Special Reminder for Sunday, December 15

 

Will somebody please go and sit with Jim & John.

 

Readings: 

Joshua 5, 9-12,  The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you."

Psalm 34,  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.  (Excellent!)

2 Corinthians 5, 17-21, Whoever is in Christ is a new creation.

Luke 15, 1-32, The Great story of the Prodigal Son.

 

 

 

Zoe doing her candle magic.

 

Joshua

The scene: Moses has died just as the Jewish people are getting ready to enter their new land.  Joshua takes the leadership.  This book describes the defeat of the Canaanite people, and the division of the land. 

In our chapter the Israelite people are camped outside Jericho before attacking the town.  Yahweh is saying that he has removed the shame of the people for being slaves in Egypt.  They are feasting.

2 Corinthians

This section of Corinthians informs the people that in Christ they are new people, a new creation.

 

 

"Welcome in," say Ken & Cindy.

 

The Prodigal Son: A Work of Art

 This story is my favorite of the whole Bible.  Note one thing: this is story, not history.   The author carefully crafts his work of art to show how much God loves us.  Let me give you three observations about the son, three about the father, and an extra three to show you how astounding this story is. 

 

You are having too much fun, Patricia.

 

First, the younger son:

 

1. He has no right to ask for inheritance.  None.  By asking he is saying he wishes the father and the older son dead.  A symbolic murder.  Father can kill him for this.

 

2. He works feeding pigs instead of asking for help from the temple.  This means he rejects the religious tradition and is considered a traitor not only to the family, but to the religion. 

 

3. So as a horrible failure as a son of the family and a son of the religious tradition, he decides to return. He makes up his little speech and heads home.  He is hungry to the point of dying.  Do this or die.  Many listening Jews would say, Die. 

 

Suit up time, John.

 

The Father: he actually commits as many crimes and sins as the son.

 

1. He runs down the road to the son when he sees him coming.  A very undignified action.  Outrageous.

 

2. He embraced and kissed the son.  Huge violation of Jewish religious custom and law.  By doing this the father positions himself outside of the religious & cultural community.  He is a reject like the son. 

 

3. He cuts the son’s speech off before he can say finish, eliminating the last sentence, “treat me as you would one of your hired workers.”  And to make it worse, he orders the servants to bring the finest robe, ring, and sandals. 

 

"Help, Hue, I can't get this on by myself."

 

The robe, the ring, and the sandals:

 

1. The robe: restores the son’s dignity.

 

2. The ring: gives authority to the son, even equal to the father and certainly more than before he left.

 

3. The sandals: gives the son freedom.  Slaves were not given sandals so they would not run away.  The father is doubling the message he gave when he cut the son’s speech off before he could say the third part about being treated as a servant. 

 

A board Meet? 

 

A word about the older son, because we so often identify with him. 

 

1. That he tells his father how he feels.  Great.  In those days, it meant the father can kill him.  Today: communication.

 

2. What is his challenge: acceptance of his brother, his father, and himself; focus on gratitude for all he has; move from trying to be a good boy to loving?  Any one of these?  Or all?  All. 

 

I apologize for so much data.  There is even more.  The point is that the story is a carefully crafted work of art attempting to describe how totally loving our God is, toward us.

 

Communion ready?

 

Is your vision of God's love for you conditional or unconditional?  How does this image of an unconditionally loving God reflect your image of God?   

 

 

 

The holidays are upon us.  To celebrate Christmas we would like to offer some opportunities for you to share your joy, gifts and blessings.

 

Following are some ideas of how you can help that we would like to pass on to you.

 

Soul’s Harbor. As in years past we are collecting sweatshirts and hoodies for the guys at Soul’s Harbor. Please drop them off at Lynda Fleming’s house by 12/17/20.  (5 Vista Cliff Place, Richardson, TX 75080).

 

We will have opportunities to share the Christmas spirit but I have not as yet coordinated this with Becky.  So information will follow.

 

Lynda Fleming is involved with a company called Caring Transitions which helps coordinate a Senior Holiday Wish Program. After reviewing the details below, please send an email to fleming23@gmail.comif you are interested in helping out.    Most seniors need items that range from $25-50, but if you can cover the cost of a larger item, please let Lynda know  your budget. Gifts MUST be collected by Tuesday, December 2^ndso please reach out by Tuesday, November 24^th.  Please bring all gifts to Lynda’s house (5 Vista Cliff Place, Richardson, TX 75080).                                                                              

In addition to the above need, here are two more opportunities: 

Collin County Meals on Wheels – desperately in need of meal supplement drinks such as Boost, Ensure Glucerna, Equate or Kirkland brand.   

Pajamas for Seniors – another desperate need in our community is pajamas size XL- 7X.                             

The deadline for this is also Tuesday, December 2^nd.

 

*** Lynda will have a bin on the front porch for contactless drop off.

 

Sirach 27:  Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested.

1 Corinthians 15:   Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Luke 6:  Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?

 

 

Thanks…Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,   Paul & Carrie

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,  John Cade

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,      Hue, Richard & Mike 

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

 

 

Rhine River

 

 

Readings: Download 02-27-22 – Readings – 8th Sunday Ord

Homily:  Download 02-27-22 – Homily – 8th Sunday Ord

 

 

 

 

A house in the Black Forest

 

                                                   

 

 

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 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 and for a friend Cadence still suffering from a serious medical condition;   For Sir Charlie & Jan;  All of Shonda's dear family; For Ursuline Sr. Mary Troy,

 

                           

       The Black Forest      
              
                                                      

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 & friends, Annie, a mom of 3 kids and Michael ; for David McKeon's brother, Hugh; For Beth's friends & brother;   for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

                                                            

 

 

                     

Birthdays:   Michelle Brown 3/2

Anniversaries:   

      

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  710.00

Outreach: $  275.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

                                    

 

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

 

A Prayer For Growing Old Gracefully

Lord, Thou knowest better than I myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all; but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains; they are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet, for a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people; and give, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.

Amen.

17^th Century Nun’s Prayer

 

 

Genesis15: Abraham gave the name Isaac to this  son of his whom Sarah bore him.

Hebrews 11:  So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Luke 2:  When the day of circumcision arrived, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.  Then when the days stipulated for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God. 

 

Some of our Community members  are in need of special prayers:

 

Jan Keszler  is in Chicago with her Mom who will be 101 on 6/31.  Her Mom  is now in Hospice Care and Jan asks for prayers for her and the family.

 

John Cade's Mother-in-Law, Kaliope, who is 96, fell and broke 2 vertebrae and is in the hospital.

 

Tom and Teresa Quinn were on a  river cruise on the Danube and the second day Tom tested positive for Covid.  They are now in a hotel room in Vienna and Tom is quarantined for 5 days and can't leave the room.  Teresa just hopes she doesn't get it.

 

In the spirit of Holy Week, here is a copy of a contemporary  Stations of the Cross which we have used in past years.  You may like to read them as a family and meditate on them.

 

If you would like to download and print the stations here is a link Download Stations of the Cross-Covid 2020.

 

Stations of the Cross -  Good Friday   Station Focus Application 1 Jesus is condemned to death For all those who have been condemned to die Innocent people have been condemned to die.  We are blessed in this community – we have health care and food when we need it.  Many people die because they do not have access to doctors, nurses, clean water.  Let us pray for those in need of these most basic resources.  Let us pray for those who are suffering from Covid-19.  Let us also pray for those unjustly condemned to die or spend their life imprisoned.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord hear our prayer. 2 Jesus is given his cross For all of us that we may bear our cross with acceptance We all have our crosses – physical, emotional, economic. We deal with the pot holes in our journey  as best we can and with the help of our family and friends.  Right now we are dealing with staying home and being isolated.  Let us pray that we can help others who need our friendship to help them to carry their cross.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord hear our prayer. 3 Jesus falls the first time For all of us who have failed We all fall down along the way.  Sometimes we fail because of things out of our control and sometimes because of things within our control.   Let us pray for peace during our current staying at home.  Let us pray for patience with ourselves as well as a renewed conviction to try again.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 4 Jesus meets his mother For our mothers and other significant women in our lives Mothers hold a special place in our life's journey.  We ask a lot from them and have great expectations of them.  Let us pray for the mothers of the world that they have the strength and love to do what is needed for their children and that they are loved in return.  Let us pray for all those who have lost their mothers.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 5 Simon of Cyrene carries the cross For people who help us when we are in need We all need help at one time or another.  We are also given the opportunity to help others.  Let us pray for the humility to accept help when we need it.  Let us also pray that we may see where we can help.  Maybe a phone call is exactly what someone needs these days.   Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 6 Veronica wipes the face of Jesus For all the care givers Care giving can be rewarding and also exhausting.  May those who care take with love the elderly, the infirmed, the young, the poor, relatives and strangers know that they are appreciated for their care giving.  May we be grateful for our doctors, nurses and front line health care people especially at this time.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 7 Jesus falls the second time For people who are hard on themselves We can be harder on ourselves than anyone else.  We expect a lot from ourselves.  May those who are never satisfied with themselves, know that  they are lovable, learn to accept being imperfect as we all are, and also learn to laugh at their mistakes.  Also, may we be there to give them a positive word.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 8 Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem For people we meet on our life's journey We meet many people on our life's journey.  Some are important.  Some are almost invisible.  Some are rich and some are poor. May we see the gift that they are to us and likewise that we may be a gift to them.   Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 9 Jesus falls the third time For people who have addictions and keep falling Addictions come in all sizes and styles.  Food, control, smoking, alcohol,  drugs, deviant behavior.   We pray for those people who are fighting addictions and we also ask your help to renew our pledge to do better each time we fall again.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 10 Jesus is stripped of his garments For people who have been stripped of their dignity in one form or another The poor, the homeless, the unemployed, the disabled have all been stripped of some dignity.  May we treat each person with the respect and honor with which we would want to be treated ourselves.  Help us to reach out at this most difficult time, in whatever way we can to help the most needy.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 11 Jesus is nailed to the cross For all the nails we use on occasion – sharp words, prejudgement, impatience It is so easy to do and it can be so hurtful.  Help us to grow in patience,  acceptance and positive words for others.  Help us to smile, say hello and wish others a good day.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 12 Jesus dies on the cross For all those dying or near death We all will die.  May we pass in peace and among those we love and who love us.  At this time, we pray for all those who have died and are dying from Covid-19.  Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer. 13 Jesus' body is taken down from the cross For all those who have experienced the death of someone significant in their lives Everyone has lost someone perhaps a parent, a spouse, a child, a relative, a friend, a dog, a cat.  It hurts.  May we be there to comfort those who are suffering from losing someone special. Let us remember those who have lost a loved one from Covid-19.   Let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, hear our prayer.