John Stack Ministries Announcements & Reminders – Page 99 – Stay connected with our Catholic community through weekly Mass announcements and recaps, fostering faith and fellowship in every gathering.

Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary January 7, 2018
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

Thank you Lord for giving me

The brand new year ahead.

Help me live the way I should

As each new day I tread.



Give me gentle wisdom

That I might help a friend.

Give me strength and courage

So a shoulder I may lend.



The year ahead is empty

Help me fill it with good things.

Each new day filled with joy

And the happiness it brings.

Please give the leaders of our world

A courage born of peace

That they might lead us gently

And all the fighting cease.



Please give to all upon this earth

A heart that’s filled with love

A gentle happy way to live

With your blessings from above.

New Years Prayer by Charlotte Anselmo

Beth reading from the Great Prophet Isaiah.

Special Thanks to these special people:
- For the Readings: Rob & Beth
- For The Team: Leo & Buddy & Georgie
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan
- For the Pictures: Rick & Connie & Beth
- For the coffee and extras: Becky & Jackie
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ben & David & Shonda
- For all who helped with Communion
Rob reading from Ephesians.

Birthdays: Meredith (2 weeks ago), Hugh Bivona, (last Tuesday), Tom Fleming (59, last Friday), Cheryl (Tuesday), Ben Kern (15, Saturday)

Anniversaries:

Jackie & Rick (17, Saturday)

Carol & Richard, (43, last Thursday),

Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week.

Please Remember these special people

For John O'Donnell; For Carol's rcuperation; For Tom Good & his operation recuperation; For Dee and her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Cliff & Jean, plus Jean's brother Terry; For Rosemary's niece, Beth and her partner, Sarah with cancer; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn;    For Anthony & Sabrina; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Rose's daughter in law Jamie; For a young father of two & married, Paul Day, struggling with a heart condition;

Happy 43 Anniversary to you and Carol, Richard. A Kind Bar out of respect for all you do to keep in shape.

For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why;    For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; for Frank’s brother with advanced Parkinsons; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

And a Kind Bar to you, Tom, for keeping in such good shape. Happy Birthday

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's Annie & Kaitlen; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, their granddaughter, Mikayla;   plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

With this energy food, Kevin, you will make straight A's when you return to college

Your Finances, January 7, 2018

Expenses: $875.00

Outreach: $510.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Happy Birthday to you, Meredith, and to Excellent Health.

Have a Great Week, J.S.

(214-783-0443)

Happy 17th Anniversary, Rick & Jackie

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

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

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

And Happy Birthday to you, Cheryl.
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Reminders

Reminder for Sunday, January 7, 2018, The Epiphany (set C)
ByRosemary January 3, 2018
Rick, our ever reliable picture man, says, "Welcome in out of the cold, Everybody."

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

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack

Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075

Despite the freezing temps and the light drizzle, these Brave Hearts ventured out and provided a really fun celebration on the first day of the New Year.

Look back I wish I had canceled our Sunday Mass on Saturday. No need to risk people getting hurt.

Readings:

Isaiah 60, 1-6,   Upoon you the Lord shines

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

Ephesians 3, 2-3, 5-6, You have heard of the stewardship.

Matthew, 2 , 1-12 The Epiphany (the Magi)

Best Buddies, Emma & Harper.

Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET: Friday, January 5, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.

JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), January Lunch, TBA

Dickenson Trip: February 23- March 3

Healing for John.

What is going on in Our Catholic World:

1    The MeToo movement, National Catholic Reporter, December 29, articles from Catholics, Download #MeToo 1-4-18
1. Catholics on the tax plan part 2, National Catholic Reporter, December 21, 888 words Download THE TAX 1-4-18
Healing for Harper.

True?

What to be in Life: Whatever you do, do some service to someone else. Then and only then will you know, on your last dying breath, that it mattered that you were born

Bob Curry, father of Ann Curry, TV commentator

Our Father.

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.
Read More Reminder for Sunday, January 7, 2018, The Epiphany (set C)
Homilies

Sunday Homily, December 31, 2017, Holy Family
ByRosemary December 31, 2017

Could we be looking at Santa or Kevin?? Welcome in, Whoever you may be.

Readings:

Genesis15, 1-6; 21, 1-3    Look up at the sky and count the stars. Just so shall your descendants be.

Psalm, 105, the Lord remembers his covenant forever.

Hebrews 11, 8, 11-12, 17-19  By faith Abraham obeyed.

Luke 2, 22-40, Simeon & Anna meet Jesus

Thanks, Dearest Harper, for bringing along you grandmother Cathy.

Genesis obserevations :

What : the very first book of the bible beginning with Adam & Eve, the two creation myths, Cain & Abel, Noah and the flood, the Tower of Babylon, and then the big 3 patriarchs of the Jewish nation. They are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The book is a fun read. It is not history, but speculation and tribal myth.

Date: contemporary scholarship thinks that the work was composed either before or during the B.C., the all important Babylonian Captivity. Why? Give the Jewish people a sense of historical identity and tribal cohesion.

The "A" Team, complete with lights.

Today’s selection: all about Abraham, the first of the 3 Great Patriarchs. Abraham is crying and lamenting the fact that he has no children. Why? Sarah was childless and Abraham was 99 years old. A “we have a problem, Houston” situation. The Lord hears Abraham and uses a beautiful metaphor to show Abraham what is going to happen.

Because the editor of this reading has so taken the fun out of it, I want to read a bit more. Sit back and enjoy the story of how Abraham and Sarah had a baby. I'm including parts of three other chapters between chapters 15 and 21.

Ben, our Candle Lighter of The Week, in action.

David Vanderpool

This morning, the last of the year 2017, I have a New Years story for you. Actually, it comes from the front page of last Sunday’s Dallas Morning News. Mike Carrell saw it and gave me a heads up.

There is a guy named David Vanderpool. His dad was a surgeon and David attended St. Mark’s Boys’ School. When David was 15, he made a trip to Israel. In the town of Nazareth he happened to get into a conversation with another 15 year old, a girl from Nazareth and a Christian.

Cheryl reading The Blessing of the Candles.

At some point the girl asked David what he planned to do when he grew up. David had not thought a lot about it, but assumed he would become a doctor like his dad. David was impressed by the girl. She had taught herself English. He asked her what she would do.

“I will carry water and have babies,” she responded. There were no other options. David was stunned and embarrassed by his affluent and free life.

Even after the spectacular Christmas Eve (200 plus), Shonda, Ben, and David sing and play on.

So, David did go to college at TX Tech and became a surgeon, but the girl’s response stayed with him. He married Lauri and they had two sons and a daughter. During this time two things took place.

First, they made a number of medical relief trips to countries in Africa and South America where there were crises. Secondly, David and Laurie made a promise to themselves that when their last child, Jacklyn went off to college, they would move to a third world country in need.

So, all went well for some probably 15 years, until 2013. Jacklyn was going off to college. Decision time.

John & Alison bringing up the Offertory of Bread (baked by Alison) and Wine. What?? No wine, not even grape juice for everybody? Too cold, slippery, and dangerous to have Jan bring the communion cups. Thanks, Jan for staying home.

What did they do? Yep, they sold their house and all their belongs, including a $20,000 pet guitar, set up a foundation called LiveBeyond, and moved to Haiti. Haiti was chosen because they had already spent some time there after the 2010 earthquake. They had to go back.

In the four years since their move to Haiti, the couple have set up a 60 acre complex with a hospital and school. There was no clean water, no sewage process, no electricity in the village they chose because of its poverty, a town called Thomazeau.

The Great Father & Son Team, Cody & Ben.

A special joy came this year in the person of Jacklyn. She finished college at A&M and decided she wants to live and work with her parents.

How are you going to emulate the Vanderpools in your village and in your neighborhood this New Year of 2018?

Happy New Year.

Who wears these light up shoes? Hint: he's an altar server.

Read More Sunday Homily, December 31, 2017, Holy Family
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary December 31, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

May an abundance of gratitude burst forth in our minds and hearts as we remember all the blessings in our life.

May we slow our hurried pace these days so we can be aware of, and enjoy, what we can too easily take for granted.

May we always be open, willing and ready to share our blessings with others and never forget the God who loves us lavishly and unconditionally.

And may we remember that our thanksgiving is incomplete until we pay it forward by doing for others what they cannot do for themselves.

Amen.

From a prayer by Sr. Jean Amore CSJ, Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead, N.Y.

Patricia reading from Genesis.

Special Thanks to these special people:
- For the Readings: Patricia & Jackie
- For The Team: Leo
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: none today, too cold
- For the Pictures: Rick & Connie & Mike
- For the coffee and extras: Mike & Jackie
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ben & David & Shonda
- For all who helped with Communion
- Special thanks to All who helped with the marvelous Christmas Even celebration, including Claire, John & Alison & Sabrina, Barb Senter; Jackie; John & Mike; Georgie, Buddy, & Leo; Hue; and, of course, Shonda & Wendy, Ben & David
Jackie reading from Hebrews.

Birthdays: Meredith (last Tuesday), Connie Bresson (62, last Wednesday), Hugh Bivona, (Tuesday), Tom Fleming (59, Fridday

Anniversaries:

Carol & Richard, (42, Thursday),

Tom & Theresa Quinn, (50^th, last Saturday)

Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week.

Please Remember these special people

For John O'Donnell; For Carol's rcuperation; For Tom Good & his operation recuperation; For Dee and her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Cliff & Jean, plus Jean's brother Terry; For Rosemary's niece, Beth and her partner, Sarah with cancer; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn;    For Anthony & Sabrina; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Rose's daughter in law Jamie; For a young father of two & married, Paul Day, struggling with a heart condition;

Thanks, Ben, for being our Candle Lighter of The Week.

For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why;    For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; for Frank’s brother with advanced Parkinsons; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Happy Birthday, Connie, and thanks for being The Best.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's Annie & Kaitlen; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, their granddaughter, Mikayla;   plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

Happy 50th, Teresa and Tom.

Your Finances, December 31, 2017

Expenses: $765.00

Outreach: $350.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Thanks, Emma, for being The Best.

Have a Great Week, J.S.

(214-783-0443)

Thanks to you, also, Harper, for being The Best.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

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

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

Thanks, Leo, for being a Great Help on this cold and drizzlie day. We even got snow on the way home. Those light shoes? Guess.
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Uncategorized

Special Edition for Sunday, December 31, 2017, Holy Family
ByRosemary December 28, 2017

Special thanks, Hue and Ken, for the heads up on a mistake in the last edition of the blog.

The Correction: Mass this Sunday will be at 9:30, the usual Sunday schedule (not 4:00 P.M.)

Read More Special Edition for Sunday, December 31, 2017, Holy Family
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Reminder for Sunday, December 31, 2017, Holy Family
ByRosemary December 27, 2017

Hi, Emma, and Happy Christmas. You look gorgeous.

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

Time: 4:00; Celebrate with the Community & Stack

Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075

Note for bad weather Sundays: If you wonder if we will have our celebration, call me (214-783-0443) and I will record a message. I will also get a phone tree moving. Check the directory for phone numbers. If we know for sure the Saturday evening before, I can also post a blog.

Hi, Nora, I hear Santa is coming to visit you tonight and maybe even this evening.

Readings:

Genesis15, 1-6; 21, 1-3    Look up at the sky and count the stars. Just so shall your descendants be.

Psalm, 105, the Lord remembers his covenant forever.

Hebrews 11, 8, 11-12, 17-19  By faith Abraham obeyed.

Luke 2, 22-40, Simeon & Anna meet Jesus

Quiz: how many people are singing in the photo.

Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET: Friday, December 29, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in. Apologies for the mix up last Friday.

JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), January Lunch, TBA

Dickenson Trip: February 23- March 3

Those Bresson kids.

What is going on in Our Catholic World:

1 The cruelty of the tax plan, NationalCatholic Reporter, December 14, 666 words, Download THE CRUEL BUDGET 12-28-17-

2. Jesuit parishes as sanctuaries, National Catholic Reporter, December 21, 654 words, Download SJ PARISHES SANCTUARIES 12-28-17

3. How to reform the Vatican, National Catholic Reporter, December 21, 255 words, Download REFORMING VATICAN 12-28-31

I think I see some shepherds.

True?

The belief that there is only one truth, and that oneself is in possession of it, is the root of all evil in the world.

Max Born

Under that bush, could there be a Cathy?

See you Sunday, December 31, 2017

J.S., 214-783-0443

Sez Sam, "Where is that Santa character?"

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.

Sez Tori, "He's coming, Sam. You just watch."

"I've seen him," says Zoe

Read More Reminder for Sunday, December 31, 2017, Holy Family
Uncategorized

Homily for Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24,2017
ByRosemary December 26, 2017

The Living Nativity.

Readings:

Isaiah 9, 1-6,    The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown. (Wow! Beautiful)

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

Titus 2, 10-11,  The grace of God has appeared.

Luke 2, 1-14, The Nativity story. (Lovely)

What do we have here? A donkey, a giraffe, an Addie?

Isaiah observations:

This is Isaiah 1, a beautiful, hope filled piece.

Ever see a prettier Mary? Hi, CC.

The Daily Nativities bringing Peace, Joy, & Gratitude

I would like to talk a few minutes this evening about celebrating the Nativity. We do this once a year. I propose that we can celebrate the Nativity, not once a year, but everyday. The Nativity is an event that gives me peace and joy and a sense of gratitude. These nativities happen daily.

Hey, who let this character in? Got a gift for me Santa?

Two examples.

There is a little widow lady named Joyce who lives right across the street from Rosemary & me. She is on the southeast corner of Tulip Lane & Camellia. We are on the northeast corner.

Joyce is 89 years old and Aviana & I visit her every morning. In fact, we give her our newspaper after we have read it.

Has Santa run out of presents? No way!

A week ago Joyce walked over to The Tom Thumb on the corner of Preston & Royal, a ten minute walk from our corner. After buying bread and crossing over Preston at the light, Joyce was crossing Royal at Camellia. As she walks to the median, she steps into a pile of leaves thinking it was flat.

Nope, it was the curb and Joyce falls face down on the cement of the median. She gets right up and is bleeding all over herself from where her sunglasses had cut around her left eye. Not the eye itself, but her face.

Thanks, Emma, for doing your Candle Magic again.

At this point Joyce says all these people literally stopped their cars and ran to her. Some wanted to call an ambulance for her. Others offered to drive her home. “No,” she said, “I am okay and only live right there,” and she points to her house.

One guy, however, puts his arm around her waist and offers to walk her home. She accepts and gets home.

"All I want for Christmas? Yes," says Vivian, my front tooth." And Viki, her mom agrees

Want to know what really touched her? Yes, all the people who ran to help her, leaving their cars right there on extremely busy Royal Lane.

Those people were a Nativity event for Joyce. And guess what. She has great peace, joy, and gratitude.

The Team, Georgie & Buddy, Leo & Mike.

The second example of a nativity happened to me Thursday. I went to the main Dallas recycle dump on Harry Hines & Webb Chapel. I get on the ramp and start unloading empty paint cans, old phones, and stuff that had accumulated for a year or more.

Coming up and helping me was a tall, old black guy, probably older even than I am.   I’m thinking this guy should be retired and at home with his grandkids. I take the stuff out of the van, he takes it and puts it in the correct container. I am most touched.

And the Rest of The Team.

I wish him Happy Christmas and I start to get into the van. “He deserves a tip,” I think and look into my bill fold. 5 bucks, maybe. No luck. No fives, no tens even. Only a 20. “Rosemary is going to kill me,” So I walk over and shake his hand, the 20 in the shake.

He, of course, tells me how I do not need to do this a bunch of times. But finally he is all gratitude. I get into the van quickly so he won’t see my tears.

Jack & his sister Sophia, who dances, like to all the music their dad (Ben) is playing.

A daily nativity event. I gave him a 20. I took from him peace, joy, and gratitude.

Where is the Nativity Event in your life this season?

Merry Christmas, Carrie. Merry Christmas, Paul.

Read More Homily for Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24,2017
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary December 26, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

None today because a man in a red suit crashed the party.

John reading from The Great Prophet Isaiah.

Special Thanks to these special people:
- For the Readings: Claire, John, & Mary Jane
- For The Team: Buddy & Leo & Georgie
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan & Charlie
- For the Pictures: Rick & Connie & Beth
- For the coffee and extras: None today
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ben & David, Shonda & Wendy
- For all who helped with Communion
Mary Jane reading from Titus.

Birthdays: Meredith (Tuesday), Connie Bresson (62, Wednesday)

Anniversaries:

Tom & Theresa Quinn, (50^th, Saturday}

Claire reading Luke's Nativity narrative.

Please Remember these special people

For Myron's dear wife, Chris & the family;   For two moms who recently died, Connie’s mom and Marilyn’s mom;   For John O'Donnell; For Carol's rcuperation; For Tom Good & his operation recuperation; For Dee and her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Cliff & Jean, plus Jean's brother Terry; For Rosemary's niece, Beth and her partner, Sarah with cancer; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn;    For Anthony & Sabrina; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Rose's daughter in law Jamie; For a young father of two & married, Paul Day, struggling with a heart condition;

Here they are, Folks, the Ekes, Marlene & Zaile, Davis & Billy, Ashley & Cindy, and Jeremy. And there are more.

For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; for Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Remember when Sabrina was The Most Active Altar Helper? Here she is graduated from University and working. Plus, John & Alison.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's Annie & Kaitlen; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, their granddaughter, Mikayla;   plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

Rosemary (almost a doctor & always gifting us with her marvelous smile) and her mom, Linda.

Your Finances, December 24, 2017

Expenses: $2500.00

Outreach: $1015.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Hi, Tara & Dana & Dawson.

Have a Great Week, J.S.

(214-783-0443)

The Best Music, Wendy & Shonda, Ben & David.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

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

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

A beautiful way to spend a late Christmas morning: Meals on Wheels. Lots of cars weave through this maze, collecting meals. Lots of volunteers help guide the cars to their allotted parcels, and the volunteers are almost all Indian, old and young, men & women.
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Homilies

Sunday Homily, December 17, 2017, 3rd Advent B
ByRosemary December 17, 2017

Says Harper, "Welcome in, Everybody."

Readings:

Isaiah 61, 1-2, 10-11,   He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners. (Wow!)

Luke 1, My soul rejoices in my God (The Magnificat)

1 Thessalonians 5, 16-24, Rejoice always.

John, 1, 6-8, 19-28 A man named John was sent from God.

And Welcome in to you two, Joe & Brent.

Isaiah observations–

Who:   This is Isaiah 3. Isaiah 1 goes to Chap. 39, Isaiah 2 goes 40-55. From 40 on we have what is called the Book of Comfort. Our selection today is all about comfort. The writer is consoling the Hebrews after returning from Babylon to a destroyed Jerusalem around 555 before Christ.

The first marvelous couple of verses are repeated more or less in Isaiah 42, i.e., Isaiah 2. Also, Luke puts these words into Jesus mouth in chapter 4 of his gospel.

Tara, Welcome into the U.S from Iran and welcome to our Community.

Advent Wreaths: This little liturgical practice came to the Catholic liturgy, believe it or not, from the German Lutherans in the 1500's, the time of Martin Luther. It was more than just decoration. The circle symbolized eternity. The greens, Christian life in a dead time of the year. The candles represent each of the 4 weeks of Advent, each candle symbolizing the greater light brought by Christ. Their color purple symbolized penance and purification for the Coming. The Rose candle says, 'We are almost there!

Zoe, Our Candle Lighter of The Week, lighting all 4 candles for Advent.

Bring Glad Tidings to the Poor

In the spirit of Advent, which means in Latin bring to or come to (the Lord), I want to tell you two more stories of being touched by goodness and feeling the Lord’s presence.

I am a member of the Dallas North Rotary. I have been a member since ca.1990, when I was adjusting to life in Dallas after the years in East Africa. A guy invited me one time and I never stopped going. Mostly because I have some good friends there, not that I even eat lunch.

Vesting up with the help of Jackie & Georgie.

Last Tuesday we were having our usual lunch at a delightful little café called Greek Isles on the southwest corner of Preston & Royal. We were taking a few minutes to share brags or special news.

One guy named Jerry, who may have been a college professor and who may be older than I am, unlikely as that may seem. Jerry is telling how he went to the Chase Bank on the Northeast corner of Preston & Royal. He comes out and notices a low tire. He pulls a screw out of it, drives to the Exxon convenience store across the street, and discovers that the air pump is broken.

The Minor Elevation

So he leaves his car by the pump and walks over to attend the Rotary luncheon.   I don’t think Jerry has the skill or strength to put on his spare tire.

I confess that at this point I am thinking that I could run over and put his spare on with no problem. But I know I did not want to volunteer. I did not want to leave the people and I did not want to spend the time after the luncheon.

Guess what is coming!

Suddenly, before my conscience kicks in, a guy named Gus says he can do it right away. He gets up, leaves his lunch, and gets the keys from Jerry. Out of the room he goes. Gus just happens to be the gregarious, outgoing owner of the Greek Isles. I was touched at his gesture and embarrassed at mine.

For me, an Advent moment.

An amusing footnote. Gus is the owner of the café, but his son, Chris is the manager. Gus gave the keys to Chris and I suppose it was Chris who eventually put the spare on Jerry’s car.

Can it get better that this, mom & daughter, Beth & Emma.

The second Advent moment was Thursday night at the Meyerson, the whole event.   Rosemary & I have gone to this Christmas concert for 20 years and every year I am so moved. It was again this year a visual feast as well as an auditory feast. Moreover, I was there with over thirty of my best friends.

It could have been better only if Rosemary might have made it.   That she did stay home in bed to recuperate from her congestion was a blessing in itself.

Another Advent event.

Yours?

Kevin is home from college, Everybody, yeah, along with his mom & dad, Connie & John, and special friend, Sandra.

Read More Sunday Homily, December 17, 2017, 3rd Advent B
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary December 17, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:



God of every nation and people,

you have made known your light and love

since the beginning of creation,

and then to us through Jesus Christ.

This Advent, may we be open to receiving

your light and love in new ways

and to witnessing in our world the unity, inclusivity, mercy and justice

that Jesus so desires of us.

Amen.

Advent Prayer by S. Jean Amore, CSJ, VP for Mission and Academics, Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead, N.Y.

Beth reading from The Great Prophet Isaiah (no. 3)

Special Thanks to these special people:
- For the Readings: Beth & Rob
- For The Team: Buddy & Georgie
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan & Charlie
- For the Pictures: Rick & Mike & Connie & Beth
- For the coffee and extras: Mike & Judy
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ben & Shonda
- For all who helped with Communion
Rob reading from 1 Thessalonians.

Birthdays: Allen Strker & Ben Porter

Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week and also showing the community the gratitude card brought to us from the 60 men at Souls Harbor. We collected hoodies for the men. They all signed the card.

Please Remember these special people

For Myron's dear wife, Chris & the family;   For two moms who recently died, Connie’s mom and Marilyn’s mom;   For John O'Donnell; For Carol's rcuperation; For Tom Good & his operation recuperation; For Dee and her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Cliff & Jean, plus Jean's brother Terry; For Rosemary's niece, Beth and her partner, Sarah with cancer; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn;    For Anthony & Sabrina; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Rose's daughter in law Jamie; For a young father of two & married, Paul Day, struggling with a heart condition;

Thanks, Dearest Zoe, for being our Candle Lighter of The Week.

For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; for Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Happy Birthday, Allen.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's Annie & Kaitlen; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, their granddaughter, Mikayla;   plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

Happy Birthday to you, Ben, and thanks.

Your Finances, December 17, 2017

Expenses: $2160.00

Outreach: $ 666.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Welcome again into the U.S., Tara, and welcome to our Community. Tara and Dana Dinsmore are room mates at Arizona University.

Have a Great Week, J.S.

(214-783-0443)

The Communion Team.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

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

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

Thanks for coming, Dearest Tori, and see you next week, Christmas Eve, 4:00 P.M.
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