This weekend, was just Amazing ! The goodness this parish showed towards its neighbours (especially those in need) was wonderful. Parishioners of all ages working together on during the day on Saturday to take items from our parish centre to a storage facility and preparing our centre for construction which began this past week. At the same time another group of parishioners was busy wit a shed which was donated and built for the Carmelite Sisters. At the same time, we were able to provide a vanload of items to Michael House, and a truck load filled for the St. Vincent de Paul Store and household items for Bridges Shelter. Another group prepared a wonderful supper for the Out of the Cold Program serving and feeding about 70 people.
Then on Saturday evening ... a beautiful May Crowning Mass with the memorable presence of children in First Communion attire, bringing forth flowers to honour our Blessed Mother. On Sunday morning, couples celebrated their Anniversaries of Married Life with great tenderness.
A Parish Feast Day tells not only of the patron we celebrate, but of those who are celebrating. The Feast of the Visitation is about welcome, caring for our neighbour and nourishing Christ within. The Parish of Our Lady of the Visitation - all of you - definitely is about welcoming others (we do that every weekend); but last weekend, there was no doubt we demonstrated the care and love of neighbour. As a result of both, Christ’s presence was nourished (within us and in those we helped). It was what a Feast Day should be.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Amazing Weekend
This Weekend, was just Amazing ! The goodness this parish showed towards its neighbours (especially those in need) was wonderful. Parishioners of all ages working together on during the day on Saturday to take items from our parish centre to a storage facility and preparing our centre for construction which began this past week. At the same time another group of parishioners was busy wit a shed which was donated and built for the Carmelite Sisters. At the same time, we were able to provide a vanload of items to Michael House, and a truck load filled for the St. Vincent de Paul Store and household items for Bridges Shelter. Another group prepared a wonderful supper for the Out of the Cold Program serving and feeding about 70 people.
Then on Saturday evening ... a beautiful May Crowning Mass with the memorable presence of children in First Communion attire, bringing forth flowers to honour our Blessed Mother. On Sunday morning, couples celebrated their Anniversaries of Married Life with great tenderness.
A Parish Feast Day tells not only of the patron we celebrate, but of those who are celebrating. The Feast of the Visitation is about welcome, caring for our neighbour and nourishing Christ within. The Parish of Our Lady of the Visitation - all of you - definitely is about welcoming others (we do that every weekend); but last weekend, there was no doubt we demonstrated the care and love of neighbour. As a result of both, Christ’s presence was nourished (within us and in those we helped). It was what a Feast Day should be.
Then on Saturday evening ... a beautiful May Crowning Mass with the memorable presence of children in First Communion attire, bringing forth flowers to honour our Blessed Mother. On Sunday morning, couples celebrated their Anniversaries of Married Life with great tenderness.
A Parish Feast Day tells not only of the patron we celebrate, but of those who are celebrating. The Feast of the Visitation is about welcome, caring for our neighbour and nourishing Christ within. The Parish of Our Lady of the Visitation - all of you - definitely is about welcoming others (we do that every weekend); but last weekend, there was no doubt we demonstrated the care and love of neighbour. As a result of both, Christ’s presence was nourished (within us and in those we helped). It was what a Feast Day should be.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Service Saturday 2009
First, we are hosting our second annual parish-wide "Service Saturday" which will give us all the opportunity to reach out to the community by partnering with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Bridges Shelter, the Carmelite Sisters in St. Agatha, and Michael House for unwed mothers. Various opportunities to help include: Sorting clothes, painting, serving a meal to the homeless, and helping shut-ins. All hands are needed ... Come lend a hand, no matter how small!Second, we will be hosting a "Green Bag Saturday" from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in our Parish Centre. Bag all the clothes, shoes, hats, belts, household items, etc., that you no longer want and bring them to the Parish Centre. These will be sorted by parish volunteers and distributed to the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and Bridges Shelter. We will also accept items such as cleaning products, liquid laundry detergent, diapers (up to size 5), Little Swimmers diapers, baby clothing for 6 months or older, diaper bags, bottles and fitted crib sheets for Michael House.
Long Weekend : A Time to Really Rest
This weekend has traditionally for so many become the start of summer
- people consider a more leisurely pace
- some start their gardens
- others drive up to cottages or even open them for the first time
The routine becomes different and for many the desire for Rest become paramount.
But what really is Rest - what does it actually mean and what can we gain from really resting ! - because it is important to know the difference...so that we don’t bet all we have on a rest that really is not what it is about.....
Rest is the God-given capacity to have peace, even when the circumstance that would burden your heart is not resolved.
In the Letter of John (Our 2nd Reading this weekend at Mass) tells us - “Who ever does not know Love does not know God”
- God is the source - He is the source of Love, He is also the source of Rest
- to rest means to entrust our selves to the source - the source is God
The Actos of the Apostles (Our first reading) invites us to take in ...to take in what God has done for us, is doing for us,“The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are poured out...”
- when was the last occasion you took some time (in rest) to see where God‘s spirit has been at work in your life
- so often we become so busy in our lives - doing, achieving, accomplishing, fulfilling
- then a long weekend comes around and we say I will rest - and for us it means collapse
- we sleep it off, cool it off, ....which is fine and good
= but how about reflect it off
- ask - where was God in that doing, achieving, accomplishing, fulfilling
- if He wasn’t there - was it really necessary..would we do it again..would we sacrifice time with a growing child, a needy teenager, a cherished spouse, an aging parent to do it all again ?
Part of resting...true resting...is evaluating...with the source in mind !
Do you know that in Scripture near to every task that Jesus did, every action that God performed, every moment of the prophets or gesture of the saints....the follow up was always...REST
They achieved, accomplished, fulfilled - But then true REST - founded on trust, wait and reflecting in the Lord - followed up.
Rest is best understood as “peace without resolution,”
- its taking time - even if the answer does not come - to just reflect and evaluate how things are and if we are on the right track in my life.
- I don’t know if you can relate to this - but sometimes I get so busy in my resting.....that I actually fail to relax
- resting does not mean replacing
- replacing work at office with work at home
- replacing stress/conflict with the friends with stress/conflict with the family
- replacing activity with myself with activity with others
Rest means - seeking peace without resolution..peace in my heart without doing in my life ..and that comes if I know I am on the right track
- and here is the thing - it then develops into peace with family, friend and faith
I rest in the fact that if I take the time to ask Him - am I on the right track, are my priorities yours for me, are my goals what you want for me..I am willing to then bet all I have because..I not only know rest, but peace....I have asked Him......
- Ok - so here is what I want you to do - and this is demanding - this long weekend - GET SOME REST.... but real rest - get some peace without resolution, and it is a wonderful experience
Some Scripture to this about.......
Rest is the God-given capacity to have peace, even when the circumstance that would burden your heart is not resolved.
Psalm 37:3-7, “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness . . . Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him.”
Psalm 37 is the 8th-longest Psalm in Scripture. Unusually, for one of David’s psalms, it is directed not to God, but to His people. It follows no logical progression, as it was originally 44 verses—two for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In other words, it is an acrostic poem.
The theme is trusting God during a season of perceived injustice. Next to almost every verse you could write one of three words: trust, wait, or rest. Rest is best understood as “peace without resolution,” and I am not ashamed to admit I have experienced way too little of that in my life. For that reason I have been poring over Psalm 37, praying for understanding as to how that promised rest (Matthew 11:28-30) is experienced. My study and meditation on Psalm 37 has yielded this single insight which has been incredibly impacting for me.
Trust without Waiting = Striving. I have done too much of that. Proverbs 20:3, “It is good that a man should stop striving.”
Waiting without Trusting = Worrying. I have done too much of that. Matthew 6:25“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life.”
Trusting + Waiting = Rest. I trust that God will work for my good. I have done what I know to do, and now I must wait for Him. I am at rest! I have peace without resolution, and it is a wonderful experience for which I thank the Lord.
Are you Resting Yet ?
- people consider a more leisurely pace
- some start their gardens
- others drive up to cottages or even open them for the first time
The routine becomes different and for many the desire for Rest become paramount.
But what really is Rest - what does it actually mean and what can we gain from really resting ! - because it is important to know the difference...so that we don’t bet all we have on a rest that really is not what it is about.....
Rest is the God-given capacity to have peace, even when the circumstance that would burden your heart is not resolved.
In the Letter of John (Our 2nd Reading this weekend at Mass) tells us - “Who ever does not know Love does not know God”
- God is the source - He is the source of Love, He is also the source of Rest
- to rest means to entrust our selves to the source - the source is God
The Actos of the Apostles (Our first reading) invites us to take in ...to take in what God has done for us, is doing for us,“The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are poured out...”
- when was the last occasion you took some time (in rest) to see where God‘s spirit has been at work in your life
- so often we become so busy in our lives - doing, achieving, accomplishing, fulfilling
- then a long weekend comes around and we say I will rest - and for us it means collapse
- we sleep it off, cool it off, ....which is fine and good
= but how about reflect it off
- ask - where was God in that doing, achieving, accomplishing, fulfilling
- if He wasn’t there - was it really necessary..would we do it again..would we sacrifice time with a growing child, a needy teenager, a cherished spouse, an aging parent to do it all again ?
Part of resting...true resting...is evaluating...with the source in mind !
Do you know that in Scripture near to every task that Jesus did, every action that God performed, every moment of the prophets or gesture of the saints....the follow up was always...REST
They achieved, accomplished, fulfilled - But then true REST - founded on trust, wait and reflecting in the Lord - followed up.
Rest is best understood as “peace without resolution,”
- its taking time - even if the answer does not come - to just reflect and evaluate how things are and if we are on the right track in my life.
- I don’t know if you can relate to this - but sometimes I get so busy in my resting.....that I actually fail to relax
- resting does not mean replacing
- replacing work at office with work at home
- replacing stress/conflict with the friends with stress/conflict with the family
- replacing activity with myself with activity with others
Rest means - seeking peace without resolution..peace in my heart without doing in my life ..and that comes if I know I am on the right track
- and here is the thing - it then develops into peace with family, friend and faith
I rest in the fact that if I take the time to ask Him - am I on the right track, are my priorities yours for me, are my goals what you want for me..I am willing to then bet all I have because..I not only know rest, but peace....I have asked Him......
- Ok - so here is what I want you to do - and this is demanding - this long weekend - GET SOME REST.... but real rest - get some peace without resolution, and it is a wonderful experience
Some Scripture to this about.......
Rest is the God-given capacity to have peace, even when the circumstance that would burden your heart is not resolved.
Psalm 37:3-7, “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness . . . Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him.”
Psalm 37 is the 8th-longest Psalm in Scripture. Unusually, for one of David’s psalms, it is directed not to God, but to His people. It follows no logical progression, as it was originally 44 verses—two for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In other words, it is an acrostic poem.
The theme is trusting God during a season of perceived injustice. Next to almost every verse you could write one of three words: trust, wait, or rest. Rest is best understood as “peace without resolution,” and I am not ashamed to admit I have experienced way too little of that in my life. For that reason I have been poring over Psalm 37, praying for understanding as to how that promised rest (Matthew 11:28-30) is experienced. My study and meditation on Psalm 37 has yielded this single insight which has been incredibly impacting for me.
Trust without Waiting = Striving. I have done too much of that. Proverbs 20:3, “It is good that a man should stop striving.”
Waiting without Trusting = Worrying. I have done too much of that. Matthew 6:25“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life.”
Trusting + Waiting = Rest. I trust that God will work for my good. I have done what I know to do, and now I must wait for Him. I am at rest! I have peace without resolution, and it is a wonderful experience for which I thank the Lord.
Are you Resting Yet ?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
A PRAYER FOR ALL MOTHER'SLoving God, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children, so you watch over your Church. Bless these women, that they may be strengthened as Christian mothers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Mothers have a memory bank filled with special moments of loving hugs and lullabies, bumps and bruises made “all better” with a kiss, heart-to-heart talks and rules of the house, or perhaps a favorite meal or recipe that becomes a house specialty.
Mothers are unique; no one is more connected at birth or holds such a special place in our hearts. By design, mothers know how to bless others. They seek to give out more love than they take in. They work long hours at home with no pay, and many then go work their other job. Her touch can cool a fevered brow. Her words calm an upset child, inspire another and put “the fear of God” in those who need it. Mothers are the unspoken center of the universe for many a home . . . they are one-of-a-kind.
Real mothers “live to give” first giving life, then giving continually to children and family, seeking the best for her family. This weekend we will celebrate Mother’s Day and honor one of God’s greatest creations. But every day should be a day of respect, honor and reward for mothers. Sometimes reward is found in the smallest kind word or acknowledgement of one of her “duties” most of us take for granted.
Thank God for every mother who puts time, effort and love into her children. It is a challenge these days with the current moral climate, the financial challenges many face and the spiritual battles with an adversary who is out to “steal, kill, and destroy” families. But in every generation, God is with us, and no one is up to the challenge more than a mother who puts her trust in God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)