Liturgy of the Houurs

I began praying the LOTH during Lent and found it very helpful in my spiritual growth, gaining insights that had evaded me previously.

This morning, the Terce hour was especially rewarding to me because of Psalm 70 (71) in which I prayed  (vs 8), my mouth shall be filled with your praise, shall sing  your glory every day, (vs 9) Do not cast me aside in my old age; as my strength fails, do not forsake me, (and then, vs. 17) God, you have taught me from my youth;  to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds. (vs 18) now that I am old and gray, do not forsake me, God, that I might proclaim your might to all generations yet to come, your power and justice, God, to the highest heaven, (vs 23) My lips will shout for joy as I sing your praise; my soul, too, which you have redeemed. (vs 24) Yes, my tongue shall recount your justice day by day. For those who sought my ruin have been shamed and disgraced. (this is in reference to my situation here.)

God's Mercy is unfathomable and endures forever

Is My Face Red!!

I'll be the laughing stock of Blogtown!  my blogger friend alerted me to the fact that the blog 'Eye of the Tiber' is satire, where I read the article on Biden's 'change of heart'. I'm crestfallen because I so very much wanted it to be true

Mea Culpa

Breaking News on Biden

I can only hope this is true. I came across this news on http://www.eyeofthetiber.com/.

From the article "Washington, DC––Vice President Joe Biden announced today that he was stepping down as Vice President just hours after an altercation on the phone between Biden and President Obama regarding the sanctity of life"

The article goes on to say (I paraphrase) After the Inauguration Mass of Pope Francis, Biden was visiting with the Pope and was heard to say "what have I done......what have I done" the U.S. press secretary Jay Carney told the press  “He [Biden] called President Obama and informed him that he could no longer stand by as millions of babies were aborted. He also said that he had confessed his sins and now looked to remain in good standings with the Church and the good Lord. He also urged President Obama to make peace with God.” 

The full details have been slow to come out, Washington insiders said that after a heated debate, Biden told the President he was stepping down 'effective immediately' to live a life of prayer and meditation.

Read the entire report HERE 

Pope Francis: On the Laity

I ran across this piece, by a journalist on OSV Daily Take blog: 

As an example of Pope Francis’ succinct, forceful style, consider his words -  in a 2011 interview. –my translation - In answer to a question about "the laity" he said:

"There are laypeople who seriously live out their faith. They believe Jesus is alive and they hope in the Resurrection, but in the meantime they don't just scratch their bellies, as the Chileans say, but they work hoping for the coming of the Lord and preparing the way. But [in other cases] there's a problem: I've said it before, and that's the temptation of clericalization. We priests tend to clericalize laypeople. We don't realize we're doing it, but it's as if we contaminate laypeople with what we are. And some lay people – not all, but many – beg us on their knees to be clericalized by us, because it's easier to be an altar boy than the protagonist of lay vocation. We mustn't fall into that trap; it's a sinful complicity. We shouldn't clericalize, and we shouldn't ask to be clericalized. The layperson is a layperson and should live like a layperson, with the strength that comes from baptism, which enables him to be the yeast of the love of God in society, creating and sowing hope, not from a pulpit but from his or her daily life. And carrying their daily Cross, as we all do, but the Cross of a layperson, not a priest. The Cross of a priest you should leave the priest to carry: God gave him a big enough shoulder for that."

The Franciscan papacy is barely begun, but already a new style is evident. This is a very exciting time to be a Catholic.

from OSVDailyTake.com

Austen Ivereigh, who is blogging for us from Rome on the papal transition, is a British Catholic journalist, commentator and director of Catholic Voices (www.catholicvoices.org.uk).

Every Parish I've belonged to has fallen in that trap. Your thoughts? 

The Pope is Catholic!

I simply must pass this on: Rush Limbaugh's take on Pope Francis. http://snipurl.com/26mcmtx.

H/T to Esther at Catholic Mom in Hawaii. It's a must-read: Rush defending the Catholic stance.

Blessing

Found on Facebook - on Anxiety

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz. 

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!  

Our Lady of Lourdes

Stained Glass window by
Stained Glass, Inc
www.StainedGlassInc.com”. 

February 11, marks the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858 to Marie Bernade Soubirous.  She showed herself to the 14 year old called Bernadette in a grotto on the bank of the Gave river near Lourdes, France. The Virgin appeared a number of times to this poor, holy little girl, and bade her to make the Sign of the Cross piously and pray the Rosary with her. The third time Mary appeared, she asked her to come to the Grotto daily for 2 weeks. The Virgin eventually announced her name to Bernadette. 
"I am the Immaculate Conception".

The report of cures taking place at the grotto spread quickly, and the more it spread, the more people visited the hallowed place. 

Since then, Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and many cures and conversions have taken place. The message of Lourdes is a call to personal conversion, prayer and charity.  How very well this message resonates as we move into the Lenten season. 

God is Love

Review:

The past year, Clinton and I have seen many movies on Saturday nights EWTN Cinema feature. We've learned more about Karol Wojtyla prior to becoming Pope John Paul II through the many movies of his life. We've viewed several different movies about him over the course of a year, beginning when he was a young student at the Jagiellonian University.  These movies reveal the upheavals in Poland over the years, as well as the life of Karol Wojtyla, covering the Nazi occupation in 1939 when they treated the Polish citizens with extreme brutality.

Warsaw ghettos

In 1942, discerning his call to the Priesthood, Wojtyla began courses in the clandestine seminary of Krakow, run by the Archbishop Sapieha, during the terrors of the Nazis. It was a dangerous and courageous thing to do. He was ordained to the Priesthood by Archbishop Sapieha in November 1946. In 1947, Soviet forces captured Warsaw. All German forces were driven from Poland. It then became a Communist People's Republic.

During this time of fear and bloodshed, Wojtyla served as Vicar of various parishes in Krakow, as well as chaplain to University students. Much of these horrors were depicted in the Movie. More prominent was the character of Wojtyla's gentle spirit - tough as nails, which gifted him with the ability to teach the citizens and the students to stand fast in the Faith, encouraging them to face life bravely and to act only in Love.

Later, he became a professor of moral theology and social ethics in the major seminary of Krakow. During this time, he was elevated to Bishop of Krakow. The movie depicted his teaching as a professor, which allowed us to get a peek of his brilliant mind and his influence over the students, preaching and forming 

them in courage and love.

During this film we saw the portrayal of Wojtyla in his rise from Priest to Pope.  

He lived his message of love"Be not afraid" he taught: " "Do not be discouraged". In keeping with today's reading I Cor 13: 4-13. His constant theme was Love. I sat there realizing that I was being formed by the depiction of this Saintly man's manifestation of love in action.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It is not jealous, it is not pompous,

It is not inflated, it is not rude,

it does not seek its own interests,

it is not quick-tempered,

it does not brood over injury,

it does not rejoice over wrongdoing

but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Missed Opportunity

We had a tornado watch last night. The night staff woke us at 3:09 a.m. We proceeded to the long hallway where chairs were lined up against the wall, which is the safest place in the building as you can see: no windows.

We were half asleep of course, but as we sat and waited, I thought to myself: this is a perfect time to pray, not only for our safety, but for the folks where severe damage was being done. There were winds up to 107 mph just North of us. We could hear the wind howling and pelting the rain against the door in the front of the building.  
I began to seize the opportunity to  perform a spiritual work of Mercy through prayer. I began "Our Father who art in heaven.. . ." but I couldn't get any further, so I tried "Hail Mary, full of . . ." my brain froze again, and again.

Every effort at every prayer was bungled. Roused from sleep in the middle of the night, my brain refused to cooperate. I was stunned to think I couldn't finish prayers I was sure resided in my DNA. So much for holiness.

It was a noble thought to pray for those in the path of the storm, but alas, the spirit was willing but the flesh was half asleep. (the storm passed over us and into the next County) Thanks be to God.

A little Humor overheard on Twitter

from Patrick Madrid on Facebook

"I opened the fridge and saw a cake with a note that said, 'Don't eat me.' Now, there's an empty plate and a note that says, 'Sorry. I don't take orders from cake.'" (overheard on Twitter)

The Golden Arrow

The church has dedicated the month of January to the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

The Golden Arrow

This prayer was revealed by Jesus Himself to a Carmelite Nun of Tours in 1843 as a reparation for blasphemy. "This Golden Arrow will wound My Heart delightfully," He said, "and heal the wounds inflicted by blasphemy."

May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most mysterious and  unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified

in heaven on earth and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament of the altar.

Richard Rolle, a Holy hermit and mystic of the fourteenth century, taught about the name of Jesus: "If you will be well with God, and have grace to rule your life, and come to the joy of love: this name Jesus, fasten it so fast in your heart that it come never out of your thought. And when you speak to him, and through custom say, "Jesus", it may be in your ear, joy;

in your mouth, honey; and in your heart, melody: for men shall think joy to hear that name be named, sweetness to speak it, mirth and song to think it. If you think the name "Jesus" continually, and hold it firmly, it purges your sin, and kindles your heart; it clarifies your soul, it removes anger, and does away slowness. It wounds in love, and fulfills charity. It chases the devil and puts out dread. It opens heaven and makes a contemplative man. Have Jesus in mind, for that puts all vices and phantoms out of the lover."

O, Jesus be to me a help and protector so that your Name may be blessed for all times.

Thomas K. Kempis

In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted. Pope John Paul II reinstituted the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus to be celebrated on Jan. 3. Moreover, the reverential invocation of the Holy Name of Jesus as part of prayer or work, and the recitation of the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, still convey a partial indulgence for the reparation of the sins of profanity and blasphemy against the Holy Name. The entire month of January is devoted to the worship of the Holy Name and to Christ's Divine Childhood. 

                                               

St. John Capistran

St. Bernardine

The greatest promoters of the monogram were St. Bernardine of Siena and St. John Capistran. They carried with them on their missions in the turbulent cities of Italy a copy of the monogram of the Holy Name, surrounded by rays, painted on a wooden tablet, wherewith they blessed the sick and wrought great miracles. At the close of their sermons they exhibited this emblem to the faithful and asked them to prostrate themselves, to adore the Redeemer of mankind. They recommended their hearers to have the monogram of Jesus placed over the gates of their cities and above the doors of their dwelling. It became even more popularized after St. Bernardine encouraged a playing card maker in Bologna -- a man whose business had been ruined because of the Saint's preaching against gambling -- to make holy cards depicting it instead of making his usual fare. Because the manner in which St. Bernardine preached this devotion was new, he was accused by his enemies, and brought before the tribunal of Pope Martin V. But St. John Capistran defended his master so successfully that the pope not only permitted the worship of the Holy Name, but also assisted at a procession in which the holy monogram was carried. The tablet used by St. Bernardine is venerated at Santa Maria in Ara Coeli at Rome.                          

The Monogram

Blessed Henry Suso

Faith in Jesus and in the power of His Holy Name is the greatest spiritual force in the world today. It is a source of joy and inspiration in our youth; of strength in our manhood, when only His Holy Name and His grace can enable us to overcome temptation; of hope, consolation, and confidence at the hour of our death, when more than ever before, we realize that the meaning of Jesus is "Lord, the Savior." We should bow in reverence to His Name and submission to His Holy Will. --

Blessed Henry Suso

"And you shall call His name Jesus, because in His Name we adore the entire majesty of the Godhead.  All who dwell in the heavens, those who abide upon the earth, and every one of those who are held in the depths of hell, bow down prostate to this Name.  This is the Name which gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, agility to the lame, speech to the mute, and life to the dead; the power of this Name forced the mastery of the devil entirely from the bodies of the possessed." –St. Peter Chrysologus 

"The incessant invocation of God's name," is a medicine which mortifies not just the passions, but even their influence. Just as the physician puts medications or dressings on a wound that it might be healed, without the patient even knowing the manner of their operation, so also the name of God, when we invoke it, mortifies all passions, though we do not know how that happens"

Barsanuphius the Great

St. Peter, the first dominican Martyr (d. 1252); John of Vercelli, a contemporary of St. Dominic; Blessed Ambrose of Siena (d. 1286) are said to have been great propagators of the devotion. In the fourteenth century Blessed Henry Suso (d. 1365) is the most notable apostle of devotion to the Holy Name.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

“Nothing so curbs the onset of anger, so allays the upsurge of pride. It cures the wound of envy, controls unbridled extravagance, and quenches the flame of lust; it cools the thirst of covetousness and banishes the itch of unclean desire… For when I name Jesus, I set before me a man who is meek and humble of heart, kind, prudent, chaste, merciful, flawlessly upright and holy in the eyes of all; and this same man is the all-powerful God whose way of life heals me, whose support is my strength.” (Sermon 15 On the Song of Songs).   St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Name above all names

Holy Mother church has dedicated January to the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

January is the month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Isn't Jesus the sweetest Name we know? When I was young, we sang of Him with this precious old hymn. Here are just two verses:

Jesus, the very thought of thee, with sweetness fills my breast. But sweeter far, thy face to see and in thy presence rest

Nor voice can sing nor heart can frame nor can the memory find a sweeter sound than thy blest Name, O Savior of mankind

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Benedict Bauer O.S.B. had this to say about the wonderful Name of Jesus:

Jesus  is our all. In His name we may pray to the Father with the assurance of being heard. In His name the Church administers all her sacraments. In His name the Church offers all her prayers, and blesses homes, the fields, and the sick. In His name she casts out evil spirits, and at the hour of our death she bids us "Go forth Christian soul". She assures us that whoever shall call upon this name will be saved. When our soul has departed from this life to seek its eternal home, the Church asks in the name of Jesus "Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord".

According to the ancient mind, a person's name was the expression of his nature, work or mission. Early Christians, accordingly, used our Savior's Name to bring to mind His adorable Person; and in their art, they gave it the following shortened or symbolic forms: The Chi-Rho symbol dates back to the third century

Phil 3:10-11 "At the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow..........every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord"

Solemnity of the Holy Mother of God

Oh God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary, bestowed on the human race the grace of eternal salvation, grant, we pray, that we may experience the intercession of her, through whom we were found worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

A plenary indulgence may be gained on the first day of the year by reciting or singing the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus.

This hymn is traditionally sung for beginnings of things, calling on the Holy Spirit before endeavoring something new. 
(This video loads slowly at the beginning, but then the gregorian version begins along with text in Latin and English.)                                   
                                                     

Come Holy Ghost, Creator blest (the prayer for recitation)

Come Holy Ghost, Creator blest

and in my soul take up thy rest

Come with thy grace and heavn'ly aid

to fill our hearts which thou hast made

Oh Comforter, to you we cry,

O heavn'ly gift of God most high,

O fount of lie and fire of love,

and sweet anointing from above

You in your sevenfold gifts are known,

You, finger of God's hand we own

You, promise of the Father You

who do the tongue with power embue

Kindle our senses from above, 

and make our hearts overflow with love;

with patience firm and virtue high

the weakness of our flesh supply,

Far from us drive the foe we dread,

and grant your peace instead

So shall we not, with you for guide,

turn from the of path of live aside

O may your grace on us bestow

the Father and the Son to know;

and you, through endless times confessed,

of both the eternal Spirit blest,

Now to the Father and to the Son,

who rose from death, be glory given

with you, O holy Comforter,

henceforth by all in earth and heaven

Amen

FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS

I posted this video last year. It's a beautiful song: "The prayer of the children, presented by the King Singers.

I dedicate it to all the children who have died by violence, especially those who were murdered in the womb. May we never forget them in our prayers, as we continue to pray for an end to abortion.



The Feast of the Holy Innocents, also called "Childermas Day, is celebrated on December 28th. Scripture tells the story: "Herod sent and slew all the boys in Bethlehem who were two years old or under". He had intended to include the Son of God among the murdered babies.

From this feast day, a custom has arisen wherein parents  bless their children. All that is needed is for the parent to make the sign of the cross on the child's forehead with the right thumb dipped in holy water, and pray:

May God bless you and may He be the guardian of your heart and mind. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

St. Ambrose said: "You may not be rich; you may not be able to bequeath great possessions to your children; but one thing you can give them - the heritage of your blessing. And it is better to be blessed than to be rich."

STILLE NACHT

St. Thomas Boys Choir singing Silent Night in the original German language.

Lo How a Rose; The Rose

Enjoy this video

This is a very unusual rendition                             

Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!

Of Jesse's lineage coming as men of old have sung

It came, a flow'ret bright, amid the cold of winter

when half spent was the night.

Isaiah 'twas foretold it, the rose I have in mind,

with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.

To show God's love aright, she bore to men a Saviour,

when half spent was the night.

O flow'r, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,

dispel in glorious spendour the darkness ev're where.

True man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us,

and share our every load.

performed by the University of Utah singers

CONTEMPLATE THE INCARNATION

…….”and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”.  What a mystery that is to us: who can fathom it? As we contemplate this marvelous event, may we be open to the movements of the Holy Spirit within us as we focus once again on this beautiful mystery of our Faith.

In the fullness of time, clothed in flesh, Jesus came to us as a little babe, helpless in his humanity.  We await with joy God’s gift to a weary world: His only begotten son, our Lord Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth.  The one who came to do God's will: The one who came to save us: The one who brings us eternal life through the sacrifice of his life, death and resurrection. 

Lord, you bring hope. You bring Joy. You bring healing.  Grant that my life will be a resounding yes like your mother, Mary. Grant me courage and strength like hers.

As we come to the close of this season of Advent, thank you for the grace to desire to draw closer to you. The anticipation of your coming has inspired me to look more earnestly at my life and realize just how much more open I could be to your invitation to grow in intimacy with you: to trust and obey.

Drive out the darkness of my mind, kindle in my heart the fire of your love, and fill me with the light of your Spirit. Grant me the grace of being ready for your coming.

O Come, O come Emmanuel

THE BRONZE THRONE OF ST. PETER

The other day I was perusing a publication by the National Geographic: “Inside the Vatican”: commentaries by Bart McDowell. Beautiful photos by James L. Stanfield.

On page 181, I came across an image that I have seen often on Catholic websites, but didn't know it's origin. All I knew was that the image represented the Holy Spirit.

The context of the image is described in a commentary: McDowell writes that the 17^th century artist, Gian Lorenxo Bernini epitomizes the splendor of the Baroque style.  His famous bronze “Throne of St. Peter” in the apse of the St. Peter’s Basilica, encloses a medieval wooden chair.

Capping this huge Masterpiece is the sunburst around a dove which represents the Holy Spirit

THE LORD IS NEAR

A Meditation from Creighton University online ministries

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. 

In all circumstances give thanks.

Philippians 4

We begin this third week of Advent asking to feel the joy 

that comes from knowing our Lord's coming to us is near.

in these precious days ahead, we are praying, longing, hoping

in the background of our lives 

His mission is for each of us who ask, “What must we do?” 

He tells us to give away our coats, our security.

He asks that we not bully people but be content with our lives.

We can smile today as we imagine the freedom he has won for us 

and how liberating it will be to live it, with him, for others. 

It is right to give our God thanks and praise.

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, 

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, 

make your requests known to God.

Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding 

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4: 6-7

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!

Sing joyfully, O Israel!

Be glad and exult with all your heart. 

Zephaniah 3: 14

MARY THE IMMACULATE

Looking for information regarding the Feast of the Immaculate conception of Mary,  I happened upon a quotation by Martin Luther, where he wrote:

"It is a sweet and pious belief that the infusion of Mary's soul was effected without original sin; so that in the very infusion of her soul she was also purified from original sin and adorned with God's gifts, receiving a pure soul infused by God; thus from the first moment she began to live she was free from all sin."

“On the Day of the Conception of the Mother of God,” – Sermon by Martin Luther 1527, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

I love Holy Mother Mary for so very many reasons, and she’s been on my mind a lot lately. We celebrate her this month for the Immaculate Conception, which is such a magnificent event. Just imagine it. God, in His infinite wisdom, prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy Mother of His Son. He kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception.

The Gospel is from Luke on this Feast Day, re-telling how the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and greeted her “Hail, full of Grace”. She was so astonished at the news that she would bear a son, to be named Jesus.  It was hard for this young virgin to hear this news, yet because she had lived her entire life in obedience, wanting always to be in God’s will, she accepted the message and responded with humility saying “May it be done unto me according to your word”.

Help me, Lord, through her intercession, to free me from the snares of sin, and grant me the graces to live my life in obedience to your holy will. 

JOYFULLY WAITING

Advent points our hearts to the Nativity—through living the liturgy, the Eucharist, and the sacramental life of the Church. It is a wake-up call, perhaps even an alarm warning us to examine our lives: as we were warned in the Gospel of Luke, on the first Sunday of Advent,  to “beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life.”  Surely, that would apply to all the distractions there are with the Secular activities of the season: the Christmas parties, the Christmas caroling, the signing and sending of Christmas cards (that was the real biggy for me) the office party, and the endless shopping list.

The birth of Christ caught many by surprise in that day. In this day and age, likewise, we can find ourselves trapped in the darkness and busyness of our lives, thus missing the experience of prayerfully and joyfully waiting. It’s the anticipation of an event that causes us to be eager for its arrival.  We are the people who walk in darkness, longing to  see the Great Light.

I pray that His coming will find me rejoicing in His arrival, and welcoming the light of his truth. I pray that nothing will hinder me from receiving Him with joy. Lord open my heart to welcome him. Help me to ‘prepare the way of the Lord’ that he may find a straight path into my heart where He will teach me the ways of Love.

WAITING

The First Sunday of Advent

The Scriptures remind us to stay awake for we know not when the Lord will come. 
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:1).

Advent is rich with sacred symbols. waiting and fulfillment. The color of the season is deep purple, reflecting the penitential nature of the season. Both the circular shape and the evergreen of the Advent wreath suggest eternal and everlasting life.

Candlelight – Christ is the light of the World

Evergreen – In Jesus, we are given the gift of eternal life

Star – The cosmic sign that the King of Kings has been born

Prayer:

Oh God of Truth and Light, we await the birth of Jesus. Be with us in these dark and long days, helping us to "Prepare the Way of the Lord."

ANOTHER MILESTONE

Our 65th Wedding Anniversary with photos including all six children. 

We're always happy for an occasion for us to be together. Outdoor shot in TN

Here we are with a few grandchildren and a few great grandchildren

How rare to be together under one roof 

Sacred Music

I've been enjoying the beautiful voices at the University of Utah Singers. Their treatment of O Magnum Mysterium is stellar. I want to share it with you.

AMEN

Church Humor Found on Facebook

Humor: Church Bulletins. Have a good chuckle:

Don't let worry kill you - let the church help. 

Thursday night - Potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

The rosebud on the alter this morning is to announce the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Rev. and Mrs. Julius Belzer.

This afternoon there will be a meeting in the South and North ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.

Tuesday at 4:00 pm there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early.

Wednesday the ladies liturgy will meet. Mrs. Johnson will sing "Put me in my little bed accompanied by the pastor."

Thursday at 5:00 pm there will be a meeting of the Little Mothers Club. All ladies wishing to be "Little Mothers" will meet with the Pastor in his study.

This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.

The service will close with "Little Drops of Water." One of the ladies will start quietly and the rest of the congregation will join in.

Next Sunday a special collection will be taken to defray the cost of the new carpet. All those wishing to do something on the new carpet will come forward and do so.

The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They can be seen in the church basement Saturday.

A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

The Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Please use the back door.

The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, "Break Forth Into Joy."

A songfest was hell at the Methodist church Wednesday.

The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7p.m. The Congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 pm at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

Mrs. Johnson will be entering the hospital this week for testes.

Please join us as we show our support for Amy and Alan who are preparing for the girth of their first child.

The Lutheran Men's group will meet at 6 PM. Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread and dessert will be served for a nominal feel.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."

Our next song is "Angels We Have Heard Get High."

Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.

The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church.

Evening massage - 6 p.m.

The audience is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession.

Ushers will eat latecomers.

The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment.

The Rev. Merriwether spoke briefly, much to the delight of the audience.

During the absence of our pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit.

Next Sunday Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The pastor will then speak on "It's a Terrible Experience."

Due to the Rector's illness, Wednesday's healing services will be discontinued until further notice.

Stewardship Offertory: "Jesus Paid It All"

The music for today's service was all composed by George Friedrich Handel in celebration of the 300th anniversary of his birth.

The concert held in Fellowship Hall was a great success. Special thanks are due to the minister's daughter, who labored the whole evening at the piano, which as usual fell upon her.

22 members were present at the church meeting held at the home of Mrs. Marsha Crutchfield last evening. Mrs. Crutchfield and Mrs. Rankin sang a duet, The Lord Knows Why.

Today's Sermon: HOW MUCH CAN A MAN DRINK? with hymns from a full choir.

Hymn 43: "Great God, what do I see here?"
Preacher: The Rev. Horace Blodgett
Hymn 47: "Hark! an awful voice is sounding"

(During the minister's illness) GOD IS GOOD.
Dr. Hargreaves is better.

The 1997 Spring Council Retreat will be hell May 10 and 11.

Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be given to church secretary.

Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa will be speaking tonight at Calvary Memorial Church in Racine. Come tonight and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.

The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water."
The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

Youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 pm in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.

Miss Charlene Mason sang "I Will Not Pass This Way Again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility.

This evening at 7 pm there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.

Join us tonight for prayers, coffee and fresh beagles (S., who sent this, says the error was noticed and puppy-shaped cookies were served) 

No Good or Drink is Allowed in the Church