Good Sunday afternoon everybody (hoping you are healthy and peaceful),

 

Here is the link to the Mass this morning.  It was a special service and one I hope will fill you with hope and appreciation.  Hopefully, next week we can be live but we shall see.  In the meantime have a healthy and peaceful week.

 

https://youtu.be/SCtQ5Wl-M6s  

 

Dearest Community Members,

Happy Saturday Evening.  I am disappointed to tell you that we have not been able to put together a live stream for tomorrow's Mass.

Becky has worked tirelessly on this project and Mike Moran has also put in many hours on the project.  As of now we are hoping to get a You Tube presentation together of the Mass tomorrow at 9:30 at Legacy.  If we succeed we will put it out on the Blog tomorrow and you should be able to click on the link and see a presentation of the Mass.  We hope to put the link in around noon.  You will not get an email about the Blog until Monday BUT if you go to www.johnstackministries.com about 1:00 it should be out there

In the meantime you have the readings and John Cade's excellent homily so that you can reflect as a family on what you read.

 

Have a peaceful and healthy week.

 

 

 

 

Betsy!  Where you been?  Missing you tons.

 

From our Dearest Becky:

Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy is now your drop off point for needed medical supplies such as gloves and masks. We are also combining this with a food pantry drive.

If you feel the need to help during this special time and can bring any or all of these needed medical supplies and/or food donations, Legacy will get them to the appropriate sites.

Hours are between 8 am and 4 pm Monday – Fridays. Week end hours by appointment only for large donations.

Location: 601 Accent Dr., Plano 75075

Please share share share !

 

 

Also from Becky:

Legacy has just spent the last week preparing to be closed for probably the year and yet still have school. We are fortunate that the Texas Education Agency and the Commissioner of Education  has allowed educators to continue to be paid if we make an attempt to instruct children while they are home.

Not only at Legacy, but educators around the state have been doing just that. Many districts like us will be starting online school or giving out instructional packets on Monday. We also started our food program back early last week and on Tuesday handed out over 1000 meals in one day. Every Monday now families can come and receive 7 days worth of food for each child in the home. For many families, especially for the ones who has a parent or two who has been laid off, it’s making a tremendous difference.

I am proud of my leadership team and what they have accomplished in one week’s time. But you know what’s even better? Knowing that Legacy is not unique. You will continue to hear wonderful stories of what school districts around the state of Texas are doing to meet the needs of families through food support and low tech and high tech learning. It’s a great time to be proud of your public school system!

#ClosedNotClosed

#CheersforPubEd

 

 

 

Spread the priesthood around:

 

http://corpus-blog.blogspot.com/2020/02/a-modest-proposal-spread-priesthood-by.html

 

Please Remember these special people:

For all the medical personnel struggling to treat the tsunami sick people, in particular locally and Cindy's staff at Presby; For Joe Hogan with cancer,  For Ryan, Rosemary's nephew, who had surgery; For Bill Hammond,    For Sydney & her dear Husband, Hugh, who just moved to the Other Side,  & For Sir Charlie recuperating from surgery;  Shonda's mom;   For Gilberto recuperating from his gall bladder operation:  for Michelle;  For a friend, a neighbor, & a doctor, Karen, with brain cancer; For Rick Turner searching for a kidney donor, Type O neg; For Meredith, cancer free.;    For Hue;  For John O'Donnell;    For Dee, and for her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued health;  For Anthony & Sabrina;    For a young man who is suffering from depression;  John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli and Lambrini; 

 

 

 

 

How Pope Francis manages,  http://corpus-blog.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-pope-francis-outflanks-his-foes.html  

 

 

Remember….

 

Download Trees stack

 

Here is a link to Google Meet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_ywOjB1c4Q#action=share

Take a look we may use this for our Mass on Sunday.

 

 

No Mass Celebration again this Sunday, March 22, 2020

Sorry Everybody.  

 

Please pass the word to anyone you think  of.

I will miss you all, John

 

During this time, you will receive the blog on Saturday (instead of Monday).  It will include the three readings for the Mass, plus John's Homily #3 on Matthew.

We thought by doing this you could celebrate The Word together as a family on Sunday mornings.  John will also leave you with a question to ponder on.

Any other ideas, please let us know.

 

 

 

I miss you girls, Harper & Betsy.

 

 

On the lighter side:

 

 

People have asked about their donations to the Community during this time. Should you like to make a donation at this time, you can send a check to the house (6107 Tulip Ln., Dallas 75230).  Thanks and John will send you a "thank you" note.

 

 

Sez Betsy, "Hi, Everybody.  Welcome in!"

 

Readings

Genesis 12, 1-4, I will make of you a great nation.

Psalm 33, Lord, let your mercy be upon us, as we put our trust in you.

2 Timothy 1-10, Bear your hardship.

Matthew 17, 1-9, The transfiguration.

 

 

Fist bumps for a healthy welcome.

 

Homily by John Cade                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             The Gospel of Matthew and the Jewish Synagogue—Talk Two

Last week we talked about how, as Jewish, the disciples and followers of Jesus continued as members and participants in the life of the synagogue and the Sabbath liturgy. Also, how these followers of Jesus remembered him in the synagogue, and preserved the stories of his life, teachings and deeds. An example of the general pattern of worship on the Sabbath is in Acts 13.

 

 

What a team!

 

It says, “On the Sabbath Paul went to the synagogue. After the reading of the Scriptures—God’s Law and the Prophets—the head of the meeting asked Paul, Friend, do you have anything you want to say? Paul stood up and said, Fellow Israelites and friends of God, listen.” Then he told how God led their ancestors out of Egypt and gave them their own land. He traced their history through King David, and how, from David’s descendants, God sent a Savior for Israel. And that this was the gospel, the good news, they were bringing: that what God promised their fathers has come true for their children—for them.

 

Our Super, All Girls, Sisters Candle Lighting Team.

 

This passage in Acts provides the basic pattern of synagogue worship on the Sabbath: mainly lots of long scripture readings.

First, a reading from the Law of Moses (the Torah, first 5 books of Jewish Scripture) in 1-yr cycle. Then readings from the Prophets, in three parts:  The “former prophets” (stories of Israel before and after the death of Moses, their greatest prophet—7 books of Joshua thru II Kings) in 1-yr cycle. Then more reading from what they called the “latter prophets” (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel—what we call the major prophets) in 1-yr cycle.  Then more reading from the ‘Book of the Twelve’—the last 12 books of Hebrew Scripture, that we call the minor prophets (Hosea to Malachi) in 4-yr cycle. [We use abbreviated 3-yr cycle]

 

 

Buddy, our special reader of the Candle Blessing

 

The psalms were read or chanted between the readings, sometimes for specific feasts of the liturgical year, but also to break things up with so many long readings, (and maybe to wake people up).

I counted, and the weekly Sabbath readings averaged over 16 pages every week, using this type print. After all the readings, the leader of the synagogue would preach on those scriptures or he might ask a visiting preacher to do so, as in the example of Paul. This is how the story of Jesus was passed on and preserved in the synagogue, for 55 years after Jesus’ death.

 

 

John reading his homily explaining the milieu of Matthew's Gospel.

 

So the written gospels are deeply Jewish books, capable of being understood only by those who lived and shared the Jewish mindset. If Jesus’ followers ever moved out of the Jewish world in which they was born, and if their gospels ever came to be read entirely or primarily by those who didn’t understand the Jewish authors’ meaning, they would be misread or misunderstood.  That is exactly what seems to have happened.  Step out of the Jewish world into the Greek and Roman world around the Mediterranean; the gospels would most likely be assumed by non-Jewish readers to be a literal account of what Jesus said and did.

 

Presenting the Gifts, Hue, Patricia, and Linda.

 

 A growing number of Jesus’ followers were beginning to be from urban centers around the Mediterranean—like Corinth, Thessalonica, Galatia, Rome—where they interacted with non-Jewish people and culture.  As the Jewish followers of Jesus became more cosmopolitan, they began to attract the non-Jewish Gentiles, and early Christianity became more and more a Gentile movement.  Near the end of the 1^st century CE, in the year 88CE, a split occurred between the synagogue and the followers of Jesus.  Orthodox Jews came to think of Jesus’ followers as “revisionists” and excommunicated them from the synagogue. So, by the middle of the second century (about 150 CE), there were practically no Jews left in the Christian movement.  Missing that Jewish context, Gentile Christians began to literalize the words and miracle stories, a practice the original Jewish gospel writers could never have imagined. For 55 years the Jewish people had been relating Jesus to the Hebrew Scriptures and incorporating his memory into Jewish liturgical practices. 

 

 

Minor Elevation time.

 

The followers of Jesus, including the authors of the gospels, had been speaking, then writing down, Jewish interpretations of the ‘Jesus experience’, not biographical accounts or historical stories.  As Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire gradually became a Christian majority, Christian literalism or fundamentalism was born.  This way of reading the gospels is the result of misunderstanding their Jewish context and meaning.  E.g., we read Jesus being referred to as “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  First-century Jews would have known this was a reference straight out of the Yom Kippur liturgy, not a literal reality.  They would never have imagined that these very familiar Jewish liturgical words could ever be so distorted. 

Next Sunday we dive into Spong’s basic thesis: the Gospels, Matthew in particular, were written explicitly for the Sabbath liturgy, and followed the synagogue’s annual liturgical calendar.

Amen.

 

 

Who dat peeking in the door?

 

 

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Cheryl O'Hagan's husband Dennis died in the hospital this week.

There will be a reception tomorrow Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Colin County Assoc. of Realtors, 3:00-6:00 in the banquet room (6821 Coit Road, Plano).  A pot luck dinner.  Please come & go as you are able.

 

Cheryl's address:

7951 Collin McKinney Pkwy #3089

McKinney, TX 75070

Special Announcement for John Stack Ministries:

This Sunday, 1/26, there will be a birthday brunch after Mass.  We  have 7-9 birthdays to celebrate and some ole geezer says it is numero 80 for him. 

Welcome, Everybody.  Pot Luck.

 

 

 

 

Says Cindy, "Welcome in, Everybody."

 

Readings:

Isaiah , 49, 3, 5-6,  I will make you a light to the nations.

       (This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine.)

Psalm 40,  Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.

1 Corinthians 1, 1-3,  Paul, called to be an apostle

John 1, 29-34, I saw the spirit come down

 

 

And never to be left behind, Ben, too, says, "Come in, Everybody.  It is delightful here."

 

 

I will make you a light to the nations

Have you people ever heard of a woman named Samantha Elandary?  No?  Never heard of her?  You must be living under a rock. 

No.  Actually I had never heard of her until I saw her at choral presentation last fall at Richardson High School.  All singers were Parkinson persons.  She  is my choice for being a light to the nations.  Certainly she is a light for me.  Why?

 

 

The Candle Girls in action.

 

 

Samantha, a graduate of UNT with a degree in speech pathology, established in 2005 a non- profit program called Parkinson Voice Project. 

One of the delightful little surprises of Parkinson is that the person slowly loses voice strength, eventually becoming almost mute and faced with whispering to communicate.  I personally have noticed that I am developing a little bit of this.  Ask my buddies at our Friday Romeo’s luncheons.  Maybe even Rosemary would love me more if I would reach this stage.

 

 

 

Buddy reading the Candle Blessing.

 

Samantha’s program at Parkinson Voice Project has two levels.

1. Individual speech therapy one on one with a professional therapist.  I am on this level.  I started in January a 4 week program of 3 sessions a week, 2 sessions with my therapist,  & a third session with a group of people on this beginner ‘s level.

 

 

The communion team.

 

I have a workbook with phrases I am instructed to read and speak with intent.  Speaking with intent is the key.

2. The second level takes place at the end of my month and involves group sessions where I am challenged to speak with intent loudly.  I’ll tell you more about this in February, when I graduate into the group therapy sessions.

 

 

I'm jealous, Ben!

 

I cannot tell you how consoled I felt the one time I was in the group session.  All of us had the same problem and I felt a sense of strength & of being among kindred spirits.

There are today over 400 participants in the Parkinson Voice Project .   It is also training therapists from other corners of the U.S.  The program started by Samantha, meeting such a great need, is the only one in the world. 

 

 

Welcome in.

 

The program operates on a pay it forward arrangement.  I have not been asked for a nickel.  Participants are obviously chipping in. 

In fact, at the fall choral presentation we were told about a financial challenge Samantha was given.  Collect 1 million dollars and a benefactor would donate $500 thousand.  Samantha & her team succeeded. 

 

 

 

The Best Team.

 

Samantha Elandary is my Light to the Nations, a person who makes God’s touch reach to all the corners of the earth.

Who is your Samantha?  How are you a Light?

 

 

You are The Best Salesgirl for Girl Scout cookies, Dearest Harper.

 

 

Happy New Year, Everybody‍‍ ‍‍

 

"And all shall be well and                                               

 All manner of thing shall be well ‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍

When the tongues of flames are in-folded
 Into the crowned knot of fire

 And the fire and the rose are one."

T.S. Eliot

 

 

"Welcome in, Everybody," says Jan.

 

Welcome this Sunday: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made. 

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community  & John Cade, Mike Carrell,  &  Stack  

Place: Legacy Charter School,  601 Accent Drive, Plano, TX 75075

 

 

Welcome in, John & Karen

 

We have heard that people discover that the Blog has not been coming.  Typepad tends to drop people for no reason.  So if this happens to you, just sign up again by going to www.johnstackministries.com

 

 

Wake up, John.

 

Readings:

Isaiah 60, 1-6,  The glory of the Lord shines upon you. (nice)

Psalm 72,  Lord,every nation on earth will adore you.

Ephesians 3, 2-3, 5-6, God's grace was given to me.

Matthew 2, 1-12,  Where is the newborn king of the Jew?.

 

 

Welcome Back, Dee.

 

Activities:  

ROMEO MEET: Friday, January 3,   Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.  

 

 

All 4 candles, Victoria.

 

True?

Life  isn't about finding yourself.  

Life is about creating yourself.

George Bernard Shaw

 

 

Mike comes with healing.

 

What's up in Ye Old Catholic Church?  Like…

Parishioners angry over the firings…https://www.ncronline.org/news/parish/parishioners-object-firings-laicized-priest-and-inactive-priest

 

 

 

Elevation.

 

See you Sunday, J.S.

214-783-0443

 

 

Peace!

 

JSM Mission-Faith Statement: 

 Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

 

 

 

Peace, Everybody.

 

 

Have a Beautiful & Peace Filled New Year!