Craft Fair Thank You

Thank you so much to all who patronized, donated to, supported, worked at, baked for, organized, and sold crafts at our first craft fair in many years. It as a wonderful success!!! The funds raised support our youth programs, charitable outreach, and the work we do in the name of Jesus.

Thank you to the Rotterdam Senior Citizens Center for allowing use of their facility. Thank you to Stephanie & Bob; Gayle, John, and Becky; Larry & Donna; Liz; Carol and Eileen; Renee, Adam, and Victoria; Claudia & Ed; Kelly; Derek; Pearl; and everyone for your work and donations. Our vendors were a special blessing:

Donna Christianson — Pampered Chef, Cindy Friedman from PartyLite, Jim Billa — Floral Designs, Dian Babin — Cruisin Creations, Sandra Nguyen — Chunkey Funk, Christine Urschell — Mary Kay, Lawrence Demarco — Cecilia Bella, Erin Zoellner — Bath Fitter, Amanda Allen of Veritas Vegan Organics, and Talin Rutan — Unikue Costume Jewelry

Reflection for the Solemnity of the Christian Family

Christian Family - Follow Me

Family
the center of love

And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.

As a young man of 12 (prior to the acknowledged age of maturity for a Jewish young man – the age of 13), Jesus was already maturely aware that He had been sent to carry out His Father’s will, to be close to His Father in heaven in all that He was to say and do. Of course Mary and Joseph did not fully understand that. They would have expected Jesus to still be immature in the knowledge of God.

Jesus clearly points out that He had to be about His Father’s work regardless of whether the world or His human parents saw Him as mature or immature. He shows us that the perceptions of the world do not matter as long as we stay focused on our true work.

How hard it is for us to stay true to God’s work among the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Children’s lives are fully programmed. Youth are busy with studies, sports, extracurricular activities and homework of course. Many parent’s work lives seem never ending now that we are connected 24/7 will smartphones. Retirement doesn’t mean sitting in a rocking chair anymore.

Staying true to God, to our faith in Christ, to the work the Holy Spirit calls us to do, requires an environment that places being in the Father’s presence as the greatest good. All the education, money, talent, and activities in the world are worth nothing if we loose our souls – our relationship to God and our heavenly family – in the process.

The environment that is our support, that shows us the way to eternal success, and that keeps us true and present to God is family –the Christian family. Family that believes in love, which is truly connected to the truth of love, will place God first and foremost in its life. That family will pray together, will worship together, will live in faithfulness to each other, will support and prepare each other for a life that is forever.

What a worthless gift we leave if we only provide for the near term. God’s family – provides forever.

Jesus sat in His Father’s presence in the temple, feeling at home, breathing the air of His own proper place. As families in Christ – centers of love – let us follow Jesus. Let us be present to God, breathe His life as our greatest goal, our desired good, and as our gift of love to each other – parents, children, and grandchildren.

Bible Study for the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
  • 10/6 – Revelation 11:19-12:1 – Blessed Virgin, you did not love your own life, but gave me an example of sacrifice for love of my Lord and God. Through your intercession help me to remain faithful in the face of evil and temptation.
  • 10/7 – 2 Samuel 6:2 – Blessed Virgin, like David you rose and carried the Lord to me by your yes to God. Through your intercession help me say yes to all God asks.
  • 10/8 – Luke 1:39 – Blessed Virgin, through your example and intercession help me to rise up and go to my brothers and sisters in haste; to give of myself as you did.
  • 10/9 – 2 Samuel 6:9 – Blessed Virgin, like David you were astonished when the Lord came to you. Help me, through your intercession, to remain in awe of God’s favor to me, to be humble in His presence.
  • 10/10 – Luke 1:43 – Blessed Virgin, your cousin Elizabeth recognized that you bore the Lord to her. Help me, through your intercession, to bear the your Son to all I meet.
  • 10/11 – 2 Samuel 6:11 – Blessed Virgin, you bore the new covenant, the Ark of the Covenant. Through your intercession, help me to recognize that all salvation is found in your Son, Jesus Christ, the New Covenant.
  • 10/12 – Luke 1:56 – Blessed Virgin, you are my example of faithfulness. Through your intercession, help me to be faithful in all times and places.

Pray the week: Lord Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, grant me the grace to carry You into the world revealing Your love.

Reflection for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

God's-Promise-thumb

Lord, increase my…
faith, soften my heart!

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Francis began his life as a confirmed sinner. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant who owned farmland around Assisi. Francis wanted for nothing and was spoiled. He indulged in fine food, wine, and women, and left school at the age of 14. By this time, he was well known as a wild teenager who partied and broke the city curfew. He was also known for his charm with women and for being a great dresser.

Francis did learn the skills of archery, wrestling and horsemanship. While expected to follow his father into the family textile business, he dreamed of other pursuits. Instead of planning a future as a merchant, he daydreamed of being a knight; and if Francis had any ambition, it was to be a war hero like the knights he admired. In 1202, war broke out between Assisi and Perugia, and Francis eagerly took his place with the cavalry.

People aren’t very good at softening their hearts. We are, unfortunately, pretty good at hardening them. Think of someone who holds a grudge, hasn’t spoken with a family member in years, or has closed their heart to the needs of others. We don’t often see them have a change of heart, a softening, unless someone intervenes…

Francis and the men of Assisi came under heavy attack by superior forces and ran. Many were killed. Most of the surviving Assisi troops were put to death. Dressed like an aristocrat and worthy of a decent ransom, Francis was captured. Francis spent nearly a year in a miserable prison cell waiting for his father to ransom him. It was there that he first heard God’s call…

The One who can soften our hearts, who intervenes, is Jesus. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus calls us to listen, to repent, and to soften our hearts – to have deeper faith. Like Francis, we have to listen for God’s call. We have to accept Him in faith and allow Him to soften our hearts and build our faith. Today’s psalm speaks of the life Francis went on to live once his heart was softened:

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him. Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds…

The Holy Spirit worked to plant the seed of faith in Francis. We all have that seed of faith in us, the whole world does, but like Francis we have to open our ears to God’s call. We have to let Him soften our hearts, build our faith, so that like Francis we can serve Him in joy.

October 2013 Newsletter

Family, family, family – it is all about family, plus craft fairs, coffee hours, our School of Christian Living, welcoming the newly baptized, and those who have joined us at the table of the Lord — that and more all in our new newsletter. Check it out, stay informed and see our action packed schedule. You may view and download a copy right here — October 2013 Newsletter.

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