Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 19, 2021

Isaiah 6:  "Here I am," I said; "send me!"

1 Corinthians 15:   But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective.

Luke 5:  When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

 

 

 

Thanks…Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,   Geri and Mike 

Gospel,     John Stack

Homily,  John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack

The Magic Zoom makers,      Hue, Richard & Mike 

Final Blessing, Rosemary

 

 

 

 

Central Railway Station in Amsterdam

 

The Board has decided to extend the Zoom only Masses through Sunday, February 6th.  The Board will meet again on Wednesday, February 9th to discuss when we may get together for Mass again.  I will let you know in the Blog for February 9th.

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdam

 

 

Readings:  Download 02-06-22 – Readings – 5th Sunday Ord

Homily:  Download 02-06-22 – Homily – 5th Sunday Ord

 

 

 

House along the canal

                                           

 

 

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,

                            

                                                              

Kinderdijk

 

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:   2/7 Geri Moran,  2/8 Tom Quinn,  2/11 Hue Beavers  & John Bresson

Anniversaries:   2/10 Bob & Debbie Ekes

      

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  300.00

Outreach: $  

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

                                    

 

Rosemary's Blessing:  

From Pope Francis’ twitter:

Do not judge, Christ tells us. How many times do we not only pass along gossip or rumors, but consider ourselves justified when we are harsh in our judgement of others. We can be indulgent with ourselves, but inflexible with others.

 

 

 

 

Zoe says, "Welcome in, Everybody."

 

 

Readings:  

 

Exodus 16, 2-4, 12-15,   The whole community grumbled against Moses & Aaron

 

Psalm 78,   The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

 

Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24, You must no longer live as the Gentiles do.

 

John 6: 24-35,  It was not Moses who gave them the bread from heaven

 Ragbrai (honest, no bragging) report this Sunday.  Prepare yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

Important Board of Directors Meeting.

 

Exodus observations:

What:

 Exodus is a fun book and a good read.  It comes after Genesis & it has three main sections.

 One – the struggle between stubborn old Pharoah vs Moses & Yahweh.  Pharoah loses.  You can imagine the Passover had a significant impact. 

 

 

 

Every year the USAF comes to Ragbrai not just to ride, but to help, with dropped chains like me, flat tires, injuries.

 

Two – the time of wandering in the Sinai desert and the covenant, that is, the 10 Commandments

Three – the coming into the Promised Land. 

This all took around 40 years, and so we have stories in-between.  Today’s is one of these, showing Yahweh feeding his grumbling people 

 

 

 

 

USAF in action, bandaging up an injured female rider.

 

 

When written:

Toward the end of the Babylonian Captivity, around 550 before Christ

Who wrote it:

Not Moses, but people who lived centuries after this mythical character.  How much of this is historical is a question.  The story greatly encouraged the Jewish people enslaved in Babylon. 

 

 

 

 

At the final town of the week's ride, Davenport, this year the USAF riders enter in formation, as they told me.   145 strong this year, the most ever.  I remember 9-10 years ago they came with 45 riders.  I would be most moved to watch them enter 'in formation.'

 

 

Our selection:

An amusing account of the Jewish people grumbling against Moses.  They say they would prefer to be back in Egypt than in this infernal desert where they are wandering in the heat & sand.  We can sympathize with them in these days of 100’s.  They did not have a/c.   So Yahweh feeds them.  See how.

 

                             

 

After entering in formation, they take a group foto.

 

 

Want to get a people jolt, see their craziness, see their goodness?  Ride Ragbrai

For those of you not familiar with the Ragbrai event, it is a Sunday to Saturday bike ride across Iowa from west to east, from the Missouri River to the Mississippi, a distance of ca. 500 miles.  15 thousand are registered, another 15 thousand ride unregistered.  So it is crowded everywhere.

 

 

 

 

The little Iowa villages have the most beautiful, shady central squares/parks.  Ideal for a nap, a snack, a mid-day break

 

 

Three highlights for me. 

First of all, a lot of families ride together.  Sometimes they have dad pulling two attached bikes.  One time I ride up behind this woman who has a carrier on her front wheel.  I suspect from behind that she probably has a little kid in the carrier.  As I come up beside her I greet her and ask her if she has room for one more in her carrier.  I look at the carrier again and cannot believe my eyes.  She has 3 little kids in the carrier and they are having a fun time playing and talking to people like me. 

Later in the afternoon I ride up on her again.  She and the kids probably passed me walking through one of the achingly pretty little Iowa towns, maybe while I was taking a nap under one of the huge shade trees.  This time the kids are all asleep on each other.

 

 

 

 

Every need is catered to.

 

 

Another thing I found touching and amusing was the presence of dogs in the ride.  For instance, one guy had a medium sized, black maybe shepherd-lab mix.  He pulled a little cart with one rear wheel.  The dog, which was well trained, sat on the cart and accepted homage from everybody.  Later I saw the guy climbing a high hill and the dog was trotting along side.

I think my favorite dog was a little white dog that looked like Aviana, all white, but was a little smaller.   This little doggie belonged to a young woman.   Where did she have the dog?  On her back, front paws almost up to her shoulders, back paws splayed out on her lower back. She was wearing like a small back pack with holes in the bottom.  This little dog let you know it was there.  I was barking constantly, first to the left, then to the right.

 

 

 

 

 

University of Iowa campus, Iowa City, the yard of the medical students' fraternity house.  We covered their yard.  We were 55 in our group and ca. 30 tents.  My tent, the green one with the towel on top.

 

 

 

The final story has to do with me dropping my bike chain one afternoon.   I was entering a small town and had to climb over a trestle.  At the top my chain jumped off when I down shifted.   Trestles seem to target me.  The only other time I remember having this problem was a few years ago coming in to Wichita Falls from the Hotter N Hell.

So I turn my bike over and start to replace the chain.  Almost immediately two guys ride up and offer to help.

The goodness of people.  These are two special guys in beautiful blue & white bike uniforms, USAF. 

 

 

 

 

All this luggage came out of that bus.  It is located at Davenport, the final town and will return some of this luggage and cover the roof with standing bikes.  On our way home to Ames.

 

 

There were 145 USAF riders this summer, up from 45 a few years ago, guys, girls, black, white, Hispanic. They come not just to ride, but to help riders whose chains have fallen off, who have flat tires, or who have gone down & injured themselves.  They are there on Air Force time to help.  I saw them everywhere and was always moved and proud.

 

 

 

 

How did I get in here?  How do I get out??

 

 

So, who wants to sign up for next year?  David and Dana are going.  Unfortunately, I cannot accompany you.  I don’t have the stamina I had even last summer.   It is time for me to hang up my Ragbrai medallion.

 

 

 

 

Good Morning to Iowa.

 

Next Sunday we will have a service for Cody’s son, Caleb,  at 12:30 at the ArtCentre.  Family will be coming into town.  We would like to hep Cody and Shonda during this time by providing some food for the out of towners (15 – 20 persons) to share while here.  If you are able to bring some food to 3622 North Echo Trail, Plano TX 75023  on Saturday at 2:00, it would be appreciated.

Ideas for food:  cheese plates, small sandwiches, salads, pasta, deviled eggs, hors d’oeuvres, the usual luncheon things.

Cody’s Mom will bring dessert.

Thanks to all.

Community Finances:   

  Expenses: $   1,230.00

  Outreach: $   300.00

 

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

 

 

Brent gets a cookie for his birthday

 

Rosemary's Blessing:

1 Kings 3: Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong

Romans 8:  Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Matthew 13:  Jesus said to his  disciples: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, …

 

 

Frank reading from I Kings

 

Thanks…     

Music,    Shonda & Ben 

Readers,  Mary & Frank

Homily,   John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,   Hue & Kevin

Final Blessing, Rosemary

                                 

Mary reading from Paul's Letter to the Romans

 

                      

 

Readings: Download 07-30-23 Readings -17th Ordinary

Homily:  

 

 

 

The Opening Hymn

                                                                                     

 

Remember these special people:

For Jan Keszler's Family; For Sandra Pratt's family;  For Cindy Cramer's family;  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 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 & the families of Annie and Michael ;    for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

 

John reading from the Gospel of Matthew

                                          

Birthdays: Cindy Ekes 7/31, Linda Beavers 8/4, Birth of Soul's Harbor 1956 8/2

Anniversaries:  

 

                         

The Kiss of Peace

 

         

Community Finances:   

Expenses: $  885.00

Outreach: $  

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

       

 

 

Says Tori, "Welcome in Everybody, and Happy Mother's Day.

 

 

Readings:  

 Acts of the Apostles 1, 15-17, 20-26,  The lot fell upon Matthias.

Psalm 103,  The Lord has set his throne in heaven.

 1 John 4, 11-16,  We must love one another.

 John 17, 11-19,  When I was with them I protected them.

 

 

 

They are back, Everybody.  Welcome Home, Bernadette, to you and Gilbert playing with the kids in the hallway.Welcome home to both of you from your around the world cruise.
 

 

Mother's Day History:

1905-08: Anna Jarvis of West Virginia began this celebration for her mother, Ann, who cared for wounded Civil War soldiers of both sides.  She campaigned to make it a national day and in 1914,  Woodrow Wilson made it national.

The spelling: always singular, according to Anna. 

Hallmark Cards: Anna hated them because she felt you know what.  

 

 

 

 

Welcome in, too, Tom & Teresa.  Are you ready for an around the world Viking cruise?

 

 

Happy Mother’s Day

This morning I would like to tell the story of how on one occasion I attempted to make up to my mom all that she had to put up with in me.  This took place when I must have been about 40, still living and working in East Africa, but on a home leave.  Rosemary says I have shared this story before.  Pardon me if I go here again.  It was one of the highlights of my life.

I had a couple of things I figured I owed her for.  The first was that she thought I was a bad kid, especially that afternoon the University Park Police came to our house looking for me. 

It just happened to be the very day on which my mom was hosting her whole bridge club. 

 

 

 

Sister team, Zoe & Georgie teaming up to light and bless our candles for the week.

 

 

The second was that I did not go to College (I was enrolled at N.D.) 
Instead, I joined the Jesuits in the days when we never came home.  It was seven years before I got back to Dallas, not to go home, but to teach at Jesuit.

To compound this event some 15 years later I agreed to accept an invitation to set up a spiritual center in Nairobi, Kenya.  For at least 5 or 6 years my mom never spoke to the Jesuits in Dallas.  She was convinced I had been sent.

 

 

 

The team special for today on Mother's Day & the special vow renewal.

 

 

So, at about 40 years of age I am on a few months home leave, when my mom asks would I be willing to come to Ireland with her and her two sisters, Kitty and Pauline.  “Sure,” I said.  I would be their driver.

So, we met up in London.  

We went to eat at The Irish Pub where we were seated in the basement.  Half way through the meal a victorious Irish rugby club tromps in.  There was a piano player doing Irish songs at the end of the room on a little platform.  These guys joined in with such gusto that I think they drove the poor guy out.

 

 

 

John reads the closing.

 

 

Guess who took up the piano, my Aunt Pauline from N.Y.  Eventually, all the guys and my girls got up, made a ring around the otherwise now empty basement, we held hands, and with my aunt playing we danced around in a counter clockwise direction.  It was one of the most memorable nights of my life and got us all off to a roaring start.

In Dublin we rented a little red car, took off to the north, and laughed our way through the next ten days.  We drove counter clockwise all the way over to and beyond Shannon.   

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Shonda and Ben, for singing & leading us in The Father will Dance, one of my most favorite hymns.

 

 

Our daily drill was breakfast around 9:00, in the car about 10:00.  At 12:00 we were looking for lunch until 1:00 or 1:30.  3:00 was time for tea, and by 5:00 I had to find a place to stay that was clean, had carpet, and had bathrooms connected to the rooms.  The girls stayed in one room and laughed until they cried every night.  If Ireland were not so small we would never have gotten anywhere.

This was probably the best time I ever had with my mom.

You?  What was the best time?  Or as a mom, what was the best time?

 

 

 

The Blessing of All The Mothers, actual or virtual.

 

 

 The Special Blessing.