Author: Rosemary

  • Sunday Mass Notice, April 29, 2007 – 4th Sunday of Easter

    ByRosemary

    Mass: Sunday, 9:30; coffee, donuts, muffins (home made), & juice on the house.

    Place: Vines High School on 15th between Custer & Independence.

    Readings: Acts 13, 43-52; Psalm 100; Revelations 7, 9-17; John 10, 27-30

    Community Bulletin Board

    Anniversary Celebration: Rosemary & I invite you all to our 2nd anniversary party, May 5, 7:00-11:00, Fairview Farms (same place as last year), Parker & Central, northeast corner. Watch for the signs: Circuit City, Ross, Joe’s Crab Shack. Fairview Farms is behind them. Covered dish (A-G, deserts; H-Z hors d’oeuvre), casual dress, seven couples renewing vows. Also, the slide show of The Great East African trip.

  • Sunday Homily, April 22, 2007 – 3rd Sunday of Easter

    ByRosemary

    Readings: Acts 5, 27-41; Psalm 30; Revelation 5, 11-14; John 21, 1-19

    Acts of the Apostles

    This book continues Luke’s gospel, this time describing the early Christian community.

    Revelations

    More revelations about end times and heavenly events.

    Do You Love Me X 3

    How many here love chocolate chip cookies?

    How many here love their dog or cat?

    How many here love Rosemary?

    Notice the different meanings of the same word "love." In the early language in which this section of John was written two words are used for "love." You can see that in English we often use "love" when we really mean "like." I like chocolate chip cookies, but I love Rosemary.

    Watch how the meaning changes and becomes much more subtle when you distinguish the word. In the early language the word for "love" was "agapo." A second word was "phileo," and it meant "care for" or "hold you very special."

    Here we go. First, Jesus says, "Do you love me more than these." He uses "agapo." Peter responds, "You know that I love you." Guess which word Peter uses. Not "agapo," meaning "love," but phileo, meaning "hold you special" or "care for."

    Secondly, Jesus asks again, "Do you love me," and uses "agapo." Note he does not repeat "more than these." Peter repeats his first statement, "You know that I love you." Again he uses the word "phileo," I "care for you."

    Now the third time takes place, and in English Jesus simply asks "Do you love me," but guess what. He uses "phileo" this time, "Do you care for me?" What does Peter respond? Same as the first two times, "I care for you," though this is not distinguished in the English translation.

    Big difference, no? A fascinating play on words English totally misses. What is going on? A simplistic idea is that Peter denied Jesus three times. So here he is challenged to affirm Jesus three times. However, why the play on the word love?

    1. Can Peter be showing a new side, a more humble side?
    2. Is Jesus showing that he accepts Peter just as he is, saint as well as sinner?
    3. Could this be consoling for us who fall like Peter?
    4. How are we like Peter?

    Click here to download the audio.

  • Announcements for April 22, 2007

    ByRosemary

    Special Thanks:

    • For reading, Noah & Alexandra
    • For the Altar Bread, Nina Waldron
    • For Serving, T.J., Lacee & Lorynne
    • For our New Altar Server Gowns, Dolores Eppard
    • For the Altar, donuts, muffins, coffee, & juice, Margie, Jackie, Lisa, Jerry & Joan, & Margarita
    • For the Books & Communion Cups, Roy & Carol Strom, Beth & Rob Robinson
    • For ushering & all sorts of jobs, Cliff Wright
    • For the music, Ray & Shonda, Wendy & Hue, Rick & Jackie

    Happy Birthday: Alexandra, Fred Macchio, Tony Whitley, Brittany Carey

    Happy Anniversary: John & Connie Doherty, Angie & Mike Carroll, Nicole Isaacs & Grady Lewis (1st), Tony & Jo Whitley, (29th), Jerry & Joan Gleason (50th)

    Please Remember: All of those hurt by VA Tech; Rosemary’s nephew definitely improving; Gail Rosenblad’s daughters & friends; Fred & Martha’ friend on life support as she waits for her baby; Jean Atwood’s uncle Harry & aunt; Margarita’s sister Tina’s friend Evelyn with cancer & Uncle Julius; little 5 month old Sadie with cancer, friend of Jack Carlson; Tom Quinn’s brother Tim; Nina Tucker’s friend Nancy with stage 4; Barb Senter’s mom, Margie’s mom, Dona & Cathy Goode’s mom; David Pastula & his companions in the military overseas, including Trey Bailey back from his 3rd deployment, Ryan McClurg, Matt Gardner, Chebino, Gary Hogman & his wife Cindy with cancer, & T.J.’s friend Aimee; David & Ofelia, Rita; Mary Ellen’s Christopher, Margaret, & Jim; George & Marianne’s sons & Linda’s son; Rob’s mom & dad; & a cure for autism from Laura Chollick.

    Spiritual Formation Schedule (CCD): We’ve started. Welcome!!

    Your Finances:

    • April 22: Income for Running Expenses: $1,199.00
    • April 22: Income for Outreach Expenses: $882.00
    • April 22: Karina – $557.00

    Thanks for your Generosity!

    Invitation Reminder: May 5, Our Anniversary Party.

    Note: All weblog correspondence will be confidential and private, coming to me directly. J.S.

    Click here to download the financial summary for operations for Q1 2007. Click here to download the financial summary for Outreach for Q1 2007. 

    Check here concerning Wendy’s S.M.U. recital, May 4.

  • Sunday Mass Notice, April 22, 2007 – 3rd Sunday of Easter

    ByRosemary

    Mass: Sunday, 9:30; coffee, donuts, muffins (home made), & juice on the house.

    Place: Vines High School on 15th between Custer & Independence.

    Readings: Acts 5, 27-41; Psalm 30; Revelation 5, 11-14; John 21, 1-19

    Community Bulletin Board

    Invitation: Rosemary & I invite you all to our 2nd anniversary party, May 5, Fairview Farms (same place as last year), Parker & Central, northeast corner, ca. 7:00. Watch for the signs: Circuit City, Ross, Joe’s Crab Shack. Fairview Farms is behind them.

    Seven couples will renew their vows. Guess Who? Also, we will do a covered dish hors d’oeuvres & desserts, and music for dancing. Moreover, the slide show of The Great East African trip.

    Download the Anniversary Party 2007 Invitation.

    From Angie Carroll: I am a volunteer at the Heritage Farmstead Museum on 15th and Custer in Plano and am currently helping them to find volunteer docents to give tours of the house and grounds. There is a great training program that is held every Tuesday in May from 7 to 9pm and every Saturday in June from 3-5pm.

    This has been a really fun job because there is an opportunity to meet other volunteers, learn a great deal about life in Collin County at the turn of the century, meet lots of visitors who are from all over the country and also attend several social events each year.

    We are looking for any women or men who have just a few hours each month to come and give tours. Anyone interested can call me at 972-612-8169, or e-mail me at acarroll@heritagefarmstead.org.

    Important technology announcement

    As you may have noticed in our emails, we have set up a blog. What is a blog? Essentially it is a web site that allows for someone like me to post writings to one place for viewing by others. For the past few months we have been posting my emails to the site in addition to sending them out as we have been via regular email.

    Over the course of the next few weeks we are going to transition to using the blog as the main source for distributing this information. Why? Three reasons.

    First, this will dramatically reduce the amount of time I need to spend on this process. Right now, I have to break the distribution into many groups of people, taking about an hour per week. With this new process I will just have to post the text to the site and an email will be automatically generated to you.

    Second, I believe the blog will allow us to cultivate a greater sense of community. In addition to allowing me to post, a blog allows you to comment on the posts. As my homilies usually end with a question, I think it would be neat for some of you (if you feel inspired of course) to answer the question or pose your own question back to me.

    Third, the postings are available for future viewing and listening. All previous homilies (including the audio files) and announcements will be automatically archived. If you want to view or listen to them in the future you just need to go to the site and they will be there.

    What does this mean for you? After this email (the one that you are reading) we will begin to upload the email address up to what is called an RSS feeder system. You will receive an email from a service call FeedBlitz asking you to subscribe to the service. Please accept this. This is a private list. You will not be solicited in any way and your information is kept private.

    For the next two or three weeks you will receive both the standard emails from me and an email from the FeedBlitz service. Once we are satisfied that this new system is working properly you will only receive the one from FeedBlitz on an ongoing basis.

    If you have any questions, please let me or Ed Kless (ed.kless@choosegreat.com) know.

  • Sunday Homily, April 15, 2007 – 2nd Sunday of Easter

    ByRosemary

    Readings: Acts 5, 12-16; Psalm 118; Revelations 1, 9-19; John 20, 19-31

    Acts of the Apostles

    This book is a continuation of Luke’s Gospel. It tells the story of the spread of Christianity after Christ’s death.

    Revelations

    This book consists of a series of revelations that were encouraging to the early Christians who were being persecuted at the time.

    A Fishing Pole

    There is a saying that while it is necessary occasionally to give a person a fish to keep them from starving, even better is it to give them a pole and teach them to fish. I think I have a fishing pole story.

    Christmas two ago Rosemary & I visited Karina in Cuernavaca. It is to her and her mother that we have been giving money to help them get through the year, about $200 a month. Karina is about 35 and horribly crippled because of childhood polio.

    On this occasion Karina mentioned to me that if I could help her, she could set up her own little pharmacy. When her mother, Maria Luisa, is not sick with cancer, Karina works in a small Mexican pharmacy about an hour’s journey from where they live. It is a difficult process for her to walk up & down the hills to catch the bus.

    I have often encouraged Karina to look into further schooling, because I sense how intelligent she is. So far it has been impossible.

    Consequently, when I heard Karina’ idea, you would think that I would have jumped at the opportunity to help her become more independent. However, ever since I have worked in East Africa, I have had an automatic reaction to people who hit me up for money. It used to happen in Tanzania so much that I become immediately resistant when I hear that tone of voice.

    Until I mentioned it to Rosemary, who said, Why not check out the numbers at least. So this past Christmas, a year later, Karina told us that she could rent a small place near a bus station for $50 a month and that she needed $2500 to open up her own pharmacy.

    This is not you local CVS type pharmacy. In Mexico the local pharmacies have just a few tubes of toothpaste, some aspirin, and various popular needs. No prescription medicines.

    Folks, I have decided I would like to help this woman. We have been giving her the equivalent of fish every Christmas. Without it who knows where they would be. Now there is an opportunity to give her a fishing rod.

    I have passed this by the board for approval. For the next month, until Mother’s Day, I will put out a special little basket for Karina. I want to give her $3000, the extra $500 for her first few months’ rent. This will be separate from our Expenses and Outreach baskets. I don’t want to interfere with them. This money will be a pass it on loan. Every month or whatever we agree upon, Karina can help another person in need whom she knows.

    Because you talked me into going back to taking pictures, the next time we are there, I hope to take some digital pictures of Karina’s pharmacy.

    Who is the Karina in your life?

    Download the homily as an mp3.

  • Announcements for April 15, 2007

    ByRosemary

    Special Thanks:

    • For reading, Donna & Christi
    • For the Altar Bread, Angie Carroll
    • For Serving, Carmen & Ashley, Carmen & Ashley
    • For our New Altar Server Gowns, Dolores Eppard
    • For the Altar, donuts, muffins, coffee, & juice, Margie, Joanne, Lisa, Jerry & Joan, & Margarita
    • For the Books & Communion Cups, Roy & Carol Strom, Beth & Rob Robinson
    • For ushering & all sorts of jobs, Cliff Wright
    • For the music, Ray & Shonda, Wendy & Hue, Rick & Jackie

    Happy Birthday: Kerry Tucker, Jackie Miller (20), Kate & Kim, Clair Occhipinti, Andy Goode, & Alexandra.

    Happy Anniversary: Fred & Maureen (44th), Leslie & John (1st)        

    Please Remember: Rosemary’s nephew definitely improving; Fred & Martha’ friend on life support as she waits for her baby; Jean Atwood’s Uncle Harry & Aunt; Margarita’s sister; Tina’s friend, Evelyn with cancer & Uncle Julius; Jackie Ritter’s friend Chad Johnson; little five-month old Sadie with cancer, friend of Jack Carlson; Tom Quinn’s brother Tim; Nina Tucker’s friend Nancy with stage 4;Barb Senter’s mom, Margie’s mom, Dona & Cathy Goode’s mom; David Pastula & his companions in the military overseas, including Trey Bailey back from his 3rd deployment, Ryan McClurg, Matt Gardner, Chebino, Gary Hogman & his wife Cindy with cancer,& T.J.’s friend Aimee; David & Ofelia, Rita; Mary Ellen’s Christopher, Margaret, & Jim; George & Marianne’s sons & Linda’s son; Rob’s mom & dad;& a cure for autism from Laura Chollick.

    Spiritual Formation Schedule (CCD): We’ve started. Welcome!!

    Your Finances:

    • April 15: Income for Running Expenses: $ 938.00    
    • April 15: Income for Outreach Expenses: $ 213.00
    • April 15: Karina: $ 253.00

    Thanks for your Generosity!

    Invitation: Rosemary & I invite you all to our 2nd anniversary party, May 5, Fairview Farms (same place as last year), Parker & Central, northeast corner, ca. 6:00. We will have some couples renew their vows, covered dish hors d’oeuvres & desserts, and music for dancing. Also, the slide show The Great East African trip. More later.

    Have a Great Week!

  • Sunday Mass Notice, April 15, 2007 – 2nd Sunday of Easter

    ByRosemary

    Mass: Sunday, 9:30; coffee, donuts, muffins (home made), & juice on the house.

    Place: Vines High School on 15th between Custer & Independence.

    Readings: Acts 5, 12-16; Psalm 118; Revelations 1, 9-19; John 20, 19-31

     

    Community Bulletin Board

    Invitation: Rosemary & I invite you all to our 2nd anniversary party, May 5, Fairview Farms (same place as last year), Parker & Central, northeast corner, ca. 6:00. Watch for the signs: Circuit City, Ross, Joe’s Crab Shack. Fairview is behind them. Six couples will renew their vows. Guess Who? Also, we will do a covered dish hors d’oeuvres & desserts, and music for dancing. Moreover, the slide show of The Great East African trip. More later.

    Step It Up Dallas – Global Warming Rally, Saturday, April 14

    STEP IT UP! – a nationwide rally for GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS!

    The Dallas Sierra Club invites you to join citizens around the country for a National Day of Climate Action and tell Congress to cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050. This will be the first big nationwide rally for global warming/climate change solutions.

    Where: The Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake, 521 East Lawther Drive in Dallas

    When: Saturday, April 14, 2007, noon – 4 p.m. Be there at 12:30pm for the publicity photo. We need a big crowd for the kickoff to show that lots of people in Dallas care about global warming solutions.

    Why now? We have an especially urgent need in Texas and opportunities in this session of the Texas Legislature for citizens to speak out in support of clean energy solutions.

    Bring the family! Have fun. Bring friends. There will be special activities for the kids. Have a picnic at the lake, see the solar powered electric car, watch films, sign postcards to Congress and the Texas Legislature. Be entertained and learn how you can help create a healthier and safer world.

    Directions: From Buckner Boulevard, take Northcliff Drive, at traffic light, south to the end of the road at White Rock Lake. The Bath House and parking are straight ahead after the stop sign. See this link for a simple map.

    DART directions: Blue line to LBJ/Skillman station, then #60 bus to Buckner @ Tarlton. Walk .34 mile to Bath House Cultural Center.

    More info at www.stepitup07.org.

  • Sunday Homily, April 8, 2007 – Easter Sunday

    ByRosemary

    Readings: Acts 10, 34-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3, 1-4; John 20, 1-9.

    An Easter Story (Kids Only?)

    There is a little girl named Meredith. She had a dog named Amy who after a good life died when Meredith was 4. Meredith loved Amy and wanted to write a note to God to make sure He knew she had arrived.

    Her mother, being a good mom, wrote down what Meredith wanted to say, put the letter in an envelope along with 2 pictures so God could identify Amy, and sealed it with Meredith’s return address. Two stamps were applied because the letter had a long way to go. It was addressed: God, Heaven.

    A week or so later on a Saturday afternoon, Meredith returned home with her mom. On the porch was package wrapped in gold paper addressed to Meredith. Return address: God, Heaven.

    Meredith ran to her room and opened the package. Inside was a small book, When Your Pet Dies, Meredith’s letter and pictures, and on pink paper a handwritten note.

    Dearest Meredith,

    I am sure you will be happy to know that Amy arrived here safe, sound, and happy. Your pictures were especially helpful and I recognized her immediately. She is now with me all the time.

    You might also be happy to know that she is no longer sick and stiff. Rather her spirit is so frisky and playful that I cannot keep up with her.

    Since as spirits we do not have bodies and therefore don’t have pockets, I am returning your helpful pictures and beautiful letter. They may provide good memories some day.

    Thank you for such a thoughtful letter. I hope the book helps. Thanks also to your wonderful mom for helping you with the letter. Did you know I chose her especially for you.

    One of my angels is helping me with this letter. As God I enjoy hanging around heaven and wherever there is love. I bless you and love you more every day.

    Signed, God & one of his special helpers (who wrote this letter when God told her the words to write).

    What is Your Easter Story?

    Download the homily as an mp3 file.

  • Announcements for Easter 2007

    ByRosemary

    Special Thanks:

    • For Hosting Thursday & Friday, Chris & Terry Phipps
    • For reading, Alexandra & Blair
    • For the Altar Bread, Angie Carroll
    • For Serving, T.J., Lacee, & Lorynne
    • For our New Altar Server Gowns, Dolores Eppard
    • For the Altar & Easter Cakes, Margie & Lisa
    • For the Books & Communion Cups, Roy & Carol Strom, Beth & Rob Robinson
    • For the music, Ray & Shonda, Wendy, Elliot & Hue

    Happy Birthday: Mark Nugent, Cole Bentley, Jacob Wilson & Nicole Wilson, Tom Zurchin, Katie Hogan (21), Teresa McClure, Morgan Froebe (14), Laura Chollick, Mark Ackerman, Cathy Goode, Kerry Tucker.

    Happy Anniversary: Bobbi Jo & Danny (1st), Dave & Margarita (14th), Judy & Richard Lyons (35th), Curtis & Mabel (54th)

    Please Remember: Rosemary’s nephew definitely improving; Jean Atwood’s uncle Harry & aunt; Margarita’s sister Tina’s friend Evelyn with cancer; Jackie Ritter’s friend Chad Johnson; little 5 month old Sadie with cancer, friend of Jack Carlson; Tom Quinn’s brother Tim; Nina Tucker’s friend Nancy with stage 4; Barb Senter’s mom, Margie’s mom, Dona & Cathy Goode’s mom; David Pastula & his companions in the military overseas, including Trey Bailey back from his 3rd deployment, Ryan McClurg, Matt Gardner, Chebino, Gary Hogman & his wife Cindy with cancer, & T.J.’s friend Aimee; David & Ofelia, Rita; Mary Ellen’s Christopher, Margaret, & Jim; George & Marianne’s sons & Linda’s son; Rob’s mom & dad; & a cure for autism from Laura Chollick.

    Spiritual Formation Schedule (CCD): We’ve started. Welcome!!

    Your Finances:

    • April 8: Income for Running Expenses: $2,814.00     
    • April 8: Income for Outreach Expenses: $1,456.00

    Thanks for your Generosity!

    Invitation: Rosemary & I invite you all to our 2nd anniversary party, May 5, Fairview Farms (same place as last year), Parker & Central, northeast corner, ca. 6:00. We will have some couples renew their vows, covered dish, hors d’oeuvres, and music for dancing. Also, the slide show The Great East African trip.

    From Kovatis: “Thank You” just doesn’t capture my appreciation, or that of the Groundwork Board, for your hard work and the enthusiasm you brought to the Operation A.C.T. Clean-up last Saturday. Based upon my rough calculation, we removed between 2 and 3 tons of trash from the Rochester Lakes area of the Great Trinity Forest.

    Operation A.C.T. is a prime example of what a group of interested and dedicated citizens can do to “leave a place in better shape than they found it”. Please accept our sincerest thanks for helping us improve the Great Trinity Forest for the citizens of Dallas. You can be assured that this will be an ongoing mission for Groundwork Dallas.

    (In a separate bulletin I will send pictures; too much now.)

    Next Mass: April 15

    Have a Great Week.

  • Holy Week Services Notice

    ByRosemary

    Mass: Sunday, 9:30.

    Place: Vines High School on 15th between Custer & Independence.

    Readings: Acts 10, 34-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3, 1-4; John 20, 1-9.

    Easter Sunday please bring an extra flower or two to decorate the stage for Mass. We’ll have our usual instant décor. Afterwards, you may take the flowers home.

    Invitation: Rosemary & I invite you all to our 2nd anniversary party, May 5, Fairview Farms (same place as last year), Parker & Central, northeast corner, ca. 6:00. We will have some couples renew their vows, covered dish hors d’oeuvres & desserts, and music for dancing. Also, the slide show of The Great East African trip. More later.

    Book Recommendation: Love in the Driest Season, Neeley Tucker

    See you this Sunday, April 8, Easter.