Saints Peter and Paul Sunday, June 29, 2025

Acts 5:   Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.

Revelation 1:I saw seven gold lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.

John 20:   “My Lord and my God!”

Paul reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Music,   Ben & Shonda

Expenses: $   850.00

Outreach: $    520.00

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

Denni gets a cookie for her birthday.

Rosemary's Blessing:

Life is short …

Break the rules,

Forgive quickly,

Kiss slowly,

Love truly,

Laugh uncontrollably,

And never regret anything that made you smile.

Mark Twain

 Readings:  Isaiah 5, 1-7; Psalm 80, The Vineyard of the Lord is the House of Israel; Philippians 4, 6-9; Matthew 21, 33-43 

Isaiah:

• The biggest of the big 3 prophets not only because of the book's volume, 66 chapters, but because of the beauty of some passages.   The book is my favorite.
• Time written: before the Babylonian Captivity (ca. 590) chapters 1-39 seem to have been composed by the prophet.  After the Captivity (ca. 540) at least two followers seem to have composed chapters 40-66.
• Today's selection: talks about a vineyard worker who labors carefully to bring forth good grapes, but gets only weeds.  What does he do with the vines?  This story matches up with Matthew's parable.

Picture 1:    Sacrament of the Sick

Picture 2:    Shonda, Bethany, & Ray

 Readings: Deuteronomy 8, 2-16; Psalm 147, Praise the Lord, Jerusalem; 1 Corinthians 10, 16-17; John 6, 51-58

 Intro to Readings 

Our first reading today is from the Book of Deuteronomy, last week it was from the Book of Exodus.  These books are part of what is known as the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.  They are also referred to as the Torah, or the Five Books of Moses.  They are considered the most important books in Jewish tradition and are the most quoted in the New Testament.  The first four books describe the creation of the world right down to the time when the Israelites are paused at the Jordan River, before they cross over into the Promised Land.  Deuteronomy, the last of these books, is best described as three big sermons of Moses. Our reading today is from the second sermon and in it we have Moses reminding the people of all the great things that Yahweh did for them, by saving them from the Pharaoh, and leading them thru the desert, even though that last piece took 40 years!  They could have used a GPS!  The reading today has two short pieces to it and will sound repetitious.  The reason is that the book was compiled over hundreds of years and from many sources and in those days, consistency was not as important as making sure that tradition was included! 

Body and Blood of Christ – Homily

 Today our focus is really on what happened on Holy Thursday, at the Last Supper.  The church has chosen to have us focus on that event today, now that we are past all of the events of Easter.  What did happen at that Last Supper?  It was “the event” which seems somehow to have defined the early community after the death of Jesus.  For some reason, that meal, and really many of the meals with Jesus, took on significance beyond the normal meaning.  For people in that part of the world then, a meal was an expression of hospitality.  And we ourselves know that sometimes meals can take on a special significance, whether it is due to the circumstances of the meal, or who we're dining with. 

For the early community the events of that Last Supper took on huge significance.  We first hear about it in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, where we find the very familiar phrases, which we still hear today in our Eucharist.  “While they were at supper he took bread and broke it, gave it to them and said, take and eat, this is my body”.  That bread and that wine is what united and defined the early church, and it is still today how we are defined.  Nowhere is the cross the focus of the early community, it is the meal.

We know that food is nourishment for our bodies.  The food we eat, gives us energy to go out and do things.  In taking the bread and wine and giving it to us at the Last Supper, he changed the whole value of the food.  The community was to continue His presence in the world by seeing this bread and wine as Jesus.  And by eating and drinking this bread and wine, as Paul puts it, Jesus was in Paul and living thru Paul.  Like wise, by the action we go thru here each Sunday we are inviting Jesus into our lives and then going out and spreading the Good News.  The effects of Jesus in us, “it is no longer I but Christ who lives in me”, says Paul to the Corinthians.

 If we reflect that for the Jews, the first covenant with Yahweh was sealed with the Ten Commandments.  This new covenant was sealed by Christ’s death and resurrection, but symbolized in the meal.  By eating the bread and drinking the wine, Jesus enters into our lives.  The question now is “what effect that has on our lives”?  For the early Christians it caused others to say of them, “see how they love”.  There are consequences to what we do here; we need to see our participation in this meal, as in some way remaining with us as we go about our lives for the week ahead.  We say that the bread and wine are changed, what we can also say is that, by our participation, we too are changed. 

 But the effects of eating the bread and drinking the wine involve our active participation, Jesus is not going to take over our lives, we need to welcome Him into our lives.  This is not an invasion but an extension of hospitality.  As we share the bread and wine today, let us make sure that we are open to welcoming and living our lives as a people of God, allowing God to be present in His kingdom here on earth.

Picture 1:   Tony beginning Mass

Picture 2:   Offertory, Erin & Chuck

Pciture 3:   Cole, the son of Erin & Chuck, with his grandmom, Diane

Picture 4:   Shonda slipping away from weekend duty with Kent Messer and Jon Waldron

Picture 5:   Anniversaries Brunch

Readings:  

Acts 1, 15-17, 20-26, Lord, You know the hearts of all;

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

1 John 4, 11-16, If God so loved us, we also must love one another; 

John 17, 11-19, That they may be one just as we are one.

Sienna & her mom, Erin, lighting the Easter Candle

Acts: a review–

Author:  Luke, the author of The Acts & The Gospel

Date: ca. 50 years after the death of Jesus

Our Selection: Believe it or not, we are now back to chapter 1 after getting as far as chapters 9 & 10.  What is going on is this.  The chapter opens with an introduction and then a description of the Ascension, Jesus going up in the sky.  Apparently the event took place about a half mile outside Jerusalem on the Mt. of Olives. 

Afterward, all the community come together in the room they had been hiding in. About 120 are present and Peter gets up to speak.  We read Peter's words. 

John's letter: There is a great line in this selection.  See if you can spot it when you hear it.  I'll tell you after the reading, but a hint, it is the last line.

Sources: Good News Bible; The New Interpreter's Study Bible

Catch Sienna in a most unusual pose, with her mom, Erin

Our World, Bad or Good?

In the past 10 days I have been part of a couple of extraordinary events.

The first took place outside of Boston in Thompson, Ct.  The wedding of Jessica Bresson & Steve Craig.  It was one of Those Special Weddings.  Two things.

Mike & Geri Moran and Charlotte & Harry Gelineau-Kattner

First.  I usually invite couple to speak their own vows.  Memorize them if they want.  I give them a simple vow template and let them know they can use it, change it, or write their own.  My thought is they are sharing with each other their vows, not mine.

Jessica and Steve composed such a beautiful vow statement that I copied it and will give it to future couples.  Then, they pulled a new one on me.  I am always looking for something unique & special.  We had talked about a unity candle or sand glass.  They were not inclined that way. 

Kayla

It took place right after the vows.  I read which started out, “Steve, take Jessica’s hands, palms up, and look at them.”  Then it went on to say, “These are the hands that will hold you, support you, and console you.” “These are the hands that will hold your baby.”   They had put together about 8-10 of these “These hands” phrases.   

I was totally touched and had to take extra time to stop or at least slow the tears.  In fact, I was so impressed that I lost my place, invited them to share a kiss, said a few parting words, and was preparing to introduce them to the community, when Jessica whispers, “You forgot the rings!”  

Sorry, Tom, you lost your seat to CC

Jessica & Steve made this event their unique wedding.  I loved it.   I told John & Connie that they took us all to the top of my old friend, Kilimanjaro.

The second event took place last evening in Highland Village and was at the other end of the emotional spectrum.  We held a memorial service in honor of Andy, 23 years old Tuesday.  He died of an overdose just a day or so before he was scheduled to depart for rehab in Utah.   More tears.

CC with her buddy

I did not personally know Andy, but hearing the stories his friends & family shared, I came to know him.  He has twin sisters 3 years younger whom he loved and tried to protect.  He was described as live as an electrical wire sparking.   One mother describe how when he was a little kid, she offered him and her kids lobster tacos.  Not one kid wanted one.  Except Andy.  “I’ll try one.” 

These two events are our world, some of it beautiful, some sad.  Despite the Gospel of today indicating that the world is a pretty bad place, which was a common thinking pattern in those days, I would propose that our world is supposed to be and often is a wonder.  Even in the sad events, there is beauty as I witnessed in the beauty of the people who talked about Andy last evening.

Bona Responds team with Jim Mahar, leader & professor at the university, addressing the community on their work

The challenge for us: continue to make it even more beautiful for the Jessica & Steves, and for the Andys so they don’t lose it. 

This morning we are privileged to have with us a group which is doing just that: The Bona Responds Group from St. Bonaventure outside Buffalo and their professor sponsor, Jim Mahar.

I especially want to thank John & Connie for letting me share about Jessica & Steve.  And I thank Beverly for letting me share about Andy, her son.

What are you doing to make our world more beautiful?

The St. Bonaventure service team

The Nativity with Emma (the sheep), Buddy (the camel), Cowboy Cole (Joseph), Zoe (Mary), and at about 3 weeks, Jake (Jesus).

Readings:

Isaiah 9, 1-6,  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Psalm 96,  Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Titus,  2, 11-14,  The Grace of God has appeared.

Luke 2, 1-14,   In those days a decree went out from Caesar  Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

The angels including Torri, CC, Brooklyn, and Sienna.

A Christmas Gift

I want to tell you about a Christmas gift this afternoon.  It is one of my biggest gifts of this season and it came to me yesterday afternoon by surprise.

In our neighborhood we have alleys behind the lots.  Garbage trucks and service vehicles us the alleys.

The whole gang.

Once a week on Mondays we are visited by the trash trucks and the recycle trucks.  The trash trucks are all mechanized, so only a driver runs the show.  A mechanical arm grabs the trash can, empties it, and replaces it.

Emmett getting ready for his debut with Marilyn.

The recycle truck, however, has three people, one driver and two men who empty the recycles into their truck.  I often see the recycle guys because they start the day’s run at our alley and at our house.  We are on the corner.  We wave.

I got this idea from a guy I helped to do his memorial a few years ago.  He would give a small gift to his mail man and trash collectors.

Jesus getting ready, Jake & his mom, Amanda.

So Monday morning I am watching at 7:00, hoping to give the recycle guys a gift of a few bucks.  They don’t come.  I am afraid I will miss them like I did at Thanksgiving.  So I place a note on the recycle bin.  And I continue to watch.  I can hear them usually, because their big truck makes noise.

Jacob with his mom, Stacie.

Suddenly about 3:00 I hear the truck.  By the time I grab my coat and head out, one of the guys is coming in the back yard, because my note told them to come to the door.   They are friendly as ever.

I give them each $20.

This was when my present arrived. 

Joe and his family.

Their gratitude.  It was over the top.  They thanked me over and over.  One guy says, “I’m rich, I’m rich.”  They head off down the alley with more thanks and well wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

I was so touched I got choked up when Rosemary asked me how it went.  So small a gift on my part, so great a gift to me on their part.

Want to receive a gift like this?  When are you going to do it?

One of Ours, Cole Carey, Corporal, USMC, lighting the 4 candles.

Revelation, A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman bathed with sun.

Psalm 45, the queen stands at your right hand arrayed in gold.

1 Corinthians 15, 20-27, Christ has been raised from the dead.

Luke 1, 39-56, Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste.

The Best Music, Shonda & Ben

Thanks……

Music,    Ben & Shonda

Readers,  Frank & Mary, & Buddy, our candle blesser 

Gospel,     John Cade

Homily,   John Stack

Eucharistic Prayer A & B,  John Stack & John Cade

The Magic Zoom makers,    Hue

Final Blessing, Rosemary

For hosting us at Legacy for all these years & will miss you enormously, Becky

Frank reading from Revelation.

Readings:

Download Readings 20h Ordinary Time Assumption 8-15-21

Homily by John Stack

Download John Stack homily 8-15-2021 Assumption

Mary reading from 1 Corinthians.

Remember these special people:

For John & Karen Anderlick's unborn grandson;  For Alan Stryker;      For Rosemary's great niece, Rylie ;  For Richard's grand daughter, Madeleine;   For Esparza's son, Jason, with the virus;  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,   for John Simari

Today's Team.

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 10 month old baby boy named Ford recuperating from an operation; for David McKeon's brother, Hugh; For Beth's friends & brother;  For the Fleming family on the death of Tom's father;  for the medical staffs, teachers, and coaches in our public & private schools.

Thanks, Cody, for being The Best.

Birthdays:  Marlene, Rose Banzhaf, 

Anniversaries: 

Jean & John O'Donald, 63

Gil & Bernadette Delgado

Peace, Patricia, Peace, Sandra.

Community Finances,   August 15, 2021

Expenses: $505.00

Outreach: $300

Thanks again, Folks, for doing what you can.

You will really be  missed here, Marcia & Joe.

Rosemary's Blessing:

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you lived.

This is to have succeeded.

Success – Ralph Waldo Emerson

May you succeed!

Peace & Health, Everybody