & generosity of people has again touched my spirit. 

 

 

 

Tons of branches, trees, & refuse created tunnels.

 

 

Deuteronomy 30:   …when you return to the Lord your God, with all your heart and all your soul.

Colossians 1:  Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Luke 9:  And who is my neighbor?

           

Mary Jane reading from Deuteronomy

Thanks…

Music,    Shonda, Ben & David

Readers, John & Mary Jane

Gospel,   John Cade

Homily,  John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Hue & Richard & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

John reading from Paul's Letter to the Colossians

 

Readings:  Download 07-10-22- Readings – 15th Sunday Ord

Homily:  

                  

                                   

    Happy Birthday Brent     

                                          

 

Remember these special people:

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 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; 

                           

Kevin working on the Zoom

 

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.

 

 

Welcome back from your cruise, Michelle

     

Birthdays:  John Schanot 7/13

Anniversaries:   Ackermans 7/13

      

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  425.00 

Outreach: $  775.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

                    

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

I recently read a marvelous book, The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan.  It is the story of a young couple and 2 young sons making their way from the Ukraine westward, ahead of the advancing Russian army, towards the end of WWII.

At the end of the mother’s life many years later when she was 80+ years old a friend asked the woman, Adeline to describe the most important things she learned over the course of her long and remarkable life.

Adeline thought about that for a little while before saying, “Don’t chew on the bad things that happen to you, dear.  Try to see the beauty in every cruelty. It sets you free.  Forgive hurt if you want to heal a broken heart.  Try to be grateful for every setback or tragedy, because by living through them, you become stronger.  I see the hand of God in that.”

 

Zephaniah 3,   Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!  Sing joyfully, O Israel!

Isaiah 12,  Cry out with joy and gladness;

Philippians 4,   …Rejoice in the Lord always.

Luke 3,   I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.

 

 

Thanks……

Music,    Ben 

Readers,    Mike & Geri, & Buddy, our candle blesser 

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,  John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Hue, Richard & Mike 

Final Blessing, Rosemary

Norwegian Fiord

 

Readings:  Download 12-12-21 – Readings – Advent 3

Homily:  Download 12-12-21 – Homily – Advent 3

 

Gdansk

 

Remember these special people:

For John Stack having a hard time right now with a bad back;  For Laura Chollick;  For Sandra who has been diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma;   For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;   For Esparza's new great grandson  & Frank;  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, and for Hue & Linda's daughter, Doctor Rosemary Beavers;   For Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, The Woodlands,   For Sir Charlie & Jan;  Shonda's mom & Cody &  Leo & all of Shonda's dear family; For Ursuline Sr. Mary Troy,

 

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.; For Meredith, cancer free & John Schanot;    For John O'Donnell & Jean;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren  ;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini, plus John's daughter, Joey, with cancer; from Barbara, a little baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation & a nephew; for David McKeon's brother, Hugh; For Beth's friends & brother;   for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

Sunset in the Baltics

 

 

 

Birthdays:  Loretta Williams 12/12,  Tom Good 12/14,  Allen Stryker 12/17, Ben Porter 12/18

Anniversaries:  

                                                        

Dubrovnik

 

Community Finances,   

Expenses: $  430.00

Outreach: $  325.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

May an abundance of gratitude burst forth in our minds and hearts as we remember all the blessings in our life

May we slow our hurried pace these days so we can be aware of, and enjoy, what we can too easily take for granted

May we always be open, willing and ready to share our blessings with others and never forget the God who loves us lavishly and unconditionally

And  may we remember that our thanksgiving is incomplete until we pay it forward by doing for others what they cannot do for themselves

Amen.

 

From a prayer by Sr. Jean Amore CSJ,  Sacred Heart Academy,  Hempstead, N.Y.

 

 

Thanks to all who put together our Sunday Celebration: 

Music, Shonda & Ben

Readers, Mary Jane & John & Deacon Mike with the Gospel

Eucharistic Prayer & homily, John Cade

Blessing of the Week, Rosemary

The Magic Zoom Makers, Mike and Becky and Ben

 

 

 

 

Reading 1 with John Schanot

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles

         At that time Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight.  Jesus of Nazareth, a man thoroughly accredited by God—the wonders that God did through him are common knowledge—this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you.  You pinned him to a cross and killed him.  God untied the death ropes and raised him up.  Death was no match for him.  David said it all: 

         I saw God before me for all time.

                    Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side.

          I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic;

                    I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope.

          I know there will be no trip to Hades;

                    and no stench of death.

          You’ve got my feet on the life-path,

                    with your face shining sun-joy all around.

Let me be completely frank with you.  Our ancestor David is dead and buried—his tomb is in plain sight today.  But being also a prophet and knowing that God had sworn that a descendent of his would rule his kingdom, and seeing far ahead, David talked of the resurrection of the Messiah—‘no trip to Hades, no stench of death.’  This Jesus, God raised up.  And every one of us here is a witness to it.  Then, raised to the heights at the right hand of God and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out the Spirit he had just received.  That is what, today, you see and hear. 

Our word for today.

 

 

Remember?

 

Reading 2 with Mary Jane

A Reading from the First Letter of Peter

        My sisters and brothers:  You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way.  But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.

        Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.  It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in.  He paid with the blood of Christ, you know.   He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb.  And this was no afterthought.  Even though it has only lately become public knowledge—at the end of ages—God always knew he was going to do this for you.  It’s because of this Messiah, whom God raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust in God, that you know you have a future in God.

Our word for today.

 

 

 

A Reading from the Gospel of John with Deacon Mike

          On that same first day of the week, two of them were walking to the village of Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem.  They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened.  In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them.  But they were not able to recognize who he was.  He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?”  They stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend.  Then one of them, Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”  Jesus said, “What has happened?”

         They said, “The things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth.  He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by God and the people.  Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him.  We had our hopes up that he was the One about to deliver Israel.  And it’s now the third day since it happened.  Now some of our women have completely confused us.  Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body.  They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive.  Some of our friends went off to check, and found the tomb empty, just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”

         Then Jesus said to them, “So thick-headed!  Why can’t you simply believe what the prophets said?  Don’t you see that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?”  Then he started at the beginning with the Books of Moses, and went through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

         They came to the edge of the village, and Jesus acted as if he were going on.  But they said:  “Stay and have supper with us.  It’s nearly evening; the day is done.”  So he went with them, and here is what happened.  He sat down at the table with them.  Taking the bread, he blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  At that moment, wide-eyed, they recognized him.  And then he disappeared.  They said to each other, “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”                      

The Good News of John

Rosemary's Blessing:

                                                                               

Let us walk softly on the earth

With all living beings, great and small,

Remembering as we go,

That one God, kind and wise, created all.

 

Author Unknown

 

Your Finances: April 26, 2020

Sorry for the delay in reporting.  Once the community got messed up, everything got confusing.  Nothing was coming in.  This is our best week of income in a couple of weeks.

 

JSM expenses:  $775.00

Outreach (often Souls Harbor, Legacy, etc.) $300.00

Thanks, everybody, for your generosity.

 

 

 

Remembering…..

 

A short note to let you know that Ken Cramer passed, today Sunday, April 3rd.  Please keep Cindy and the family in your prayers.

 

 

Isaiah 43:  … for I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink.

Philippians 3:   … I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God's upward calling, in Christ Jesus.

John 8:  Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you.  Go, and from now on do not sin any more."

 

Thanks…Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Carrie & Paul

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,  John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Mike & Hue & Richard

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

It was wonderful to see you, Leo

 

 

 

 

Readings: Download 04-03-22 – Readings – 5th Lent

 

Homily:  

 

 

Hue keeping the Zoom working well

 

                                                 

 

 

Remember these special people:

For John Stack having a hard time right now with a bad back;  For Sandra who has been diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma;   For Rosemary's brother-in-law, Joe who is having a procedure on March 14th;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;    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, and for Hue & Linda's daughter, Doctor Rosemary Beavers;   For Mary & Dave Hall's g-daughter Allison Keller working at St. Lukes, The Woodlands and for a friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie & Jan;  All of Shonda's dear family;

                           

 

 

Richard telling us about the Love For Kids picnic coming up

Jackie's mom, sister, & friend, Lynn;  For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg.; For Meredith, cancer free & John Schanot;    For John O'Donnell & Jean;   For Jean & Cliff Wright;  For Dee, and for her daughters, Lisa & Lauren;     For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini, plus John'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.

 

 

    Sharing greetings with each other   

                 

                  

Birthdays:   Jean O'Donnell 4/5

Anniversaries:   

      

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  475.00

Outreach: $  60.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

                                    

Communion

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

Oh God who made me absolutely unique,

Help me to value more the Person You made Me to be.

And protect me from comparisons and envy and discouragement over what I am not.

 

Andrew Greeley,  Irish American Blessings