Reminder for Sunday, November 13, 2016, 33rd Ordinary Time, C

1 Samuel 1:  Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, "I asked God for him."

1 John 3: What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it – we're called children of God!

Luke 2:  Every year Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover.  When he was twelve years old, they went up as they always did for the Feast.

 

 

 

Another Reminder for the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, December 29, 2024

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

Community Finances:   

  Expenses: $  710.00

  Outreach: $   50.00

 

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Brent gets a check for Soul's Harbor

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

 

Says Ben, "Welcome in, Everybody."
 

 

Readings:

Isaiah 56, 1, 6-7,   A house of prayer for all peoples.

Psalm 67,   Oh God, let all the nations praise you.

Roman s 11, 13-15, 29-32,  I am speaking to you Gentiles

Matthew 15, 21-28,  My daughter is tormented by a demon.  

 

 

 

Likewise, Sydney & Hugh say, "Come right in, Folks."

 

 

Isaiah 56 observations:

As soon as you see Isaiah, chapter 56, you know some things, if you are into the study of the Bible and especially  of Isaiah, my favorite.

1. Isaiah 56 is Isaiah 3, chapter 56-66, the end of the book of Isaiah.
2. Isaiah 3 is put together after the Babylonian Captivity, that is, around 555 before Christ.
3. The Israelites have returned to Jerusalem, a totally destroyed, depressed city.
4. Therefore, it is plausible to expect Isaiah 3 to be trying to lift up the spirits of the people.  This he does, consoling the people with promises of a better time.   Note: the better days are conditional on good behavior.  Ever think of how our whole redemption story is conditional? Not much unconditional love.   In other words, if you want my love and favor, behave.

 

 

 

Sez Leo, "I am ready, let's go!"

 

 

Goofy Myths

This morning I would like to talk about myths, wako beliefs, and superstitions.   Myths are human efforts to explain the unexplainable, like what happens to me after death, how did the world begin, and when or how is the world going to end.

There could be no better time to talk about myths, because guess what we have tomorrow.  An eclipse of the sun.  Today we understand what is happening because we have telescopes and an understanding of how objects are moving in space.

 

 

 

 

It don't get better than this.   The Gerwers are here.  Brady, Cameron, Casey, Trey, and Reid.

 

 

However, long ago the Greeks, to take one example, believed the myth that the eclipse was a sign that the gods were mad and that disaster was about to take place, even the end.  The ancient myths held that the eclipse was demon caused and that the eclipse was an evil omen. 

Today it still may be believed that the eclipse is a danger to an unborn child and even to the mother.  The wisdom, therefore, says ‘don’t get pregnant before an eclipse. 

 

 

Long time Best Buddies, John & Leo.

 

The truth in all these myths is that the eclipse is not caused by angry gods, is not a bad omen, disaster is not about to take place, and there is no effect on an unborn child or the mother. 

The only truth is that the sun, even a sliver of it, will burn your eyes if you look at it and you will go blind.

 

 

 

 

Our Candle Man of The Week, Ben.

 

 

There are food myths, too, folks.  For example, raw carrots are better for you than cooked carrots.  Vitamin C wards off colds.  Coconut oil is good for your health.   Not so to all.

And, of course,  the great myth that regular consumption of Blue Bell will cause weight gain.  Oops, come to think about it, maybe it is true.  Just wishful thinking.

 

 

 

Two more long time Best Buddies, Zoe with her grandfather, Gil

 

All of this I mention as a way of setting up what I would finally like to touch, the subject of Matthew’s story, the little girl possessed by a demon.  For centuries there has been the myth that people, adults and even children, have been possessed by demons.  The belief still lives.  Despite the movie The Exorcist, this is not true.  People are not possessed by demons. 

There is a psychological explanation for a person showing these symptoms.   There are two ways to explain the situation, disassociation and multiple personality.  I have only worked with adults who present symptoms which are really odd behaviors.   This is because the person, who has been severely abused as a child presents multiple personalities.  One personality may present like a demon, another as a 10 year old child, another as  a talented corporate executive.  

 

 

 

 

Two more long time Best Buddies, Mary & Mike.

 

 

Apparently I have the ability when I am being hurt to go to an out of body place where I am not hurt.  This can lock itself in place.  

The people I worked with who had this diagnosis, if they had been told they were demon possessed, awful.  And maybe some uneducated priest tried to do an exorcism. This did not help them at all.  In fact, they were sure they were condemned.  Victimized again.   

 

 

 

 

From Best Buddies to The Best Music, Shonda, Ben, & David.

 

 

Therefore, my position is that there is no possession by devils.  In fact, there are no devils.

Rosemary says to me, "Why do you want to talk about this subject?  My answer, 'To take away or lessen fear.'

We have a God of unconditional love.  Believe it?

 

 

 

The Elevation.

Acts of the Apostles 13:  I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.

Revelation 7:  For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

John 10:  My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

 

 

   Buddy reading the prayer for the lighting of the candles  

 

 

Thanks…

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Geri & Mike

Gospel,    John Cade

Homily,  John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Mike & Hue & Richard & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

 

Readings:  Download 5-8-22 – Readings – 4th Easter

Homily:  

 

 

 

 

Some of the Zoom Members

 

 

 

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 Lambrini, John Cade's wife who is dealing with cancer;  For Tom Good;  For a young man, 19 struggling with a brain tumor and cancer;    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;

                           

 

The blessing of the Mothers

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.

 

 

 

Dave, sharing a thought

                   

                  

Birthdays:  Pat Jansky 5/8, Ron Senter 5/9, Barbara Senter 5/13

Anniversaries:   

      

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  381.11

Outreach: $  850.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

and Margie, offering an insight
                                    

Rosemary's Blessing:  

May we be blessed with the gift of contemplation of the blessings we have received and then put this appreciation into action to help others.

And may there always be someone on our life’s journey to help us on your way.     

Revelation 7:  Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.

1 John 3:  Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.  Yet so we are.

Matthew 22: 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: Blessed are the …

 

 

Claire reading from Revelations

 

Thanks…     

Music,    Shonda & Ben 

Readers,  Claire and Brent

Homily,   John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

   

John reading from the Gospel of Matthew

                                

 

Remember these special people:

For the family of Ron Senter;   For Meredith  whose cancer has come back;  For Tom Good;  For Tom  Quinn who had back surgery on November 21st; For Lambrini, John Cade's wife, who is dealing with cancer ;  For Madeleine, Richard Eshelbrenner's granddaughter;  For Hue; For Jackie;  For John's sister, Kathey recovering from a fall;   For Tom Good;   For Mary Hall's friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie;  For Ron ;  For Teresa Quinn's niece, Maddie who has a brain tumor;

                                                                                                 

 

Jackie's 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 & the families of Annie and Michael ;    for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

 

John sharing his Homily

                                          

Birthdays:   

Anniversaries:  

 

 

     

 

 

Denni, Becky, Carrie and Ben commenting on the Homily
        

 

Community Finances:   

Expenses:  $ 4,320.00

Outreach:  $  160.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

The Kiss of Peace